By Harry Rothgerber ’69
It’s difficult to imagine a Bellarmine alumna in Fine Arts—with an emphasis in sculpture, philosophy and drama—being trained to operate a crane to extract crashed vehicles during Formula One races.
But April Mohr has done just that, in addition to working a full-time job, owning another business on the side, maintaining a 1929 Model A Ford and being a devoted mom and partner.
“I hope that my story encourages other women to give motorsports a go.”
Mohr was chosen from more than 300 applicants worldwide as one of the 24 women to participate in the initial FIA Women in Motorsport (WIM) Exchange Program.
“This is the first-ever program designed to promote and encourage the participation of female motorsports officials,” Mohr said. In that capacity, Mohr has worked at several Formula One, or F1, events, including the Singapore Grand Prix in 2022 and the Miami Grand Prix in 2022 and 2023. She plans to apply as an intervention marshal for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, to be held in November 2023.
Mohr, a Louisville native who received a full academic scholarship to Bellarmine, said she was intimidated by larger universities. “Bellarmine has such charm,” she said. “Once I visited the campus, I fell in love. There’s a real sense of community that can be felt immediately.”
Among her favorite faculty members were Dr. Steven Berg ("He helped me open my mind to thinking about the world in a way I never had before”), Professor Caren Cunningham ("Sometimes I still hear her voice in my head: I need more from you, dah-ling, MOOOORE”) and Professor Mark Sawyer Dailey ("His passion for theater was contagious”).
She became interested in Formula One, which features open-wheel, single-seat cars, through a Netflix series called Drive to Survive.
“My partner, Marty, got us into volunteering as marshals. He saw a TikTok which explained the role of the marshal and how it’s the closest you can get to the action without actually being a driver.”
Marty started marshaling at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with the goal of working the IndyCar Music City Grand Prix in Nashville and eventually F1. He served as a flag marshal, and Mohr came along as a spectator; however, she soon became a member of the support marshal team, assisting the corner flag and intervention workers throughout the event. “I was hooked!” she exclaimed.
Her race responsibilities have varied. In Singapore, she was assigned to a trackside recovery position for the weekend. Her mentor for the program, the only F1 female crane operator, gave her a full overview of crane operation for vehicle recovery. “My official position for the Singapore GP was as a radio marshal who has a direct line of communication with race control via walkie-talkie and headset,” Mohr said. She also circulated into the pitlane, paddock, scrutineering, and start/finish for the maximum experience and to learn the relevant F1 procedures.
Recently, in Miami, she was an intervention marshal responsible for extracting cars when they stopped and couldn’t continue on their own, whether from impact, contact or mechanical issues. “Our first priority is the safety of the driver,” she said. “If medical is needed, we signal for an ambulance. If the driver is OK, we direct him off course. We always bring a fire extinguisher in case it is needed. Next is to assess if the car can be pushed to a safe location off track through an opening in the barrier or if it needs to be lifted out with a crane.”
Marshaling is a volunteer position for Mohr. She works full-time as an account manager covering the Midwest for a small, locally owned furniture and home décor wholesaler. Since 2011, she has also owned a face-painting business booked at parties and corporate events.
For Mohr, the most meaningful aspects of F1 are the friendships she’s developed with other volunteers from all over the globe. “We spend thousands of dollars of our own money to do this position for free to guarantee the safety of all on and off track,” she said. “I have met so many incredibly interesting folks from all walks of life and all countries.”
Besides working in her spare time on her ’29 Ford, she loves to cook and still creates art from time to time. She’s currently finishing her detached garage to use as an art studio to paint more often.
Mohr and her partner have two children plus a 3-year-old Corgi, Eleanor, who is named after the ’71 Ford Mustang in the film Gone in 60 Seconds. “I hope that my story encourages other women to give motorsports a go,” she said. “I can help them get started.” She invites any Bellarmine alumnae interested in the Women in Motorsport Program to email her at aprilroseallen@gmail.com.