So I decided to go to my first Drift Event at Ripken today. In my continued attempts to be able to relate to my boys on all things teenaged, I was curious as to what this craze is all about. And recently, a wise young(er) man told me, "Don't condemn what you do not understand", so I decided to go seek understanding. Here's some pics and commentary.



First off, I had no idea what the "rules" were. But I quickly realized that winning is somehow related to how much smoke you can generate. Beyond that, I am absolutely clueless as to how a winner is determined.
http://alextbaum.smugmug.com/photos/9986914-L.jpg



Rear wheel drive Nissans are the car of choice.
http://alextbaum.smugmug.com/photos/9986949-L.jpg



And some of them have unique propulsion systems. This Nissan's 3 peoplepower engine generated no smoke (as far as I could tell) so I assume he lost. But let's not knock him, at least he's out there competing.
http://alextbaum.smugmug.com/photos/9986943-L.jpg



Like I said, I don't know the rules, so I'm assuming there's extra points for doing it one-handed.
http://alextbaum.smugmug.com/photos/9986932-L.jpg



Those aren't pointer cones. Unlike autocrossing, downed cones were cool.
http://alextbaum.smugmug.com/photos/9986920-L.jpg



Safety doesn't appear to be an issue. In fact, safety appears to be well down at least this Drift Event's list of priorities, somewhere after #143 - Availability of Diesel Fuel, and #144 - Proximity of Local Library Facilities. (Note: the guy below was even closer to the drifting car than the picture makes it look)
http://alextbaum.smugmug.com/photos/9986967-L.jpg



There was no car to pole contact while I was there. Amazing.
http://alextbaum.smugmug.com/photos/9986975-L.jpg



Did I mention that there was lots of tire smoke?
http://alextbaum.smugmug.com/photos/9986926-L.jpg



Okay, after spending a couple hours watching this stuff, I came to two conclusions. First: while I don't understand how they score it, how they keep people from getting killed or how they keep cars from getting smashed, it was clear that good drifting takes a lot of driving skill. And second: I'm getting old. Dammit.


Alex

HAHAHAHA. That's AWESOME!!! You seem like a cool guy if you are willing to try new stuff before knocking it. Especially drifting. :buttrock

I plan to participate in some drifting events next year. I would like to attend a class before doing it though. Did you happen to get any leads on any upcoming schools next year??

Cool pics!!!

Did you happen to get any leads on any upcoming schools next year??

Nope. I didn't see any information booths. The only booth I saw was a guy selling t-shirts that said something about drifters doing it sideways....

Alex

Drifitng is awesome.

I drove by and decided not to stop with wife and child, just so neither of them picked up any of those driving habits...

I drove by and decided not to stop with wife and child, just so neither of them picked up any of those driving habits...
You didn't miss anything.

Actually, he missed paying $5/person.

Alex

I wonder - do they have to repaint the parking lines at Ripken stadium every spring from all the autox's and drift events? And who pays for it if they do?

Way to keep an open mind Alex and check it out for yourself.

I think there is a difference between a good drifter and a just some idiot out there to act like an a$$. I think that where a majority of bad opinions come from.

I agree that a good drifter requires great car control skills. I mean an autoxer or track person might hate it because it isn't the fastest way around a corner, but there are control skills involved.

Heck, I want to try it next year for the hell of it.

Way to keep an open mind Alex and check it out for yourself.

I think there is a difference between a good drifter and a just some idiot out there to act like an a$$. I think that where a majority of bad opinions come from.

I agree that a good drifter requires great car control skills. I mean an autoxer or track person might hate it because it isn't the fastest way around a corner, but there are control skills involved.

Heck, I want to try it next year for the hell of it.

Yup. It's funny to see diehard autoXers and trackers knock it even though this type of motorsport requires car control too.

I want to try it just so I can gain a better understanding of how to control a car when it starts to slip out from under you. It's a good idea to know the physics of weight transfer, etc., so that you can manipulate the car in autoX and track.

Also, if anyone is interested, I have the link to a GREAT video named The Drift Bible. It's a big file....but well worth it. I still need to watch the whole thing.

The moron that drove his car off the road leading out of Ripken and into the woods certainly didn't help promote their "sport"

The moron that drove his car off the road leading out of Ripken and into the woods certainly didn't help promote their "sport"

HAHAHA. Yeah, those are the guys that give it a bad name. The ones who do it just to show off.

I agree that a good drifter requires great car control skills. I mean an autoxer or track person might hate it because it isn't the fastest way around a corner, but there are control skills involved.

No question it takes skills. I could tell who the really good ones were. I could tell who the really bad ones were. It was the bulk of them in the middle that I had no idea about.

Alex

The moron that drove his car off the road leading out of Ripken and into the woods certainly didn't help promote their "sport"

That's what I must have seen when I was leaving; when I came around the bend there were half a dozen sport bikes parked there by the woods, didn't see any car though. There were milling around the edge of the woods, I assumed they were taking a leak....

Alex

That's what I must have seen when I was leaving
When I left (about 30 min later) there were 3 or 4 cops and they were finally shooting radar.

When I left (about 30 min later) there were 3 or 4 cops and they were finally shooting radar.

See, that's what I was talking about on the NCC forum. It's the jackazzes like that, who ruin it for people. And also potentially jeopardizes that site for us as well.

See, that's what I was talking about on the NCC forum. It's the jackazzes like that, who ruin it for people. And also potentially jeopardizes that site for us as well.
Hours earlier I suggested to the "event organizers" that they take action to slow people down on the entrance road but they just shrugged me off....they were too busy counting all their money :rolleyes :mad

It's funny, I think Raf wanted to organize a NCC drift team for a event at Fed Ex back in July, but a lot of us were at the Divisionals.

I think a good NCC team would be Spin Lin, Brochu, Bud and Austin.

Don't forget Brian Hair

Don't forget Brian Hair

Damn, that is an obvious choice.

Like I said, I don't know the rules, so I'm assuming there's extra points for doing it one-handed.
http://alextbaum.smugmug.com/photos/9986932-L.jpg


Actually Alex, though I am no drift expert, I can tell you this much: that picture above would actually be a points deduction because he should've been flashing the peace sign with that free hand.

Actually Alex, though I am no drift expert, I can tell you this much: that picture above would actually be a points deduction because he should've been flashing the peace sign with that free hand.

Wow. That explains a lot. Numerous passengers were going around flashing peace signs. Bren and I kept wanting to yell at them to get their arms in the window. Luckily we didn't.

Alex

Wow. That explains a lot. Numerous passengers were going around flashing peace signs.

For some reason, I don't think you are kidding...

For some reason, I don't think you are kidding...

Some things are just habit, y'know?

Alex

HAH, this is one of the greatest posts ive read all day.

Actually Alex, though I am no drift expert, I can tell you this much: that picture above would actually be a points deduction because he should've been flashing the peace sign with that free hand.
One guy had these hanging out of his windows

http://stores.musictoday.com/Store/bands/220/product_small/FSAMHP03.jpg

I'm guessing you guys haven't seen the videos of drifting in Japan where the drivers actually get out of their vehicles during their performance. Also, they drift around people who are standing on the drift area as the drifters drift around them as if they were cones. :eek: :eek:

I wonder how long it'll be before we lose the privilege of using these venues for autocrossing. IMO it's just a matter of time.

I wonder how long it'll be before we lose the privilege of using these venues for autocrossing. IMO it's just a matter of time.

I'm betting there's an interim step. If the venues get tired of the hassles associated with our type of event, then maybe they feel better about it if we're paying them twice as much.

Would we be willing to pay $50 - 70 an event? I wonder if that's what it may come down to some day (soon).

Alex

The moron that drove his car off the road leading out of Ripken and into the woods certainly didn't help promote their "sport"

:(

that's what I was afraid of. it's only a matter of time before the police tell the ripken management how much they appreciated the extra traffic work that day. I was around there around 4-5 and saw a black FD pull a U turn and slalom some traffic barrels right in front of me, followed by an AE86 and a 240sx.

drifting rocks :buttrock ....D1 baby :alright

Did I mention that there was lots of tire smoke?
http://alextbaum.smugmug.com/photos/9986926-L.jpg





Alex


hey thats my car lol :redspot . anyways yesterday was alot of fun. it sucks that there wasnt info for those who dont really know to much about drifting.

hey thats my car lol :redspot . anyways yesterday was alot of fun. it sucks that there wasnt info for those who dont really know to much about drifting.

Is this you, too?
http://alextbaum.smugmug.com/photos/9986923-L.jpg

Alex

if my dad was into bimmers and surfed bfc...oh man would that be awesome.

props for a cool dad :redspot

Is this you, too?
http://alextbaum.smugmug.com/photos/9986923-L.jpg

Alex


yup thats me. got anymore pics?

Funniest thread. Evar.


I too, know nothing of this "drifting" ... can anyone explain it?

if my dad was into bimmers and surfed bfc...oh man would that be awesome.

props for a cool dad :redspot

Well, full disclosure requires that I tell you I had my oldest son when I was 9, so I'm really only 28.

Alex

I too, know nothing of this "drifting" ... can anyone explain it?

So far..... no.

Alex

basically drifting is this... controlling a slide around a turn and trying to connect 2 or more turns in a continuous slide. points are awarded to the person who can slide the longest around turns, the angle of the slide (how sideways your car is), and other things like posted above (one hand out the window) crap like that. theres no timing, or "fastest lap". thats the best explanation i can give... hope it helps a little.

so it's all totally subjective? like figure skating but in a car?

lol in a way i guess.... i never really thought of it that way, sounds kinda :silly

yup thats me. got anymore pics? You're lucky that everyone else runs Nissans. I got tired of taking pics of those and started looking for something different (which seemed to be two BMWs and an oddball Volvo Coupe).

http://alextbaum.smugmug.com/photos/10068184-L.jpg

http://alextbaum.smugmug.com/photos/10068186-L.jpg


Alex

awsome ... thanks man!

You're lucky that everyone else runs Nissans. I got tired of taking pics of those and started looking for something different (which seemed to be two BMWs and an oddball Volvo Coupe).


Alex


thats why i picked the old school bimmer. so it would stand out and be something different.