People from all corners of the globe can often pinpoint a single moment that helped shape the direction of their life.  
   
For 30-year Motorsport Australia official Simon McMahon, that moment was receiving a piece of advice from a well-respected Dutch official who was a then CAMS Steward, and the starter at the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix for many years.  
   
It was around the time where the Australian Grand Prix had moved from Adelaide to Melbourne, and McMahon, who was in his late-20s, was contemplating a switch from his comfortable life in Fire and Rescue to something different.   
   
For the previous six to seven years prior to that moment, the motorsport tragic had dedicated his time to the Victorian Fire and Rescue squad, having been a CFA volunteer prior to first becoming a motorsport official in 1991.  
   
Officiating for multiple events at Sandown, Phillip Island, Calder Raceway and Winton, as well as multiple Australian Grands Prix in the pit lane, McMahon had reached a crossroads and wanted a bigger challenge when it came to contributing to his lifelong passion of motorsport.  


Cue an off-the-cuff conversation at Sandown, with Eric Rubens – the Dutch official – who would change the trajectory of McMahon’s journey.  
   
“I have been a die-hard motorsport fan all my life,” McMahon said.  
   
“I fell in love with the sport when I was young, and my first memory was when I was just four-years-old and I was at a Calder Touring Car round with my dad and his mates.   
   
“It was inevitable that I would join the sport in an official capacity and at the time I joined when I was 21-years-old, I had already been a CFA volunteer for about five years, so it made sense to join the fire and rescue team.  
   
“I loved doing fire and rescue, but it was around the time I was contemplating the change, when Eric, who wasn’t a mentor or anything, told me one thing that has always stuck with me.  
   
“He told me ‘don’t be afraid to try other things in motorsport. All you need to do to ask. Just put your hand up and do it’.  
   
“I suppose I have been lucky enough to have always just done it, and I feel that there are a lot of people who aren’t sure whether they can do something, but those words inspired me to do as much as I can.”  
   
And McMahon isn’t kidding when he talks about doing as much as he can.  
   
The 51-year-old has been an official for more than 30 years and currently holds multiple official licences having volunteered in many roles over the years.  
   
Following on from his time in Victorian Fire and Rescue, McMahon was then part of the team behind RaceSafe back in the early 2000s, which was a motorsport safety service and helped inspire organisations like Team Medical Australia and RaceSolutions.  



In 2003, McMahon then became a course car and safety car driver, before moving into emergency communications in Winton race control.  
   
Ten years later, his role evolved into Deputy Clerk of Course and then Clerk of Course for some events, before also becoming as a steward in 2016 - a role he still fulfils to this day. 
   
Another change in direction saw McMahon appointed as the Formula Ford Association's Driving Standards Officer in 2017 – a role he held for two years before joining the appointed officials' program where he works under TCR Australia Series and Motorsport Australia GT Championship Race Director Lawrie Schmitt.   
   
McMahon has also taken on the Deputy Race Director role for the Motorsport Australia GT Championship, working with Schmitt and various other officials at national events. 
   
And for McMahon, he is just grateful he has experienced a diverse journey in motorsport.   

“I look back at my 30 years and think all the experiences have come together to make me a more rounded official and I think I am very lucky to officiate in motorsport,” McMahon explained.  
   
“I have certainly had some great opportunities to learn and develop over the years, and I feel very fortunate to have been encouraged to join the appointed officials panel which paved the way for me to be Deputy Race Director for one of the top categories in the country.   
   


“Even my time as a steward has been fantastic. I was volunteering at car race events for over 25 years and then to move to stewarding at grassroots disciplines like hill climbing and sprints was really refreshing.   
   
“Stewarding gave me a real appreciation of this major aspect of the sport that I'd never experienced until I started doing club level events, three to four years ago.  

“With that said, if I was to pick a couple of moments that stick out to me, the biggest one would be seeing my son working in the pit lane at the 2016 Bathurst 12 Hour after just graduating from being a junior official. It was one of my prouder moments.”