Round 2: Atlanta, GA
The second chapter finds our six drifters at Road Atlanta, home of the very first Formula D event back in 2006, and the first of the three Tires.com Triple Crown event. With four of our six drivers in freshly-built cars for the season (Dai, Rhys, Tanner, Tyler), the season has started off rough for some, and has been a blessing for others. And whether in new or old, only Formula D Diaries has the drifters tell you, in their words, every metal-crushing crash, tech regulation drama, heart-wrenching spin, and eventual loss or podium-topping win. Spoiler alert: we have a winner.
Jarod DeAnda
This month's guest is "The Voice of Formula D". To whom are we referring and what the hell does that mean? If you've been to a Formula D event--shame on you if you haven't--"J-rod" DeAnda is the announcer in the judging tower, booming his live commentary over the P.A.Think Wizard of Oz and the man behind the curtain, only less levers and buttons and a whole lot more talking.
Drift fans, thank you for being you! You're consistently enthusiastic, eager and hungry for more. Most of you have seen the spectacle of drifting from the pages of this very magazine, TV, countless websites, Tweets, blogs (maybe even mine: www.fatlace.com/stayfresh/jarod), and the progression of the sport has grown by leaps and bounds since its introduction by Formula D in 2004.
I can recall, vividly, the first ever Formula D Round 1 back in 2004 at Road Atlanta. It was my first event announcing, and we were all young and getting our feet wet. Now, fast forward to Round 2 of the 2009 season at what I like to call the "Womb of Formula D" or the "Birthplace of FD". This year, it was packed when the gates opened at 10 a.m. until I announced the winners at 9 p.m. The atmosphere was amazing. The crowd's participation and drivers' anticipation left everyone sitting at the edge of their seat. After the final battle between Chris Forsberg and D Mac, I had the privilege of sharing with the crowd their official new title as the "Best Crowd Ever in FD History", and I meant it. What made this crowd the best? They expressed their knowledge, passion for their driver, unity for the sport, and raw emotion. Between the drivers, teams, sponsors, judges and Formula D staff, who worked hard to put on a great show, and the level of dedication from the fans, it was one of the best drift events of all time!
I always get asked questions after a Formula D event about MC'ing, and since they tend to be the same ones, I thought I'd share some of them with our Diaries readers:
Do you lose your voice after the events?
Sometimes I get a little raw after the event, but after a couple of beers, I'm back to myself. So, post-event, if you see me, toss me a cold one and let's celebrate another successful FD!
How do have so much to say during race weekend?
I've learned the natural flow of the event, and since I really enjoy what I do, it's fun to speak to the drivers and judges, and interact with the crowd. But please, don't heckle or shoot the messenger--I'm not the judge, nor do I have the power to decide who wins. Also, I will mess up announcing here and there--I'm not perfect.
Are you reading off info of all the drivers?
Other than the sponsors, no. It's all in my head. Have you seen the size of my head? It's big!
As a fan, how do I get involved in the automotive industry?
I wish I had all the answers for getting into the drift/tuner industry, but I don't. All I can say is, if it is a passion of yours, follow your heart and you can make it happen. If you want to be a pro drifter, practice. And by practice, I mean on a track, not the streets!
Can I have your job?
Nope, sorry. I love being the "Voice of Formula D" and I'd like to thank Ryan Sage and Jim Liaw of Formula D for entrusting me with the opportunity of MC'ing. I like to think that I've made them proud. From their feedback and those of the drivers, judges and fans, I hope to continue to grow this year, as I have in years past.
Some final words of advice on becoming a courteous and engaging drift fan:
Come to events ready to have fun. Your driver might lose and be knocked out of the competition, so be a good sport. Participate! Cheer, boo, clap, stomp your feet, do the wave and especially, yell "Send it!"--it'll make your experience a whole lot better. Lastly, don't forget to toss me a cold one after the even--it'll help me prep my voice for the next event.