Rev your engines and get out your old Commodores because the second season of Australia's Best Street Racer is here, and it's taking life one block at a time.
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The YouTube series, created by Dylan Hesp and Michael O'Neill, is shot entirely in Launceston and features Launceston's beloved blockie route, as well as the night-time antics of young people in regional Australia.
The show follows an 18-year-old street racer taking out his mum's 1994 Holden Barina as he attempts to makes friends, modify his car and pick up women, all in the hopes of earning his place as Australia's best street racer.
After the success of the first series, which reached 1.5 million views, the comedy series is back with a second season, titled 2 Street 2 Racer. The six-episode series was supported by Screen Australia and Screen Tasmania and produced by One Stone Pictures.
Hesp said the concept of the show came about because the co-creators both grew up in Launceston and saw the potential for humour in showcasing the blockie route for a wider audience.
The pair were filming mockumentaries and created a sketch that did well online. From there, Australia's Best Street Racer was born.
"The analytics say that 50 per cent of our audience is overseas. I think anywhere there are 18-year-olds and P-plates and mums' cars, it's a rite of passage," O'Neill said.
After the success of the first season, and all the comments asking what was next for the loveable hoon, it was clear a second season was needed.
"Creatively we weren't finished with Street Racer," Hesp said.
Compared to the first season where the main character was mostly on his own, in the second season he is paired with another person in the blockie route world each episode.
"It's hard when you come back to do a second season because you don't want to do the same thing you have previously done, but you don't want to stray too far from what people latched onto," O'Neill said.
"We always want the concept [of adventures] to be somewhat relatable ... but because it's a comedy we take a relatable concept and dial it up a notch or ten."
In shows such as Street Racer, the car that features is arguably a main character in its own right. The co-creators purchased a $300 Barina from "out the back of Sheffield" for the show.
"It's a beautiful beast we bring out every now and then when it's time to film," O'Neill said.
For fans of the show, the co-creators feel they are not yet done with the antics of Street Racer, and all signs point to more adventures in the future.
"We are so proud of how distinctly Tasmanian and Launceston our show is. We love that we can tell a regional story to a huge audience," Hesp said.
To watch the show, search for Australia's Best Street Racer on YouTube.
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Dana Anderson
On a Friday night you may see me at the theatre, a festival, an exhibition, or in the corner of one of my favourite establishments reading a novel. So, it makes sense I am the arts and what's on reporter for The Examiner. To contact me about a story please send an email to dana.anderson@examiner.com.au
On a Friday night you may see me at the theatre, a festival, an exhibition, or in the corner of one of my favourite establishments reading a novel. So, it makes sense I am the arts and what's on reporter for The Examiner. To contact me about a story please send an email to dana.anderson@examiner.com.au
