Martyn Thake - Motorsports Expert Witness

More than 40 years of comprehensive motorsports and special event experience; encompassing all areas of facility design, operation and management, racetrack design, construction management, event promotion, event management, operations and logistics management, sanctioning body track inspection, insurance inspection, risk management inspection, risk assessment, safety plan design and implementation, event management planning and implementation, race car design and manufacture, performance driving instruction and emergency service dispatch.

More than 125 different motorsports and entertainment facilities (including drag strips, dirt ovals, paved ovals, go-kart tracks, motor-cross tracks, permanent road courses, 30+ temporary street races, temporary events, and TV shows) around the world have benefited from my input on their operations procedures and facility/track design, redesign, and inspection. I have performed hundreds of operational reviews, track inspections, designs and redesigns for CART/Champcar, IMSA, ALMS, FIA, IRL and SCCA, as well as insurance companies and independent clients from around the world and have advised and testified as an expert witness.

As an FIA track inspector, I currently serve as the backup inspector for FIA-licensed tracks (Grade 2 or higher). I am an instructor for the SCCA's Track Reviewer program. And a motorsports submission reviewer for the NFPA.

As an experienced professional expert witness, I offer testimony in the areas of: Racetrack and track design, construction, operation, and management — Racecar design, manufacture, and distribution — On-track & off-track safety (design & implementation) — Event planning, operation and management — Emergency services — Emergency service dispatch – Emergency Vehicle Operations and Procedures — Performance driving — TV/Movie/Commercials production set safety.

Past clients include; Arizona Counties Insurance Pool, The Cincinnati Insurance Company, Mt Hawley Insurance, K&K Insurance, Naughton Insurance, Evanston Insurance Company, Wells Fargo Insurance, Truesports/Mid-Ohio, the American Le Mans Series, Pikes Peak International Hill Climb and CART/Champcar.

I was a founding board member of the Motorsports Safety Foundation. MSF is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving safety standards in all forms of motorsport.

As Director of Circuit Development for CART and Champcar (2001-2006), I was responsible for the operational readiness of the racetrack and operational television production for all the tracks the series raced on.

I was a member of the Horton / CART Safety Team (87-02), including 2 years as the Safety Team dispatcher (rapid response, ambulances, wreckers, etc.). President & CEO of the racecar manufacturer SCCA Enterprises (91-95). A Firefighter/EMT & Community Education Director (responsible for all community CPR class instruction), and the Emergency Vehicle Operator Course Instructor for the Crested Butte Fire Protection District (CBFPD), Crested Butte, Colorado (98-01).

My driving instructor experience spans from the famed Brands Hatch Racing School, to Aston Martin's Elite Performance Driving Academy, to the prestigious Brainerd International Raceway Performance Driving School.

Active member NFPA

Active member SAE

World Council of Motorsport Sciences – Past Officer and member

Colorado 500 charity ride ‑ Coordinator of Medical Services & Chase Team member

Executive Director, Crested Butte/Mt Crested Butte Chamber of Commerce

St Petersburg Evening Sertoma Club ‑ Past President

Published author of articles relating to track design and safety

Florida State Certified EMT*

Colorado State Certified EMT W-IV*

Nationally Certified Fire Fighter I*

Nationally Certified Firefighter I & II — Instructor and Proctor*                                                   

* Not currently active