For nine years running, the State of Origin drifting trophy has been handed to Australia's best southern drivers.
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But all of that changed over the weekend, when a 25-year-old Katherine resident took to the track to claim the Territory's first victory.
Taking no note of the hushed whispers from drivers running expensively fitted out cars, Jake O'Mara humbly striked out driver after driver in a round robin competition which saw four pools of five cars.
"For O'Mara to come up and stick it to some of the best drivers in Australia is a testament to his skill," Top End Drift Association clarke of course, Billy Billsborrow said.
"He's such a humble kid, he had no sponsors, drove in what you could call a bottom tiered car, and beat the likes of Mitch Larner - it was a pretty big win for him and the Territory."
The weekend's competition, at the Hidden Valley Raceway in Darwin, was one of the biggest O'Mara had competed in since he took up the sport in 2013.
Up against 22 drivers from South Australia and Tasmania, the state verse state battle he competed in has come a long way from the long-gone car-park days as drivers travel hundreds of kilometres to race in the NT.
Originally from Canberra, and having lived in Katherine since the beginning of the year, O'Mara doesn't get much practice.
The sport is notoriously expensive to keep up, with the cost of maintaining tires, and engines, a constant battle.
The closest track is more than 300km away.
"I was shocked my little powered car was able to take on drivers from down south who are at such a high caliber," O'Mara said.
"I go out to have fun, to chase the rush. Winning was an added bonus and a huge surprise."
O'Mara is one of many in the NT who use the regular Top End Drift Association competitions as an alternative to drifting back streets.
Going back about 15 years, the sound of engines would fill the night's quiet as up to 100 cars raced on back streets around Darwin, in other NT locations where tracks are difficult to reach it is still happening, albeit less often.
"It was an issue in the NT but the (Top End Drift Association) is making racing and competitions regular and safer so people don't feel like they need to do it on the down-low," Mr Billsborrow said.
The association is working to secure its own track, independent to the Hidden Valley Motorsports Complex currently being used, as the niche sport becomes more popular in the NT.
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