In the beggining of 2004, the drift scene arrived in south Florida with the first DGTrials Drift Clinic events. In May, we had a taste of a true drifting showoff in Homestead's Drift Showoff. And after a lot of talk and interest, Ter-Tech stepped up and decided to host the first series of drift events for SFL in August.
At an early stage it is understandable to see struggle. Nothing comes without much work and effort, not only from event holders but from the supporters as well. The first events were always low in drivers..... always stuggling to meet the minimum of drivers required to payoff the event cost. Unfortunetly to this day this problem was never solved.
Oddly enough, the complaints are still there. Many say that there are not enough events. Some say that they are too expensive. Some say their cars are not good enough to drift. Now I just think people in South Florida are too lazy to get off their asses and do something about it. Many wait for the announcement of an upcoming event to then start busting their *** off to get the money, and with two weeks to raise all the money requires to drive at an event, incluiding all the side expenses as well. It doesnt take long before no one pre-registers on time, ask for extensions so some can actually pay in the last second. The other potential drifters just never got the money on time.
I find it funny that some say that they cannot participate because of money, and that's the only reason why people everywhere else drift is because they have money. Well I find that unlikely. I've seen people in places all over the US that would throw their toll money into drifting. Everyone has money problems because the average age in the US for drifting cannot seriously be over 25. Yet somehow, people in other states can manage their ways through it. Why?
It's pathetic that Jones moved to CT, and all by himself he managed to start the CT drifting community, get sponsors for an event, a track, and in the first weeks of the pre-reg he has had over 20 drivers already signed up, and already had a successful event. Yet the FL drifting scene, with it's 2 years of existence, still has not picked up the pace of other states.
You look at any drift event and you see people body rolling everywhere, cars that are about to flip upside down in an attempt to get sideways. Cars where you see one wheel completely locked because the ebrake only locks one wheel while the other wheel spins furiously with the one tire fire open diff. For christ's sake I even saw Civics in drift videos.
This whole thread is not a huge rant against the drifters in Florida. I would try to say it's a wake up call, something to show that other places have the same problems that many here refuse to put the extra effort to get sideways because taking the easy way out just spares the effort.
I'm always on the verge of being broke. Everyone is. After all, 90% of the drifters are under 25, everywhere in the world. But I always try to save money even during the months that there are no events so I can be ready to pre-reg when an event comes. That is the only reason why I am #2 in the pre-reg list for the last event. I try to save money everywhere I can, and try to make money with every little side gig I can. I parted out a car already, whored myself at Subway, taken people around town for extra cash, I mean... any errand possible to keep raising money to slide.
If everyone really wants to keep the drifting community up.... for your own self.... start putting some effort to prepare yourself for an opportunity to pay for an event when the time comes. Or else start getting ready to drive to Georgia for drift events. Or resort to street sliding, which gets more dangerous by the day. Even the original street drifters have been starting to take a hit. Every other week someone is caught.
I personally would hate to see this community die. I would have to move out of FL so I can achieve my goal of getting something accomplished. But in one of the most car tuning oriented states in the US (2nd to Cali, if not first), I know this can be pulled off.
Comment as you wish.
At an early stage it is understandable to see struggle. Nothing comes without much work and effort, not only from event holders but from the supporters as well. The first events were always low in drivers..... always stuggling to meet the minimum of drivers required to payoff the event cost. Unfortunetly to this day this problem was never solved.
Oddly enough, the complaints are still there. Many say that there are not enough events. Some say that they are too expensive. Some say their cars are not good enough to drift. Now I just think people in South Florida are too lazy to get off their asses and do something about it. Many wait for the announcement of an upcoming event to then start busting their *** off to get the money, and with two weeks to raise all the money requires to drive at an event, incluiding all the side expenses as well. It doesnt take long before no one pre-registers on time, ask for extensions so some can actually pay in the last second. The other potential drifters just never got the money on time.
I find it funny that some say that they cannot participate because of money, and that's the only reason why people everywhere else drift is because they have money. Well I find that unlikely. I've seen people in places all over the US that would throw their toll money into drifting. Everyone has money problems because the average age in the US for drifting cannot seriously be over 25. Yet somehow, people in other states can manage their ways through it. Why?
It's pathetic that Jones moved to CT, and all by himself he managed to start the CT drifting community, get sponsors for an event, a track, and in the first weeks of the pre-reg he has had over 20 drivers already signed up, and already had a successful event. Yet the FL drifting scene, with it's 2 years of existence, still has not picked up the pace of other states.
You look at any drift event and you see people body rolling everywhere, cars that are about to flip upside down in an attempt to get sideways. Cars where you see one wheel completely locked because the ebrake only locks one wheel while the other wheel spins furiously with the one tire fire open diff. For christ's sake I even saw Civics in drift videos.
This whole thread is not a huge rant against the drifters in Florida. I would try to say it's a wake up call, something to show that other places have the same problems that many here refuse to put the extra effort to get sideways because taking the easy way out just spares the effort.
I'm always on the verge of being broke. Everyone is. After all, 90% of the drifters are under 25, everywhere in the world. But I always try to save money even during the months that there are no events so I can be ready to pre-reg when an event comes. That is the only reason why I am #2 in the pre-reg list for the last event. I try to save money everywhere I can, and try to make money with every little side gig I can. I parted out a car already, whored myself at Subway, taken people around town for extra cash, I mean... any errand possible to keep raising money to slide.
If everyone really wants to keep the drifting community up.... for your own self.... start putting some effort to prepare yourself for an opportunity to pay for an event when the time comes. Or else start getting ready to drive to Georgia for drift events. Or resort to street sliding, which gets more dangerous by the day. Even the original street drifters have been starting to take a hit. Every other week someone is caught.
I personally would hate to see this community die. I would have to move out of FL so I can achieve my goal of getting something accomplished. But in one of the most car tuning oriented states in the US (2nd to Cali, if not first), I know this can be pulled off.
Comment as you wish.
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