Speedgroup Club Europe

How did you become involved in drag racing and when was that?

I had a neighbor who was driving and she asked me and my sister if we wanted to follow her to Mantorp and watch and after that i was hooked. I think it was

around 1988 and i still love it!

Can you tell us a bit about your career as a starter (I know for instance you and your sister have been in the US working at NHRA races pls tell us a bit about that)

I started my career as a starter at Tullinge when their starter didnt show up.I remember that someone asked: who´s going to start now then?

I sad i give it a try and see how it goes and it went well so i thought this is what i want to do.I had a lot of help from Stanley and Ian Marshall of course and

without them i wouldnt be where i am today! In 2005 we went to Las Vegas and worked with the safety safari to see if they where working any diffrent

then us and the Dragracing federation gave us that opporturnity to go there and 38 raceteams sponsored us with pocket money for all hard work we put in over the years which we thought was a fantastic gesture and warmed our hearts very much! We made a good impression and they told us that we are velcome back anytime!

And the good part is that we are just as good!!

What personal characteristics is important to have in order to become a good starter?

It´s a hard question but i think that you must believe in your self a lot though its not easy to always make the right desicion in a split second! The important thing

is to read the rulebook so much that you dream about it and rembember that you are the last person to make sure all safety is in order before they leave the startline.

What difficulties do you face as a starter? And what do you most enjoy about your work as a starter?

The difficulties is to have eyes everywhere and make the right desicion really quick.The good part is when you finished an event and it all went

well and you feel that your are an important part of it!

I know you occasionally also take on other funtions at the tracks both in and outside Sweden, anything you can tell us about that?

I have been working as a spotter at Santa Pod for many years and also as a starter there once.As a spotter you check that the track is ok so there is no

oil or other things that cars or bikes can run over.Its alot of jumping over the walls but its good exercise as well :-)

Anette Heleander - with permission to launch.. She is the last outpost in charge of the the sportsman and championship drivers and riders seconds before they leave the start line. She is highly skilled, knows the crucial parts of the rule book by heart, loves her job and is appreciated for her kind, but firm way that helps the drivers and riders feel comfortable at the start line - Meet Anette Heleander, chief starter at Tierp Arena - Sweden´s new state of the art drag racing venue. How did you become involved in drag racing and when was that? I had a neighbor who was driving and she asked me and my sister if we wanted to follow her to Mantorp and watch and after that i was hooked. I think it was around 1988 and i still love it! Can you tell us a bit about your career as a starter (I know for instance you and your sister have been in the US working at NHRA races pls tell us a bit about that) I started my career as a starter at Tullinge when their starter didnt show up.I remember that someone asked: who´s going to start now then? I sad i give it a try and see how it goes and it went well so i thought this is what i want to do.I had a lot of help from Stanley and Ian Marshall of course and without them i wouldnt be where i am today! In 2005 we went to Las Vegas and worked with the safety safari to see if they where working any diffrent then us and the Dragracing federation gave us that opporturnity to go there and 38 raceteams sponsored us with pocket money for all hard work we put in over the years which we thought was a fantastic gesture and warmed our hearts very much! We made a good impression and they told us that we are velcome back anytime! And the good part is that we are just as good!! What personal characteristics is important to have in order to become a good starter? It´s a hard question but i think that you must believe in your self a lot though its not easy to always make the right desicion in a split second! The important thing is to read the rulebook so much that you dream about it and rembember that you are the last person to make sure all safety is in order before they leave the startline. What difficulties do you face as a starter? And what do you most enjoy about your work as a starter? The difficulties is to have eyes everywhere and make the right desicion really quick.The good part is when you finished an event and it all went well and you feel that your are an important part of it! I know you occasionally also take on other funtions at the tracks both in and outside Sweden, anything you can tell us about that? I have been working as a spotter at Santa Pod for many years and also as a starter there once.As a spotter you check that the track is ok so there is no oil or other things that cars or bikes can run over.Its alot of jumping over the walls but its good exercise as well :-)	What can you tell us in general about the team work that it takes to perform a good event – for instance what is most important for it to function well? I think teamwork is really important and that everybody knows what to do and to have a good flow so we can run as many cars and bikes as possible.Without all the good marshalls and all the hard work before and after an event there wouldnt be any :-) Have you got any drag racing plans already for that for 2012? I know you have acquired a junior dragster during 2012 for instance if you wish to mention anything about that.. Well i know that im going to be working at Tierp next year and probably some more events. I had the opportunity to rent a Juniordragster from a good friend to see if my son or daughter was interested to start driving and my son is hooked now so i guess we will try to race again next summer.The problem is that he wants me to buy him a faster car....I knew that was coming somehow. Finally- Is there any advice you wish to share with the drivers based on what you have seen when you work at the startline? The only advice is: Look at the signs and please dont run me over :-)
Anette Heleander at her working place - the startline area at the new venue of Tierp Arena during the Sweden Internationals in june 2011 She is accompanied by with her starter collegues Harry Granlund och Kurt Ljungkvist Checking that a young Junior Dragster driver has all safety gear in place
Interview by Åsa Kinnemar / Photos by Lena Perés and Speedgroup This article is part of the Speedgroup Club Europe Newsletter #16/2011 www.speedgroup.eu Published by Speedgroup www.speedgroup.eu All material, text, images and logtypes are the property of Speedgroup AB. Used by permission from the photographers Any use of the above requires permission from Speedgroup. email: asa.kinnemar@speedgroup.eu © Speedgroup 2011