NEWS
Celebrating Women of the VSCC - Q&A with Gemma Price
Friday 09 February 2018
It's been 100 years since women in the UK were given the right to vote - how times have changed since 1918! In honour of such an important anniversary, we're celebrating women in motorsport with a series of Q&As with some wonder women of the VSCC!
To kick off our series of Q&As, we interviewed VSCC Competition Secretary, Gemma Price...
What is your role at The Old Post Office and how long have you been working there?
I am the Competition Secretary, so responsible for overall operation of the Competition Department, MSA compliance and delivery of race meetings. I joined the VSCC in January 2010 as Assistant Competition Secretary and have been in my current role for 3 years.
What drew you to the motorsport industry?
My family is a motorsport family, so I started marshalling when I was school age, competing as a rally navigator at 14, and then progressed to competition right up to WRC level with Ford. Since stopping competing I have been involved in organising events as I think its really important to give back to any sport that you love.
Motorsport is traditionally a male-orientated sport – what are your thoughts on this, and do you feel that it impacts your connection with your work in any way?
Having been involved in motorsport for the past 22 years I have seen a huge change in the number of women involved in the sport, within both the competitor and organiser roles. I would say that being a female within motorsport in 2018 makes no difference at all, with women being treated as absolute equals by most people within the sport, more so than in general society, holding positions up to the highest of ranks. I think a rally car was driven through the glass ceiling within motorsport by Michelle Mouton a few decades ago now!
How did you get involved with the VSCC and what attracted you to the Club?
A friend saw the Assistant Competition Secretary role advertised in the Newsletter and knew that my contract at the Morgan Motor Company was coming to an end, so recommended I applied.
Tell us about some of your VSCC highlights...
I think for me the first time I visited each and every event was very special. The VSCC covers such a broad section of motorsport in its own unique way, its hard to pick out favourites as all the events are so different. The main highlight for me is that the club is made up of very passionate and dedicated members, who give the Club the feeling of a family with a solid core and really strong soul. You don’t find that very often nowadays.
What is your greatest achievement so far with the VSCC?
For me my biggest achievement so far is being part of a team at TOPO who are dedicated, competent and love their jobs. The Comps department is the most efficient I have known it since I have worked for the Club, and that’s down to us all working together and pulling in the same direction to deliver events for the membership to the highest standards we can achieve within the available resources.
What can we look forward to from the VSCC this year?
It’s going to be a bumper year for the VSCC across the board . . . .
Returning to Donington Park for a race meeting
Loton Park being split into two single day events
The 50th anniversary of the Lakeland Trial
A two-day Champagne Rally dedicated to opening up rallying to a wider range of competitors
The Winter Driving Tests returning once again to Bicester Heritage. It’s a great season closer of an event.
It’s also an important year in terms of planning for the 85th anniversary in 2019 which will be at Brands Hatch. Anniversary years are great fun, especially as you have the chance to organise once off events at new venues!
Our series of Q&As will be running throughout February so keep your eyes open for interviews with some wonderful competitors, marvellous marshals, and Committee members...
What is your role at The Old Post Office and how long have you been working there?
I am the Competition Secretary, so responsible for overall operation of the Competition Department, MSA compliance and delivery of race meetings. I joined the VSCC in January 2010 as Assistant Competition Secretary and have been in my current role for 3 years.
What drew you to the motorsport industry?
My family is a motorsport family, so I started marshalling when I was school age, competing as a rally navigator at 14, and then progressed to competition right up to WRC level with Ford. Since stopping competing I have been involved in organising events as I think its really important to give back to any sport that you love.
Motorsport is traditionally a male-orientated sport – what are your thoughts on this, and do you feel that it impacts your connection with your work in any way?
Having been involved in motorsport for the past 22 years I have seen a huge change in the number of women involved in the sport, within both the competitor and organiser roles. I would say that being a female within motorsport in 2018 makes no difference at all, with women being treated as absolute equals by most people within the sport, more so than in general society, holding positions up to the highest of ranks. I think a rally car was driven through the glass ceiling within motorsport by Michelle Mouton a few decades ago now!
How did you get involved with the VSCC and what attracted you to the Club?
A friend saw the Assistant Competition Secretary role advertised in the Newsletter and knew that my contract at the Morgan Motor Company was coming to an end, so recommended I applied.
Tell us about some of your VSCC highlights...
I think for me the first time I visited each and every event was very special. The VSCC covers such a broad section of motorsport in its own unique way, its hard to pick out favourites as all the events are so different. The main highlight for me is that the club is made up of very passionate and dedicated members, who give the Club the feeling of a family with a solid core and really strong soul. You don’t find that very often nowadays.
What is your greatest achievement so far with the VSCC?
For me my biggest achievement so far is being part of a team at TOPO who are dedicated, competent and love their jobs. The Comps department is the most efficient I have known it since I have worked for the Club, and that’s down to us all working together and pulling in the same direction to deliver events for the membership to the highest standards we can achieve within the available resources.
What can we look forward to from the VSCC this year?
It’s going to be a bumper year for the VSCC across the board . . . .
Returning to Donington Park for a race meeting
Loton Park being split into two single day events
The 50th anniversary of the Lakeland Trial
A two-day Champagne Rally dedicated to opening up rallying to a wider range of competitors
The Winter Driving Tests returning once again to Bicester Heritage. It’s a great season closer of an event.
It’s also an important year in terms of planning for the 85th anniversary in 2019 which will be at Brands Hatch. Anniversary years are great fun, especially as you have the chance to organise once off events at new venues!
Our series of Q&As will be running throughout February so keep your eyes open for interviews with some wonderful competitors, marvellous marshals, and Committee members...
