A Busy Off‑Season:
A Blog by Stanton, Mike’s Retired Guide Dog
Hello there, friends! Stanton here — proud retired guide dog, professional snoozer, and long‑time observer of the wonderful humans at Speed Of Sight.
You might think that when the engines stop for the season, everyone here curls up for a long winter nap like I do. But oh no. These humans? They’re busier than a Labrador at a picnic.
Let me take you behind the scenes of all the off‑season chaos I’ve been watching from my favourite comfy bed.
1. The Track Cars: A Winter of Spanners, Sockets, and Squeaky Toys (the last part might be me)
The moment the last participant steps out of a track car for the year, the team pounces like an enthusiastic pup after a tennis ball.
There’s:
- Inspecting engines
- Checking safety harnesses
- Replacing worn tyres
- Tightening bolts (with the same seriousness I use when tightening my grip on a treat)
You’d think these cars were royalty with the amount of pampering they get.
Honestly, I never received this many checkups and I was a guide dog!
2. The Towing Vehicles: The Unsung Heroes
Now, between us… the track cars get all the glory, but the towing vehicles?
They’re the real workhorses.
Without them, nothing gets to the track — not the cars, not the kit, not even the biscuits (which, in my humble opinion, are essential equipment).
So the team spends the winter months:
- Servicing engines
- Checking towing mounts
- Inspecting electrics
- Making sure they’re ready to haul everything safely in the new season
I give them an approving tail wag every time someone pops the bonnets open.
3. Paperwork in the Office: Endless Forms and Too Few Hands (paws would help!)
Humans seem to love paper.
Invoices, reports, plans, forms… piles and piles of the stuff.
While I prefer lying on paperwork rather than dealing with it, the Speed Of Sight admin team is heroic. They catch up on everything from the season just past while prepping mountains of documents for the one ahead.
I try to help by offering snuggles and the occasional nudge to remind them to stretch.
4. Finding New Venues for the 2026 Season
One of my favourite parts is watching everyone’s excitement when scouting for new tracks.
The conversations go something like this:
“Great tarmac!”
“Nice long straights!”
“Plenty of room for participants!”
I just check if there’s good grass nearby.
But truly — this work is so important. The team spends hours researching, travelling, meeting venue managers, and exploring new potential locations. It’s all to create more unforgettable driving experiences next year.
5. Managing Bookings for the Upcoming Season
Even though the new season might feel far away, the booking phone rings a lot.
People can’t wait to join the sessions — and I can’t blame them. I’ve watched the joy on participants’ faces for years.
Jodie and Karen carefully:
- Answer enquiries
- Schedule sessions
- Juggle dates
- Make sure every driver has the right support and the right car reserved
It’s a ballet of calendars, emails, and enthusiastic humans.
In Short? Off‑Season Isn’t Off at All.
While I snooze in various strategic locations around the office, the Speed Of Sight team works tirelessly to prepare for another season of making dreams possible.
From engines to email inboxes, venues to vehicle checks, they’re all pulling together so that by the time the first event comes around, everything is polished, safe, and ready for the roar of excitement (and engines).
I may be retired, but I still know dedication when I see it.
And this team? They’re unstoppable.
Now, if you’ll excuse me… I hear someone opening the biscuit tin.
Tail wags and warm snuffles,
Stanton
Retired Guide Dog & Chief Off‑Season Observer
