Ok, I wanted to type more last time, but I was on my way out the door. As a magazine Editor I see drifting as a great SPECTATOR sport. It isn't a winner vs loser sport and does come across as weird to alot of motorsport people due to the judging aspect, but it's traditionally Japanese and they do things differently to the US and other countries. Following the recent D1 event at Irwindale though, where the Japan vs USA battle was won by USA in an American car (the Falken Tires Mustang) I think that more and more interest will seen the the sport over here. The fact that there Vipers, Mustangs, a GTO, Charger and an ol school Camaro racing in the US series is great! Not to mention Chris Forsberg pulling the 3.5L V6 out og his 350Z and dropping a Titan truck 5.6L V8 into it!

Anyone who genuinely posts in here saying things like "drifting is gay" should probably go for a ride in a top level drift car. Nobody I know in the car industry would say that seeing a car take a corner sideways at 120 on the limiter with smoke pouring off the back tyres is gay.

As a sport in general, there's regular events in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Ireland, Europe, the USA and a whole stack of other countries.

My opinion here is that ANY form of motorspot is awesome and is great for the industry both in parts, sponsorship, media and getting more people involved who may have been concidering taking up golf or fishing instead.

Give the sport a look in if you're not convinced by other peoples opinions. Don't let other people decide what you think.

If you like smoke and noise.... you'll like drifting

Just on that point quickly too. Ice skating including Ice Hockey? If so I do too. You could compare being chased down the ice as you struggle to get the puck to the other end to being chased round a corner by another car around a corner sideways at 120 no more than a few feet away from each other. Vehicular violence! (apart from at the end of it, they don't pull their helmets off and beat the **** out of each other) :thumbsup:

Alot of the Japanese D1 drivers are also top level JGTC and time attack drivers.

Just give us time! We will get some Ambrose v. Murphey action before you know it!

Me and my buddies used to take our cars into large well maintained grassed areas, and "play"..... does this qualify as a sport too? Lawn events we used to call it... a little safer then playing in the snow....

If you have the approval of a governing body and spectators. Actually..... I believe I've seen the SPORT of ride-on mower racing on TV.

Infact, I know someone who hurt themself competeing in an event :rofl:

LOL I played ice hockey for years... so yes, i know what its like LOL

I meant "figure skating"... not just plain skating ;)

Well put, Boxer!

I just don't see any lasting appeal to it unless you are about 8-9 years old. I think it could be called a sport in the same way that monster truck racing could be called a sport. "Big, stupid fun" is more like it, and there's nothing wrong with big stupid fun.

I think if this sport/activity really had any legs to it, in terms of being taken seriously as a motorsport, then there wouldn't be a bunch of people (and car people, at that) debating wether or not it has any merit.

Will it stand the test of time? IMHO....Nope. I give it about another year.

I did enjoy watching the guy drift that Charger around the traffic circle in the Dukes of Hazzard movie tho. That was enough drifting entertainment to last me ~5 yrs.

Big stupid fun is great! Hence the word FUN :) you wouldn't have to ask me twice if I wanted to drive a Monster Truck. I've been trying to line that up as a story for my magazine for a while. :thumbsup:

ps: The guy driving the Charger in the Dukes movie was Rhys Millen, US D1 driver (and son if Rod Millen... Who just happens to be drifting now too). I didn't see them getting Dale Earnhart Junior to do the driving for that one... Maybe he was just too busy filming Jeans commercials :unibrow: