A love of racing was in the genes for Ashleigh, who spent much of her early years watching her father Martin tear up the track in his own custom built vehicle. Ashleigh then took up the mantle when she turned 12, honing her skills over many years, before eventually going head-to-head with her dad. Despite the competition, she says speedway is still the glue that keeps them close.
“I’m the youngest in my family and growing up I was the one who was always looking for thrills,” says Ashleigh. “The faster I can go the better. I love the adrenaline rush of racing, but the community also plays a big part. Everyone’s really close.”
With most of her friends and family connected to the speedway, and a big chunk of her childhood spent trackside, it was only natural that Ashleigh would seize the first opportunity to jump in the driver’s seat. And by the time she was 17 she had moved into racing super saloons and was ready to take on her father.
“I've looked up to dad for my whole racing career. He’s the one who taught me to drive and who I’ve learned all my little tips and tricks from. So to race against him, and sometimes beat him… well, it’s pretty fun. I think he secretly loves it. My sister races too and Dad says that watching us is just as good as racing himself. If there’s ever a time where only one of us can race, he’ll always put us first.”
These days the family are no longer based in the same town, but it’s racing that still brings them back together. “I live in Taupō with my husband but my family is still in Palmerston North,” says Ashleigh. “It’s about a three and a half hour drive for me to get down there, but during racing season, I’m back every weekend to race on Saturday night.”
Given the closeness of the community, it’s no surprise that Ashleigh also met her husband Jesse through friends from the speedway. And while he shares her passion for cars, he’s happy to leave the racing up to his wife. “He prefers working on the cars rather than being in the driver’s seat,” she explains. “He and my mum will usually be in there pit crewing for us.”
Then once she’s out on the dirt, Ashleigh’s mum Michele will switch to filming duties so she can document her daughter’s technique. “If I spin up in a race, we’ll go back and check what happened - was it driver error, a set up issue, or just a change in track conditions?,” says Ashleigh. “Mum still gets nervous for me even though she’s been around it for a long time. If I ever crash you can always hear her do a little squeal in the video.”
Ashleigh had the pleasure of driving Scott Dixon’s Type R at Hampton Downs.
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And while it may still cause her mother a bit of stress, Ashleigh herself is unfazed by the danger. “Racing can get rough and pushy but I'm not afraid of that. If I get hit, I get hit. There’s always some rivalry on the track, but off the track everyone helps each other out with parts and that kind of thing. And after the race everyone goes to the club room, has a drink together and chats about the night.”
Despite the knocks, the scrapes and the physical challenge, Ashleigh is fully committed to racing for as long as she possibly can. “Dad’s still racing now and he also races with people who are in their 70s. They just can’t give it up. I reckon I'll be the same. Once your helmet is on, you get into your racing zone. And then you’re out on the track, in your car and everything else just fades away. It’s the best feeling.”
Off the track, Ashleigh's passion and knowledge around cars has naturally led to a career in the automotive industry. Beginning as a Service and Parts Advisor at Ingham Taupo, she is now a Honda Sales Ambassador and loves that her job gives her the opportunity to get to know and test out new vehicles all the time. Her current favourite is the ZR-V Sport, “for its comfort, technology, and sophisticated styling - all while having a sporty drive.”
Photography by: Jack Prebble
