Racing rose

PROFILE
Name: Rosalind Choo (Rose)
Age: 28
Occupation: General Insurance Agent
Current ride: Mercedes-Benz SLK200K
Hobbies: Tracking, watching Formula One, badminton
Driving licence attained: 2001 (passed on first attempt)

If a woman said she just spent $10,150, what comes to your mind first? Purchases at Louis Vuitton, a two-week-long vacation in Paris or a spa and beauty course? The answer - neither.

Rosalind Choo, 28, insurance agent, spent $10,150 on things like TEIN Super Compact, GReddy e-manage Ultimate, TRD header and C-1 Progress rear anti-roll bar instead. While these are familiar to guys who are into car modifications, it certainly is foreign to your typical girl.

Quite obviously, Choo isn't your ordinary I-want-the-latest-branded-handbag girl. While the typical girl hangs out at boutique stores at Paragon or Takashimaya, Choo hangs out at garages and workshops like ST Powered, Supreme Motors and SLK Benzline. Spending $10,150 on her previously-owned Toyota Vios is just the tip of the iceberg.

Having upgraded to a Mercedes-Benz SLK200 cabriolet recently, Choo has splurged about $6,000 on AMG rims and new sport tyres for it. That's not all - she intends to spend another $20,000 for coilovers, a new brake kit, headers and tunings, exhaust system, suspension and more.

"I seldom spend on stuff like designer bags or shoes, I rather use the money to improve the handling and power of my car," said Choo who got her swanky new ride on New Year's Eve.

Racer Girl

Besides planning modifications for her car and insurance plans for her clients, Choo is also active on the track. As a committee member of SGTrackies - a local tracking enthusiast club - Choo regularly travels up to Sepang International Circuit.

It all started four years ago when her friends from the local Vios forum suggested Choo to try her hand at tracking.

"I was hooked the first time and from there, I never failed to attend any of the Sepang track days that SGTrackies organised. The intensity of modifications to my car started increasing from that point too," said Choo whose affinity with tracking came rather naturally.

To date, Choo has invested about $20,000 solely on her tracking interest. This $20,000 includes preparations and modifications to the car, and each visit to the track will set her back about $500 to $1,000.