To race with the big boys is every car racing enthusiast’s dream, a dream that Shelly Beach driver, Ross Forbes, recently got to live.
Forbes was selected to drive one of the Medical Intervention Vehicles for Team Medical Australia (TMA) at the first race of the Supercars Calendar for 2021, Mount Panorama 500.
As a trained and experienced race car driver, he was required to drive a VE SS 6 litre V8 commodore Medical Chase Vehicle behind the race cars on the first lap as a first responder with a doctor and paramedic on board.
Forbes said race cars could reach over 240km/h when driving around the Bathurst track.
“The most critical part is on the first lap because 90 per cent of the accidents happen then,” Forbes said.
“My job as the Medical Chase Vehicle is to get behind the cars at the start with all the lights on and drive like a man possessed to keep up, so if they have an accident on the first lap, I’m there with the doctors and paramedics.
“If there is going to be a really big accident, I have to be within 20 seconds of it.
“After the first lap, three Medical Intervention Vehicles are positioned around the track to be sent from their post if there is an emergency.
“For me, it was a pretty big honour because TMA actually chose me.
“This is one of the hardest tracks you can drive anywhere in Australia.
“When you respond, you have to respond so fast.
“You have got to be in the car, in your race suit, so as soon as they say respond, you have got to put the lights on and drive as quickly as possible to the crash, that’s probably the hardest part of the job.”
This is the first time Forbes has been selected for the job after working with supercars for the last four years as an official.
“Being an official means that I am posted on the circuit at a certain point, to manage the flags being waved, and when someone crashes, we manage the recovery of that certain section,” he said.
Forbes has lived on the Central Coast for around 50 years and spent 40 years in the motor trade on the Central Coast, 30 of those years running his own business.
“I did my apprenticeship here on the Central Coast, and I’ve been very involved in motor racing,” he said.
“I also worked with Tony Denny at Gosford Classic Car Museum and was awarded 20th place out of 100 for the most influential businessperson on the Central Coast.
“I am the President of the Hunter division of the Institute of Automotive Mechanical Engineers and am also very busy running my auto business, Classics & Collectibles Garage at Berkeley Vale.”
Jacinta Counihan