Are any of you familiar with this new "sport"?
I work with a sports marketing firm and I've had two business associates tell me in the last week that we need to look into it. I went to the website, http://www.usdrift.com/, and all I can really gather is that it looks like a street car that's really loose.
I don't get it. What's the point? Are the laps timed?
Does anyone know anything about it?

8/9/2005 10:52:44 AM

its freakin retarded

8/9/2005 11:06:47 AM

the best description of drifting is like figure skating with your car.

8/9/2005 11:24:07 AM

drifting was invented in japan to avoid crashes in competition racing from there drivers started "drifting" on mountain roads in japan. Normally it is serves no purpose to racing other than avoiding crashes and burning up tires...however in some rare cases a little drifting can help a car go faster by keeping the vehicles RPM's higher...so honestly, there really is no point in it....this new drifting "sport" that you are talking about is just more or less doing donuts in parking lots IT serves no purpose at all other than appealing to fast and furious fans.

8/9/2005 11:24:09 AM

drifting is SLOWER

8/9/2005 11:33:30 AM

Quote :

"the best description of drifting is like figure skating with your car. .... drifting was invented in japan to avoid crashes in competition racing from there drivers started "drifting" on mountain roads in japan. Normally it is serves no purpose to racing other than avoiding crashes and burning up tires...however in some rare cases a little drifting can help a car go faster by keeping the vehicles RPM's higher...so honestly, there really is no point in it....this new drifting "sport" that you are talking about is just more or less doing donuts in parking lots IT serves no purpose at all other than appealing to fast and furious fans. "

google is a great thing, huh?
i saw that too.

just didn't know if anyone had ever been to an event. there is one scheduled in charlotte sometime this month, and next month in manassas, va. just seems ... odd. then again, i'm pretty closed-minded.


[Edited on August 9, 2005 at 11:39 AM. Reason : .]

8/9/2005 11:38:05 AM

i'd say there's much better emerging "grassroots" type motorsports to turn your attention to.

8/9/2005 11:43:15 AM

Quote :

"the best description of drifting is like figure skating with your car."

8/9/2005 11:43:38 AM

i wouldnt call it drifting in a real race, rather call it setting up your rear end for a turn/corner.

the fastest way is a strait line, not sliding.

i didnt think the usdrift was a race. from what i have seen at a few events, it was just some drifting competitions. hmmm

8/9/2005 11:55:04 AM

8/9/2005 11:56:09 AM

Check TVGuide or something, many networks like Spike TV or G4TV have drift shows that are on now, apparently it's the "hip new sport" for today's youth.

Basically two cars (most of the time two) head off onto a course, the course being either a track or an open area with coned off turns. One car leads and the other follows.

The purpose is to basically get your car as sideways as possible into the turns while going as fast as possible and showing the most amount of style and control. It doesn't really matter how fast you go through the entire course (although most of the time the drivers are going pretty fast) but how big and cool looking your drifts are. You are scored by judges (I think) and the driver with the most points advances to the next round.

This can only be done with rear wheel drive cars, and the most popular cars from what I have seen are Nissan 240sx, Mazda RX-7, Honda S-2000, and the like.

[Edited on August 9, 2005 at 11:58 AM. Reason : ]

8/9/2005 11:56:17 AM

Quote :

"What is Drifting? Drifting is a relatively new motorsport that is sweeping the racing world. It's the hot ticket in Europe and in Japan, but is just starting to take hold of the U.S. Drifting 101 explains the sport and informs you of some future events. Drifting is a high-skill level motorsport in which drivers control a car while it slides from side to side at high speed through a marked course, consisting of turns. Most drifting events do not include the whole racing course, but only a portion with turns. Drifting is similar to rally racing, but is done on a closed paved or dirt course and judged on execution and style rather than just speed or time. Drift cars are typically smaller, lightweight, and rear wheel drive. The goal is to apply enough power to the rear wheels to break the tires' traction and initiate a slide, or "drift." Once a drift is initiated, it must be maintained through the turn using a precise balance of power, braking and steering. How is drifting judged? Because professional drifting events are judged on execution and style, it is mandatory that the judges are intimately familiar with the capabilities of the cars and the advanced driving techniques employed by the competitors. Four Japanese professional drifters will serve as the judges at Drift Atlanta in 2005, which will be the premier event in the states next year. Speed, angle of attack, and vehicle control are the factors judges evaluate. All drivers get solo qualifying runs on Saturday before the field is trimmed to 16 qualifiers for the bracket style competition. All participants who make it to the Best 16 run door handle to door handle, with one other car on the circuit at the same time. Factors like slowing to the point of hindering the other driver, running into another driver's car or spinning out means an automatic loss of the run. Putting pressure on an opponent through an aggressive drift angle, carrying a higher speed through a corner, and showing good strategy are extremely important tactics used to win an elimination round. Having watched only one professional event and a few just thrown together meets, I think this drifting thing is going to hit the younger racing fans hard. I just hope that there will eventually be enough events to keep it off the streets, as it seems very dangerous. I'll be looking for more information on this new motorsport fad so that you'll be informed as this sport starts to grow."

http://autoracing.about.com/od/previews/a/drift101_Persp.htm

8/9/2005 11:59:37 AM

it's gay... the japanese were just jealous they suck at american sports and racing, so they had to "invent" something different...

8/9/2005 12:01:32 PM

Quote :

"Drifting is similar to rally racing"

hahahaha.. thats the funniest shit i've read all day. except they left out part of the quote.

"...except rally is actually racing, not just trying to look cool doing doughnuts in a k-mart parking lot."

8/9/2005 12:03:28 PM

http://www.initialdthemovie.com/

8/9/2005 12:09:00 PM

oxymoron

8/9/2005 12:36:27 PM

The problem with drifting is that there are so many damn posers out there, the whole "donuts in a parking lot" thing. Any kid who can pull the e-brake and break it loose thinks they are a drifter.

8/9/2005 12:37:02 PM

pulling the ebrake, using the brakes, lifting, they all count as drifting.

no where does it say you gotta have rear wheels spinning.

but i guess you get the most points (or whatever you call it) if you can use the powR of the car.



[Edited on August 9, 2005 at 12:55 PM. Reason : ]

8/9/2005 12:54:36 PM

dont try to tell me using mcdonalds trays on your rear wheels isn't drifting

8/9/2005 1:02:44 PM

where is JJ and his definition of drift. "from point A to point B"

8/9/2005 1:05:15 PM

haven't you people played underground2

8/9/2005 3:03:38 PM

support your local hpde

8/9/2005 3:32:10 PM

x2

8/9/2005 4:25:37 PM

I can fishtail in a minivan

8/9/2005 4:31:49 PM

yeah, i've spun a camry. you can drift anything.

but rwd is obviously preferable.

8/9/2005 4:34:32 PM

wow.

anyone can make the rear end come around on anything. its not that hard.

8/9/2005 4:34:54 PM

Quote :

"its freakin retarded"

Its not a sport. More of an exhibition.

8/9/2005 7:02:19 PM

^ it is pretty retarded

8/9/2005 7:24:03 PM

Anything that relies on judges rather than time or some other quatifiable unit is not a sport. Ditto for figure skating.

X-Games dirtbike stunts excluded. Those fuckers are badass.

8/9/2005 10:14:51 PM