Dreams, as a matter of fact, do come true.
Just look at how far the Rajah brothers have gotten with theirs.
Bobby Nitro had a catch-up with Raziek Rajah of the Razor Custom Car Show. Raziek has a simple saying in his life: “If your dreams don’t scare you, they are not big enough.”
Well, the Razor Custom Car Show (RCCS) franchise has certainly turned out to be one for the record books.
Three years ago, Cape Town drifters were called to a meeting. The plan was straightforward: two brothers, Raziek and Zaeed Rajah, had decided to change the drifting scene forever. The plan was to change the conventional grid format of competition to a race-up format. Drift Outlaws was born, as was drifting at Fisantekraal.
Raziek explains: “The Drift Outlaw list is comprised of 10 drivers who, at every event, challenge the driver ahead on the list, and in this way move up the list. The rest of the drifters are in what’s known as the Sharkpool, where the highest qualifier on any given race day is offered a golden ticket to challenge number 10 on the GHC Racing Drift Outlaw List.”
All of this seemed interesting to Bobby, who was at the meeting, but the big question was, would it work? The answer, three years later is, they have produced a recipe that has gotten drifters inspired, competitive and ready to push it to the edge at every track meet.
Drifter Tommie Beirowski puts it straight, saying: “Without Drift Outlaws, drifting in the Western Cape would not exist.”
Shane Green adds: “This was a game changer from the beginning. The racemaster deserves a gold medal.”
Raziek took the concept further in his decision to film all of this craziness and produce it into a reality TV show. He was now in the dual role of executive producer as well as racemaster. So why take on such a project? He says: “I felt that South African motorsport has so much to offer, but the majority of people don’t get to see it. Everyone talks about return on investment, but I felt as an industry we needed something that would entice big sponsors to jump aboard.
“My dream was to show the passion, aspiration and the honest story of a drifter, drag racer and custom car builder. I employed 14 camera men and the rest is history.”
RCCS has been broadcast on mainstream TV more than 700 times, reaching 44 million people across various platforms, and growing in stature and content that has even excited international audiences; impressive stats in a South African context.
When Raziek stated in that inaugural Drift Outlaw meeting that he wanted to “blow this out of the park”, he did just that. The accolades achieved for the drifting have been unprecedented and trendsetting.
Case in point: The FIA, the most prestigious motorsport authority in the world, stages one official drift event each year. Drift Outlaws was invited to attend the 2019 Intercontinental Drifting Cup in Tokyo, making the outfit the first drift fraternity to take an SA drifter to this level of motorsport. Juan Stemmet, who won the right to represent the country, said at the time: “When I came to that first meeting, I thought here we go again, pipe dreams. Today, I still can’t believe I represented SA in Tokyo.”
RCCS has managed to provide a sound platform to attract top-level sponsors. Show organisers have facilitated two title sponsors for Drift Outlaws that are backing the valiant initiative to change the playing field of drifting. Total SA – Total Excellium and the City of Cape Town have applauded the initiative and have assisted RCCS in its drive to create a platform for SA drifting to shine. The support provided by the City to motorsport is admirable and truly appreciated by the motorsport community. The City has always been promoting safe and legal racing and has proved to be a municipality that can be admired for their efforts.
Alderman JP Smith says: “Cape Town has a long-standing and thriving motorsport culture with fans throughout the metro. Our goal is to ensure that we provide as many opportunities for motorsports enthusiasts to have events where they can enjoy the sport legally and in a safe environment. In addition, Drift Outlaws adds to Cape Town’s portfolio as a potential premier motorsports events destination and we are proud to support an event that puts our city on the map.”
Other sponsors and partners are Acom, Wheels24, eNCA, E-Motoring, Bobby Nitro, Showtime Magazine, Ignition TV, Sunshine Studio, Good Hope Tyres and RaceSA, Red Bull, Raceart and VP Racing Fuels.
Total SA didn’t only jump aboard with the City in sending Drift Outlaws to Tokyo, they hold two cars in the GHC Racing Drift Outlaw series, with Juan Stemmet repping Total Excellium and Tommie Beirowski repping Total Quartz.
Total SA regional manager Renier Pieterse says: “These boys are making South Africa proud with their tenacity for growing motorsport.”
Asked what drove him to stay this road, Raziek replies: “Without the support of my family and friends none of this would have been possible. I salute the drifters and partners that stuck to the path. The thought of giving up crossed my mind, but my son was my inspiration. It’s been a rocky road, but it has all been worth it in the end.”