Domestics beat imports at their own game

[MR2Driver]

Just curious what you guys think about the Team Mopar Viper driven by Samuel Hubinette winning the very first SCCA Formula Drift Competition?

[Layla's Keeper]

There's already a thread about this that's pretty heated. There's people who are impressed, people who dislike it, and people who pretty much don't give a damn.

[Chris240]

I don't think you can really say that(like people don't think american domestics can't drift and its an import sport only) seeing as theres people in japan drifting comaros and what not

[1viadrft]

I never said they could not drift... just that it was lame... but... like mentioned, this is a discussion in an entirely different thread.

[joebowlr21]

"Cough Hater Cough"

[1viadrft]

So what if I am....?

[flylwsi]

i'm still stuck on why domestics drifting is lame?
considering that domestics have been tail out around corners since before these japanese drift mobiles existed?

what about bmw's drifting, or porsches, or ferraris?
by your same logic, that should be lame as well.

[MR2Driver]

Kinda wish I didnt make this thread...

[1viadrft]

me too...

[publicenemy137]

hold up, i thought perfect weight balance is key in drifting. and high revving, typically american cars aren't high revvers??? Also light weight is a huge advantage I thought, american cars tend to weigh a lot more. And don't flame me, I an a self-proclaimmed newb when it comes to drifting.

[2strokebloke]

"American cars" is a pretty large generalization. The average American sedan, is not a Viper. I think that he won should be proof enough that they're good enough for what they wanted to do.

[Layla's Keeper]

Well, it really depends on technique what you want your drift car to do, and as far as weight balance is concerned it varies wildly from car to car.

Believe it or not, GM's 4th gen F-body platform (1993-2003 Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird) have quite admirable weight distribution for having large 5700cc V8's. This was accomplished with radical engine setback (seriously, you need octopus arms to reach the back plugs on those engines the things are so far back) and using lighter weight materials in the front end (thinner gauge steel for the outer front fenders compared to the rears). They're still hovering around a 53/47 weight split front to rear, but that's plenty acceptable when you consider how many other good drift cars start out at that figure stock.

As far as high revving, no, there aren't many OHV V8's that can turn upwards of 8000rpm, but then again, they don't particularly need to. With massive torque low in the rev range to break loose the rear wheels, a big American V8 driver can creep up on a corner, do a small feint, and then smack the throttle to kick the tail into the drift as opposed to the wild yawing needed with smaller displacement engines.

But then again, this is also fairly unspectacular as doesn't win as many points with the judges, hence many domestic drifters charge into corners, slamming onto the brakes to unload their lighter rear ends and bring them into a near spin, then rely on monstrous torque to maintain radical slip angles throughout the drift.

Technique, as always, is the compensation for any style of car's inadequacies.

[Auto_newb]

IMO, I don't give a damn that they are drifting with american cars cuz, it's not like drag racing is exclusively for American cars, so why should drifting be exclusive for Japanese cars?

BTW, this import vs domestic cars thing is so stupid, probably most of the cars you see on the road are either made in canada or america (mostly america though). People don't realize that when they drive their 2-door civic si coupes, they are driving a domestic car.

[publicenemy137]

i have no problem with American cars drifting, any competition is welcomed. What I don't like is that there are many closed-minded domestic owners who told me whenever I bring up drifting that "it is a quirky import-fad" just because American cars aren't really built up for drifting. Now that an American car has won a drifting competition, I bet these same close-minded fools will claim that American cars are better drifters and better than imports at everything.

[Soyo]

after watching the video someone posted with the AE86 and the viper that won going together I see why he won, it was pretty impressive... although the AE86 was tearing it up to with about a 5th of the horsepower I'd guess... that just shows the variety that we are getting in the sport... me likey