MOUNT Gambier’s Valley Lakes precinct will be a hive of activity this weekend for the Drift Challenge Australia cash kings and super matsuri event.
The event kicks off today and runs through until Sunday, with some of the best drifters in the country expected to compete.
YouTube sensation Adam LZ – whose drifting exploits are watch by countless fans across the globe – will also be in town as a guest of the event.
One driver who will look to claim the overall honours is Mount Gambier’s own Tom Hemmings.
Hemmings will push his S14 Nissan Silvia to the limit, with the main aim to claim the $10,000 prize for the winner.
His car packs a big punch, with around 800 horsepower from its three-litre turbo-charged engine.
Hemmings has owned the car for around a year now and has come to terms with its nuances, including the sequential gearbox.
But it has been a whirlwind ride for the Limestone Coast driver, who only started in the sport three years ago when the first event came to the Valley Lakes.
It is fair to say Hemmings was hooked from there, but he said it started before that.
“I have been hooked since before I even drifted, just watching it, seeing what it was all about,” he said.
“As soon as I drove a car I wanted to do something motorsport.”
But while the sport all looks good from a distance, it bit back on Hemmings’ first attempt.
“The first lap I did I crashed it straight into the wall,” he said.
“It is all about controlling the uncontrollable.
“The car is out of control, but still doing what you want it to do.
“I ended up qualifying in that event out of 60-plus drivers.”
To qualify Hemmings needed to reach the top 32 competitors, which he achieved, but was then knocked out.
However, since then he has shown plenty of ability.
“I made it to second in Tasmania last year,” he said.
“I actually finished fourth in the national championship last year, with one round here, one in Tasmania and one in Brisbane.”
The sport means Hemmings covers plenty of distance just to compete in the events, but he said he goes to as many as he can.
Clearly there is one goal for Hemmings this weekend.
“The ultimate goal is to take first place in cash kings and take home $10,000,” he said.
“That is a massive incentive.
“There are some awesome drivers coming, but I think we can run with the best of them.”
As for the venue, Hemmings said it is quite unique, while the tight confines add their own challenge.
“I have seen tracks in different countries, I have driven in America, I have driven most tracks in Australia and you will not beat this one,” he said.
“It is so different.
“I have met the barriers a few times, but that is all a part of it I guess.”
While it appears Mother Nature is set to play her had this weekend, Hemmings is not too concerned.
“It does make it harder, but at the end of the day we are all professional drivers,” he said.
“We have driven there in torrential rain.
“If we cannot deal with it there is something wrong.”
Today will see practice runs, including non-competitive drivers, while tomorrow will see a similar format, with an expression session included later in the day.
Sunday will see the main attraction as the top 32 drivers battle it out for the overall honours, followed by a final expression session to entertain the crowd.
