There must be more to drifting than I thought...

illphantasm

illphantasm

FWD Corollas ftw!
Driver
You know, after reading the thread on the new drift team for the 2006 season of Formula D, I can't help but notice that there could be more to the local events that most of us in the forum participate in --- does everyone in the forum for the most part have the intention of becoming a competing drifter? Or do some of us just want to vent or perhaps more commonly have fun?
Myself, I drive a freakin' FWD, and despite the few hardheaded fanatics that say "you can't drift in an FWD" (at that point it just gets to your subjective definition of a drift), I find much fun and challenge in sliding my car's tail around corners and swinging side-to-side through connecting turns and such. Not to mention its a real hoot to be able to do it at an event where you obviously can't get in trouble for it. -But that's me... I just wanted to know what everyone else out there is drifting at the events for.
 
Well maybe when I was younger but parenting and marriage have kind of killed my ambition to be any kind of a real racer. I really do enjoy the street scene more than any pro stuff. I know I will never be a Taniguchi, Loeb, Shumacher or Truli, I started way to late for that. Some of the other guys have the ability to be pros with practice, and dedication. I can't devote to drifting like they can. I hope that was the kind of question you were asking.
 
Yes it was, actually. Just pretty much triyng to hear out everyone's reason and ambition for drifting! Your reply was exceptional imo, and your meniton of pro stuff reminded me that to my surprise, I was given praise at both Hialeah events I attended, and it kinda got me thinking that perhaps my driving techniques could get me somewhere, but then life caught up to me, as usual. I do however, constantly try to maintain my reflexes in good shape as I belive that the more ones knows about your vehicle handles, the better off he is.
 
Very true I only wish I had more time and money(not a lot but just enough to spoil my car and practice at these events) to put into this sport that I love. Guys heres a tip if you want into motorsports remember that attending these events and tuning your cars properly takes a big chunk of your personal life. So if you want to be serious make it your ambition to do so.

I remember when Angel was getting East Coast setup how much he would also be like guys I got to go I have my wife and kids to worry about and that's what his life is no matter how much he might want to his responsibilty comes before fun. I know in my situation I only wish I would have tried to have more fun and be an adult later. But hey we all make decisions, thats what life is all about.

So basically keep your johnson in your pants! J/K just remember what is important to you and work on that first.
 
Agreed, as much as I want to participate in the upcoming Dania drift event, I'm just going to replace my car's shock, windshield and sell it because one of my priorities is to have a nice but practical sporty low-end car (if such a thing exists, lmao), and personally, converting to a 3sgte powertrain or making a 4agte is just too much. I'll be better off with a 323 and swapping in the 1.8L turbo, I think.
But yes -- it is all about priorities, and I suppose I have a much better chance in going for a graphic design major than being a musician (personal hobby of mine) or a successful career driver.


My threads don't seem to hit much. Hm.
 
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It's because your FF :D J/K

BTW I was at Bob's U-pick in Hialeah and they had a 323 there it still looked intact maybe you should check it out it was blue.
 
Well you both have valid points, I do not think that i will ever be a pro driver, but i'll tell you what, learning to drift not only makes you take notice of your driving, but it also teaches you to appreciate your car and what it can do when you really learn how to drive. as to what fuels my ambition to drifting is quite simple, is my job! to better explain this for you here is a little history on me: 8 years ago I started working in a photo lab to get me through college, and became very good at printing, to the point where my clientele included a large number of professional photoghraphers, one of them in particular who always came in to talk about cars and photography while he waited for his prints, and since I loved being a nut for anything with four wheels, we became very good friends. later he went on to what he called his dream gig, photo editor of a car magazine titled Auto World, and i got to print some of the coolest automotive photos that one could possibly imagine! then one day my friend asked me that his magazine was looking to do an article on illegal street racing, so i took him to the hang outs, and guess what the hang outs got raided we got detained, my friend then pulled out his wallet and showed his press credentials and we got let off........ the next day I made a choice to purchase my first camera and add a minor to photography in school, my subjects, cars, all of my friends had really nice cars hey all belonged to the All Star team, and I enjoyed taking phots of their cars, but i never built one of my own. why? because i made a choice, i decided to become the person that the car builder would look to to gain the exposure for his or her acheivements with regards to tuning a car. so i signed up as a volunteer photographer for a online magazine premeirimports.com, and i thought i had reached the top because i was getting into Hot Import Nights for free........woow that was a long time ago. little did I know that it was only the begining.... i since then made more changes to my education to include marketing, digital photography, and social comunication 4 years ago, I made another choice I quit my job to persue my passion for my role and place in the automotive industry, and because of my love and passion for motorsports i have been able to turn my hobbie for cars, into my bread and butter, today I can proudly say that I have published photos, articles in more than 10 magazines I have done 1 cover shoot, do sales and marketing for Toucan Industries/Evotion, have appeared in various tv segments regarding drifting, met and got married to my beatifull wife along the way have become the official judge for the JDM class at NOPI nationals, own my two dream cars my sil-80 and my AE86 GTS and became a partner with one of my best friends to form our own motorsports marketing firm Cipher Media Group. with one main goal to blow the drift scene in the US, Japan, and Central Ameica, just ask Juan Henao, James Bonduranrt, and Steve Oliberos, to whom I represent profesionally in Formula D, for those of you who now know me you know what i do and how passionate and supportive i am for the sport that we all love so much, and be sure to read the latest Super Street Featuring Team Orange's Subaru shot and writen by our firm. so i wont be a pro driver, big deal....... i will settle for being a contributor to my love for drifting, the industry and motorsports, all because of one reason, i made a CHOICE. and I will never regret it.
 
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I guess i drift becuase not every one can do it, its not the easiest sport, takes alot of dedication and know how. I do like the social competition between drivers, who has progressed far since the last event, ect.

Not to mention looking out my passenger window to view my driving direction entering the first turn at ocala at 70 mph.

It is fun, that would be my initial reason for driving at events and tayloring my car to my taste. It would be interesting if a sponsor or publicity were to pick me up in the future, it would only esclate the level of fun that i have now.
 
Yes! I am FF and will die FF! Thanks for the tip on the 323, Nelvis, it's much appreciated!

Other than that, awesome responses -- however for some reason I just can't see it as a social competition in my opinion, FWD or not, I'd get too worked up. I just try to have a lot of fun and hope I'm not wasting anyone's time in doing so.

And dhsil80, wicked post; I agree with how it makes you appreciate your car -- slipping around in it brought so much joy and made my car my most favorite toy-- and most definitely I've noticed my driving habits -- countersteering (or the little of it I have to do) is a breeze, and I can proudly recall that I only understeered once at the last Hialeah event, which is something I'm taking personal pride in.

I must say, how unique this "sport" is, when you compare it to the other more "conventional" types of motorsport, but I'll be cursed if I don't say that I find it to be one of the most enjoyable things to do in a car.
 
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Hmm...I gotta say this a good topic to discuss. I drift because its fun and I never felt so much passion for anything(except family, dog, friends, etc). Its fun driving the 86, its taught me a lot about tuning a car and driving the right way. Its just a matter of time and tires until I improve to the level I want to be at. I also like the time I spent with my dad in the garage and hearing the stories he has from back in the day. It took awhile but I really have to say, like my dad its in my blood to race/drift/tune/cars. I'll leave you with a qoute that describes my passion. . .

"Racing, competing, is in my blood. It's part of me, it's part of my life." - Ayrton Senna

P.S. My sig also describes the way I feel about cars, drifting, racing, etc.
 
ok yes My untimate goal is to become a professional driver. period it has been my dream since i was little and it pretty much is still my dream. But right now I feel im losing ground cause now I am attending school and working almost full time i dont have the time to drift or build up a car to drift my last 2 cars are now destroyed and all that work i put into them is now down the drain. But i will keep pushing and drive whenever its possible or ride along or go to as many events as is possible. so that I can keep learning.
 
i like doing it because its fun. I dont believe that I will ever become a pro drifter but it might be fun just letting things go there own way.
 
My passion for any motor sports started with my father and maybe before that, all I know is that he loved racing, he used to rally in Colombia and also raced bikes before he passed away after I turned 4, when I was little all I wanted to do is race cars. I tried to do other things, but sadly my very advance A.D.H.D. has got me to the point that if its not car and speed related I cant comprehend and I get bored, so I dedicated my last few years in pursuing my dream. I learned about drifting a wile ago and I liked it but I had never tried it. In late 2003 I tried to drift and I founded it harder than what it look like. In 2004 I made it my goal to get good at it, and now my goal is to succeeded in Formula D. drifting is not the only thing I like, I want to do road racing too, I love it... I live for this stuff.
I went to school for auto mechanics so if drifting does not work I will always have a back up plan and if that does not work either then I will work in the hospitality business cuse I got pretty far in that too from a young age.
 
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yea congrats, bro, and I can't wait to see footage of you ripping it up out there. Needless to say, the stuff is just too much fun. To me, it's like that best class you ever had in high school; the coolest teacher, you didn't mind doing your homework because it was worth it, and there's always that hot chick you want to notice you. Nevermind the last part, but yea, its like a major lesson in many tihngs that other people, even a bunch of us don't even think about much-- like reflexes, control, physics, and some complicated form of math. It's in my personality that I like to learn, and doing such a tihng thats so much fun yet educational makes it that much more appealing to me. Drifting -- to some its just a simple "trend", but to others its a lifestyle. To me, it's fun that I can (try to) have. That being said, I'm keeping my damn car. Sorry if I'm causing anyone a headache with that, but I really don't know where my priorities are sometimes. Other than that --- God bless the drift.
 
xero240 said:
My passion for any motor sports started with my father and maybe before that, all I know is that he loved racing, he used to rally in Colombia and also raced bikes before he passed away after I turned 4, when I was little all I wanted to do is race cars. I tried to do other things, but sadly my very advance A.D.H.D. has got me to the point that if its not car and speed related I cant comprehend and I get bored, so I dedicated my last few years in pursuing my dream. I learned about drifting a wile ago and I liked it but I had never tried it. In late 2003 I tried to drift and I founded it harder than what it look like. In 2004 I made it my goal to get good at it, and now my goal is to succeeded in Formula D. drifting is not the only thing I like, I want to do road racing too, I love it... I live for this stuff.
I went to school for auto mechanics so if drifting does not work I will always have a back up plan and if that does not work either then I will work in the hospitality business cuse I got pretty far in that too from a young age.
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yeah this actually sounds alot like me.... except the whole starting in 2003 me it was 2004 lol
 
When i was a kid i always played with matchboxes and stuff..... micro machine cars and the like and i would make them race. And i always loved to play the racing video games on good ol NES (remember super sprint and super cars?!). I always dreamed about being a racer. Then i really fell out and didnt care about cars or anything. Until i moved to Florida and someone showed me drifting that i really started to fall back in love with it again. So as of January 2004 i have been hooked. It has become my passion and obsession.. i quit doing some of the other things i used to always do just so i can learn more about cars, driving, etc. I cant wait to get to my first event, learn more about my car, etc. I dont know if ill ever get professional material but hey i dont care. I love just doing it... as long as i can say im the best drifter in wayne county illinois ill be happy lol!

It started with drifting but now im really appreciating road racing.. autocross...touge... and rally :). Nowadays im going with the Miata to learn but in my life i definitely want to own a RX-7 FC, MR2 SW20, and a Subaru Impreza WRX.... and yeahhhhh i guess another S13! :). Cars is becoming a great obsession for me now and its great. Always nice to learn something new.

This is definitely a good thread and its good to read others stories.
 
This is definitely a good thread and its good to read others stories.
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Good stuff, guy, I agree with you on that. Good to see its blooming. At firs tI was skeptical of the thought of there being a "drift scene", especially when magazines and other sources said it would catch on or be "the next wave". Being myself, I hate fads (think of such things as purposely having two sets of rims on your car and / or slamming your car straight down to the floor, etc.) and I wouls be disgusted by people overglorifying the concept of drifting and such just because everyone is starting to do it. Personally, I'm just a fan of cars and motorsports in general. I happen to think that drifting is just as fun as a top-end run or even a rally. I'm just surprised at how impressively large drifting's following has gotten in the US, though in my opinion, it seems a little too overglorified in some places. It's when things get overglorified that you start to lose interest and people get carried away with it.
 
The day fast and furious 3 comes out with its riced out drifting stylez is going to kill us all
 
I'm absolutely terrified of that. But then again, I didn't see an obvious amount of stupidity after 2 Fast 2 Furious... so there *could* be hope.
 
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