Tracy Shilcock works on the night shift at Dove Holes quarry and has been celebrating, along with his whole family and friends as his 10-year-old grandson, Alfie Jack, has become the European champion for his age group in large-scale remote-control car racing.
Super proud grandfather, Tracy, who has just completed 30 years’ service with CEMEX, was lost for words in an interview by RC TV who were filming the event in Fehring. The emotional interview showed the magnitude of the achievement and Tracy’s night shift colleagues thought it would be a great tribute to share Alfie’s story with all our CEMEX colleagues.
At just 10 years of age Alfie Jack Shilcock had qualified for the finals of the championship which were held in Austria back in July. He incredibly managed to finish just ahead of his mum in the final standings to take the award for his age group.
Heidi, Alfie’s Mum, and Tracy’s daughter, began racing smaller radio-controlled cars in 2017, having grown up in the world of motorsport watching her dad Tracy and mum Mandy race real off-road cars. Gradually she has progressed into bigger, more powerful models, and Alfie has followed in her footsteps since he was five.
Heidi commented: “We go out with the aim just to enjoy it. I’ve instilled it in Alfie that it doesn’t matter how we do results-wise. There’s a real community element to it. I’ve made friends from all over the world. It’s important just to soak up every moment of the experience, although you do end up putting pressure on yourself in a big race.”
It is still very much a family affair as Tracy serves as mechanic for Alfie, and Mandy was ‘team mum’ out in Austria. The cars are scaled down American stadium trucks, just under a metre-long, with a 29cc tuned engine, and Alfie is gradually learning how to ‘spanner’ them too.
Tracy’s colleagues also wanted to ask CEMEX colleagues if they can help the ‘Team’ in any way, then please get in touch with the Night Shift Supervisor at Dove Holes, Michael Craven: michael.craven@cemex.com
Up next are the national championship rounds starting in Sussex where Heidi and Alfie will both be hoping to qualify for next year’s Euros in the Czech Republic. We wish them lots of luck.