Eiiji "Tarzan" Yamada and Katsuhiro Ueo have become two of Japans top icons in the racing community. Both drivers popularity and superstar status has recently surged into the U.S. as more enthusiasts have accepted drifting and circuit racing as part of the import racing culture. Two drivers with completely different personalities, one a soft-spoken individual while the other a brash, outspoken sex fiend came together during the annual SEMA, Las Vegas convention for a two-on-one interview. During the busy hustle and bustle of SEMA both drivers had an opportunity to sit down with Import Tuner to disclose their thoughts on drifting, road racing, personal lifestyles and aspirations for the upcoming race season.
Tarzan Yamada and Katsuhiro Ueo2NR: Tell us what drifting means to you and can you define the term for our readers?
Ueo: Well for everyone the term drifting has different meanings and is viewed differently depending on the person. For me to define drifting-hmmm, I believe the term is a personal lifestyle or a way of life for me.
Ueo: Like showering or eating, which is essential to a human, drifting is part of my daily routine and a lifestyle that I have become accustomed to.
Yamada: Well I don't drift, I race in events that consist of "time attack" and "GT Racing" but the drifting scene has caught my attention and the past D1 Grand Prix in the U.S. makes me want to get into the whole drifting scene.
2NR: How old are you two?
Yamada: Me? Well don't I still look young?
2NR: (Giving him a courtesy smile) Why of course you do Tarzan!
Yamada: I am 42 years old.
2NR: Damn you're an Ogiichan [grandpa]. Is it safe for you to still race on the track?
Yamada: (Distracted by the long-legged model passing our table) HUH? What did you say?
2NR: Never mind, young man! How did you get into the drifting scene?
Ueo: I started out doing time attack for about a year but I got bored with the whole concept and scene. At the same time I began watching WRC Rally Racing on TV and saw these cars sliding and gripping in the dirt and was amazed at how well the drivers maintained control of the cars. The excitement and unpredictability of the roads is what was so exciting to watch. Those drivers maintain such a high level of skills and have to be on their "A" game just to finish the event without crashing or flying off the cliffs. I respect that very much.
2NR: How long have you been drifting, Ueo-san?
Ueo: I have been drifting for roughly six to seven years.
2NR: Tarzan, we know you don't drift but when did you start your racing career?
Yamada: I started going to driving school at a young age of 18 years old. My first debut on the racetrack was in the FJ1600 series, which consists of the smaller 1.6 formula cars like the Yamaha engines. After campaigning in the FJ1600 series for a while I stepped up to the F3 series, which is similar to F1 [Formula One] but running smaller displacement engines. Finally I went to the F3000 series in which the cars are comparable in size to the F1 vehicles. A lot of people don't know about this but most drivers who end up with a successful career in F3000 have gone to the F1 series.
2NR: Where did you first begin drifting or practicing drifting in your early career?
Ueo: I began drifting at touge [mountain] when I first started out. There was always that chance that I took when I went to touge that I would be drifting in the rain or snow and always ended up hitting something or breaking parts off the car. Usually we would go up with spare tires or tools just in case the car ever broke down. It was fun to drift up there because you learn the movement of the cars and can practice different drifting techniques but if I had a chance to start over again I wouldn't drift at touge. I would do it right and do it on the tracks where it is a more controlled environment and safer for me as well as innocent bystanders. As a D1 competitor now it's my job to be a more respectable and safe driver for the sake of the sport.