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Lives: Hendra, QLD
Partner to: Margot, and father to Beau 80kg Saint Bernard and Jasmine 4kg black cat
Occupation: Managing Director of the family business, Speedie Contractors
Simon debuted in motorsport competing in the Great Endeavour Rallies – along the lines of the Variety Club Bashes however they do all their fundraising before the event and the events themselves are like the old Reddex Reliability Trails. Won numerous accolades on these events including “Supreme Endeavour Award” as highest fundraiser.
During that time Simon meet Margot who was also competing on the Great Endeavour Rallies with a girlfriend. They meet and joined forces both in and out of the car and have been a team ever since.
Margot meet through her business dealings Errol Bailey (Clerk of Course for Rally Qld) who encouraged her to come to some state rallies and also to official at Rally Qld.
Simon was hooked and in 1999 they debuted at their first State Round in a Toyota Sprinter. Numerous class wins in the Qld Rally Championship later Simon then progressed to a front wheel drive Suzuki Baleno taking out an Australian Rally Championship Class win in 2006.
During 2008 Simon debuted in the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI and has recorded strong results in the championship ever since – top ten at each event during 2009 (bar one!).
Championship Titles:
2001 & 2002 : 1st P2 class Queensland Rally Championship
2003 & 2004: 1st P3 Queensland Rally Championship
2006: 1st P3 class Australian Rally Championship
Most memorable rally moment:
Winning the Border Ranges rally in 2007.
Life Motto: life is short make the most of it
Something you dislike: negative people
Something most people don’t know about you: I nearly became a Golf Pro when I left School.
What would you be doing if you weren’t driving cars: Playing Golf
First Job: For Charlie Earp in the Golf Pro Shop at Royal Queensland Golf Club
Favourite Movie: Paint Your Wagon
Best Advice Ever given and by who: DIN and DIP- Do it now and do it properly. Charlie Earp gave me that advice.
Can’t live without: Margot
Fridge usually contains: Don’t know Margot handles the Food
Greatest Fear: Failure
If I had one wish: The ARC would be the top motor sport event in Aust
I would like more: Time to play with my toys
First road car: 1969 4cl Torana
Dream car: I think I am driving it this year
Smartest thing I ever did: Gee marry Margot!
I would never eat: Liver
Five people I would invite for dinner: Tiger Woods, Greg Norman, Ari Vatenen, Carlos Sianz, Andy Caldecott (if I could bring him back)
Superstitions: Black Cats and Ladders
I relax by: Driving Pete the Peterbuilt to Rallies
My most treasured material possession: My toys- THE GNP COROLLA, Evie the EVO VI and last but not least Pete the Peterbuilt.
Greatest non motor sport achievement: Winning a Pro-am with Greg Norman.
Music in my car right now: Slim dusty, AC-DC, James Blundell
Most famous person I’ve ever met: No one will know him but Bobby Loche Golf Pro
Biggest regret: I didn’t start Rally at 19 or 20 instead of 40ish
I am proud of: What I have built in my Business life
Really need to: Find more time to play in Rally Cars
Teenage years were: Great
Person I’d most like to meet: Ari Vatenen
Success is: Hard Work
Most embarrassing moment off-track: Like I am going to tell you.
Worst habit: Smoking
Dumbest thing I’ve ever done: Tipping it in early and hitting the barrier at super special at ROSA last year.
Racing heroes: Ari Vatenen, Neal Bates
What motivates you: Life we are here for a short time not a long time
Culinary specialty: Roast Pork
Margot Knowles – Co-Driver
Born: 10 September 1962 – Swan Hill, VIC
Lives: Hendra, QLD
Partner to: Simon, and mother to Beau 80kg Saint Bernard and Jasmine 4kg black cat
Occupation: Group Fleet Manager – Torque Toyota, Torque Ford, Torque Honda
Margot debuted in rallying during the 1990’s as a co-driver for a friend at work. Their first event they crashed and spent a good part of a cold Queensland night in the forest. Her enthusiasm wasn’t quelled though as she then ventured into the Great Endeavour Rallies with a girlfriend.
During that time Margot meet Simon who was also competing on the Great Endeavour Rallies with a mate. They meet and joined forces both in and out of the car and have been a team ever since.
Margot meet through her business dealings Errol Bailey (Clerk of Course for Rally Qld) who encouraged her to come to some state rallies and also to official at Rally Qld.
From there on both were hooked and in 1999 they debuted at their first State Round in a Toyota Sprinter. Numerous class wins in the Qld Rally Championship they then progressed to a front wheel drive Suzuki Baleno taking out an Australian Rally Championship Class win in 2006.
During 2008 they debuted in the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI and have recorded strong results in the championship ever since – top ten at each event during 2009 (bar one!).
Margot also navigates in the Australian Off-Road Championship in an Extreme 4WD for Colin Hunter. Competing at every round in 2008 (6 rounds) and every round in 2009 (5 rounds) – Margot now has TWO Australian titles in the Extreme 4WD Class.
Margot would be one of the busier co-drivers (or navigators as their called in Off-Road) in Australia – in 2009 she has competed in four ARC’s, 5 AORC’s, several State Rounds and a couple of short course rallies!
Championship Titles:
2001 & 2002 : 1st P2 class Queensland Rally Championship
2003 & 2004: 1st P3 Queensland Rally Championship
2006: 1st P3 class Australian Rally Championship
2008 : 1st Extreme 4WD class Australian Off-Road Championship
2009: 1st Extreme 4WD class Australian Off-Road Championship
Most memorable rally moment:
Winning the Border Ranges rally in 2007. Plus first time I did the Finke Desert Race what a great experience and we finished which mean’t I received a ‘dog spike’ from the Old Ghan Railway!
Life Motto: Treat others like you’d like to be treated yourself. Not always easy I might add!
Something you dislike: Fools
Something most people don’t know about you: I’m afraid of heights.
What would you be doing if you weren’t co-driving : Lots more cycling.
First Job: Spare Parts delivery driver for one of my fathers dealerships.
Favourite Movie: Breakfast at Tiffanys
Best Advice Ever given and by who: First Manager at a travel agency I worked at Colleen Morris – can’t remember the exact words but it was along the lines of don’t take what customers say to you personally. This was after an incident where a customer made me cry! None have made me cry since!
Can’t live without: Simon & my animals & motorsport
Fridge usually contains: Plenty of fresh stuff
Greatest Fear: Heights
If I had one wish: Win lotto – a big win!
I would like more: spare time
First road car: Datsun 1600 ute - yellow
Dream car: One of the Ralliart EVO Pajero’s from Dakar rally
Smartest thing I ever did: Marry Simon
I would never eat: Offal
Five people I would invite for dinner: Tommi Makkinen, Craig Lowndes, Bruce Garland (he’s such a funny bastard), Hugh Jackman and Billy Connolly.
Superstitions: Wearing both my wedding and engagement ring in the rally car & off-road car.
I relax by: cycling and gardening
My most treasured material possession: Our home
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