Fellow Motorist: Ken Hooi, tuning expert and member of the Shane Ang Racing team
From reprogramming engine control units to competing in endurance races, Ken Hooi, 50, has spent decades immersed in the automotive world. We speak to Ken about his first car, his favourite Honda, the finer points of car tuning, and why simply making it to the chequered flag can be a victory in itself.
This Fellow Motorist story is part of a series featuring the racing drivers from the Motorist-supported Shane Ang Racing team, a group of Singapore's best drivers who battle it out on track in some of Asia's toughest motorsport competitions.
How long have you been a motorist?
Since 1994.
Do you remember your first car?
A Honda Civic.
Out of all the cars you've owned, which is your favourite?
The 2003 Honda Accord Euro-R. VTEC just kicked in, yo!
What would be your number one dream car?
The Porsche 911 R.
What do you like and dislike about being a motorist in Singapore?
I like that the roads are well organised and mostly in good condition.
Besides the high cost of owning a car, I dislike how many drivers unintentionally tailgate. They follow the car in front too closely, without any aggression or sense of urgency. It just seems to be their natural following distance, and this leads to a lot of chain collisions on the expressways.
Ken and his track-prepped Subaru WRX STi at Sepang International Circuit for a time attack event in 2015.
How long have you been tuning cars, and how did you get started in the industry?
I started in early 2004. A good friend and co-founder of the tuning business once said, "How hard could it be?"
In a nutshell, we were experimenting with our own cars and trying to make them go faster. Around that time, software that allowed us to reprogram, or reflash, a car's stock ECU started to appear. Back then, if you wanted to tune your car, you had to replace its ECU with an aftermarket performance unit. Reflashing reduced both the cost and time needed to tune a car.
I was a software engineer at the time, so my friend called me up to work on this with him. It started as a hobby, but other motorists soon noticed the results and approached us to work on their cars too. Before long, it had become more than just a side hustle.
I quit my job at the end of 2004, and the rest is history.
What are some important things people might not know about tuning?
It's not just about the horsepower figure. Almost every motorist wants to increase their car's horsepower and make it more responsive and faster. However, we tend to forget that we spend 90% of our time commuting.
Things like how the engine idles, how the car drives at low speeds in a traffic jam, or how it behaves while cruising on the expressway are often overlooked.
I've seen many cases where owners chase a high horsepower target and throw everything at the engine setup, from large "race" camshafts and giant turbos to huge throttle bodies. Bigger is not always better.
Ken posing for a photo at the same time attack event in 2015.
How long have you been racing, and how did you get started?
I've always been a fan of racing. I watched F1 and rallying on TV in the late 1980s.
One month after getting my driving licence, I had the privilege of attending an advanced driving course at the now-defunct Batu Tiga race track in Malaysia. The course taught defensive road driving and car control. I recall that it finished with a few laps around Batu Tiga to practise what we had learnt. I was hooked.
I didn't have the opportunity or money to take part in any form of racing until track days at Pasir Gudang and Sepang started becoming popular in the early 2000s.
In 2004, I was also roped in to tune a car for a Singapore racing team participating in the 12-hour Merdeka Millennium Endurance (MME) race at Sepang. I went on to compete in the MME again in 2006 and 2007.
After that came drag racing, time attack events, and a series of five-lap races held at the end of Traction Circle Club track days.
Ken (leftmost) posing with his teammates, Shane, Aiden, and Kenneth, after winning the 10-hour 2023 Super Endurance Southeast Asia Trophy race.
What has been the most rewarding part of racing for you?
Finishing the race! Of course, finishing on the podium is even better, but simply bringing the car across the finish line validates all the hard work put in by everyone involved.
And what's the most challenging part about being a racing driver?
The lack of money. Racing is expensive.
I've been lucky to have many friends and customers who have lent me their cars to race or sponsored me for my races. I'm very grateful for that.
Ken (rightmost) stands on a podium with Shane Ang (second from right) in a car race in Thailand.
What do you do to relax in between races?
I've never really thought about this. I guess I just chill out in an air-conditioned room and rehydrate as much as possible.
With so many years of experience, what's one piece of advice that you think every racing driver should know?
You must always maintain a positive mindset. Things are never going to be perfect, whether it's the car, the weather, or something else. Just make the best of what you have and never give up.
What would you say is your greatest asset in your racing journey?
Competitiveness. I do get rage-baited quite easily, and that makes me hyper-focused on overtaking the car in front.
What's next for you in your racing journey?
I'll continue racing with SAR in Thailand, budget permitting. Anyone want to sponsor this uncle?
Do you have someone you look up to in the racing world?
I'm a big fan of Ayrton Senna.
What would you say to people who want to race like you?
Start by getting involved. Go karting and attend track days, even if you don't have a car to drive. Go with a friend. Ask nicely, and you can usually get a ride around the track.
You can learn a lot from riding with someone on the circuit.
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