with Memorial Trophy

V8 Utes Australia will pay tribute to former driver Ashley Cooper with the Ashley Cooper Memorial Rookie of the Year Award at their End of Season Dinner in December.

Ashley passed away on 25th February 2008 after a fatal accident at the Clipsal 500 event in Adelaide in a V8 Supercar.

After his sudden departure Cooper donated his organs and saved seven  peoples’ lives, including that of a six year old child.

From this, his parents began the Ashley Cooper foundation to help his partner Cathy and children Ella and Bailey.

The Foundation is also set-up to support other families in the same circumstances and to encourage others to help save lives such as what Ashley did.

Ashley who is also an ex V8 Ute driver took out the Rookie of the Year award in 2006 and his father Alan , is honoured with the memorial that Australian V8 Utes have bestowed. 

“Ashley loved his time in the V8 Ute Racing Series, and to have this award named after him will ensure that his memory will be cherished for years to come and I can’t thank Craig and the team at Spherix enough for this wonderful gesture,” he said.

V8 Utes Australia’s Manager, SHERIX, Director Bill West believes this is the perfect fit to pay homage to the talented driver

“Ashley was such an inspiration on and off the track and this award is our way to honour his memory.

“It is wonderful to see what his family are doing with the Ashley Cooper Foundation and I believe it is important for people all over to support the cause,” said West.

The trophy is an additional award to the Racer Industries Rookie of the year and will be a perpetual trophy.

The final round of the 2008 Series will run from 4th– 7th  December at Oran Park and below are the Current Rookie of the Year standing’s who are all vying for the honour of this award.

Glenn McNally #12 High Tech Motorsport  368 Ben Kavich #26 Grease Monkey Motorsport   228 Michael Bartsch # 8 WPR Racing