VOLUME 11 FEATURE
Words by Leah Morris
Art by Fraser Daniell
2 MIN READ
It’s what drives you to peer into open bonnets at car meets, or take laps of your local hotspot – clocking the cars on a Saturday night. Leaping off the mark when your light turns green just to watch the revs climb. Wishlisting yet another body kit on your lunch break.
You seek that particular flavour of adrenaline that comes from mastering control on the track; intentionally losing it (if only for a split second) only to regain it at the critical moment. The calm that follows. To some, it’s just another sport. To others, meditation or more – a religion.
It’s why the GAZOO RACING CLUB created the Club Code, a guiding set of principles to unite us on what matters most. This is how we GAZOO.
#1 The wheel gives you responsibility, respect it.
With great horsepower comes great responsibility, and nothing matters more than your safety, your passenger’s safety, plus spectators and anyone else who might come close to your vehicle. When you take the driver’s seat, you’re accountable for over a tonne of moving metal. Respect this responsibility and others will respect you.
#2 The car is an extension of you, feel it.
When you engage the throttle, that surge across the powerband continues in the form of adrenaline to your heart. This feeling is by design. GAZOO Racing engineers work with master drivers like Akio Toyoda (Morizo), taking lessons from the track to build ever-better cars. When you drive a GR vehicle, you’re living their legacy. Make the most of it.
#3 The road will speak to you, listen.
Your vehicle’s telemetry can help you understand your performance metrics. But for those who love intuitive driving, it’s a chance to engage all your senses and get into a state of absolute flow. Stop thinking and simply feel.
The ability to notice feedback from your vehicle and adjust your technique accordingly is an acquired skill, and you can hone it to become a little better every day (in Japan, this is called ‘kaizen’ – the art of continuous improvement). The road is an inspiring teacher and the more time you spend with it, the more intuitive a driver you will become.
#4 We’re bound by passion, ignite it.
Owning a great car without sharing the fun is like backyard totem tennis without an opponent. Have you ever raced wheel-to-wheel, engines buzzing a symphony like a swarm of angry bees? Danced with another car in a graceful twin drift? Co-driven a rally stage? While not all of us will take the sport to this level, you can still ignite your passion – whether it’s getting down to a track event or show and shine, tinkering in the garage with mates, taking on strangers in a sim race or introducing someone new to the joys of motorsport.
#5 Get out and drive.
‘Waku Doki’ (heart-pumping adrenaline) is a way of life – the only way to experience it is to get out there. Remember the Code, have fun and stay safe.
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