S30.. Drifting.. seriously....

[Smokey]

I am still not convinced about this. All I see is some guy throwing his car into a barely controlable action. I don't see where there is any kind of competition in this. It is so easy to get a 900hp car sideways, Heck I've done it in a police Caprice LT1. There is not much skill involved in it, except to keep it out of the wall. You burn up tires, kill bearings, balljoints, among other things.

I completely understand autocross, drag racing, and circle track. All of these require a large amount of talent, skill, and concentration. Drifting just requires mash the gas, turn wheel to left, then quickly to the right to break the rear lose.

But, for those of you that like it, plow on. Just don't do it on public streets. Seen too many cars made into a squirrel guard for big trees and power poles.

[kyteler]

Any gumby can kick the arse out on an decent powered RWD or 4WD vehicle, but just letting your arse fly out around a corner isn't drifting, there is a definate skill to drifting, it takes concentration and you really have to know your car as it takes a lot of car control.

Now, I've yet to see the videos that have had their links posted (they're downloading now). They could be wreckless or just plain $^!# and not a good example of drifting. People can get things wrong, for instance, in the special features of the 2 fast 2 furious DVD ($^!# movie) they try and babble that the "star" of the film had to do a "Powerslide" towards the camera, they weren't sure whether he could do it, but they let him and it was the "best shot of the film" according to the producer, however, if you look at that scene, you'll see all he does it yank the handbrake and turn the wheel left to slide it vaguely sideways. Again, any gumby can do that.

Now... correct me if I'm wrong, but just as a powerslide would suggest the use of power in the slide, drifting makes it seem as though the car is doing exactly that, drifting or floating along the tarmac.

[Z Kid]

Like I said, its not for me, but I still think the people who do it well are quite skilled. Here is a picture of what happens when any "gumby" goes drifting.

www.japanesemotorsport.com.au/driftloses.mpg

[abas]

I think there is an element of skill involved, but I don't think it takes that long to acquire at lowish speeds and on purpose built tracks and such I would guess is an OK spectator sport but not one for me.

What gets my respect is oversteer in an F1 car at 170 mph, or at 120 mph in a rally car through a forest with nothing but very solid trees or a 100ft drop should you lose it. In a sense the rallying guys are the ultimate 'drifters' as their object is to keep the car 'loose' all the time.

[Ben]

Lets not forget the the JMS staff are a bunch of clowns at the best of times.

And yes, that drifting loses video was taken at a 'competition' meet here in Adelaide. Funny thing is that the Stanza rally car won the event (driver skill perhaps?). Runner-up was the metallic green HR31 GTS. No I wasn't there....

I'll be damned if I'm ever going to do that kind of thing in a semi-rare car like my DR30 (I think the HR31 owner is nuts).

[PrOxLaMuS©]

Drifting is not racing...

Drifting is an "art" or judged based on your speed coming into a corner.. your drift angle... your show (such as your hand out the window)... lots of smoke...

Basically it's a competetion.. who can make their car do the wildest thing imaginable and still have decent control over it.

However, there are HIGH SPEED drifts.. which involve racing.. and going way to fast in the corner, but by keeping your momentum in sliding through the corner...

What is it? Just fun....

Try drifting your car and see how much fun it really is...

just like sliding around like a rally car, just on concrete rather than dirt or snow.

It takes practice and skill... but it's all for fun

[Alfadog]

Some people just don't get it...

I like the analogy of racing is like a running race, whereas drifting comps are like ice skating. It's all about skill in the, dare I say, art!

[Bambikiller240]

Originally posted by Alfadog

Some people just don't get it...

I like the analogy of racing is like a running race, whereas drifting comps are like ice skating. It's all about skill in the, dare I say, art!

Style, art, same diff. It ain't a race in anyway from what I have seen. Sure speed is required as it's tough to "drift" when travelling very slowly. Also, the skills required increase when multiple cars are on the track in close proximity. Each driver must drift with style and flair, AND avoid crashing into the other competiters. Showmanship and Skill like Ice skating (but not quite so boring!)

[Ben]

Agreed - it's not a race, it's a 'display'.

Just like a burnout comp.

[Alfadog]

except not as mind-numbingly boring. :stupid:

[Pennyman]

I'll take a drifting competition over a burnout contest anyday, hehe...

[v12horse]

I don't know about you guys, but if you have any doubts about how cool drifting is watch the anime "Initial D." I saw one episode and I ended up buying all ten DVD's of it. It is a great show of a kid who drifts an AE86.

I believe that the actual drifting scene started from a racer in the seventies in Japan who was racing a kpgc10 skyline and was winning many races and putting on a show by powersliding every which way. I think drifting is an awesome sport, and I do not think it is going to go out of style. It has been popular in Japan since the seventies. Mostly known as downhill mountain pass racing, and preferably in an AE86 or shall I say Panda86 for all you Initial D fans. . However, I do not suggest trying to drift your car unless you are on an open air field or race track. It can be done, but if not done correctly like on the vid, it will not be dirt that you will hit. :finger:

-Ben