The word "drift" and "drifting" nowadays...your thoughts?
 

You know, years ago when i started getting into cars i already knew what this stuff was. This is back when i had my FC RX-7 in late 2000. It was a little thing i kept to myself, this 'drifting' shit. When i got my first Miata, it was a little bit more known (circa summer of 2002), so i made the name that still kinda sticks around today. Sure, i got some flack for it at first... but after getting a few credible titles to my name i got some respect. Then the videos came. Some of you might have seen them....the ones with the white NA n/a Miata tearing up some parking lots. Apparently they became some kind internet gold among some Miata people.

But things have changed. In the past 2 yrs or so, it seems like everything that has to do with RWD cars and tuning automatically means "im a drifter". Everytime i turn around i see something about "what suspension do i need to drift?" or "i building a car for drift[ing]" or any other concoction of similar subjects. It's getting old....fast. Yes?

In my opinion, its a fad that should be over. Sure the pro events are still cool to watch, but on a amateur level... it's gone to shit. Things like that thread that got locked make me embarrassed to say i have anything to do with "drifting". Hell, even on CR. I made a comment to someone on there (long story) as retaliation for a previous attack on one of my threads, and it jsut so happened he had a picture of a bumper sticker that was like "Stop drifting, you suck" and several people made comments back telling me not to get offended by the drifting sticker.....shit, i never even said anything about it (because i agree with it lol).

Do i think i have some kinda "OG" status when it comes to drifting? Kinda, but im not running around claiming to be the first/best/only one or anything like that. I just kinda keep that knowledge to myself for the most part. I have since pretty much dropped participating in any drifting and am focusing on starting track days.

So what do you guys think when the word "drift" or any similar term is brought up now? Mostly fan boyzzzzz thinking that using the word 'drift' makes them cooler? Should the sport die away? I mostly agree with such statements.

End rant-ish like statemnt, begin discussion.


btw... can forum names be changed here?

it was old ten years ago. it's like extreme roller blading or freestyle walking.

in combination with the words "Fast and the Furious" it creates the best of the trilogy, but still not my cup of tea, cause "my pockets aint empty cuz"

people that drift and are normal are not the problem, nothing wrong with those, the ones that go around talking a big game and have no proof and tYpz lik thiiis i cant stand, i tend to just ignore them competely
drifting is interesting to watch IMO, and i do not hate on actual drifters, just the wanna beeeezzzz

watching it on ESPN is nowhere as interesting as watching a Peugeot kick ass on the Nurburgring

+65435432456742

Hell I dont even like watching the pro drifting anymore. It was interesting for about a day.

oh, and in case some of you were wondering what vids i was talking about.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ds7H--ktfQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ff62b...eature=related


lol@Scott and free style walking... that shit was uberghey

Whaaaamx5 - you make a good point.... "those" people..... i wish i could kick them.

I also have to say that the "Americanized" version of drifting totally sucks ass. I swear, every American sport, or sport that Americans try to copy always gets turned into pure shit. I still don't mind watching some of those crazy guys in the mountains of Japan and the Pro Japanese drifting (some of the cars really car cool). But the American idea of drifting is so profoundly fucked up. Watching some of the "true drifting" videos, you can clearly see its about car control.... not always about big angle and smoke... but whatever it takes to get from turn to turn...even if its "low angle".

drifters have sweet profiles

http://forum.miata.net/vb/member.php?userid=48299

Edit: I dont really enjoy watching drifting much but when the opportunity arises, I'll lay down a patch. It's fun as hell.

I agree, spectating is... well... yawn. It's too passive for me, I'd rather watch wheel-to-wheel combat. But for that matter autoX isn't much fun to watch either. My appreciation for autoXing comes from actually participating and realizing just how difficult it is to make a respectable autoX run.

But the "OG" status, which I can lay claim to, is this:

As a "sport", it sucks. As a parking lot thrill, it's old.

But, when people can control their cars very well in a 4 wheel drift around a tight turn on the track, it's beautiful. The only people I know that can do this real well honed their skills in the parking lots in the first place:eek:

**edited post #8**

I hear ya.. i don't even really like to call it a "sport" because its WAY to subjective/political. Sports reward the best at what their doing.... and i know for a fact that NOT the case when it comes to judged drifting.

I know that when i say "OG" and have been doing it for 7yrs sounds silly, but i just see it like that for the amount of time it has been popular in the states.

those videos are at least 5 years old. the dude iirc used to actually drift in competitions. he's god. just like mr. smoke-stack-pink-hello-kitty-tandem-man-on-man-fuck-face.


fwiw, i watched a drift event at a hyperfest two years back. all the acutal racers went to watch since their events were over for the day. no one cheered until some 240 smashed his car. the most boring thing i've ever seen in my life. and i watch "how's it made" on tv.

hey don't be knockin "How its made", it kicks the shit out of "Some assembly required" :nono:

thats like comparing "Survivorman" and that wierdo Bear Grills in "Man vs. Wild"

kids these days... they wouldn't know a four wheel drift if it ran them over.

whoooaaaaa now. Whats up with all the hatred. All your guys opinions except DropTopDrifters are just opinions. You need to try it. I've only been doing it for one year and its crazy. Being in competition and being side by side while drifting next to someone is insane. I'm sorry DropTopDrifter that you lost interst, buy why are you dragging everyone else down with you. I think drifting is just now growing. There are more events that i can even fathom going to this year in my general area. And Scott! how dare you. The times that i have drifted while you are in the car you screamed like a girl! Matt and Brad, come for a ride with me at the next auto-x, i'll drift it, not hit any cones and you'll shit bricks.

i never said it wasn't fun or you weren't actually good at it. just not my cup of tea. you know that. i don't usually give a crap either way, i obviously don't despise you because you enjoy it.


however, this makes a good case for my = no love: http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=264326

Whoa there turbo.... i never said it sucked from the beginning or that im trying to bring anyone down. Im more or less stating that in the past couple years more and more people are getting into drifting to say that "im a drifter" and that there are a LOT of fanboys (like the above posted m.net profile) that are making it look really bad for those who do take it seriously and have been patient enough to learn the car control required to do so. I am by no means saying that everyone sucks and whatnot either. Yes, even out of the more recent crowd thats getting involve, there are people who are doing good. But still, a larger percentage of people "getting into" it now are just doing for say so i don't see them having the patience and determination to really understand drifting (the technical aspect).

I was wanting to get input on what people think of what drifting was to them when it forst got "popular"/they first knew of it to how it is now.

:blah:

no love: $10 says this guys was understeering followed by snap oversteer and called it "drifting".

Yes, years ago i did it "on the streets" but, i at least stayed off open roadways where average traffic wasn't going to be a problem. Still doen't mean what i was doing was any less "illegal" though.

My take on it is that many japanese fads are retarded and cartoonish in nature.
Once these fads get to america theyre even worse...in terms of the fans, wannabes and use of terms especially. That being said, I realize it takes a certain skill to control a car in a drift nicely....but so does doing a double axel in figure skating, another subjective 'sport'. I can do neither. I can appreciate it when well executed but find it lacks real interest to me as a spectator....I much prefer road racing.
I have no issue with pro drivers or drifting...its the overuse of the words, terms, stickers etc by stupid teenage kids and wannabes that I find annoying....much like the stupid rednecks with nascrap stickers all over their trucks. :D

eh, its still bigger than ever now. And yeah F+F screwed it up. The real drifters are people that take the time pay entrie fees to do it on the track. Theres a guy in my area with a NB miata and always tells me about drifting and stuff and i know he sucks.All he does is tell me about how he led the logest drift on such a such a street.And he has no suspension or power upgrades. Its almost physically impossible for him to do all this drifting.He is the kind of poser person like on miata.net that i cant stand. At this point in my "Drifting Career" i'm to the point that i'm creating a proposal for tires and other sponsors to help me out b/c the sport is growing and there is soo many events.

whats "Drifting"?
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I think I had enough drifting when scott slid us for like 20 ft across that bridge. I'm not dogging drifting, and I respect the control, but its boring to watch.

Oh and DropTopDrifter, I dont think its possible for you to really change your name. :)
But just in case, heres a logo for you....

But i bet if you could understand how hard it is to controll a drift. You cant even fatom watching a FD or D1 event when they are door to door drifting around the whole course. THATS INSANE!!!!!!

I have no doubt that its far more fun to DO then to watch.

And these are the kinda people i don't care to deal with. These are the people that give cops the idea that drifting is wreckless and that all "drifters" are super criminals. These are the people that enter events and competitions and fail to follow rules like "if you spin, get off the track because your run is over" and continue to cut up and make everyone else wait. These are the people who throw "drifting" in everyones face and give off a bad impression because they suck.

I do not want to be associated with people like them upon saying i participate in drifting.

competition isn't about fun. it's about destroying your nemesis:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hM5lSIx_Hnc&NR=1
D1-parking lot event. The white corolla had maby 150hp, the s15 updards of 450. Its crazy to thing that the corrolla can hang with it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiFHSAu65CE
Forumla D from Summit Point Raceway. A section of the Shenadoah Course. A track that I drift almost every other month. Good shit.

BTW, it is a very rewarding feeling to sling a car out before entering a corner at 60mph and then have to stand on the brakes, lock the front inside wheel and scrub some speed for a decreasing radius turn only to stand back on the throttle and transition the car to the next turn...while filling the inside of your car with smoke. It's great fun.... and a great challenge to get right.

See.... to mee, the 1st turn after the front straight and going into those esses, looks like a fun place to slide a car from one turn to another lol. I will say, that Mustang was definitely moving.

Actually... i was going to go with Idiot Pilot.

I have a hard time with something that promotes itself as a motorsports event where the winner is based on something other than time. Imagine if Pro Rally was a combo of time and style. Ya ok. Drifting is like figure skating.

That was a fun weekend, do you guys run the same course as FD or the normal direction?

You realize that's the most important feature for a popular spectator motorsport in the U.S.? :gay:

Dan, I know you want to keep fighting the good fight bro, but if people dislike and or just dont give a shit dont bother preeching to them.

I love drifting. I do it on the track. I have a track built car just for it. I trailer to events. I spend alot of time and energy wrenching on my own car. A lot of energy convincing my wife its not expensive LOL

I also dislike poser fucks. They do ruin it for many, but thats just the way it is.

If you love it, keep loving it. Keep driving and supporting local events. Keep stupid fuckers off the street.

Droptop, you are also in the worse area for drift politics. the area you are from is fucked with shit bags running their mouths.

I would have alot of assult/battery charges if I drifted in your area.

I used to really go to bat for drift and found it was a losing battle.

Watching it can get boring even for a drifter. Its fun to do it. I love it.

I am just done trying to convince people how great it is.

Just keep doing it. Keep it on the streets, and always be a respectable citizen and shit will work out for you.

You know who is true and who is not in motor powered vehicle activites LOL!! I didnt want to say sport and upset anyone ;)

About if something is a sport, I came up with this description about a year ago.

To be a pure sport, there must be a chance that if things go horribly wrong you may get your pelvis smashed or your life stolen away.

To me drifting counts, and suprisingly so does figure skating. However golf does not.

Now, playing golf with 500 other people on the same course that's located in an alligator infested swamp in the middle of a lightning storm... That I'd consider a sport.

Dan, I dont have a problem with your drifting. it was cool at the autox. you dont Just Talk about it though so that's respectable--you're out there doing it.

My comment about 4-wheel-drifts was more about old school racing than about the current drifting craze. Most drifting is reliant on front wheel traction, isn't it? I'm thinking more gravel rally style drifts.

Man dies from getting hit by a golf ball:
http://golf.about.com/b/2005/02/27/m...-golf-ball.htm

Man is killed while attempting to steal golf balls:
http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=32862

5% of fatalities related to lightening between the years of 1954-1995 were golfing:
http://www.lightningsafety.com/nlsi_..._injuries.html

And finally.. man dies while driving a golf:
http://www.automotoconso.com/leblog/...da_dans_vw.jpg

+1

Yeah, maybe it's a SE thing with the politics and morons involved (mostly proving that its takes more money than skill). I had my fun with it, i'll probably still do a practice day here or there for a bit of fun... but there is no way im ever going to get into the competition part of it again.... unless someone wants me to drive for them lol. It really is bittersweet for me, something that is so fun and used to be a way to meet new people, but now its got a bad stigma with it and numerous people are just assholes at the track.

Atlanta guys- Anyone remember the Cavilier that "drifted" off the parking deck? Thats the crap i don't want to be near. You general Joe Schmoe sees that on the news and it sticks that drifting is kids being absolutely retarded and will be hard to convince otherwise. Then they see some of us on the street because some of our cars have decals and whatnot (minding our own business) and probably think 'oh thats one of those guys'.

Tell JB(Jeff) i said hi.

Right but thoes are rare and circumstancial. It's not a requirement of a game of golf for you to be placed in harms way.

I just don't get drifting period. I've watched it and didn't find it very interesting either. I won't count it out until I try it though. My last experience watching involved some random neighborhood kid take out my mailbox while learning how to drift (I hope he wasn't a pro).

For the majority of people not in the know drifting looks like a bunch of yahoos in parking lots doing doughnuts. And then you add to it that average drifting enthusiasts are young males who are normally defined as reckless by society at large.

One of our local autocross clubs lost an amazing lot because there was sanctioned drifting on it. It's loud as shit to listen to. People complained, now the autocrossers that used that lot for years with out issue are out of luck.

At Champcar here in 2006 there was a drifting demostration. Was a total joke, run by clowns and most of the cars hit the wall. Not a great way to promote the sport.

You do know who that is right? I'll give you a hint... he started this thread. ;)

Also, yes, being in the car while drifting is too much fun. I love it. Maybe we need some road trips to some practice days just to have a good time with it.



Heehe... anyways... just dropping by, bored at work and saw this thread.

Videos of drifting are like me drinking a 500 dollar bottle of wine. I don't appreciate wine, so no matter how good that particular bottle is to some wine critic, it still taste like wine to me :)

But yeah.. doing it sounds much more fun. I guess I need to try it.

Wait....Scott....im lost... did you know i meant the vids of that white Miata are me? (and the pink one is Marty)

Im down for any driving competition sport whether it is car or motorcycle. And I may drift the Miata when done.

BUT I HATE TO SAY "IT DIDN'T ORIGINATE IN JAPAN". Has no one in this country ever seen a dirt track race. or a motorcycle flat track. Same thing but the curves go both ways and it is on pavement.
"Drifting" We called it burning curves. Sliding in corners and accelerating is a part of any racing and fun as it gets. I just can't believe how uneducated the media was in racing history to stand like a dumb ass and say that it is a miracle! and new. We always found gravel roads and did this in 3/4 ton pickups, metro, crownvictoria, or whatever we could get. We used to race through town doing this before we ever even heard the word drifting. Come on I know there is someone out there that watched DUKES of HAZARD or Bullet re-runs or even an old Carol shelby last lap.
No matter what you call it, as long as there is a fast car, or a horney drunk 16 yr old out there " there will be sliding around curbs". Lol Lol
We have all been guilty, thats why we are not pussies like the rest of the fish out there.

And Im for anything that keeps new aftermarket bolt-on's being produced so I can get cheaper and faster parts.
Drive IT like you STOLE IT!

The japaneese didn't invent sliding cars around, but they did invent competitions based on it and created a clear criteria for judging it in a competition format.

i have low reading comprehension. i just remember seeing them a long time ago and people wanted to do you hard. i know marty is marty. i dont keep up with anything unless people give me free miatas.

i do recall you hit a rock wall or something and it died :(

drifting to me is like dry humping instead of fucking

I have a lot of respect for people who are good at drifting, and it's fun to watch them hang the tail end out and slide a car until the cows come home. I enjoy watching people who are skilled drivers exercise those skills.

I HATE amateur drifters.

normal direction. We go under the bridge go quickright then cross the track and then downhill to the right and then left downhill and then the straight that they were linking....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS-Xbu3V2yM - i try to post the video to play automatically but i couldnt figure it out......