Welcome to the Team Page!
Miro, Corey, Jim, Jack, Meghan and Duncan (driver)
Jack, Duncan, Jim and Meghan on a cold, September day at the races
Miro, Jim, Duncan, Corey, Meghan and Jack looking out at the track
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Jim (in black) looking over the scene
Jim is the most patient and even-tempered
member of the race team. A lifelong race enthusiast, he has a wealth of race
experience dating back all the way to his motorcycle racing days in the 1970s. He
used to race a Triumph Trident 750 at Laconia and Sanair, and more recently worked
with his son in Karting. His wealth of race management skills serves us
well as he is not only well versed in car set up, but is able to develop and
analyze various race strategies. Additionally, he is very analytical, which
helps the team in problematic situations. This includes the time when the car
was on fire. Jim was able to tell us exactly what to do when Duncan came into the pit and how to
salvage the car and damaged parts.
In addition to being Chief Engineer, Jim has
invested large amounts of his personal time helping Duncan in the off-season with
the preparation of the car. They virtually rebuild or check everything from A
to Z. His skill set and depth of knowledge are absolutely indispensable to the
team. His patience and levelheadedness is also invaluable in defusing delicate
situations when tensions mount. In tense situations, Jim has the ability
to calm others down, speak to officials and problem-solve.
Duncan adds: “I don’t know if I could do
this without Jim’s help. He is always
there to lend a hand during both the race season and off season. He also knows when to provide some
encouraging words…and when to kick my but – “it’s not done yet!!!” My favorite Jim quote…we were sitting on the
false grid in the pit lane at the Grand Prix last year, waiting for the action
to start…Jim leans in to the cockpit and says “I love this shit”…I guess that
says it all!
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Duncan is our fearless leader and the racecar driver of our team. He is the one who is responsible for us being at these races and for giving us all such amazing opportunities. While he jokes he sits around at the racetrack and watches his crew slave away on his car while he drinks iced tea, this is not the case: he is a very skilled mechanic, as he rebuilds the engine over the winter and repairs the car during the summer, mostly tuning. This includes the dreaded task of changing gears...taking the gearbox apart, which is not so bad until you are met with the green pea soup like sludge that comes with it. It’s gross, but it has to be done!
Duncan is a very dedicated racecar driver. When he is at a race weekend, he gets to the paddock early and stays late to make sure everything is done and ready. His main priority is the car. If he has the smallest doubt that something is off, he will take it apart and fix it. The team does wonder if sometimes this is a manifestation of his Assembly/Disassembly syndrome. Before a race or qualifying, you will usually see him sitting alone, visualizing the track and other race things we the team just don’t ask him about. After a race or qualifying, you will see him in the trailer, reviewing the race video from the camera. He will go through it thoroughly, learning from his mistakes and also keeping an eye out for anything he thinks is wrong with the car. He also listens carefully to the audio for other problems.
Even though Duncan works hard on the car, he is a constant source of entertainment for the crew. This includes a hysterical moment that most of the team recounts often at the track. Duncan, Miro, Meghan, Jack, Corey and Jim were all at Tremblant, finishing up a few odds and ends before going to the condo. It had rained profusely during the day and the top of the tent was drooping in some spots because of the water weight. Duncan poked at them with a stick, relieving the water and then proceeded to pull on the overhanging tent material in an attempt to make the canvas taut. He pulled on the canvas and then all of a sudden, water just poured down on him. We were all hysterical! It was like something you see in a movie where you know something is going to go wrong and you are about to say something but it is over before you do. Duncan was left sputtering and laughing.
Besides being a talented racecar driver, Duncan is an amazing skier. He does alpine skiing and is very gifted on Telemarks. He can keep up with all of us and is even ahead on the slopes! Of course, it is always funny to see him try and attempt moguls on tele skis because there is a small chance he will fall on his face…literally. The tele bindings allow it.
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Miro at the Grand Prix 2013
Miro is a very special character in the race team and we are so lucky to have him. He always
jumps in to help when it comes to the car and he is always present in car
preparation. He is also very skilled in fixing the car. He advocates everyone
should be aware of the tasks at hand and things should be planned so there is
not any confusion, which can really be a set-back in tense times.
He is the designated golf cart driver, which really helps when we are all getting
ready to tow the race car. He has really helped the team evolve. Miro
is also the organizer of the team. He helps in finding amazing accommodations,
especially in Tremblant.
Miro is also the sports enthusiast and health advocate,
which he tries to rub off on us. He is an avid skiier and biathlete. He is also an incredible cook and he is responsible
for a lot of the food preparation and comedic moments. He has been known to
walk head first into trailer hitches and maim himself on his bicycle. He has been the inspiration for the
introduction of warning signs around the track, effective this year, which will
be put on hitches, low surfaces and bicycle chains.
Besides being a great mechanic, organizer and culinary
genius, Miro is also Meghan’s partner in crime for prank instigation. He and
Meghan once tried to hatch a plan where, when Duncan was in the middle of a
team meeting, Meghan would be dressed in Duncan’s race gear and bicycle by.
This was completely Miro’s idea! The plan never went through. Miro is also the most
practical member of the team. As all of us were getting our knees wet and dirty
while working on the car, Miro wore knee pads (this is a very practical idea,
especially if you are kneeling on pavement for a long period of time!). His
greatest moment of practicality was during the Monsoon Rain at Trois Rivieres.
While all of us were seeking shelter in the trailer, wet from the water, which
was leaking out of an open window, Miro opened up an umbrella. He was the
driest one out of all!
Miro and the Umbrella
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Jack- Jack of All Trades
Jack is the pit crewmember all racers would want on their
team. He is a logical and methodical thinker who always tries to find a way to
make things better. A real Engineer who can relate the theory to the practical
and turn the wrenches to fix it himself. Before a race or qualifying, you will
see him talking to Duncan, checking all the nuts and bolts and making sure the
car is at its best so no accidents or malfunctions happen. Safety is first with
Jack, which makes him a very important part of the team. When the car is
broken, Jack will find a way to get it back together, sometimes finding
bizarre, yet workable ways.
Once, Duncan crashed into the tire barrier at Tremblant
during qualifying. When the tow truck came around our paddock to deliver the
car, we noticed the wheel was deflated, the break line was leaking, the left
front suspension arms were destroyed and the nose of the car was completely
ripped off the front. Now, five people working on a car like this would take
about… 5 hours (we usually have to wait for parts, a new tire, have to do an
alignment, make sure the weight is distributed evenly. I will write another
blog about what makes a racecar perfect). Jack was all over the place, like the Tasmanian Devil Jack helped me fix the broken brake line, he
got a new nose cone, and he started sanding it down so it would fit the car.
While Duncan and all of us were sure we wouldn’t make it, Jack turned to a
weary Duncan and said, “suit up”. He did it. Jack, directing traffic, got the
car fixed minutes before the race start and Duncan starting last finished a strong
seventh place. This was all thanks to Jack and the team. The team would not be
the same without him and we are so lucky to have someone who’s mottos are, “How
can we make this better?” and “Never
ever give up” on the team.
Duncan adds, “I really screwed up in qualifying, trying to
go too fast too soon and ended up in the tire wall. Took a corner and the nose off the car with
only a couple of hours to go before the race.
I really did not think we would make the race, but with about 10 minutes
to go Jack said get ready….the car was still not done!! To my surprise we made it to the false grid
with seconds to spare …started last of
20+ cars and had a great race finishing 7th…The whole crew did a
great job and I new everything was Jack tight”
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Meghan
Meghan is an integral part of the Murdoch Racing
family. In her current position of
Director of Communications, Psychological Performance & Wellness, Mechanic
and Checklist Nazi she consistently demonstrates her determination, persistence
and capability. I was impressed and
pleased when Meghan set up the Facebook Page for our team to share our
experiences with all. She has further
generated interest in our adventures (and misadventures!!) with her
entertaining and well-written Blogs.
Her assumption of the role of Checklist Nazi demonstrates
the potential dangers of delegating power.
She has taken on this role with zest and enthusiasm and I believe takes
great pleasure in telling team members what to do and highlighting what they have
not done!!! This is not always well
received but is an essential role in assuring that the car stays together, and
my body is not damaged…very important to me.
Meghan also demonstrates her resourcefulness on a regular
basis…I recall her diligently working to open a can of soup with a screwdriver
and hammer…until our track neighbors explained how to use the can opener!!! This
is not to imply that Meghan cooks for us, as we learned not to ask after her
reaction (explosion?) to our first request.
Meghan can also be counted on to keep us awake during down
time at the track. This is typically
accomplished by a high pitched scream, in reaction to passing insects. As the
only girl on our team, Meghan good heartedly puts up with our constant abuse (see
above) and is surely missed when she does not make it for a Race weekend.
Oh yeah…and she steals my toys!!!
Written by: Duncan
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Corey
Corey: Director IT and computer whisperer
Origins: ½ Greek and ½ French Canadian
Corey is one of the youngest members of the team and is a
big asset in several ways. At the track, his principal occupation is all things
related to IT and electronics issues; in particular, data acquisition systems
and communications links. When bugs arise, Corey has the innate ability to talk
a computer into behaving properly.
His abilities do not stop here. He is just as proficient
when it comes to helping with all things mechanical. He can be seen regularly
tending to car maintenance and tuning and of course willingly jumps in to help
with emergency repairs whenever our fearless driver has an incident.
Off the track, Corey is often just as busy, not only with
the IT stuff but often building many of the support stands, storage frames and
other metal structures which are necessary in order to work efficiently both at
and away from the track. As a result, he has become a proficient welder.
In addition to working on racing cars, Corey has
successfully performed major rebuilds to every vehicle that he has owned (Ford
Tempo, BMW 1, BMW 2…). He is
particularly adept at taking things apart and putting them back together again
and is undoubtedly predisposed to succumb to what is recognized as “Assembly/Disassembly
Disorder” (reference Duncan Murdoch, Doctoral thesis, Psychology, 2009, bearing
the same title). In addition to all of the above, Corey is almost a walking
encyclopedia. He is knowledgeable about many different subjects and frequently
and fervently engages fellow team members in interesting and sometimes lengthy
philosophical debates (the Greek heritage).
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