Michael Joosten: Drifting, JDM Icons & Chasing the High!

Episode 54 - This week, we sit down with Michael Joosten, a man who's been in the thick of the drift scene for years. From his first car and nostalgia for Auto Trader magazines to competing on the track and experiencing Ebisu Circuit in Japan, Michael shares what fuels his passion for motorsport.

We dive into the evolution of drifting in WA, the realities of building and rebuilding engines, and the insane prices of JDM icons today. But it’s not just about cars—Michael opens up about mental health, family life and his experience growing up, and how priorities shift as you age.

Plenty of laughs, stories, and insights in this one! Hit play and join the ride. 🚗💨 #KeepWADriftAlive

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Chapters

• 1:14 Episode Intro - Hey Michael, Hustlin'
• 3:35 Things break
• 8:56 A bit of context - how Michael started drifting.
• 13:00 Japan travel story - went for Ebisu (2014)
• 21:50 Auto Trader magazine - nostalgia, First car story
• 26:19 Comp re-cap and experience
• 36:35 Circuit Racing/Time attack, World Attack
• 43:40 Adrenalin and chasing that high
• 51:15 Kids change things
• 1:00:15 Prices of JDM icons these days
• 1:04:50 Respect to the aussie cars (AUDM)
• 1:08:15 Burn out?
• 1:11:05 Judging drift competitions
• 1:16:38 Keep WA drift alive - the behind the scenes
• 1:21:55 Rebuilding an engine 101, Mechanics get paid decent $
• 1:26:05 Career choices, old PCs and nostalgia
• 1:29:49 Growing up and rough times.
• 1:33:38 You learn through adversity
• 1:40:06 Excersise, mental health talk
• 1:44:55 Should add video to the pod?
• 1:49:55 When to renovate / keeping the house presentable
• 1:56:25 Selling "cool cars", different hobbies
• 2:08:13 Shoutout to the supporters & Episode Wrap up