Drag is not Dead
For those of you who thought drag was dead-Battle of the Imports is here to call you to the mat. As evidenced by the participation and fan turn-out at BOTI's last few events, drag actually appears to be coming back-strong. Orlando's Speed World Dragway saw sold-out crowds for BOTI's debut event for the 2009 season, and NY/NJ/PA's fastest packed Maryland International Raceway shortly after. Orlando standouts include Luis Ferrer in the Pro Import class, knocking on the eight-second door with his Corolla, Norris Prayoonto and his pretty-damn-quick Insight in Pro Stock, hottie Jessica Barton laying down consistent 9.2-second passes in her Supra in Street Tuner class, while Steve Merman killed Pro Import competition with his 8.3-second EG, and repeat First Place qualifier Jonathan Reynolds continued to reign as crowd favorite, despite losing to technical gremlins in Street Comp (hang in there, buddy!).
www.battleoftheimports.com
CarlislePerformance & Style
Back for the umpteenth year (with small breaks taken in years past for, um . . . "unruly" fan participation) the annual Carlisle Performance and Style show returned to PA's Carlisle Fairgrounds earlier this year, marking the traditional start to the East Coast tuning scene's summer show season. Weary show cars sporting neon paint, Gullwing doors and painted vinyl still dominated the event, but with an increase in cleanly modded and race-prepped rides-and drunken hotel destruction at an all-time low-we find ourselves asking one question: are traditional East Coast import show-goers *gasp* maturing? Check out importtuner.com for complete coverage.
www.carsatcarlisle.com
D1Gpmiami
D1GP USA continued its "US vs. Japan"-themed drifting competition first exposed in last month's coverage of their debut event in Anaheim, only this time 3,000 miles away, on the right coast. D1's Miami event proved not only that amateur drifting is alive and well in the South, but that it is becoming quite competitive . . . even if it still has a log way to go before toppling repeat First Place finisher Daigo Saito, Second Place winner Ken Nomura, and Harry Hokkanen, who brought up the last remaining spot on the Miami podium. Check importtuner.com for all the outtakes.
www.D1GP.com
By The Numbers
26
The number of seconds faster the R35 GT-R is than the Ferrari F430 around the Nurburgring.
Meet Chris Forsberg
Formula D Finals at Irwindale Speedway, CA: drifting on the circle track, the best and most accomplished drifters from around the world, the energy of 25,000-plus screaming fans. Who better to experience it with than repeat First Place finisher and all-around cool guy Chris Forsberg, from behind the scenes of the Irwindale event? Everyone's favorite specialists of all things engine-cooling-related, Mishimoto, is offering one lucky drifting fan, and a guest of their choice, the opportunity to do just that. Visit the company's official website to register for you and your guest to receive free airfare, hotel accommodations, and tickets to the Irwindale event, where you'll be kicking it with the man himself, and sippin' on the two free cases of NOS energy drink you'll also be hooked up with-just don't drink it all at once. Chris doesn't deal with caffeine-induced A.D.D. wig-outs very well.
www.mishimoto.com