S30.. Drifting.. seriously....

[PrOxLaMuS©]

I am sickly obsessed with Drifting... I love the sport.. and I practice all the time, and I am finally able to drift every few turns or so on the track.

I have seen 1 240Z which was a drifter.. it was flat black w/panasport rims and headlight covers....

but can s30 Z's be good drifters?

The Weight ratio isn't too bad is it?

With my Stock 280Z and Automatic tranny I can easily get the rear end to whip out using "power over" and "e-brake" and then controlling the rear with the throttle and steering and braking.

I was thinking with a new suspension can Z's be good drifters?

I am not sure, if I should baby my Z, or have some fun with this car?

If not, than I may consider another car... a 240SX for drifting and my s30 Z for driving

[brianglawson]

go to www.zilvia.net ask dousan36 he is knowledgeable on it

[EricB]

That flat black S30 wasn't wearing panasports, it had Japanese watanabes and he's here on this board. Slide Squad Dave is his name - look for him in the gallery where his screen name is sennavsprost

-e

[PrOxLaMuS©]

found a 280ZX Turbo 2+2 drifting on a Japanese website...

maybe someone will enjoy it...

http://www.geocities.co.jp/MotorCity-Pit/8776/driz001.avi

[Smokey]

Not trying to be controversial, but what is the draw to drifting. I've seen it on TV, and heard folks talk about it. I just don't get it. Guess I am just too old (30) to understand. "Back in my day" we tried to keep the rubber firmly planted to get from point A to point B in the quickest time.

Help me understand why this is so popular. Thanks.

[Bambikiller240]

Originally posted by Smokey

Help me understand why this is so popular. Thanks.

Speed doesn't count in " Drifting". I think that it is just an exercise in car control, taken to the extreme. Balancing the control of the car on the edge of loosing control. I find it interesting to watch, at least for brief periods of time. I don't think it would hold my interest for a whole day, so I probably won't ever actually attend an event.

Sort of like those guys in the Joey Chitwood driving shows where they drive a car on only the two right side wheels, or Ice Skating/Dancing where they do all those spins and leaps that nobody ever needs to do in "normal" skating. They're just demostrating extreme control of what they are doing.

[Zvoiture]

For Immediate Release

SCCA PRO RACING, SLIPSTREAM GLOBAL ANNOUNCE FORMULA DRIFT CHAMPIONSHIP FOR 2004

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Nov. 7, 2003) -- SCCA Pro Racing Ltd.® and Slipstream Global Marketing, Inc. announced at the Special Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show today a new partnership creating Formula Drift®, the first North American professional drifting championship.

Announced as a four-event Championship in 2004, SCCA Pro Racing will sanction the events, promoted by Irvine, Calif.-based Slipstream Global, which was responsible for the first professional drifting event in North America, the 2003 D1 Grand Prix.

“SCCA was responsible for the initial development of road racing in the United States 60 years ago, and it is logical that we be at the forefront of the first domestic professional drifting Championship,” said Garret Mudd, SCCA Vice President of Marketing. “Slipstream Global has asserted itself as the leading promoter and expert with its involvement in this year’s D1 Grand Prix at Irwindale.”

In the new agreement, which also includes car shows produced by Vision Entertainment, SCCA Pro Racing will provide event operations, technical inspection and services, safety procedures, licensing and series administration.

“To legitimize Formula D, SCCA Pro Racing has come on board as our sanctioning body,” said Jim Liaw, Slipstream Global Marketing, Inc. Co-Owner. “SCCA will provide the on-track know how and safety precautions needed for a successful program.”

In addition to the four-event Championship, Formula D will also include six to 10 exhibitions at main stream motorsports events in conjunction with SCCA Pro Racing’s SPEED World Challenge Championships, the American Le Mans Series and the Indy Racing League.

The 2004 series will be documented on ‘Formula Drift TV,’ with the series of programs going to networks at the conclusion of the season. Television shows will be produced by LivePlanet, the company behind the HBO hit series ‘Project Greenlight’ and founded by Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Sean Bailey and Chris Moore; and Want Media, a leading youth marketing and media production company on behalf of Slipstream Global.

“Want Media is thrilled to participate in the development and production of the ‘Formula Drift TV’ series,” said Mark Lacey, Want Media CEO. “Drifting is the most exciting new sport to hit North America in the past decade and the fact it already has a large, youth-oriented international following is a testament of its cultural significance and credible commercial appeal to young males.”

Further information, including the 2004 series and exhibition schedule will be released at a later date.

Well, I guess that makes it officially a sport. NOT!!!

steve77

[brianglawson]

drifting is a sport awarded my the looks fo the drift and such its all show and no race,

[turbo240]

that ZX video is f*n fantastic.

i'm in the process of building (2) 280Zs (a 75 & a 78) for drifting duty, so dont feel unappreciated.

[PrOxLaMuS©]

watch THIS and you will understand how drifting is soo cool

This one too!!!

[Zvoiture]

I am speechless. Yes, I have seen drifting before and am familiar with the concepts and, yeah, I suppose it is kinda cool in a real teenage boy sort of way, but the level of stupidity represented in this video is enormous. I've never seen more than one car do it at a time. Tell me these guys are not actually racing, because that is NOT the fastest way around the track. Someone needs to explain 'slip angle' to them! Putting two or five cars in a row performing this sort of 'racing' is beyond ridiculous. There are just too many places for someone to screw up and then it is like dominoes. It does, however, provide some great laughs. the funniest is watching the silly, worthless ground effects fly off. The SCCA is going to have fun with these guys. "ARMS INSIDE THE CAR PLEASE! ARMS INSIDE THE CAR!"

This whole 'movement' represents something else horrible and insidious that is becoming a segment of society, and, unfortunately, bona-fide racing events. Do you really want poeple of this destructive mentality alongside you at the track or coming at you sideways at 30 MPH while working the course at an Auto-X? The people who truly support grassroots racing just grumble under their breath and nudge and wink at each other and lock up their tools while on grid or course. They pay to race, and as long as they pay, most racing events need them. Soon they will go away, if not permanently as the fad dies (remember minitrucks?) or at least to events designed for them.

steve77

[Z Kid]

I am inclined to believe there is quite an art to drifting. Here we have drift only events, where they chuck three or four cars on the local go kart track and have people watch, it keeps them off the street and its great to watch. I am personally not a big fan of it, but when you see the japanese Drift professionals in action behind the wheel of a 900 odd hp supra its amazing. Heck you can drift anywhere as seen by this clip.

www.japanesemotorsport.com.au/redr33.mpg