V8 Ute Fan Marries in Pit Lane during Bathurst 1000 event

MEDIA RELEASE: WEDNESDAY, 9TH OCTOBER 2013

V8 Ute Fan MARRIES in Pit Lane during the Bathurst 1000 event

Left to Right: Nichole, India, Steve Peach, Shane Clarke, Sean Currie & Isaac Clarke

Australia’s Number One V8 Ute Racing Fan, Shane Clarke, tied the knot to fiancé India Anderson - Clift at Mount Panorama’s Pit Lane, today (Wednesday, 9th October) as a lead up to the Round 6 of the Auto One V8 Ute Racing Series – protected by ARMOR ALL.

The Clarkes celebrated their partnership in front of other racing fans and volunteers, as well as V8 Ute and V8 Supercar drivers. The bride and her two bridesmaids, Angela Currie and Nichole Webb, were escorted to Pit Lane in V8 Race Utes Warren “Wake-up” Millets, Kris “Killa” Walton’s and India in Craig Dontas’ Thirsty Camel Ute.

“I’ve been a fan of Craig Dontas since I was little and thought I’d make the request and see how I went, I’m really excited right now,” she said before entering Dontas’ Ute.

Clarke’s 7 year old son Isaac was the page boy and the two were married by former Jesus Racing Team member (and in-house preacher) “Revhead” Reverend Steve Peach.

Clarke was joined by his track Dad, Bruce Webb, and his mate Sean Currie who was his best man. Currie was diagnosed with prostate cancer (which later moved to his lungs) and he wanted to make this a special event, not just for himself but also his best mate and his new Bride.

“If you combined my muscle and energy with his brain - we would be the perfect man,” he said with a grin. “We met at a Rally in Batemans Bay back in 2008 and have been friends ever since. We only live 600m away from each other in Griffith, so we see each other almost every day. Sean has cancer now so this was as much for him as it is for me,” said Clarke.

Clarke has overcome great adversary in life - as the head Chef in a Canberra restaurant, he was electrocuted by a fault in a Chest Freezer in 2006, and almost died from the incident. He was left with Acute and chronic post-traumatic stress disorder, only four months after his young son Isaac was born, and has been waiting for an insurance claim to come through ever since.

“I talked to my lawyers and they have said another three months, however the Ute series gives me something to look forward to and keeps me going,” he said.

“Isaac is now seven and I have not been able to work, trust me I wanted to get an income, however I’m still working with my lawyers to resolve the insurance claim. When it's over I'll have enough money, but till then India is our income. She is the best thing I have,” said the Griffith (NSW) based father.

A few months following the accident, Clarke tried to return to full-time work trying his hand at the local fruit and vegetable shop and although this wasn’t successful this is where he met his lovely wife to be.

“She was a checkout chick and I worked stacking the fruit and veg. That was in 2006. I proposed to India 12 months later in a restaurant I had closed for the night just for us, and I am glad she said yes,” explained Clarke.

With a passion for motorsport, the two have been attending race events together since they met. Clarke started volunteering at events in 2005, firstly in Rally and then at various V8 Supercar events, and most recently with the V8 Ute Series at the Sandown 500.

The 36 year old has been a fan of the action packed V8 Ute Racing Series since they first hit the track back in 2001, and after the Bathurst round in 2009, Clarke decided to tattoo his back with the V8 Ute logo.

“It was after a great weekend of being able to talk to the Ute drivers, teams and I felt like I finally belonged to something worthwhile. I was not doing so well and needed something to really get into, so watching the guys working all night in the garages and being able to help gave me a sense of worth and something to focus on,” said Clarke.

The Bride and Groom couldn’t be happier with the day. After throwing the bouquet off the pit lane podium, they received a present (Bride & Groom Erebus Bears) from Erebus Owner Betty Klimenko before driving away in their Sieders Racing decked out Golf Buggy..
“I’m so happy right now. I’m now married to the woman of my dreams and I’m just ecstatic. She looks absolutely amazing and I’m just over the moon,” said Clarke who made his emotions known when he greeted the bride on the red carpet.

Although Clarke will be volunteering all weekend, he and his wife India are looking forward to enjoying a romantic weekend watching the V8 Utes at Mount Panorama, before celebrating with a reception at their campsite following the Bathurst 1000 on Sunday as India promised to “love your (Shane’s) motorsport and V8 Ute obsession,” in her vows.

ENDS

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