Upcoming Drift Event

There is an upcoming drift even in the area for anyone interested in attending an actual event. It is the D1GP circuit from Japan. It features some of the best drivers in the world. It is on Saturday May 5th in Englishtown, NJ. You can visit www.D1GP.com for more information.

There is also another Formula D event in Wall, NJ later this year on September 9th.

Here is some of what you can expect...

Nissan Skyline

This feature car is the Nissan Skyline. It may be the most sought after sports car among import tuners. With its Twin turbocharged, seemingly indestructible six cylinder engine, it can contend with anything on the street or track. Although some models come with all wheel drive, for drift purposes they are kept to rear wheel drive. This is also my dream car!

There are several different model years of the skyline that you might see at the drift shows, but for our purposes i will highlight the one that is mostly seen in the actual competitions.

Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R
Production Years: 1999-2002
Engine: RB26DETT, twin turbocharged 2.6L inline 6
Horsepower: claimed 280hp @ 6800rpm but dyno tested as closer to 320hp
Torque: 289lbs/ft @ 4400rpm

There are several variations on the GT-Rs of this generation with more power, better suspension etc. Basically more badass! Though only made in Japan, it is possible to have them registered here in the US. But it is a long and expensive process, one that i believe is worth it (if i had the money.)

Virtual Drifting

If going out and drifting in the real world seems to dangerous, or you just want to have some fun at home, there are many video games that feature drifting. It is becoming a bigger part of many racing games today. Some of the games include Ridge Racer, Enthusia Professional racing, Project Gotham etc. Some games which offer pretty realistic physics for drifting are Gran Turismo, and Forza Motorsports. One game that has brought helped bring drifting into the mainstream in Need For Speed. It features a separate mode for drift competitions. There also also many mini drifting games all over the internet available for free online play.

Its pretty easy to find games with that offer a drift experience and its pretty fun to do knowing that you cant be hurt! So i recommend at least trying the online game. Be careful though because i have found it can be addictive.

"JDM"

A phrase that is often used in drift/import culture is "JDM". Many people just hear the word without knowing what it means. JDM stands for Japanese Domestic Market. And in the tuner world it describes any part, or style originally from Japan. Many tuners strive to convert their USDM (United States Domestic Market) cars to have the same specs and look of JDM cars. Its a way to make their car unique and most of the time better in performance. This is because many cars from Japan, when sold in the US, are tuned down in their performance and styling aspects. Little things such as JDM gauge clusters, bumpers, even mirrors can add unique style to a car. JDM motor and transmission swaps improve performance and tunability of many cars. Some people dont like the "JDM" craze and for others its a way of life.

Here is an example of a "JDM conversion" which is popular in the drift world.

BEFORE:
USDM 240sx















AFTER:
JDM Silvia S13 Conversion

Nissan Silvia/240sx

The next feature car is perhaps the most popular and common drift car. It is the Nissan 240sx(US) / Silvia(Japan). The 240sx has 3 different generations. The first gen. is 1989-1994. This is the "S13" chassis. From 1995-1998 is the "S14" chassis. And the latest model found only in Japan is the "S15" chassis. It is an ideal platform for a drift car because of its basic front engine rear-wheel drive layout. It is also a light car and easy to control. Some models even come with a limited slip differential which is essential for a drift car. Also, this is a very popular car to perform "JDM conversions" on. I will go into more detail about what this means in my next post because it is a major part of drift culture.

Specs:
(USDM 240sx S13)
Production Years: 1989-1994
Horsepower: 155hp@5600rpm
Torque: 156lbs/ft@4400rpm
Weight: 2699lbs
Engine: KA24DE, 2.4L Inline


(USDM) 240sx S14)
Production Years: 1995-1998
Horsepower: 155hp@5600rpm
Torque: 156lbs/ft@4400rpm
Weight: 2762lbs
Engine: KA24DE, 2.4L Inline 4

Here's footage from the drift competition i attended.

The Modern Drift Competition

Drifting is emerging as a popular form of motorsport. More and more drift events or competitions are becoming televised and featured in magazines. The most popular drift circuits are the D1 Gran Prix in Japan and Formula D in the US. Its an exciting event to watch. I was at a Formula D event in New Jersey in September of '06. I am hoping to go back again this year. As exciting as it is to watch, it helps to understand the rules so you know what the drivers are being judged on. Drivers start out going one at a time to qualify. Then, drivers go two at a time in a playoff of the top 16 qualifiers.

Here are the rules/judging criteria as taken from Formula D:
A. Basics (qualifying)
1. Line: The ideal line a driver should take throughout the course; determined by the judges.
2. Speed: The speed a driver is able to maintain throughout the course. A large percentage of the score is based on entry speed.
3. Angle: The angle which a driver can maintain and control throughout the course.
4. Impact: The energy and excitement a driver maintains throughout the run.
-Judges want to see a driver show good control of his vehicle throughout the run.A driver’s entry is the most important element in determining a driver’s performance during the run because it entails all 4 of the judged criteria.

B. Tandem Drift (finals/playoff rounds)
1. Lead car: The lead car should have a run as good as or better then their qualifying run based on the basics listed above. He sets the pace for the following car.
2. Following car: The following car should try to pressure the lead car by maintaining the same or better line as the lead car.
3. Passing : Although not encouraged, if the lead car goes off of his line and it is safe, as pass may be executed.
4. If there is a collision the driver at fault will lose points.

C. Mistakes
Spinning out, going off course, or not following the desired line will all result in point deductions.

Now you understand. Watch a competition!

Toyota Corolla Levin/ Sprinter Trueno (AE86)

The first feature car is the Toyota Corolla Levin/ Sprinter Trueno (AE86). This is one the the original cars used for drifting. It has been immortalized by Japanese cartoons and films about drifting. The most well known is Initial D (a classic anime series about drifting). Although not the most powerful or prettiest drift car, the AE86 is admired as one of the best platforms for a drift machine.

You might be looking at the name and thinking, "Why is it so long?" Well just to clarify, The car is a Toyota Corolla. The "Levin" and "Sprinter Trueno" labels are simply different models of the car in Japan. In the US, they are the SR5 and GT-S models. And if that part gets confusing, "AE86" is the chassis code used to identify the car. So when all else fails, just say "AE86"

Vehicle Specs:
(US Toyota Corolla GT-S AE86)
Horsepower: 112hp @ 6600rpm
Torque: 97 lbs/ft @ 4400rpm
Weight: approx. 2200-2400lbs
Engine: 4A-GEC, 1587cc DOHC 16 valve inline 4, multiport feul injection
Differential: 6.7" open or optional LSD w/ 4.30:1 ratio

The Machines!

There are many different cars used for drifting. Pretty much any rear-wheel drive car can be used if set up properly. Anyone who is new to the sport may get confused with the different types of cars involved. From today forward I will start to feature one or two cars a week in order get you acquainted with the most popular drift cars.

-Drifting on mountain roads of Japan.




-Showing off before a Formula D competition in the U.S. This guy is crazy!

Drifting, A Brief History

Drifting, the driving style, spawned from other motorsports such as rallying and dirt track racing in which oversteer was used around turns. Modern drifting started out as a popular racing technique in the All Japan Tounring Car Championship. One of the foremost creators of this technique in the 1970's was Kunimitsu Takahashi. Fans of the sport quickly became interested in this style. The smoking tires and high cornering speeds led others to try and imitate the style. Street racers began to setup their cars so that they could duplicate drift technique on the street and thus, street drifting was created.

The winding mountain roads of Japan became the site for many amatuers in the sport to practice their techniques and prove themselves to fellow drifters. One of these racers was named Keiichi Tsuchiya. He became one of the most well known and respected drivers amongst the drifting crowd. In 1977 several tuning garages and magazines agreed to make a video showcasing his skills. This video inspired many of today's professional drifters. In 1988 he helped to organize one of the first drift competitions.

Drifting was officially introduced to the U.S. in 1996 at an event hosted by Option Magazine at Willow Springs race track in California. Drifting quickly spread worldwide as other countries started to hold drift competitions. Now, there is a professional drift ciruit in the U.S. known as Formula D. Although Drifting is still not recognized as an official motorsport, it has certainly gained the popularity to make it a major attraction in the racing world.

Types of Drifting

In the world of drifting there are several different categories or types.

The first type involves one driver racing against himself and the course. The driver will attempt to demonstrate his mastery of drifting techniques and conquer the course on which he is driving. This could either be on the street or a track.


The second type is called the tandem drift. This is a battle between two drivers in which they run the course at the same time. The drivers try to out-do their opponent, trying to display better skill and technique. This form of drifting requires the most skill and concentration as they are sometimes separated by no more than a few inches.


The third type involves a group of drifters that drive together as a team. They showcase their talent and gain respect and reputation as a team.

-Members of Team Falken known as the Drift Alliance, a popular drift team.

Here is a clip from an actual drift competition in Japan. This is an example of a tandem drift. Take a look at how close the cars get to one another. I like that it shows you both an in-car view and outside view. This way you can get a better idea of the amount of conentration it takes to be successful.

Hey, Buckle Up!

Welcome to my first blog ever. My name is Jason Oliver. In this blog I will attempt to inform people about a relatively new motorsport which is starting to emerge as major attraction in the world of auto racing. It is called drifting. I am very passionate about this topic because drifting is more than just a sport. It is part of a culture which is consuming the interest of many youthful car enthusiast in the U.S.. Like any other motorsport it involves skilled drivers piloting highly modified machines. However, it is unique in that the physics, techniques, and rules are completely different than any other form of automotive competition. This is evident upon first witness of the sport. It has captivated me as well as many other viewers and I hope that in this blog I can interest a few more people in the "art" of drifting.

The Basics!

Drifting is a driving technique in which the driver attempts to enter a corner with as much speed and angle as possible while maintaining control of his or her vehicle. This driving technique, originated in Japan, is becoming ever more popular in the U.S.. In order to understand the sport, there are a few basics which one must understand.

Basically, drifting is getting your car sideways around a turn and keeping it sideways for as long as possible. It seems easy, but it takes years of practice and discipline behind the wheel to master. There is more to it than just hammering the gas around a turn. A good drifter is one who exhibits the most control, while seeming to be out of control. The "angle" of a drift refers to the direction that the car is facing in relation to the direction that it is travelling. A good drift will consist of three basic things: 1) Maintaining the maximum speed possible that allows you to complete the drift without crashing, 2) Maintaining the maximum angle possible throughout the drift, 3) Maintaining a smooth, controlled line throughout the drift. Examining these basic principles while watching a drift is how one can tell an experienced driver from a rookie. They also help a new spectator of the sport make sense of what might seem to be complete chaos.

-A classic drift car, the legendary Toyota Corolla Sprinter Trueno (AE86)