drifting seems to be catching on big time(and the results are starting to get to me)

is it me or is everyone jocking drifting now-a-days? i say this becuase i have seen sooo many people try to talk about drifting and how much they know about it and yet embaress themselves when asked a real question about it. there have been a few shows on TV lately involving drifting and how much it has caught on in america... but its gettin kinda out of hand, ya i like drifting just as much as the next guy, but it seems to me like everyone is just jumpin on the band wagon becuase its the "new thing" and its kinda making me sick...

Well, let's start out by pointing out that while - yes - most every major automotive magazine has done a drifting article in the past year it's mostly because the sport has hit the states hard.

When you sell out a circle track mecca like Irwindale two years in a row, and start your very own (and highly attended) pro series with involvement from none other than the SCCA then peope stand up and take notice.

To quote Autoweek "We know drifting is legit now; Bob Bondurant has started a drifting school."

That's not bandwagoning, that's reporting a polar shift within motorsports. Drifting is 100% motoring entertainment (from a spectator's point of view). It's a show, and it's a show that works ridiculously well to get people's atttention.

This year, Formula Drift was 4 events. Next year, it may grow to double that. There are more than enough locations and the number of potential ticket-buyers is lure enough for track owners to step up and say "sure, hold it here."

Don't be surprised if, as Formula Drift gains support, grows stars, and continues to be a manufacturer's darling, you start seeing the events televised. Face it, drifting is coming into its own as a legitimate motorsport in the US and is being treated as such.

Can I get an Amen?




Let the Driftin' Revolution begin! w00t.

well i was going to seriously get into drifting but ended up getting a fwd, auto, 4 banger alero :biggrin: have to have this car for a couple years so looks like im missing out

there will always be wanna-be's in autosports, and you should probably do the same as any other realm of the sport: inform or ignore.

i use to drift about 10 years ago in highschool,but it wasnt called drifting it was called losing control,spinning out,tailwhips,donuts(our insert other terms here) :iceslolan

is it me or is everyone jocking drifting now-a-days? i say this becuase i have seen sooo many people try to talk about drifting and how much they know about it and yet embaress themselves when asked a real question about it. there have been a few shows on TV lately involving drifting and how much it has caught on in america... but its gettin kinda out of hand, ya i like drifting just as much as the next guy, but it seems to me like everyone is just jumpin on the band wagon becuase its the "new thing" and its kinda making me sick...

I think its just you.

it probably just is, im not saying that drifting sucks or anything like that... its just that drifting is brand new or almost brand new to the US and all these hacks who bs with it get really annoying

I see where you are coming from and I can't wait until it turns into every other motorsport - too expensive for those who love the sport for being relatively affordable and dominated by "big guns" who are born with money and have no real feeling for it. That way, some true talent will never be seen and the poor kids like me will just frown upon everything about the sport.

Heh, Maurice you really know what you're talking about. :rolleyes:

Just like the rest of the poser kids, you're talking about "the big bad corporations" and how all of the talent "is on the streets". That is bullshit and you know it.

And guess what, big money isn't dominating. Two guys in a beat up old El Camino are tied for 12th in points with the factory GTO in Formula D. That's sounding pretty equal to me. And how about Alex Pfeiffer? Oh yeah, tons of money there.

Besides, if you don't have the money to compete professionally (because that's what they're doing) there are plenty of AMATEUR events popping up everywhere. Both the SCCA and the NASA sanction amateur drift events across the country, not to mention all of the track days clubs are snapping up so that they themselves can go drift.

Yes, to compete in Formula D you need to have a full sponsor package and a fairly tuned vehicle to compete for outright wins, but Formula D is also the top level of drifting in America so it'd damn well better require that. But you don't have to run Formula D in order to compete in drifting in the U.S.

I know you guys hate me when I start on this subject... but I hate the mass-media-whore-out of drifting myself. Seems like all the big Corporations just wanna cash in... (Pontiac and CHRYSLER, etc, etc) and all the little guys are gonna get shat on! Sure there are some small time guys making a name for themselves out there now... but for how much longer? Don't you think that in a few years if drifting continues the way it its going... that other corporations aren't wanna get envolved? This is good for drifting you say? Negative... not for me. And it sure as hell is not for the small-time guys. They will go the way of the dodo once the whole roster is packed with corporate sponsorshiped drivers and cars. Yeah... it's good for drifting... if you invested into it and can make some money out of it!

^ exactly. Sorry if it sounds like I am a poser kid, but I most definatly am not. If I am, then I am a talanted poser kid... with no money of course.

And it sure as hell is not for the small-time guys. They will go the way of the dodo once the whole roster is packed with corporate sponsorshiped drivers and cars

Umm, obviously you've never been involved in professional sports. I have, and let me explain to you what happens to talented drivers; they get better rides with more pay and more resources.

Rhys Millen impressed people with his LanEvo and his D1 run in the Supra. Pontiac liked what they saw with Millen. They liked what he could do with a car and liked his technical prowess, that's why Millen has the GTO contract.

Let's say Ford wants to go drifting in D1 with the Mustang in 05. They want maximum talent for minimum dollar. That's business (and racing is a business, numbnuts). They'll want a proven drifter, naturally, and they'll want someone adaptable who's a popular name driver (after all, they'd want to avoid the booing mess Millen got into when he debuted the GTO). Ford, therefore, would look at popular drifters like Calvin Wan, Chris Forsberg, and Alex Pfeiffer and offer them factory rides. If any one of them had enough synapses to form a coherent thought, they'd take the ride.

Industry involvement also means more parts for our cars. More parts also means less expensive parts. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to buy drift spec Nissan suspension parts over the counter from Stillen? Better coil-overs from Eibach?

Besides, I have always said this. Professional means Big Dogs. If the little guy can't afford to go pro, then he doesn't belong in the pro series. Do we think F1 is unfair because Minardi doesn't have Ferrari's pocketbooks? That NASCAR is unfair because Travis Carter doesn't have the tech staff of Hendricks Motorsports? That IRL is unfair because the Chevy-Cosworth doesn't make the power of the Honda?

No. So it's hypocritical to then say that Formula D is unfair because the factories have bigger budgets than the small fries.

So start living in the real world of motorsports.

woooo i actually read a whole thread that was more than one finger scroll, now im my hero!

in response to the start of the thread i dont think you should worry aboot the people who dont know anything aboot drifitng, just go on how you would, maybe correct them if your that type of person, but what you do is all that matters, and if you wanna drift, then drift, and ignore the peopel that dont know shit

Umm, obviously you've never been involved in professional sports. I have, and let me explain to you what happens to talented drivers; they get better rides with more pay and more resources. My-my... Layla... still haven't quite gotten over yourself yet, huh? :smile:


No. So it's hypocritical to then say that Formula D is unfair because the factories have bigger budgets than the small fries.
So start living in the real world of motorsports.

It not fair... this sport started among the "amatuerish" and we are seeing the spotlight on all the "pros" with their Vipers... screw those guys! What is next? Factory backed Ferrari's? It's getting silly! Hey I don't even really mind that the domestics are getting into it anymore... but these rich-snobs getting involved kinda take the fun out of it y'know? Sure there are small track events and shit going on... I know this... you know this. Maybe I'm asking too much... I wanna see Stars not Super-Cosmic Stars. But I fear it is gonna get much worse. Back onto topic... it's just getting too popular. There are tons of cons and pros arguably. But I have had my fill of "dorifto" S13's running rampant around the town. It's no longer unique.

Umm, obviously you've never been involved in professional sports. I have, and let me explain to you what happens to talented drivers; they get better rides with more pay and more resources.

Rhys Millen impressed people with his LanEvo and his D1 run in the Supra. Pontiac liked what they saw with Millen. They liked what he could do with a car and liked his technical prowess, that's why Millen has the GTO contract.


Doesnt that kinda contradict your stance on this?

I mean, Millen had more money than the average guy tweaking his ae in his spare time: his father owns a shop; he's built fully blown rally cars. He's had money to begin with.

I'm not saying i disagree with you but you contradicted yourself.

I believe it was either Andy Granatelli or Briggs Cunningham who said "You want to know how to make a small fortune in racing? Start with a big one."

Pontiac chose Millen because he had all of the abilities they were shopping for, skilled driver and good at developing cars. Pontiac had no intention of developing the car themselves, so they needed someone who could develop a car on their own.

It's a lot like when a baseball team needs a good batter, but also needs someone who can play good infield defense. Naturally, to get the most out of their money, they want someone who can do both.

Pontiac wanted the most for their money, Millen was the most.

Also, consider this - tuning ability in drifting is part of the sport. Driving skill coupled with the ability to take an existing car and modify it to be even better makes for the ideal competitor. Calvin Wan knows rotaries, correct? Well, let's say Mazda wanted to have a footprint in drifting with the RX-8. Naturally, they'd want a proven rotary team handling the car and would approach Wan first.

Knowledge, tuning ability, and resources count for a lot in motorsports, after all.

my .02 here:

if you really feel that you are that good... that's why a lot of companies/manufacturers have "driver search" competition

the whole "little guy being shat on" thing... if someone is good and driven to be in the sport, they will get noticed. the expansion of the sport can only help that.

i've always hated drifting getting popular.

but what can i do to stop it?

nothing.

the worst things are crappy companies (APC) getting into drift, ricers getting into drift (on the streets, killing people or bringing a bad name to the sport), or people who "hard park". (aka build a bad-ass drift machine, talk all this shit, and never get the car sideways once. basically, building a drift show car).

the sport needs dedicated people who aren't just going to spout BS, who aren't going to "dreeft my ceevic, yo", and who aren't going to over-mediatize or over-commercialize the sport. yes, commercialism is good in some aspects, but i hate it when something "sells out". if drifting is like any other "fad", and dies out in a year, i'll be happy. then us die-hards who have been into it for years can go back to doing what we love in peace.

that's just my :2cents: , anyone who wishes to comment on it may do so, but know that no comment you make will sway my stance, so you may as well not try.

Amen, brother!

Took the words right out of my mouth, suislide...

team orange is sponsored by apc and i definatly wouldn't call them posers... well it's not like they'd be able to understand me, but still...

as far as drifting getting more popular, hell it means better parts, more companies looking at brining back low cost rwd cars, and cheaper stuff when the "ricers" as you call them try it out and hate it sell their 240 and go back to a civic, so just let things ride, if you love drifting, then keep drifting, if you drift cause it's "different from those ricer kids" then maybe you should re-evaluate wether or not you're in it for the right reasons.

heck i have a lot of guys come into the shop with old muscle cars and see pics on my box of me drifting and we start talking, they think it's awesome, some don't understand why i'd do that to a perfectally good tire but every one of them says "it sure looks like a hell of a time" so basically my thoughts are just to chill out, things get big then fade away or they stay big but that only means more oppourtunities and better equipment. look at skateboarding, it's still huge but in a different way, it's no longer such an outlaw sport, and you know what, i don't think that's too bad a thing... i love skateboarding but hate the association that all skaters are dangerous punk kids

You love skateboarding? Tell me... did you love it when it was underground 'sport' on the streets before anyone heard of the X-Games or helmets? Or did you love it when Tony Hawk arrived with his sponsorships, ramp sessions and Playstation Games? More oppurtunities for whom? ESPN and the X-Games? 'Cus they are raking in the bucks when you buy those X-Games stickers... and everytime some dumb-ass kid buys some Lim.Ed. Tony Hawk Skater shoes, Tony Hawk gets richer. Ever wonder where that whole "Take it to the Skate Park and off the Streets" and that whole "Dangerous Skate Punk" term came from? Well lets just say the major Corporations wouldn't be making money if you didn't buy into there shit.

As for drifting... how long have you loved that....?

yes Team Orange is sponsored by APC.

but:

a)they don't use a single part from APC, except for maybe the neon bars that Kumakubo sometimes puts in the bed of the Sil-truck.

b) they only use APC's money to sponser their forays on this side of the ocean. in Japan, there is not a single mention of APC anywhere near Team Orange.

c) the drivers and the team hate APC. i talked to Kumakubo and Tanaka about this through an interpreter at the drift event in June.

d) as far as i know, the sponsership is close to finished. i'm not sure which side got rid of which, but i heard it will be no more very soon.

Rhys Millen impressed people with his LanEvo and his D1 run in the Supra. Pontiac liked what they saw with Millen. They liked what he could do with a car and liked his technical prowess, that's why Millen has the GTO contract.



Some very valid points, but Rys Millen is not a good example.
As a decendant of Rod Millen he started life with an automatic key to the world of profesional motorsport.

What was APC thinking, that it could be a legitimate brand just by supporting The Hot New Thing?

Yes. They are cashing in. As far as I know they are the first American aftermarket company to have a line of "drift" products for a relativly decent price.

yes Team Orange is sponsored by APC.

but:

a)they don't use a single part from APC, except for maybe the neon bars that Kumakubo sometimes puts in the bed of the Sil-truck.

b) they only use APC's money to sponser their forays on this side of the ocean. in Japan, there is not a single mention of APC anywhere near Team Orange.

c) the drivers and the team hate APC. i talked to Kumakubo and Tanaka about this through an interpreter at the drift event in June.

d) as far as i know, the sponsership is close to finished. i'm not sure which side got rid of which, but i heard it will be no more very soon.

You got a lot of info out of your tranzlater I see.

To bad its all wrong.

I brought APC and Drift Xtreme togeather. It wasnt a deal of them getting into the drift because its the new thing, or to make a change in there company. This was to help you guys see pros all over the country and also to help with the team state side.

You have a lot of miss information in your post I would love to clear any of it up for you.

As for who am I you got it DX

i think Drifting is over-rated by people who think that can drift. I swear, everytime i go play INITIAL D, people overthere is like "Man, i know i can drift like that in the game with my Teg" and they get all happy about it. I tell them that its near impossible to Drift in a fricken teg. but o well, when i see them flip i will laugh

You got a lot of info out of your tranzlater I see.

To bad its all wrong.

I brought APC and Drift Xtreme togeather. It wasnt a deal of them getting into the drift because its the new thing, or to make a change in there company. This was to help you guys see pros all over the country and also to help with the team state side.

You have a lot of miss information in your post I would love to clear any of it up for you.

As for who am I you got it DX

i am only typing what i heard.

whether the translator was wrong, or whoever said it was wrong...i do not know. but i know what i heard, and that's what i typed.

if it's mis-information, then so-be-it. i'm sorry that i was wrong, but again i was just going by what i heard.

so who are you?

so who are you?

asks the same question...

Indeed, I call the "Poser" flag until proof is shown.

Indeed, I call the "Poser" flag until proof is shown. Well so be it but check around

As for who I am

I am Lorin Robbins International Directer for Drift Xtreme

have a look www.driftpimps.com

Then call me a poser Ive done more for drift than any of you have probobly ever drifted. And a yea I can drive.

WOW, somebodys on a powertrip, dude, settle down, they were just givin you a hard time cause sum ppl's like to bluff. Cool your jets bro.

Nice site by the way

Nice site by the waythanks for the complaments on the site. Im not on the war path just defending my self.

Feel free to go rampant on the pimps in the apropriate areas.

You guys would probably think that my friend is a poser for drifting his fwd integra then i guess.

You said it, not us.

You guys would probably think that my friend is a poser for drifting his fwd integra then i guess.

took the words outta my mouth.

anyways, while i'm at it, downsize your signature please. it is too big.