Next generation of a Brixham motorsport family

The recent Wiscombe Park MG Car Club event was a special day for the Ashley family of Brixham.

Torbay Motor Club member Simon Ashley, a Director of Central Garages (Torbay) Ltd, made his motorsport debut in 1991. He quickly established a reputation as being a very fast competitor setting his first Fastest Time of the Day in a Royale Ford RP31M at the 1992 Aston Martin Wiscombe Park event.

Much success followed for him in speed hillclimbs and sprints across the South West. Simon then made the transition to circuit racing and he became the Champion of Castle Combe Formula Ford 1600 in 2002.

A young family and business interests led to Simon taking a sabbatical from the sport after his Castle Combe success. However, when Simon’s son, Luke, became 15 in 2021, he was very keen to follow in his father’s tyre tracks, and he started competing in the ASWMC 1st Choice Finishes Autocross Championship in an MG ZR.

It was not long before Luke was also making a name for himself as a fast autocross driver. He has finished runner-up in the Championship for the past two seasons, missing out on the 2023 title by just one point.

And perhaps not surprisingly, Luke’s sister, Polly, was also keen to start racing as soon as she reached 14 – and she made her autocross debut in 2023. Now in her second season, she is also demonstrating great speed after finishing her maiden season second in class and a highly commendable fifth overall in the ASWMC Championship.

Whilst Simon has been busy overseeing the racing exploits of his offspring, this has also re-ignited his passion to start competing again. He purchased a Ralt RT3 single seater racing car in need of restoration. A car that he was familiar with having raced one in the mid 1990’s. Great F1 drivers like Ayrton Senna established their careers in similar cars.

It has been a hectic few months for Simon running the family garage business with outlets in Brixham and Torquay, whilst restoring his car and maintaining Luke and Polly’s MG ZR autocross cars.

With the end of the hillclimb season fast approaching, Simon achieved his deadline of having the Ralt ready to race – and together with Luke and Polly, all three entered the final Wiscombe Park event of the season. Luke competing in his own self built Mini and Polly in an MG ZR.

All the hard work paid off and that final event was highly successful for Team Ashley – Simon won his Class – his first outing in a single seater race car at Wiscombe Park for 30 years! Luke finished third in his Class up against far more experienced competitors and Polly continued to lower her times during the day, finishing on a new Personal Best of 56.50s.

All three Ashley’s are now looking forward to the 2025 season, which gets underway in April.

Any young racer’s keen to get started in motorsport can compete in junior autocross from the ages of 14 to 17. For all the latest local motorsport news please visit the websites of Torbay Motor Club www.torbaymotorclub.co.uk and Wiscombe Park www.wiscombepark.co.uk