Her rebuilt 1991 Toyota Hilux became the first Japanese car (and the first mini-truck) to win the Street Machine magazine award — which had 20 finalists — and pocket the $20,000 cash prize.
She has spent 10 years, on a shoestring budget, putting together the Hilux and the award was recognition for an outstanding skillset, which had earned her recognition at Australia’s biggest car shows — Summer Nats and Motorex.
“Jazzy”, as she is known at her Shepparton workplace, was unaware she had won the title after Maskell’s Customs and Classics owner — and her boss — Greg Maskell, told her a “white lie” to keep the presentation a secret.
She arrived at work to find her parents, Chris and Julie Green, several friends and her workmates standing alongside Street Machine magazine journalist Simon Telford.
Jasmine, who hasn’t turned 30 yet, recently became a qualified auto trimmer having exchanged her barista career for a future in the motor industry.
She was featured in the Kyabram Free Press not long after her nomination in the final 20 for the SMOTY award and given a kick along in the public vote by the interest shown from her home-town community.
As for the $20,000 windfall, she said it was the most money she had ever seen and it would be going back into work on the Hilux and her new project — a 1964 Toyota Stout.
The original motor of the Hilux died shortly before one of the car shows and she had to source another motor with high kilometres.
The plan is to replace the motor, add power steering and invest the remainder in the Stout renovation — expected to be another long-term build.
Her partner Michael Warren said it was a close vote as all the contenders were conducting major social-media campaigns.
“We would really like to say thanks to the people in the district who voted for her,” he said.
“After it was in the Free Press there was a lot of people who had voted.”
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