Simon has always had a passion for classic cars; he started his rallying career in 1992. Having been involved with MG’s since learning to drive he purchased an MG 1100 saloon which was pulled apart and rebuilt as the infamous “Basil”  (after John Cleese and Fawlty Towers fame). 

He campaigned throughout the 90’s as mostly a driver in the HRCR Speedsports Design Championship notching up several class wins and overall class championship wins for two years before deciding to swap seats and become a Navigator in 1999 when he joined Malcolm Pickering in his Sunbeam Rapier. Simon was clearly better suited to navigating as this team went on to regularly feature in the top ten, won multiple class awards in International rallies such as The Monte Carlo, Rallye des Alpes, Classic Marathons and of course the then gruelling Lands’ End to John O’ Groats rally where in 2002 Simon took Malcolm to a Gold medal.

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Throughout the early 2000’s he also joined Paul Carter in his 1929 Bentley Le Mans and battling through all weathers winter and summer they forged a great team often beating considerably younger cars.

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Whilst competing Simon also took an active part in helping to run the Historic Rally Car Register, becoming its chairman in 2003 and building its membership from less than 400 to over 2000 during his tenure. His open policy that everyone with a classic car should be able to enjoy this wonderful sport found favour with many and it was this philosophy that became Classic Rally Tours as it is today.

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Simon’s OCD attention to detail means the road books are set out with impeccable hand drawn accuracy and as a Francophile his knowledge of the most fantastic roads in France and beyond can be seen with routes being set on glorious country back roads and visiting delightful towns and villages which you won’t visit on the larger commercial rally events.

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