Martyn Thake has more than 30 years of comprehensive motorsports and special event experience; qualifying him as an expert in all areas of Facility design, operation and management - Racetrack design, construction and management - Event promotion, management, operations and logistics - Sanctioning body track inspection - Insurance inspection - Risk management inspection - Risk assessment - Safety plan design and implementation - Operational safety planning and implementation - Event management planning and implementation - Race car design, manufacture and distribution - Performance driving school operation and instruction.
More than 100 different motorsports facilities (including dirt ovals, paved ovals, drag strips, permanent road courses and temporary street races) around the world have benefited from my input on their operations procedures and facility/track design, redesign and inspection. For a complete list of the facilities we have worked with click the History tab at the top of the page.
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 one of only two FIA track inspectors in the US, I currently serve as the back up inspector (worldwide) for FIA-licensed tracks (Grade 2 or higher). I am also an instructor for the SCCA’s Track Reviewer program.
My company, Motorsports Consulting Services, LLC (MCS), provided design, construction and event operation and management services, plus operations and logistics department staffing for the Grand Prix events in St Petersburg, Miami, Houston, Cleveland, Denver, and Baltimore. For all these clients we prepared and implemented the event operation and management plans. We also developed and implemented all safety and crisis and communication plans.
In 2017 MCS was retained by FAMZ in Zhejiang China to design a motorsports park, to include an FIA level 2 track as it's anchor.
In 2016 MCS was retained by a production company to design and build 10 tracks for a new car show being developed for Netflix. The show, Hyperdrive, was 2 years in design and development, construction and shooting took place in a Rochester NY at an Eastman Kodak plant in July and August of 2018. The show debuted on Netflix in August of 2019.
In 2014 MCS was retained by the Goldenport Motorsports Group in China to design two new FIA level 2 facilities. The Central China Goldenport Motor Park in Wuxe City and a Motorsports Theme Park in Zhengzhou.
In 2013 MCS was retained to design the Miami, FL course for the FIA Formula E Championship – the worlds first all electric racing series.
In August of 2012 MCS was selected to be the Operations and Logistics provider to the Shell and Pennzoil Grand Prix of Houston. The race took place on the grounds of Reliant Park in Houston TX over the weekend of October 4-6, 2013. We completed construction of the entire temporary racing facility in 140 hours, a job that usually takes 4 weeks.
In 2008 MCS was commissioned to design the facility and track for an Indycar race on the streets of Baltimore MD.
In 2007 Brainerd International Raceway and Resort retained MCS to upgrade their facilities. We added a new racetrack inside the existing one, enabling the facility to run drag, road, kart and motor-cross events at the same time. We also designed upgrades for their kart and off road tracks and reviewed their event operating procedures.
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 am 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.
Other recent projects include; the all-new Palm Beach International Raceway in Florida, the historic Pueblo Motorsports Park in Colorado, M1 Concourse in Pontiac MI, Palmer Motorsports Park in Palmer MA, Wild Horse Pass Raceway in AZ, Eagles Canyon Raceway in TX, and the 2 new facilities in China.
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.
I was a member of the prestigious Horton / CART Safety Team (87-02), President & CEO of the race car manufacturer SCCA Enterprises (91-95) and a Firefighter/EMT for the Crested Butte Fire Protection District, Crested Butte, Colorado (98-01).
I understand every case has its own unique requirements. If you are in need of an expert witness in any field that relates to motorsports, please do not hesitate to contact me for a free evaluation and consultation.
Respectfully,
Martyn Thake
+1.303.888.7453 • mt@mcs.ms
Affiliations:
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
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 II*
Nationally Certified Fire Fighter I*
Nationally Certified Firefighter I & II - Instructor and Proctor*
* Not currently active
