Born in Detroit, MI, and currently residing in San Clemente, CA, Johnny Kanavas has deep roots in the world of motorsports. Growing up in a racing family, he began his journey behind the wheel at a young age, starting with go-karting thanks to his father, who is also a racer. This early exposure ignited his passion for motorsports and set him on a path to pursue a career in driving.

 

With over 25 years of experience, Johnny has honed a diverse skill set that includes racing, testing, development, marketing, team and program management, driver coaching, as well as precision driving. While his primary focus has been road racing, he has also ventured into drifting, off-road racing, and feature film stunt driving.

 

Some of Johnny's notable achievements include being part of the stunt driving team for major films such as Ford v Ferrari and the latest F1 movie. Throughout his career, he has completed numerous stunt and precision driving jobs, often doubling for celebrities. On the competitive racing front, he has participated in various prestigious racing series, including MX-5 Cup, World Challenge, Grand-Am, IMSA, SCCA, NASA, SVRA, HSR, VSCDA, and Formula Drift, driving a wide range of vehicles from Mazda Miatas to Indy Lights cars.

 

In addition to his racing credentials, Johnny has extensive coaching and instructing experience. He has worked with several driving programs, manufacturers, and defensive driving courses, including the BMW Performance Center West and the Ford Performance Racing School at Miller Motorsports Park, where he served as Lead Instructor. Currently, he holds the position of Chief Instructor at the Porsche Experience Center in Los Angeles.

 

Johnny's coaching spans a broad spectrum of clients, from amateur racers to professionals and celebrities. With experience driving on tracks around the globe and navigating a variety of vehicles, he brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his coaching days.