Multiple Drift Cars Destroyed In Devastating Fire At Irish Car Culture Hub

The Engine Block, an automotive culture venue in Dublin, Ireland that was home to car and motorbike dealers and other independent businesses, has been destroyed in a huge fire. Nobody was hurt in the blaze, which started on Tuesday night and which RTÉ attributes to a gas explosion. It took 22 firefighters and six fire engines to extinguish the fire.

The venue, located on the Rosemount Business Park in the north of the city, was established two years ago “to create an all-inclusive for like-minded enthusiasts,” according to an Instagram post from Deane Motors, a classic car dealer located there.

Dave Egan, owner of Drift Games, a pro drifting team also based at The Engine Block, told Sunday World: “It’s all gone. Everything… Our HQ, all of our cars, and memories have disappeared forever.”

A number of drift and show cars belonging to Drift Games were destroyed in the fire, including a Lamborghini Gallardo, C6 Chevrolet Corvette, Mk5 Toyota Supra, R32 Nissan Skyline GT-R, Chevrolet C10 pickup, Mazda RX-7 and MX-5, BMW 633csi and three Nissan Silvias.

Other businesses located in The Engine Block included Franklin Motorcycles, whose Instagram post of the aftermath of the blaze shows several burnt-out motorbikes, as well as car detailing and interior trimming businesses, a clothing store, a cafe and a car transportation business. It’s not known if any of these businesses lost vehicles in the fire.

It’s unclear at this stage where The Engine Block, or the businesses located in it, will head next, but the fire has resulted in an outpouring of support from the car community in Ireland, the UK and beyond. Drift Games has already reopened its merch store and launched a new T-shirt, bearing the slogan ‘We will never give up.’