What is Drifting?

[RichV]

So what exactly is the point to this sport/fad? I'm unclear of the goal.

Is it like figure skating on pavement? lol

All I have seen on this is just smokin the tires off the car going in circles. I'm not understanding the point.

Help me understand, Thanks!! :cool:

[PaulL]

It's for real .. not just a fad. It's been around a long time in Japan.

It's all about car control and showmanship.

Judges award points based on how crossed-up you are in the drift, how close you get to the wall, how well you tail the car that might be in front of you, how hard you're pushing it, etc.

There is a lot of skill involved in first getting a car into a drift ... you can use the classic rally-flip, or trail brake, or pop the clutch on a downshift, or pure power, etc. Simply powering out of a turn and lighting up the tires in powerslide is not really drifting ... you should take the whole turn in a slide.

Drifters burn up even more tires than racers do ... sometimes a few sets in one day.

drifting explained;
http://streetracing.tiora.net/japan/drift/drift1.htm

http://www.drifting.com/

http://www.streetracing.org/japan/drift/drift1.jpg

[bpanther]

Great description Paul.

Rich, If you jump over the the codrift.org website forums there are some good videos that show drifting. It is a bit like ice skating in a car. I think it is great training for road racing as you learn how to gather a car up that is about to spin.

[ker]

totally agree here. if you learn to "catch" a car, you will be safer and most likely faster on a road course.

those of you who've not run on a road course should give drifting a try just to improve your car handling ability and confidence.

[RichV]

It's for real .. not just a fad. It's been around a long time in Japan.

It's all about car control and showmanship.

Judges award points based on how crossed-up you are in the drift, how close you get to the wall, how well you tail the car that might be in front of you, how hard you're pushing it, etc.

There is a lot of skill involved in first getting a car into a drift ... you can use the classic rally-flip, or trail brake, or pop the clutch on a downshift, or pure power, etc. Simply powering out of a turn and lighting up the tires in powerslide is not really drifting ... you should take the whole turn in a slide.

Drifters burn up even more tires than racers do ... sometimes a few sets in one day.

drifting explained;
http://streetracing.tiora.net/japan/drift/drift1.htm

http://www.drifting.com/

http://www.streetracing.org/japan/drift/drift1.jpg

Thanks Paul! I'm sure there is a lot of skill involved. As in any judged sport.

So is there a predetermined course or a mandatory # of "stunts" required for competition?

It would be fun to just try, but I dont have the extra tires to rip up!

[Built-By-Bones]

While I can appreciate the skill and expertise involved in getting a car to drift, I have a hard time understanding how this is a motorSPORT.

Any form of competition involving judging falls under the realm of entertainment. Motorsport ultimately relies on either - first car across the line, or lowest elapsed time - to determine the winner. Once judging determines the winner, or crowd applause determines the winner, or the loudest graphics/least clothed pit crew/most tire smoke determines the winner the event moves away from SPORT and becomes entertainment.

Drifting is as close to motorsport as ice dancing is to ice hockey.

Drifting - isn't that what rally drivers do at every corner, without the safety benefits of concrete walls, haybales, and other safety niceties?

flame suit on. :D

[CorSport]

While I can appreciate the skill and expertise involved in getting a car to drift, I have a hard time understanding how this is a motorSPORT.

Any form of competition involving judging falls under the realm of entertainment. Motorsport ultimately relies on either - first car across the line, or lowest elapsed time - to determine the winner. Once judging determines the winner, or crowd applause determines the winner, or the loudest graphics/least clothed pit crew/most tire smoke determines the winner the event moves away from SPORT and becomes entertainment.

Drifting is as close to motorsport as ice dancing is to ice hockey.

Drifting - isn't that what rally drivers do at every corner, without the safety benefits of concrete walls, haybales, and other safety niceties?

flame suit on. :D

Ill take the bait. This may be a bad metaphor in your eyes, but if you really think about it, its the best metaphor out there for drifting being a legitimate part of motor"sports".

IMO, what you are saying is akin to saying that skateboarding, surfing, freestyle snowboarding and freestyle bmx... are not true sports. Everyone should understand how wrong that is. I know damn well we would see you out there "entertaining" your way into last place in any of the above mentioned sports. Getting from point A to B fastest on a skateboard or surfboard for example is just stupid, in-essence "the judging" makes what they do a respected profession.

Step back, take a deep breath and try to realize how many decades skateboarders fought before it was fully accepted by the general public as a sport, with contests on TV and such. Now days snowboarding is an even better example as its not only widely respected, its one of the fastest growing sports in the world and its even recently become part of the olympics. Drift is simply the motorsports equivalent to skate/snow/surfboarding.

Whether you like it or not, things like Drift are going to be a part of MotorSports for the rest of our lives.

Tai Kahn
CorSport

I for one HAVE HUGE respect for Drift. In my opinion most of the professional drifters have impeccable driving skills above and beyond that of your average road racer. From what I understand most of the same champions drift and road race over in japan.

All this from a FWD guy. lol ;)

[RichV]

Well said CorSport.

I know that this type of driving requires huge skill. Most motorsports have a life threatening danger when it comes to speed and crashes. Drift does not seem to have that. Most of us do motorsport for the thrill and rush of speed and danger. I think that is where drift is misunderstood by most of us.

So what makes the driver good or bad? Control of the vehicle obviously. But are there special stunts? Maybe I just need to see an event to get it.

[bpanther]

Getting from point A to B fastest on a skateboard or surfboard for example is just stupid

Tell me about it..... I spent 4 months in a cast from a "speed" downhill accident on a skateboard. Hit a curb doing about 45mph... :(. Once a speed freak, always a speed freak!

BTW, I'm not taking the bait. This is as close to this thread as I am coming....:D

[Built-By-Bones]

Ill take the bait.

IMO, what you are saying is akin to saying that skateboarding, surfing, freestyle snowboarding and freestyle bmx... are not true sports. Everyone should understand how wrong that is. I know damn well we would see you out there "entertaining" your way into last place in any of the above mentioned sports. Getting from point A to B fastest on a skateboard or surfboard for example is just stupid, in-essence "the judging" makes what they do a respected profession.

Step back, take a deep breath and try to realize how many decades skateboarders fought before it was fully accepted by the general public as a sport, with contests on TV and such. Now days snowboarding is an even better example as its not only widely respected, its one of the fastest growing sports in the world and its even recently become part of the olympics. Drift is simply the motorsports equivalent to skate/snow/surfboarding.

Whether you like it or not, things like Drift are going to be a part of MotorSports for the rest of our lives.

Tai Kahn
CorSport

I for one HAVE HUGE respect for Drift. In my opinion most of the professional drifters have impeccable driving skills above and beyond that of your average road racer. From what I understand most of the same champions drift and road race over in japan.

All this from a FWD guy. lol ;)

Tai,

I think we are going to differ on this. For many old timers surfing was ruined the day the first contest was held.

Surfing, skating, and snowboarding I personally see as lifestyles rather than "sports" per se. In my opinion as a surfer, and a snow boarder, the essence of both disciplines is ruined by the element of competition. I never paddled out with the purpose of surfing better than a fellow rider. Extremely few surfers do.

I hope those snowboarders competing in Italy have experienced the joy of a fresh line of back country powder after a long hike.

Don't believe the media hype - any sport that requires judging falls into the realm of entertainment, not true competition.

It does not diminish the skill of those participating one iota though.

:)

[PaulL]

So what makes the driver good or bad? Control of the vehicle obviously. But are there special stunts? Maybe I just need to see an event to get it.
http://www.tremek.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=27

http://y.wimp.com/file/444e4ba8be30468f8c2a7c5c83149139/43dea104/v/racecars.wmv

[CorSport]

Tai,

I think we are going to differ on this. For many old timers surfing was ruined the day the first contest was held.

Surfing, skating, and snowboarding I personally see as lifestyles rather than "sports" per se. In my opinion as a surfer, and a snow boarder, the essence of both disciplines is ruined by the element of competition. I never paddled out with the purpose of surfing better than a fellow rider. Extremely few surfers do.

I hope those snowboarders competing in Italy have experienced the joy of a fresh line of back country powder after a long hike.

Don't believe the media hype - any sport that requires judging falls into the realm of entertainment, not true competition.

It does not diminish the skill of those participating one iota though.

:)


We can differ on it. Thats fine. Unfortunately your wrong, skateboarding/snowbaording/aurfing is most definitely a sport. I can see the hippy old school long boarder surfer falling into the "lifestyle entertainment" category you are referring too BUT most professional skateboarders and surfers would take offense at what you are saying. I know plenty of professionals that make lots of money and are always traveling and competing in the the contest scene. Its a sport whether you like it or not.

Tai

[golden87]

Im from over there at www.codrift.org -----(check it out by the way)-----and the sport part comes in when you are competing with another car and you are both going sideways at 50 mph and you see the opertunity to take the lead. Just like in any sport the goal is to be first weather it is with showmanship or act[ually taking advantage of another persons mistake. Alot of videos just show one car doing its lap but D1 is where the real action happens and you get to see great drivers one up each other in skill adn go for that lead position.

Yes for alot of us it is entertainment but that is because we dont want to be profesionals and enjoy the "lifestyle".

But what ever you call it......it just the love of enjoying your car and what you can make it do!!!!!!!

[kevintee]

In my opinion most of the professional drifters have impeccable driving skills above and beyond that of your average road racer.

Thats not really a fair comparison is it, comparing professionals to average people ;)

[Evil86Saleen]

As a old school skater kid (have the metal pins and scars on my ankle to prove it) I still agree that once skate boarding became a sport it was ruined. Judges suck and judging by crowd applause sucks even worse.

Those of us that where around during the "street" skate revolution understand exactly what I'm saying.

Skating at a wooden park set up for competition is lame. True skaters avoid "contests" and parks like the plague. A real street skater uses hiss skills and imagination to turn anything made out of concrete into a expression of your being. Rails, stairs, curbs fire hydrants, parking blocks and big ass rocks are the true "parks" that real street skaters visit.

I wish one of you guys could ask Tom Knox or Jason Lee how they feel about contests, vert ramps or being judged by a crowd.;)

Anyone want to know how the sides of a pool feel on bare skin. :) I can tell ya and show you what the left over looks like.

Drifting as a sport. Hell I dont know. Sure looks like fun:D Also kinda sounds like figure skating and interpretive dance.

There must be money involved as the Millens sure do like it and those guys never said know to a dollar bill.

kyle

[BADVENM]

This drifting thing looks kinda fun:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KO0RUynYweM&eurl=http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/11/video-dodge-challenger-gets-its-drift-on/

[Sidekick]

Perhaps I can put drifting into a road race perspective. (Mind you, I don't drive either but have been to EVERY NASA and Colorado Allied Drift Club sponsored event in Colorado since December 2005.)

When you are driving a road race, one of the more complex issues (from watching at corners...) is getting safely around that turn and keeping your car on the pavement without causing an accident. That is a very demanding manuever. If done poorly, your car ends up in the dirt - costing you time, money and, in some cases, injury or being able to finish out the event.

Drifting emphasizes getting through a series of turns without loosing control. As a driver's confidence and skills develop, the speeds increase. Hit a cone or loose control, you loose points and subsequently, loose time thereby taking longer to complete the run.

Admittedly, the style of controlling the car through the turn differs somewhat between road racing and drifting. In the end, both styles of driving require the driver to know how to control the car and maintain speed.

Not convinced? Come to Greeley on Sunday June 8th and see what drifting is about. It is part culture and mostly skills. But it is all passion!

[HighPlainsDrift]

I love the analogies, Figure skating;) and the Lavender Tires don't smell much like lavender, still the wonderful scent of burning tire :D

Very crude and Basic Rules of drifting
1) Early corner entry sideways
2) maintain angle for as long as possible
3) Tire Smoke
4) Make the crowd cheer

There is no finish line in drifting, so maybe the analogy that holds more water is...Speed skating and figure skating with the exception of the hockey sometimes when a car gets checked into a wall for the bonus points! Drifitng is not serious business, call it what you want but it's every bit of excitement and more when compared to other "motorsports"

To me it's all about having fun, whether it's dodging cones, Time attack or getting sidways as long as I'm behind the wheel i'm sure to have a grin ear to ear.

I have two mildly prepped Corolla's that will be on the Road Course in 09! See you guys soon at the race track!

Take Care
High Plains Drift(er)