With a passion for motorsports and modern art, Gerald Goh proves that daring to dream can turn passion into reality
We've arranged to meet the 50-something Gerald Goh at the Art District SG gallery he shares with a partner.
The space is a world away from his usual high-octane workspace behind the wheel of a Huracán Super Trofeo Evo II race car, especially when the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia season is in full-on, fast and furious swing.
In contrast to the organised chaos, mechanised mayhem and operatic cacophony of his race-car pit garage, the art gallery is his veritable fortress of solitude, filled with whimsical pieces that bring many of our flights of fancy to life.
Away from the race track, this sanctuary allows for quiet contemplation as he immerses himself in his twin passions of contemporary art and collectible timepieces.
"The artists I've curated resonate with me because of their authenticity and courage. Take Chloe Chai, for example — her works transform memory, intimacy, and relationships into a visual language of organic, dreamlike forms. Even when she experiments with chaos or nostalgia, there's a raw honesty that shines through. Her journey from logistics to fine art also reflects the perseverance I admire, because it is a voice that not only creates beauty, but sparks deeper conversations about life and connection," says Goh.
Interestingly, I had been following Goh's original "Touge King" blog on Blogspot since 2006, but it wasn't until very recently that I connected the dots and realised it was the same person.
Touge is Japanese for “mountain pass.” Touge racing, which originated in Japan, involves high-speed driving on winding mountain roads, often at night.
Way back then, videos of dynamic driving were a rarity, especially in Singapore and Malaysia, so watching his sideways shenanigans in gritty, grainy footage in all its unfiltered glory gave us plenty of salacious satisfaction. It's amazing to see how far he has come from those early years tackling the touge.
Over the course of two decades, Goh has levelled up from carving corners up (and down… and very sideways!) an unnamed hill in Malaysia in his trusty KE30 Toyota Corolla to racing — and holding his own — against the fastest drivers in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia series in the region.
At the time of writing (and after six rounds and 12 races), Goh ended the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia race season on a high note, with a victory at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli and a third overall finish.
"I can't believe you still remember the touge king blog," he says. "Touge King was my grassroots start. Back then, I was documenting mountain runs, sharing thoughts on cars and being part of the local community. It was powered by pure enthusiasm: late nights, raw roads and storytelling. Today, I have gone from blogging to competing internationally in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia race series. The stage is bigger, the competition sharper, and the stakes higher, but the essence is still the same — the love of driving."
How did he get sucked into the world of cars? "From a young age, I was fascinated by how machines could stir emotions," he says. "Cars weren't just transport for me, because they were a blend of engineering, design and identity. Growing up around the JDM (Japan Domestic Model) scene in Malaysia and the USA, I fell in love with the rawness of driving. It wasn't about horsepower numbers, it was about feeling completely connected to the road — that passion never left me."
If anything, this early start in his passion for such visceral machines also means that he is properly grounded in both the grassroots level as well as the loftier spheres of motorsports disciplines. Casual petrolheads who are outside of the enthusiast circle tend to think of it as "Us versus Them" when it comes to continental versus JDM.
However, I feel that a true petrolhead can embrace all kinds of machines, not only because they are different sides of the same coin, but also because it is ultimately the individuals who form the foundation of tight-knit car communities.
Goh nods in agreement, "A true petrolhead doesn't see borders. It's not Japan versus Europe, or Conti versus JDM. It's all about the soul of the machine, and my own garage reflects this. I have raw JDM legends like the AE86 and RX-7 alongside the European icons from Porsche and Lamborghini. Each represents a different philosophy, but they all share the same heartbeat. They make you feel alive when you drive them."
If anything, Goh has not abandoned his roots. "Grassroots-level motorsports serves as a foundation for this hobby. Without late nights spent tuning cars, local track days and a community sharing knowledge, none of us would have ever reached the professional grids today. I still maintain my JDM collection, just as I still enjoy the simplicity of driving a stripped-out car without data screens or engineers. Grassroots racing keeps me grounded, because I regard it as the heartbeat of motorsports."
Unfortunately, due to the prohibitive costs involved in putting (or keeping) a car on the road, Singapore is one of the worst places to indulge in one's automotive fantasies.
"Space and regulations in Singapore make it tough to curate a collection of fun cars. A lot of my collection is in Malaysia, which includes the AE86, RX-7, rally-prepped Evo 3 and Celica ST185. I also have a Porsche 911 SC Targa, a Ferrari 360 Modena, and of course, the Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo race-car that I campaign in Asia. In fact, I have my eye on the Temerario Super Trofeo race-car right now to race in the 2027 season, but this will depend on whether I can get an allocation! Every car represents a chapter of my journey," he tells us.
For someone who has indulged in so many big boy toys, what are Goh's grail pieces with regards to cars, watches and art? "Car: The Ferrari F40," he smiles. "It is the ultimate man-versus-machine car — raw, turbocharged and unforgiving. Taming it would be incredible, but with prices around US$3 million ($3.9 million), it is no longer as practical for the road. For real-world winding-road drives, I still find joy in my KE70 or the BMW 1M."
"For me, the formula is simple: rear-wheel drive, manual and lightweight," says Goh. "Most people love the AE86, and I respect that, but I always found the rear hatch and glass a bit heavy. I prefer a stripped-out Toyota KE70 (pictured above) with a 4A-GE 20V engine. It's light, playful, and with the right camber and speed, the tail just eases out. You can steer it with the throttle, which to me is one of the greatest feelings in driving. The BMW 1 Series M Coupe gives me a similar vibe. Yes, it's heavier, but it delivers that playful rear-drive balance that makes winding roads a joy."
"As far as timepieces are concerned, I already own one of my grail watches, the Vacheron Constantin 222 in steel. Another piece I like is the Daniel Roth Papillon, created by the master on the 10th anniversary of his brand. I have the white gold version, the case shape is distinctive, and the layered dial is simply amazing," he beams.
"In terms of art, I love the works of Zao Wou-Ki,” Goh continues. “Especially his green splashes and abstract landscapes. His paintings capture energy, movement and a controlled chaos that feels very much like racing itself."
How have these hobbies evolved into a business for him? He says: "It began as passion, but evolved into business. Watches, art and cars are all storytelling forms that capture heritage, creativity and identity. I collect them because I love them, but I also built businesses around them, like WatchSecure and my art gallery. To me, passion done properly is business."
