V8 Utes partner with LJ Hooker for Queensland Flood Relief

Mayor of Ipswich Paul Pisasale thanked Australian V8 Ute Racing today (Friday, 28 January) when he launched a new mobile office for LJ Hooker Ipswich, which is being leased to owner Michael Rossiter by Australian V8 Ute Racing after he lost his in the recent floods in QLD.

Rossiter also lost his house and has eight LJ Hooker offices in QLD, most of which were affected including his two in Ipswich. His Ipswich offices are located right next to the Coles Supermarket which was featured in flood vision, broadcast across the nation. The Coles car-park is now where the V8 Ute Pantech resides until the offices can be occupied again and Rossiter is thankful for the temporary space.

"We have about ten people working from the mobile office at the moment. Having the office will save a lot of pain for our staff who work mostly on commission. It saves them having to work from home and if it wasn't for V8 Utes we wouldn't have that," explained Rossiter.

Mayor Paul Pisasale is pleased local businesses are getting back on their feet and thinks it's the only way to overcome the disaster with 300 business's, 8,500 people and 3,000 homes affected just in the Ipswich area.

"It's so important to make sure we get back up and get running. We want a flood of business now and a flood of work. It was a freak of nature, a natural disaster that swept through our city. It's no different to the Tsunami, so analysing why it happened isn't' the best answer right now - it's getting people back in their homes and on with their lives."

"A big thanks to V8 Utes Australia for revving up business for Ipswich," said Mayor Pisasale.

The Pantech was designed and built as the  Australian V8 Ute Racing's administration centre,  travels to  all rounds around the country and is a fully furnished functioning office with air conditioning, work stations, TV's, boardroom and internet services.

Bill West of SPHERIX, category managers of Australian V8 Ute Racing is pleased to be able to help out and hopes it works well for LJ Hooker to help them get back on their feet.

"It's so important to be able to help out in these times and we are thankful that we were able to lease LJ Hooker our Pantech. We've spent a great deal of time getting it the way we wanted it and it's nice to share it and have it utilised by others," explained West.

The Pantech was fitted out internally by Gold Coast based Coast Wide Kitchen's, electrical fit-out by Logan City Electrical and the prime mover donated by Darren Park of Ice Break Racing. Pantech logistics manager Fraser McCowatt delivers the unit to all racetracks around the country.

Along with being used at V8 Supercar events, it was recently used as a green room for performers such as Shannon Knoll at the i98FM Camp Quality Convoy for Kids event in Wollongong.

Keep your eyes peeled for the V8 Ute Pantech at the 2011 Yokohama V8 Ute Racing Series - protected by Armor All.

 Round   Event   Venue   Date  1  Clipsal 500    Adelaide Parklands, SA   17 - 20 Mar  2   *Barbagallo   Perth, WA   29 Apr - 1 May  3   Sky City Triple Crown   Hidden Valley Raceway, Darwin, NT   17 - 19 June  4   Sucrogen Townsville 400   Reid Park, Townsville, QLD   8 - 10 July   5   Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000   Mount Panorama,  NSW   6 - 9 Oct  6   Armor All Gold Coast 600   Surfers Paradise, QLD   21 - 23 Oct  7   Norton 360 Sandown Challenge   Sandown Raceway, VIC   18 - 20 Nov  8   Sydney Telstra 500   Olympic Park, Sydney, NSW   2 - 4 Dec 

*Please note: Round 2 date has changed.

To donate to the QLD Premiers Disaster Relief Appeal please click here <http://login.ireach.com.au/ch/16769/2d7wxsb/1367760/c4332gz6m.html