AWMN in Profile: Cassie Garth

Rallying Runs in the Family

For Cassie Garth, rallying isn’t just a hobby — it’s a family tradition. A fourth-generation racer from Queensland’s Gold Coast/Tweed Motor Sport Club Inc., Cassie was practically born into the sport. Her great-grandfather and grandfather, the late Laurie Garth, laid the foundations of her family’s rally legacy, while her dad, Cameron Garth, has been competing for more than 40 years. When she says racing is in her blood, she means it.

“Honestly, being involved in motorsport just feels unreal — it’s such a mix of excitement, adrenaline, and community. There’s nothing like the feeling you get on race days.”

Cassie’s earliest memories are of the track — watching her sister Jen and brother Troy tearing through motorkhana courses while she tagged along beside her dad. Those 3 AM wake-ups, the smell of dirt and fuel, and the buzz of competitors readying their cars became part of her childhood rhythm. She spent years on the sidelines counting down the days until it would finally be her turn behind the wheel.

That moment came in 2021, when Cassie got her first car — a bright yellow 2001 Mitsubishi Mirage with a black bonnet and a turbo, affectionately known as “Vegemite.” At just twelve years old, she debuted in khanacross, one of the most accessible grassroots motorsport disciplines in Australia. The course may have been marked by cones and dust rather than the forests of the World Rally Championship, but for Cassie, it was pure magic.

Her first laps were full of nerves — and maybe a few tears — but by the end of that day, she couldn’t stop smiling. “I was hooked,” she says simply.

Of course, no first season is without its drama. There was the day Vegemite caught fire mid-event — a heart-stopping moment that tested her composure. Thankfully, everyone (and the car) came out okay, and the year ended on a high when she collected her very first trophy at the club’s awards night.

By 2024, Cassie had progressed into Class C, competing solo for the first time. She quickly became known as “The Cone Hitter” — a nickname earned with good humour after she took out more cones than anyone else that season. But with the nickname came victory: she claimed first place, the Encouragement Award, and most importantly, confidence that she belonged in the driver’s seat.

Now, at just fourteen, she’s already notched up two successful races for 2025, showing massive improvement — and fewer cone casualties. Her skill behind the wheel is growing, but so is her understanding of what it means to be part of a motorsport family.

Day-to-day, Cassie balances schoolwork with car prep, helping with maintenance, gear checks, and event planning. She’s learning everything she can about the mechanics of racing — from tyre pressures to turbo response — under her dad’s guidance. And when she’s not in the garage, she’s sharpening her reactions on her racing simulator at home.

Her achievements haven’t gone unnoticed. Cassie proudly represents four sponsors — Dirt Track Girls, Burson Auto Parts, All Ability Garage, and Caboolture Automotive — all of whom recognise her potential and support her journey as one of the club’s youngest competitors.

For Cassie, motorsport isn’t just about trophies; it’s about teamwork, resilience, and family. The support of her parents and siblings keeps her grounded, and her friends think it’s “pretty cool” that she’s already racing and navigating rallies before she’s even finished high school.

When asked what advice she’d give to other girls wanting to try motorsport, Cassie doesn’t hesitate:

“Be yourself. Don’t listen to people who put you down or say you can’t do something just because you’re a girl — prove them wrong.”

Her long-term goal? To one day become a Queensland Rally Championship or Australian Rally Championship winner, while carving out a career in motorsport. With her determination, family legacy, and that unmistakable Vegemite-yellow Mirage, Cassie’s future looks bright.

And as her club knows well — once a Garth hits the track, history tends to repeat itself.