In many Japanese drifting events, each car's performance is very similar, leaving the main difference between each competitor their technique and driving skills. This event was a challenge for me, not only to see how my driving compared to the others', but also how my SR20 engine could compete against other big-power American engines. Seeing the big American drift cars attack the course at such high speeds showed me how big-scaled American drifting is, compared to Japan. But I wasn't intimidated. This event fired up my Kyushu danji bushido spirit, and got me wanting to challenge the best! If I could have one request, it would be to drive against Rhys, Tanner and Sam--they are the biggest competition!
Many have said my best runs during the competition were against Daijiro. I competed with him only once, in 2002, the year I became D1GP champion. He was challenging then, but I could see how much his driving has grown since coming to America. The way he takes his lines and his speed seems to catch the audience's heart! Overall, I was amazed at the skill of the US drifters... I want to ask how they are so good without any places to practice like touges and street races. As for other international drivers, I don't have much experience competing against them, but I can see they understand their cars' characteristics and capabilities very well. Their performance is quite unconventional, compared to Japan style, and very aggressive. They will catch on fast.
As international drivers, we all faced a similar challenge: the time and ability to adjust our cars for the track was very limited. Even with our best parts brought from home, we didn't always have the resources the US-based drivers did, many of whom had their shop's full staff on hand to assist. I would be honored to compete in next year's event, if it is being held. But I would ask fellow Japanese drifters to accompany me, to make the competition even stronger! I'll be looking forward to next year.
Drift Speed
www.driftspeed.com
Garage Sift
www.sift.jp
Behrman/Wise Square
www.behrman.jp
Tanner Faust
In just a few short years, American drifting has progressed from amateur, outlaw obscurity, to--dare we say it--the standard by which the sport is measured. And if anyone sits atop the American drifting thrown, it's the import world's own Golden Boy, Tanner Foust. With back-to-back 2007/2008 Formula D Championship wins riding shotgun in his 350Z, would his drifting reign grow to world-wide status with a win at the Red Bull DWC?
I'm sure by now you have in your mind a description of the track, or at least a concept of how friggin ballsy it was... so I'll get right to the event. Day Two was almost the end of the road for my 350Z. On one pass, I initiated a fraction of a second later than usual and got into some marbles at 99 mph. Long story short, I clipped the plastic barriers on the outside of Turn One and piled into the tire wall on the driver's side. The damage was mostly cosmetic, but after repairs were made, the car was without its front bumper. Stephan said since we hadn't broken one in three years, they stopped bringing spares to the track (or painting them for that matter). Shawn went back to the shop and retrieved a black bumper that gave the car a new look, and I had a new mission: Save it until tandem!
Tandem battling would turn out to be anything but predictable. Our first-round opponent was an 88-mph BMW with a Ferrari Testerrosa body kit. Second round, a 103-mph Darren McNamara in a Saturn Sky. Third round was against four-rotor-powered Mad Mike--who does not have his name for PR reasons--and finally, against Rhys "this is my event" Millen.