WHY isn't there many (if not any) famous Singaporean RACERS?

[Liquidh]

You've plenty of japs, causcasians of course, but WHY isn't there many famous singaporean racers?

 

The reason I can think of is the culture, cost of cars (such that only the richer can dabble in these stuff), and probably a lack of racing places...

 

Any, semi-pro/pro RACER bros out there explain this phenomena?

[Merry]

maybe due to the constraint of roads lo.... sum more onli speeeeed abit onli kana fine n deduct points.... who will wan to do it.

[Jiayong]

There was one. Very famous.

 

So famous that when he raced for Nissan, Nismo japan would come down to tune, TRD for toyota, Spoon for honda.

 

But sadly he has passed away during a accident during competition.

 

Although a local, like u mention, no race track, thus all his acheivements were overseas...alot with our neighbours up north.

[Elfenstar]

in addition to whats been said is $$$. You need lots of $$$ to start racing, to be able to get famous enough for sponsors.

 

Strangly enough go karting is also very important as a lot of the top drivers started up with professional go kart competitions when too young to drive.

[Merry]

there's still one driving S15 one rite?? i heard my fren said that he actually learnt his driving techniques fr japan..........

[Evildoer]

1) facilities/support - no legal race track in sg etc

2) mentality - parent say must be doc or lawyer

3) cost - the tyres alone can kill

4) last n most important point = i decided on a 9-5 job

Edited February 12, 2007 by Evildoer

[Skyw4lker]

u registered today and this is your 1st post..are you that S15's friend or xxxxxxx himself?

[Heelntoe]

There are ppl who wana get involved. There are sg teams participating in the Merdeka Millenium Race held yearly in Sepang, not counting the few that do the malaysian super series short races and D1 malaysia. The problem in sg is that there's no proper track. The logistics of racing in malaysia is overwhelming, not counting the mind numbing 3 hr drive up just to get our kicks. so many are put off by that.

 

To run a purely track only car is actually not expensive. Strip away the coe and tax, the body shell and parts are no too costly. The gov regulations don't allow us to do this easily and even if it is allowed, we have to bloody trailer it up to sepang or PG just to run it.

 

The possibility of a track being built in Tuas was raised sometime back, and this gave hope to many in the local scene. With a convenient home venue, the local scene can develop, and local engineering expertise be built up. but sadly, there's no news of it anymore, just leaving the possibility of some glitzy F1 street race, where the show flies in for a weekend of racing, before F-ing off. Good for tourism and glamour, but does absolutely nothing for developing local talent.

[Jiayong]

he must mean Ivan from imperial is it?

 

Ivan learnt drifting techniques in japan if i rem correctly guess. Very popular guy in drift scene.

 

 

But the racer i thot the thread starter meant was more like track driving. Those Sepang and Pasir gudang kind.

 

So far, i have not heard of any other....

[Heelntoe]

Got other s'poreans in d1 malaysia wat, like jensen, chromas etc. The point is that in race driving, be it drift or grip or rally or watever, to really improve only a small part depends on talent (machine must be sorted out also). you have to pratice and keep going at it, not say just whack on one sticker and can drift like fujiwala oredi.

 

if we got a track and a local racing scene (proper sanctioned one and not OG or 40 tiang), enthusiasts can compete in the class which they're financially comfortable in, and the good ones can be singled out. with potential sponsorship they can move on. Malaysia has one make races for cars like kancils and sagas etc and they're not ex to run, and a whole lot of fun to boot, very aggressive and close racing.

[Liquidh]

Yup, you brought in the part about SPONSORSHIP... IT'S EXTREMELY IMPT. I think if people don't get scouted, it's damn hard to grow... I bet there are alot of scouts for the F1 teams (etc...) around in places like Japan, maybe M'sia.... but I doubt there any here in Singapore manz...

 

Sadz... To self sponsor? You've gotta be rich...

[Liquidh]

There was one. Very famous.

 

So famous that when he raced for Nissan, Nismo japan would come down to tune, TRD for toyota, Spoon for honda.

 

But sadly he has passed away during a accident during competition.

 

Although a local, like u mention, no race track, thus all his acheivements were overseas...alot with our neighbours up north.

 

What was his name?

[Koren]

cos of LTA.. cos of Rules.. cos of stupid illegal modifications.. cos we tink track shouldnt be built just becos it'll lose $..

 

cos our car scene is just fuked up..

[Genie47]

I think you are confusing motorsports with regular day-to-day driving.

 

Champions like Schumacher started out when they are young racing in karts. They slowly graduated up the ladder to F1 or whatever.

 

For the rally pros. There are rally clubs all over Europe.

 

If you have noticed, we don't have a track nor a rally club here. So the misconception that speeding on our roads the normal way to racedom. Dead wrong and usually end up dead.

[Guest66]

You're kidding me>?! so many here in MCF.kekekekekeke..........

 

 

 

You've plenty of japs, causcasians of course, but WHY isn't there many famous singaporean racers?

 

The reason I can think of is the culture, cost of cars (such that only the richer can dabble in these stuff), and probably a lack of racing places...

 

Any, semi-pro/pro RACER bros out there explain this phenomena?

[Ghostrider]

Not dun have...but very few only.

 

We have our own WRC hero - Leslie Chang (Took part in a actual WRC event (New Zealand or Australia if I am not wrong in a Vivo RX-R prep by Prodrive)

 

Ringo Chong - Pasir Gudang series. Sponsored E36 and E46 M3 (prep to the max...). Didn't last long cos sponsor pull out half way.

 

Dennis Lian - AFOS 2003 Champion. Half way thru the season also sponsor pull out...struggle thru the rest of the season...but still came out tops.

[Soyammmilk]

There was one. Very famous.

 

So famous that when he raced for Nissan, Nismo japan would come down to tune, TRD for toyota, Spoon for honda.

 

But sadly he has passed away during a accident during competition.

 

Although a local, like u mention, no race track, thus all his acheivements were overseas...alot with our neighbours up north.

 

is he an indian?

[Maxus-MIFA9]

Is not that we don't have but most of them are racing in MY. My friend is one of those racers who would spend weekends racing in MY. He is driving a white Honda CRX with the No. 73.

 

In S'pore, how to race. Licence "gan tong" plus heavy find & jail if caught racing.