As drifting continues to gain popularity, people who had no idea what drifting was before they saw it in “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift” are talking about drifting. So, it becomes the drifters’ responsibility to let people know what drifting is really about; what it takes and what the consequences can be if you make a poor decision. It might be easier to simply blame the movie for its inaccurate depiction of the motor sport. But, for those who care about what drifting is and what drifting is going to become, keep reading.
Let’s get this straight; drifting is a high-skill motor sport that requires development, discipline and self control from its drivers. Learning how to drift doesn’t happen over night, it takes lots of practice and a good understanding of car dynamics. When you drift, you are controlling a 2500-pound projectile that is traveling sideways at 70 MPH with just your hands and feet. Sounds insane right? That’s because it is! Drifting a car shouldn’t be taken lightly and should never be done on a public road. Drifting on the street can carry a hefty fine, jail time and even land your car in an impound lot, somtimes collecting fines for 30 days. Don’t bother with the headache that can come from one wrong decision, learn the right way from the start and take it to the track.
Drifting on the street just isn’t necessary when legal events are open to anyone, this includes drifting fans. As an alternative to more expensive D1 and Formula D events, fans can attend local events for next to nothing. In Southern California we have organizations like justDRIFT and Drift Day among others. There you can learn how to drift in a safe environment with professional instructors. Almost every other week you can attend one of these local events that cater to all levels of drivers. After many years of experiencing drifting and instructing, I get to see the different faces of those who are eager to learn or just give drifting a try. We’ve had new driftings sign up from many backgrounds including; movie stars, lawyers, doctors, racing instructors, etc. The more dedicated you are to learning, the easier and faster you will learn. Take it to the track and you’ll be on the right track to having fun and becoming a better driver.
Some more advantages of drifting on a track include:
- Safety is first and foremost
- Supervision by an experienced staff
- Technical/safety inspections before each event
- Paramedics on site in case of emergency
- Closed, controlled environment
- Free instruction available
- No tickets/fines/jail time
- Not endangering innocent people
- Learn faster and safer than on the street
Charlie Ongsingco is the founder of ‘justDRIFT’ a organization that holds legal drifting events in Southern California. For more information about legal drifting visit justDRIFT’s website or view Drift Safe’s “Getting Involved” section.
Article first published on DriftSafe.org
I really liked the article on legal drifting. I just got done reading one about a 17 year old boy who thought he was Keiichi Tsuchiya, th drift king, but found out the hard way that he is not, so now he’s going to the school of hard knocks. His sister was killed when he was attempting a drift and spun out of control slamming into a tree. She was only 15, he now faces up to 10 years in prison for felony manslaughter with a dangerous weapon. But the worst thing is that he has to live wih that guilt for the rest of hi life. So, yes I agree whole heartedly, learn how to drift before you try it and even if you know how, SAVE IT FOR THE TRACKS, DUMMIES!!!! Or you might have to visit our friend in prison.
I personally haven’t drifted yet, I’m still in my study/ research part of my education. I am; however, very excited and nervous about atually doing it. I still havn’t even been to an actual event, not yet. Thanks for your time, and I hope what you wrote will save some lives, and I hope its alright, but I am going to quote you in my research paper that i’m writting for English 102. Don’t worry, I’ll put you in my works cited page. Thanks H/ azdriftin
Comment by Heather — October 1, 2006 #
Good luck on the paper.
Comment by DriftLive.com — October 1, 2006 #
where can I learn to drift? I live in NY but am willing to travel anywhere on the northeast to learn. Or if you know of any tracks where I can drive please help me out. Thanks!
Comment by Tom — June 21, 2007 #
were can i learn how to drift i have gone to empty parking lots and im really good and i love to go pro if u can help me that will be great…thanks
Comment by derek — October 24, 2007 #
http://www.justdrift.com
http://www.driftday.com
http://www.driftbuffet.com
Comment by DriftLive.com — October 26, 2007 #
were to start drifting thinking about toyota corrola 70s and were to drift at im in ar also from tulsa ok
Comment by steve — December 17, 2007 #
i am also writing a research paper does any one have any cool things on drifting that i should add. or any good phrases that have something to do with drifting
Comment by kaldranai — February 17, 2008 #
same as the dude above
Comment by minnight2118 — February 17, 2008 #
kool thanks im doing a research paper to and this was pretty useful. im gonna put this on my work sited dont worry.
Comment by Triple S — March 19, 2008 #
i licke learn to drift .drift is in mu hard.
Comment by Dk_ZmEj@ — April 14, 2008 #
i love to drift when i turn 18 i want to staat a career in it. do u know how i can start?
Comment by nick rhew — April 17, 2008 #
drifting is the best sport in the world
Comment by nick rhew — April 17, 2008 #
if any one knows anything about it email me at rrhewfl@yahoo,com
Comment by nick rhew — April 17, 2008 #
I want to learn to drift! But I know nothing about the basic techniques. Will I embarrass myself if I attend one of these events? Also, do you have to have your own car or do places loan you one for the day?
Comment by Nate — May 3, 2008 #
everyone starts drifting at some point, so there’s nothing to be embarassed about if you’re new and you’re on the track!
you’ll learn faster and safer on the track than you will trying to hone your skills off track til you think you’re ready.. just go to the track first
as for a loaner car the only ones that loan cars i know of are driftday for their drift101 learning class
info on it @driftday.com
Comment by cfrost — May 3, 2008 #
i am omani drifter check in youtube about omani drift
Comment by hoosa — July 6, 2008 #
hey, i live in a small town in Canada and drive a 1985 grand marquis its useless for drifting but fun on gravel… j/w how someone like me could find a carrier in drifting?
Comment by Nathan — August 5, 2008 #
Is there anywhere I can legally drift in Florida? I grew up in the streets of Palm Bay and Melbourne and I’m fairly decent on wet roads but I spin out occasionally in the dirt. I’d love to start driving on a track. I mean this is like my dream! I’m finally 18 and I can do this sort of stuff.
Comment by Justin — August 26, 2008 #
jlieske@bellsouth.net
Comment by Justin — August 26, 2008 #
Well I drift and all i can say is that that event stuff is great… if you live in southern california. I live in south texas and there is about 1 very small legal event a month, excluding pro am once a year, that I have to drive 4 hours to. I have a 93 rx7 if you think i’m going to spend that much money in gas every month ur just nutz. I’d rather get my car out of the impound once or twice. Im not advocating drifting off ramps on the highway but get good by finding an open lot and watching out for other cars and the 5-0, seriously do u think keichi tsuchyia got where he is by attending the thousands of drifting events they had 20 years ago? Nope no events just grass roots
Comment by Jonathan — November 8, 2008 #
It’s gay conservative articles like this, that just tell you what you already know, provide no real solution, and simply waste space on the internet.
Listen carefully. You can drift in a parking lot. How about you cover that? Also, your tires definitely WILL wear down quite expediently, so be weary of the cost of buying new ones.
No one has the patience or the money for a track. You can drift there 3 times a year, and pay $20 for that one day. It’s useless for mastering something so technically orientated as drifting.
Hints on drifting. Find nice open parking lot. Preferably, generally secluded. And drift you’re heart out. Starting out slow and progressively gaining speed. Be weary of your car’s momentum. You will most likely crash if you are not careful and progressively learn and master the mechanics of drifting.
Technique: Start out w/ 360’s. Drive forward, turn left when your tail flips around, turn the wheel all the way to the other side. Straighten out, and there you have it. Master 360’s before 90 degree turns.
HINT: COUNTER STEERING IS THE MOST IMPORTANT SKILL TO LEARN. A lot of times cars whiplash, and the counter-steer is a pre-executed movement that straightens out the car. You’ll find this most important when moving to 90degree turns, that whiplash can really catch you by surprise. Be careful.
Comment by shadowpocalypse — December 16, 2008 #
its people that post comments like “oh boo hoo, i dont have lots of events. i dont want to drive far to go drift.
seriously. thats the reason that cops look down on drifters and lump us in with the street racers. stop being retarded. drive the few hours to learn in a safe environment.
and to the kids that are 16 and want to go pro.
please learn the basics. do it for fun, do it for the love. if your ment to go pro you will. until then. have fun. dont just aim to make a career out of it. because then you lose the point of why you started in the first place.
Comment by ross — December 22, 2008 #
good job
Comment by Ali Saab — December 24, 2008 #
@Shadowpocalypse
I think the only thing wasting space on the internet was your useless post. First off, what real driving experience do YOU have? Your explanation of “drifting” sounds like it came straight of out an article published in a newspaper by someone who has absolutely no idea what they are talking about.
I take it you’ve never driven in a sanctioned event.
There’s a reason there are such things as sanctioned events, 1. they help people improve their driving abilities, and 2. they are legal.
Keep the ignorant replies to yourself, please.
Comment by J.Herron — December 27, 2008 #
I am a young man who lives in a small, remote city in alaska with no police and about 400 people (Gustavus, AK) I have been driving since about 12, and really got into drifting in the summer I turned 14 with a ATV. My freind did it in cars, and then i began. I have experiance with many different cars, from front weel drive minivans, to a full size Dodge ram van with a 3:1 pozytrack (oh fun!)
Ive drifted on dry to wet/sandy pavement, dift, snow and sheet ice. I am now 17, been drifting daily since then in all sorts of cars, and consider my self as good as a pro.
drifting 50+ mph in the snow is a awsome, but i want to make money doing it, and know which of my cars i should invest in. I own the Dodge van, 440 with a 3:1 pozy, a 1982 Chevy Citation, FWD, a F-100 with a 302, and a F-250, with a bored and rebuilt 460 (wow!) with over 500+ HP: My favorite drift car was my ex-girl freinds B-2600 Mazda truck, which i loved ralling. 100 MPH drifting on dirt roads, with a good shift lock to make to tight turns at the quarry. Nonethe less i need advice on where to turn to get noticed by someone special in the drift world. Please help.
Comment by Ian — January 5, 2009 #
Sorry for spaming, but i could already see people commentsing “Your full of it, you cant do that” or “how many times have you wreaked?”
Well all i can say is ALOT. Luckily I can mechanic and fix all my bent and snapped CV axels and traction bars, de-beaded tires and ect. In fact last night alone, i smashed into at least 10 snow banks, went and drove out on one ditch, and almost totaled my car at our local boat harbor, chain drifting, spining out and slaming my car into reverse, wiping around, to stop and look beside me to a truck trailer just beside my head, thinking to my self “if i would of hit that, my back hatch, window, and roof would of been smashed and peel like a tin can. All in one good night of raceing about. In fact, ive replaced the front and rear end (The entire front and rear drive and suspention parts) my self, with parts from a junkyard, a equivilent of 3-5 grand in expensise, not to mention all the tires ive gone through. And this is just my most recent car. Belive me, I have LUCKED out time and time again. (almost hitting a half ton moose that pops out occasionly happens too)
Comment by Ian — January 5, 2009 #
I also am doing a research paper for drifting! Its a really interesting sport, i hope I can learn someday! Thanks for all the info, person who worte the article, and I saw some links in the comments I saw also! :D
Comment by Mikhayla — March 4, 2009 #
I AM 17 YEARS OLD AND WANTING TO LEARN HOW TO DRIFT BUT DONT KNOW WHERE TO START CAN ANY 1 HELP ME
Comment by TYLER BECKETT — March 4, 2010 #