Drift 101

[4SpeedGirl]

It isnt just for imports!

Here are some pics from last weekend's event:

http://www.milesspeed.com/trackdays/TH12.06.htm

Look like fun? Here is more info about upcoming dates, next one being Dec 30-31


http://www.milesspeed.com/trackdays/drift101.htm :willy:

[quadfather]

nice ! it reminds of the fun i had on go-karts as a kid.

[Ssynister13]

I dont think I will ever understand drifting as a "sport". I just dont get it.

[Derek69SS]

I dont think I will ever understand drifting as a "sport". I just dont get it.Same here, but I do see the benefit of learning another aspect of car control if you're into racing. :thumbsup:

[Ssynister13]

Same here, but I do see the benefit of learning another aspect of car control if you're into racing. :thumbsup:

You do have a point there, it is all about control so I can understand that it would be good for learning how to always be in control of your vehicle even when you look out of control...but not a sport.

[nitrorocket]

Can someone explain what exactly "Drifting" is? I never really paid attention to it.
Is it the same as pedaling the car into a countersteer condition at speed and riding it out? Or do you do tricks or something?

[Ssynister13]

As far as I understand it, thats about it. They try to keep the tires spinning and slide the car around the corners in the a controlled "burnout" so to speak.

[Bandit]

Drifting is nothing new, professional racers have known how to "drift" since day one. It is the same thing as managing a controlled slide in an high-powered oversteering racecar. Until recently it was a condition that you wanted to avoid as much as possible in order to get around the track in the fastest time possible. Only lately it has been introduced into the States from Japan as a sort of "automotive artform" but it has nothing to do with racing. Other than the fact that some of the cars would make pretty good race cars if tuned a little more toward that end.

It does take skill to maintain controlled powerslides around a track--I'll give them that. And it does make for a pretty good show with all the smoke-inducing tire melting that goes on. Other than entertainment value it is useless, but that's all it claims to be--entertainment. The media sometimes blurs the lines between drifting events and racing due to ignorance though.

[ProdigyCustoms]

When you see a really good drifter, it can change you mind. I think the idea is to never have the rear tires followong the front tires, LOL!

[XcYZ]

I watched a drifting demo at SEMA in '05. It was really cool at first, but by the 3rd car, I was ready to move on.

You need a cushion to have real driftng (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPtW74R5Evs). :unibrow:

[black2002ls]

The whole time I was reading this thread I was thinking sprint cars, nice post Scott. :D

[chevymitchell]

I was checking out the pics and was curious...What is hanging down by the rear tire in picture "6drift8"? :eek:

I can't make it out.

[ProdigyCustoms]

I watched a drifting demo at SEMA in '05. It was really cool at first, but by the 3rd car, I was ready to move on.

[/URL][/B]. :unibrow:

You gotta admit, those kids in the blue Skyline were pretty damn good!

[4SpeedGirl]

Never noticed that, I think its a combo of rubber marks, shadow and reflection that makes it look crazy. No missing parts on the camaro!



I was checking out the pics and was curious...What is hanging down by the rear tire in picture "6drift8"? :eek:

I can't make it out.

[modmachR]

The more I watch it, the more fun it looks like to do.
I still think of it as a competitive art more than a sport though.

[chevymitchell]

I learned how to do it on the gravel roads back home in MN. There's gravel roads from my parents farm all the way to town. Man...It was fun. You can only get so much slide out of each turn before you had to straighten out, but it was fun.

[BAGDRIVER]

Liz the pics are great. But up here in THE GREAT WHITE NORTH we can do that for 4 to 6 months of the year. :drive:

[philofab]

Gravel roads are fun for drifting... try it in a crew cab f250 with a car trailer behind it. I've done it in a 4wd tractor too....

[71Nova]

I don't think it is a sport as much as it is an exibition. I think it is all show. Looks like it would be fun to try it, but I know that I couldn't get seriously into it.