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A GOLD Coast couple has established a new venture in the thrilling motorsport of drifting.
The activity, where the cars slide around the track with a continual loss of traction at the rear wheels, has gained extensive popularity in recent years after emerging from Japan.
Partners Cecilia Kauhanen (pictured) and Eugene Arendsen established the business in 2009 after one year’s research and development.
Arendsen is a qualified stunt driver who has worked for Warner Brothers Movie World and on the set of various films.
The business is focused on offering corporate drift racing days at the Ipswich Motorway as well as teaching responsible driving at schools.
Kauhanen agrees that drifting has a reputation as a “hoons” sport, but she and Arendsen hope to change that.
“It is not designed for hoons; it is for more experience adults who are looking for something different than perhaps doing a hot lap in a V8,” she says.
“It is a precision driving experience where you are trained under the instruction of a qualified stunt driver.”
The company turned over $150,000 last year and Kauhanen is aiming to double that. It already has more corporate days booked in than last year.
“It has been an amazing response since we launched the corporate side of the business,” says Kauhanen.
The school education aspect of the business is close to the heart of both Kauhanen and Arendsen. They have developed a “Survive 25” driving program for schools.
“The kids think they are invincible, they think if they spin out they can just drift out of it, but it doesn’t matter what you do, you cannot initiate a drive in your common family car,” she says.
“You only put yourself and your friends and others you don’t know in serious danger.”
Kauhanen promises On Track Drift uses good-quality recycled tyres and, once they have been used for drift, the rubber is reused to make floor mats and other accessories.
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