15/06/2026
RIP DANIEL SIMONIS
It was with great sadness that we learned of the sudden and unexpected passing of Daniel Simonis in the early hours of Saturday 13 June, at the age of only 65.
Every sport needs people who love the sport enough to give it up â and that is exactly what this Killarney stalwart did.
He began his racing career many years ago racing single-seaters, several times finishing the points table in the top three of his class, until he suffered a major heart attack in 2015.
Five months and a triple bypass later he was back at Killarney, this time racing karts. He was soon competitive again, finishing his rookie year near the top of his class, and was awarded Sportsman of the Year.
The following year he decided it was time to give back and approached Clerk of the Course Brian Hoskins to ask what he could do for Killarney.
He soon became a valued and highly qualified member of the Race Control team, while also being active in the karting section as a scrutineer.
For the past decade he has been a constant presence on race days, always pulling his weight and getting it done with his characteristic smile. The picture you see here was taken at the 2024 Western Province Motor Club AGM, where Daniel was presented with an Honours Award for his dedicated service to WPMC.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Venetia, his daughters Donna and Raene, and the Simonis and Le Riche families, in this difficult time.
Daniel will be sorely missed in Race Control, at Karting and on the start line at Main Circuit events, where somehow he always seemed to be exactly where he was needed.
