ST. GEORGE — Skid marks and burnt rubber paint the asphalt as the Scoundrel Drift Clinic continues to rev up the excitement in St. George.
A member of the drift clinic works on their car at Scoundrel’s Drift Clinic in St. George, Utah, Dec 30, 2023 | Photo by Bridger Palmer, St. George News
Founded just over a year ago last November, the clinic has brought together car and drifting enthusiasts.
Chris Garrett is a seasoned drifter with 13 years of experience under his belt. Training never ends, so he and his team got to work creating a local practice space.
“My team and I travel all over the place,” Garrett told St. George News. “We’re all local here. We really didn’t have anywhere to do this, so I started looking for locations for us to be able to practice.”
Scoundrel Drift Clinic not only caters to seasoned drifters but is also committed to nurturing the next generation of enthusiasts. Although a school wasn’t in the original plans, the need for a local clinic became evident.
“I saw the interest here — there were a lot of younger guys,” he said. “I wanted to give back to the drift community in some way. I feel like the best way to do that is to introduce people to the sport and grow the sport.”
He chose drifting over other motorsports because it is unique and gives an adrenaline rush.
“The most exciting part about drifting is the drifting itself. It’s the most fun you can have in a car,” Garrett said. “I’ve experienced a lot of motorsports, and to be honest, there’s nothing that compares to drifting. It’s the most exciting one there is.”
Scoundrel’s Drift Clinic shows off one of their cars at American Grinders Coffee Shop in St. George, Utah, Dec. 30, 2023 | Photo by Bridger Palmer, St. George News
Garrett said interest is piquing, and he has aspirations for the future beyond the school which may include building even more amenities.
“Hopefully in the future, we expand and grow enough to add a racetrack. I think there’s enough interest that can make that happen,” Garrett said. “I would love to build one here in St. George.
He hinted at the possibility of the track being a joint venture.
“I’ve been talking to some people to make that happen; I think there’s enough interest and there is ample room. So hopefully that is the future,” he said. “But for now, we’re going to keep rocking here.”
For those who may not want to drive but still want to check out the cars, Scoundrel’s Drift Clinic and American Grinder’s coffee shop team up on the last Saturday of every month to host Cars and Coffee from 9 a.m. to noon before heading over to the drift clinic.
There you can check out the inner workings of what makes these cars able to drift with such precision at high speeds. Visit scounderelsdriftclinic on Instagram, driftclinic.com, or drift over to 4041 S River Road in St. George for more information.
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