About Ashley

After beginning her car-racing career in 2000, Ashley Taws became one of Canada's most popular racers. Girls, boys, women and men would line up for her autograph and she received fan mail from all over the world. Unfortunately, in December 2002 she was a passenger in a car that was involved in a head-on highway collision and her career came to in an instant halt.

Now, just over four years later, Ashley is set to race again. Racing both a Stock Car and a Super Touring car while making more than 30 appearances at Wal*Mart locations, she will be a very busy young woman this year.

Ironically, when Ashley was a little girl, she showed no interest in cars or going fast, but she did have a big Barbie collection.

The Awakening: Go-Karts
Unlike most race drivers, Ashley did not grow up dreaming of driving fast cars. In fact, she fell it to it quite by chance. It began in 1993 when Ashley's dad, Peter, bought a go-kart for her brother, Doug so he could try his hand at racing. Not wanting Ashley to feel left out, Peter took her along to the track, thinking she'd be bored and in future would stay home to play with her Barbie dolls. Ashley reluctantly gave it a try... and took to it instantly.

The Taws family went racing at the Toronto Kart Club (TKC) every Sunday, and every other weekend it would be Ashley's turn. Despite running only half the races, Ashley placed seventh in the championship standings. The following year, with her own kart, she raced the full schedule and finished second in the Novice division, beaten only by the track owner's son.

In 1996, Doug gave up karting while Ashley grew into a formidable competitor becoming a force at the TKC and in regional races across Ontario. She finished second and was Rookie of the Year in the TKC's Junior Championship; claimed third in the Ontario Trillium Series; and put the finishing touches on the year by winning a Canadian Grand National Championship.

Faster Karts
In 1998 Ashley graduated to two-cycle karting. Two-cycle motors produce far more power than the four-cycles she had used previously and race at heart-pounding speeds. Again, she collected masses of glittering trophies including another Canadian Grand National cup for winning the Formula 100 Junior division. At the regional level, she finished second in the Formula 100 Junior championship. It was a very successful year that left no-one doubting Ashley's speed and determination.

Ashley ran a limited karting schedule in 1999 while she pondered car racing. Spending lots of time researching options, she still found time for the Canadian Grand Nationals where she ran one of her most memorable kart races. Competing in the Junior Pro class, trouble before the final saw her start the race from 36th, last place. In a race just fifteen laps long, Ashley drove brilliantly, passing 28 competitors to finish eighth!

Formula 1200
Sixteen-year-old Ashley made a huge impression in 2000, her first year racing cars. Driving the Maximum Benefit / Big Sisters Formula 1200 car, she won two races and scored a total of five top-three finishes. She was third in the Isseco/Kumho Formula 1200 Championship, second in the CASC-OR (Canadian Automobile Sport Clubs - Ontario Region) Race Ontario Sprints and second in the BARC (British Automobile Racing Club) Formula 1200 Championship. In addition she was awarded the Muriel B Knap Trophy for "sportsmanship, ability and sparkle" and the BARC Bob Attrell Award for "best new driver".

In 2001, Ashley began her association with Barbie, rolling out the "Be Anything with Barbie at Wal*Mart" race car. Decked out in pink and purple, the car received some condescending glances and jibes from other competitors, but they they quieted down once Ashley beat them. Aiming to win the championship, Ashley was in the thick of the title battle throughout the season. She took the fight all the way to the final race of the year, but fell just short of the championship. She finished second in the final standings and won the Muriel B Knap Trophy for the second year running.

Formula Ford
After two years of Formula 1200, Ashley was ready to move up a level. With continued support from Barbie, she entered the 2002 Canadian Formula Ford Championship, a high-profile Formula 1600 series with races at some of Canada's premier motorsport events. Ashley and the "Be Anything with Barbie at Wal*Mart" car were crowd favourites wherever they went. On the track, Ashley smashed records for female racers and in the paddock she spent hours meeting fans and signing autographs. Beginning the season with a third-place finish, she became the first woman in the history of the series to stand on the podium. Later in the year she upped that mark by finishing second.

The highlight of 2002 was Ashley's weekend at the Toronto Indy where she dominated both qualifying sessions to take pole, delighting thousands of fans. In the race, she fell to dead last after a series of problems in the opening laps, but drove brilliantly to climb all the way back to fourth. With her race crew and fans biting their nails and cheering her on, she nearly took third as they raced to the finish line.

Disaster Strikes
Sadly, as 2002 drew to a close, Ashley was badly hurt in a traffic accident. For several weeks there was great concern that she may never walk again. The support from fans and media was simply overwhelming and Ashley was determined not only to walk, but to race again.

Gradually, her legs began to move and after several months of determination, hard work and luck, Ashley walked... and then raced! Just six months later, Ashley was at the Toronto Indy and back in her Barbie race car. She made an impressive return, finishing fourth, and finished third at the Grand Prix de Trois Rivieres two weeks later. But she fatigued easily and was then plagued by a series of abdominal problems - legacies of the accident - that sapped her strength and saw her return to hospital frequently. Her racing career, it seemed, had ended.

Back to Race Again
Having had her final surgeries in the summer of 2006, and feeling fit and healthy since, Ashley entered the 2007 CASC - OR Ice Racing Series last winter and won the Long Wheelbase Street Stud Class. Among those who watched her race were Jordan Marrison and Brock Gilboe of Vertex Fabworx. They were impressed and offered her a race in their Super Touring BMW. One thing led to another and within a few weeks, Ashley was back with Barbie. She will drive or co-drive three races in the Barbie at Wal*Mart BMW and will compete in the full Ontario Sportsman Series with her Barbie at Wal*Mart Dodge Charger stock car.

Ashley poses with her Barbie at Wal*Mart stock car.

Ashley began racing in a kart she shared with her brother, Doug.

In 1998 Ashley won her second Canadian Grand National Karting Championship. Second was Winnipeg's Ward Imrie (center) and third was Matt Champagne or Fonthill, Ontario.

The original Barbie car, Formula 1200 in 2001.

The second Barbie car, Formula Ford in 2002-2003.

Along with the Barbie stock car, Ashley will drive this Barbie Super-Touring car in 2007.