For the last few months all I have posted here on DriftLive has been videos I find while browsing the Internet. Finally I am inspired to make an actual post.
I have been around drifting for a couple years. My first exposure to the sport was the Wired Magazine article on those crazy East Coast drifters back in 2003 and at the time I was really more interested in the vehicle dynamics of GT3. Eventually I made it to the 2004 D1GP event at Irwindale and a couple of Drift Day events at California Speedway, and I have been hooked ever since. The bulk of my involvement with drifting has been as an observer. At one point I even painstakingly reported Formula D and D1GP event scores live from the track (DriftLive, get it?) and tabulated leader boards and season points totals. On November 23rd, 2007 I stopped tracking scores at professional events.
It wasn’t because I stopped attending events, but rather I had an epiphany. Shortly before the Irwindale event that year I began building a drift car. It was then that I realized that professional drifting had taken a horrible wrong step. It was no longer evolving into something that best showcases the ability of the amazing drivers. I realized that the most exciting, high quality drifting that I have been witness to has been outside of competition. The core of drifting for me lies in Tandem Drifting, but the best Tandem battles come from drivers who are not working to defeat an opponent, but rather to best themselves. To push their limit a little further, a little harder.
The best Tandem Battles are fought by teams. I present into evidence exhibit Orange. Look closely, that is a picture of 2 cars on the bank at Irwindale. After that run, the lead car had tire marks on the driver side door (RHD JDM SYTLEZ).
Take a look at the recent backlash from the grassroots community against all the big budget buildups occurring at the professional level here in the United States. For years it has been popular to use the tongue-in-cheek (not touge) term “drift racing” to describe a drivers behavior or style in a negative light. To demonstrate your belief that they were not being true to the essence of the sport. I don’t think people are reacting to the time, effort and ingenuity that goes into building a car capable of holding a triple digit drift. I think they are reacting to what these cars threaten to become. They are threatening to become actual racecars.
Watching the driver behavior at Formula D Irwindale last season, I was inspired to chat up fellow drifting fan, Bill Wood about what could be done to encourage drifting, and discourage racing. We didn’t ever meet eye to eye on a solution for the problem, but we both agreed that it was having a negative impact on the sport. I think he was leaning more towards consistent judging, tighter rules, and better fan education. I think the reason that judging, rules, and fans have been such an issue stems from professional drifting taking an entirely wrong approach.
Drifting is a Team sport.
Building a car takes a team, campaigning a car takes a team, Tandem battle takes a team. Team drifting is where the growth for the sport lies. It speaks to the 16 year old kid trying to make his first event happen. It excites the crowd who gets to see two friends push each other to make the best Tandem run, and not to force a mistake. If professional drifting wants to become more then a sideshow, it needs to keep evolving, not just in terms of cars, competition, and sponsors, but in terms of the quality and type of drifting.
Not convinced? Look at the popularity and lasting appeal of the Drift Alliance. Anyone involved at the grassroots level of drifting knows that it’s nearly impossible to field and drive a car for more then a handful of event before you find yourself banding together with other drifters. Beyond being nomadic, drifters are a pack animal. They lend a hand for the insane all night wrench sessions to get a car ready for an event. Later they lend a shoulder when the car gets balled up because you spent all night getting it ready and not sleeping.
What to hell do I know anyway, Time for bed.
Geoff….. you GET it.
Thank You.
Comment by Brian Harte — February 12, 2009 #
if i didn’t know who you were, my ethugTXT would be. “STFU YOU DON’T FUCKING DRIVE, SO YOU WOULDN’T KNOW.”
I often wonder why my love of drifting died, i never really sat down and ask myself why. its like having a fight with your 10 year relationship GF, then all of a sudden you guys broke up and never really knew why.
Maybe in another 5 years ill run into her and ask her WHY.
-Al
Comment by Al Lagura — February 12, 2009 #
I’ve noticed what you’re talking about happening a lot over the years, moreover, in the American circuit. Now, I don’t have years of driving experience, but I’ve been watching drifting evolve within the US since about 2003. It’s everything you’ve just mentioned.
I would love for things to start going back, but America is capitalistic, it’s almost a case of “this is what we asked for”.
Comment by Dave Adams — February 12, 2009 #
Dave,
If you are the primary sanctioning body for a sport and you properly manage its evolution, you are going to grow along with the audience. If you fail to develop the sport, someone else will and you will eventually fade out. I don’t think big money and high dollar builds are ruining the sport. A million dollar car can do some amazing things, but when drivers are encouraged to “race” in order to win, you are no longer drifting.
Drifting is NOT racing, nor should it try to be. This does not mean it can’t be a serious competition, but it can never be a race.
Comment by DriftLive.com — February 12, 2009 #
Nothing is ever good enough until it’s completely ruined.
Comment by Ryan — February 16, 2009 #