But ask the Tamworth driver how fast his V8 can tear along the track and you get a surprising reply.

“Don’t know, the speedo doesn’t work,” Simmonds said.

Going by recent evidence, not knowing how fast you are travelling has not been a drawback.

Simmonds, who has only been racing for the past couple of years despite a lifetime love of cars, enjoyed a breakthrough success last weekend.

“I had my first-ever win in the improved production over two litre class at the Tri-Series in Kempsey,” he said.

“They race on parts of the old highway, but the track was slippery because they had plenty of rain.

“It was good to come away winning, although the trip home was about six hours instead of 3 1/2 because we had to come back through Newcastle because the road was blocked off at Wauchope.”

Simmonds is among a field of 50 drivers who will be in action on Sunday in this year’s Gunnedah Hill Climb.

Now in its 49th year, the drive up Mount Porcupine has grown into one of the premier motorsport events not just in this region, but country NSW.

Drivers will come from as far away as the Gold Coast, Canberra, Kempsey, Newcastle and Mudgee to tackle the best the North West/New England region has to offer.

Simmonds is looking forward to the prospect of tackling the hill in the Falcon adorned with 888, the number of his favourite driver, Supercars ace Craig Lowndes.

“I’ve been a fan of Lowndesy since way back in 1996,” Simmonds said.

Simmonds is hoping like another Supercar racer Tim Slade at Winton last year, his first success can be quickly followed by a second.

“Hopefully now I’ve broken through for a win, I can keep it going,” he said.

Such has been the popularity, a number of drivers are on a reserve list to see if they get a start.

A more settled and wider road surface than last year, where drivers also experienced record times, will allow for higher horsepower cars and even quicker times.

Racing is from 9.30am on Sunday.