A graceful slide into a corner at around 200 kilometres an hour is just another night behind the wheel for this Queensland race car driver. Ben Barnes' burnouts and epic drifts are taking Australian race tracks by storm.
As the smell of rubber burning overpowers the crowd, and plumes of smoke fill the air, Ben Barnes throws his turbo-charged drift car sideways into a corner at 200 kilometres an hour.
"It started in Japan with all the young hooligans going up in the hills — out of sight and out of mind — just by throwing their cars around."Barnes is currently travelling across Australia competing in the Drift All Star Series, with the "revhead from Rocky" now turning heads for his natural ability.
People as young as 12 years old can compete in a motorkhana event, giving young drivers access to a low-cost form of motorsport in Australia and New Zealand.Barnes' Nissan Silvia may look like a normal race car from the outside, but underneath the bright orange and purple livery it's a purpose-built machine."Some of the circuits we get up to 140 and 160 kilometres an hour," Barnes said.
He said drivers were judged on different criteria from speed and fluidity to the drift angle and style, while in twin battles, one vehicle was in the lead and the one behind it was the chaser. "It's a pretty good gauge as to what I need to do and it's good if we go to a different track that I've never been to before," he said.
"He used to always have black cars and he had a Humber Super Snipe and when the Queen visited over here in 1954, she actually rode in grandad's car around Rockhampton.""We're always there along for the ride and absolutely love it," he said.Ben Barnes said there had been plenty of thrills and spills along the way, but he wouldn't change his life in the fast lane.
Motorsport Cars Driving Nissan Steering Burn Out Throttle Smoke Revhead Turbo Simulator Ben Barnes Drift All Star Series
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Trouble-plagued Nine Entertainment to axe 200 jobs amid tough advertising market7NEWS brings you the latest local news from Australia and around the world. Stay up to date with all of the breaking sport, politics, entertainment, finance, weather and business headlines. Today's news, live updates & all the latest breaking stories from 7NEWS.
Read more »
Nine to cut up to 200 jobs as ‘economic headwinds’ biteExecutives from Nine’s broadcast, publishing and radio divisions are discussing the extent of cuts with staff as the company seeks $30 million in savings across its operations.
Read more »
Nine to cut up to 200 jobs as ‘economic headwinds’ biteExecutives from Nine’s broadcast, publishing and radio divisions to inform staff of the extent of the cuts as company seeks $30 million in savings across its operations.
Read more »
Nine to cut up to 200 jobs as ‘economic headwinds’ biteExecutives from Nine’s broadcast, publishing and radio divisions to inform staff of the extent of the cuts as company seeks $30 million in savings across its operations.
Read more »
ASX 200 LIVE: ANZ-Suncorp $4.9b deal approved, IAG jumps on reinsurance dealShares gain 0.7pc. Suncorp adds 3pc. Adore Beauty in $25m acquisition. Wall St edges higher. US inflation, French elections ahead. Follow here.
Read more »
Goat abattoir reopening attracts 200 workers and a boom for Bourke businessesThe outback New South Wales community of Bourke celebrates the good fortunes of its previously troubled local abattoir which processes sheep and goats.
Read more »