S14 Nissan Silvia - Show Me What Ya Got

The event should have been called Nissan-fest, or AHDA for Anti-Honda Drifting Association. With an obvious preference for rear-wheel-drive platforms, a vast number of S13 and S14 Nissan 240SXs filled the lot, with a few AE86 and FC chassis RX-7s thrown in for good measure. There wasn't a Civic driver in sight to pull on the handbrake. With Mazda, Nissan, Toyota, BMW, Dodge-shit, even the Ford Mustang 5.0 representing (with Volk TE37s no less)-it was a surprise the S2000s and NSXs stayed home.

The driving talent varied. Spotlighting amateur drivers means exactly that, amateur driving. Taking inspiration straight from an "American Idol" tryout, some drivers still need more practice before competing against professional Japanese drivers at the end of this year. Every time a skilled, amateur U.S. drifter made a run followed by a rookie pilot, the difference was obvious. I knew the guy didn't have it if I dove under the safety barrier after hearing the brakes locking straight towards me.

After all the smoke cleared five drivers, including Quoc Ly in his near-stock KA-engine-powered S13, had the right stuff to advance to the U.S. Driver Search championship. With one more drivers search event coming in November during the annual SEMA show, amateur drifters have another chance to practice, step up and either show what they've got or go home with a smashed car. How will you end up?