Olympic Gold Medalist Steven Bradbury takes on V8 Ute drivers in tribute race tonight

The Le Mans Kart Racing Complex on the Gold Coast is hosting a benefit tonight at 6pm for Ashley Cooper who was tragically killed at the Clipsal 500 during a Fujitsu Development Series race in Adelaide earlier this year.  Ashley Cooper the 2006 V8 Ute Rookie had a huge impact on Le Mans Kart Racing Complex owners Yvonne and Jim Dyer who first met Ashley when he joined Wollongong Performance Racing. Their relationship with the successful V8 Ute team is through their daughter Jaimie, the Marketing and Logistics Manager for WPR.

Le Mans Kart Racing supported Ashley at the Lexmark Indy 300 in 2006 when he raced a Ford BF Falcon XR8 V8 Ute.  During the Gold Coast event WPR hosted a bonding night at the karting circuit, where funnily enough, Ashley and other Ute drivers were all beaten on the race track by Maree Cooper, Ashley’s mum.

“When Jaimie called me from Adelaide, it was one of the worst calls I’ve ever received, straight away her dad and I decided to try and do something to help Ashley’s father, mother, wife and children” said Yvonne Dyer.

Olympic Ice-Skating Gold Medalist Steven Bradbury who recently tested in a V8 Ute is competing in the corporate style event alongside current V8 Ute drivers Stephen Robinson and Brad Patton.

 “We’ve had a massive amount of prizes donated to auction tonight with all money raised going to the Ashley Cooper foundation.”

Donations are from Ford Australia, Dreamworld, Movie World, Gold Coast Blaze, Paul Morris Motorsport, Zorb, WRX experience, McDonalds, Clancy Signs and Big Gun Butchers with many more announced tonight.

“Most of the donations have come from people who have never even meet Ashley but as soon as I told them what had happened they were so quick to offer support, it’s been a great response from local Gold Coast businesses.”

Exciting items up for auction this evening also include a Ford poster signed by Bathurst winners Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup, as well as a fully signed Australian Rugby Union Wallabies jersey.

The raffle will be drawn on the 7th April with tickets available from Le Mans for only $5 each.