Round 6: Sonoma, CA
Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, is close to the heart of California's wine-making industry. But it was the piquant aroma of melting tires that filled the air during Formula D's sixth round. The event was rescheduled to accommodate a double date with the IndyCar circus, a great way to pick up more fans for both series and a sign that drifting is becoming a bigger part of America's motorsport culture.inline_mediumwraptextright25926653/events/impp_1001_formula_drift_sonoma_californiaimpp_1001_01_o+formula_drift_sonoma_ca+main_view.jpgTrue

Nopi To Head D1GP In The U.S.?
The closing ceremonies of D1 Grand Prix USA's Englishtown, NJ, event brought a close to the newly formed stateside drifting offshoot's first season-an arguably tumultuous one, can now safely be said. The final event not only saw the continued protest of Japanese aces Kazuhiro Tanaka and Nobushige Kumakubo (over a judging dispute at the previous round in Chicago that nearly cost fans their event's final runs; the two didn't drive at all in New Jersey), but also came on the heels of the organization's split from promoters Driven Concepts. Coincidentally, it marked the return of NOPI, who hosted the E-town event's bikini contest and car show, leaving us wondering if the move was a sign of things to come. Spectator turn-out was bigger than anticipated, and the drifting that went down on E-Town's road race course was arguably the best of the year, especially the underdog performance that earned American 240SX pilot Sal Campo the Third Place spot on the podium (we don't know him either, but we're betting we'll be seeing more of him next year.). Daigo Saito's second First-Place win earned him Champ status for the season (and a cool $18,000) and Yoshioka landed in Second. Nomura claimed Second in the Champ chase, followed by our boy Forrest Wang in Third, each with some large fake checks and even larger cheeses for the cameras.
www.d1gp.cominline_mediumwraptextright27122791/events/impp_1001_mitsubishi_day_englishtown_njimpp_1001_01_o+mitsubishi_day_englishtown_nj+bww_drifting.jpgTrue

After three years of complete and utter domination, Subaru's reign at the X Games Rally podium has come to an end. A moment of silence, please. Three upstarts from the Ford camp, via the Fiesta, took the top and bottom podium spots, with former 1999 Indy 500 champ Kenny Brack taking Gold and Formula D Diaries contributor Tanner Foust walking away with Bronze. Travis Pastrana took home Silver after he wedged his Subaru between two walls, giving the win to Brack.inline_mediumwraptextright25428614/events/impp_0912_x_games_15_los_angeles_caimpp_0912_14_z+x_games_15_los_angeles_ca+winner_shot.jpgTrue

Round 4: Las Vegas, NV
From not-so-sexy New Jersey to the infamous city of sin, Formula D's Round 4 saw the bright lights and glitzy glamour of Vegas. And boy, was it swish. Well, no, it wasn't. It was a converted parking lot at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. But the upside was that it became one of the fastest tracks on the calendar (if not the fastest), with corner entry speeds reaching 90 mph. And the temperatures hit even higher numbers. Here's how our diarists dealt with sweaty race suits and other various challenges.inline_mediumwraptextright30810801/events/impp_0911_formula_drift_diariesimpp_0911_00_z+formula_d+gambling.jpgTrue

Tanner Foust
Foust has a bee in his sponsor-supplied baseball cap. Could it be because he got stung by the judges? Or perhaps he has a serious point the Formula D organizers would do well to heed.inline_mediumwraptextright25467644/events/impp_0912_formula_drift_seattle_waimpp_0912_09_z+formula_drift_seattle_wa+photo.jpgTrue

Goodbye Nisei Showoff?
It's absolutely true that all good things come to an end. The only question is whether the end is really the end. Michael Jordan, Brett Favre, and New Kids on the Block fans can attest to this, as can anyone who thought subsequent Woodstock festivities would be anything like what went down in '69. Recently, Los Angeles' Little Tokyo district hosted yet another incarnation of its infamous Nisei Showoff: L.A.'s title match among elite Japanese import show cars. This was the tenth consecutive event in as many years as it's been held, and-as Nisei Week organizers broke the news to disheartened enthusiasts day of show-was to be it's last.inline_mediumwraptextright25426976/events/impp_0912_2009_gran_turismo_awardsimpp_0912_01_z+gran_turismo_awards+mazda_side_view.jpgTrue

Tyler McQuarrie
With a new team and a newly-built 350Z, the 2009 season is finally beginning to show what Tyler McQuarrie is made of. From Top 32 in the first round to a Great 8 finish in the last, Tyler is slowly fighting his way to the podium.

In this line of work, there are some shows we all look forward to (SEMA, Tokyo Auto Salon), others we really dread being assigned to cover (not naming names . . . but being stuck in the middle of the desert with a bunch of hot rods is never fun), and then the occasional wildcards we really don't know what to expect by attending. Usually the newbie shows fall into this category. It is, afterall, not exactly a simple task striking that perfect blend of the sickest rides, most prolific vendors, hottest scene-specific chicas and industry icons-on a scale large enough for anyone to give a damn-that makes an event worth attending. But not only did SpoCom organizers nail this magical combination on their first try three years ago, they also proved that if done right, a good show just gets better with age.

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

Dai's Driving Academy
No, not that Dai. We're talking about Daijiro Inada: front-man of the D1GP and JDM Option. And in case any of you thought this Dai only comes to town for In-N-Out burgers and D1 opening ceremonies, guess again. Not only did Dai himself drive in the Anaheim D1GP, he also rented El Toro airfield in Irvine, CA, the very next day for a come-one, come-all grip/slip instructional track day. With help from Shogun Style Performance (course management), Garage Boso (rental and demo cars), Ross Petty (driving instructor/translator), and Taka Aono (driving instructor/translator), Dai invited any and everyone to learn the tricks of high-performance driving on a drift skid pad, intermediate and advanced drift courses (that offered triple digit speeds, for the brave), a Gymkhana course, and an autocross course. The event also served as an official D1 Underground event, meaning Daijiro was able to select up to four promising U.S. drivers to skip sanctioned D1 drivers' searches, and run D1 Pro qualifying events. Without spoiling any surprises, let's just say the AZ crew (Forrest Wang's bros) led the pack.

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.

Travis: I'm going to contradict that, because I saw an in-car video of where you're going down a straightaway, sliding, almost came to a stop . . . but then flipped over a cliff.

Driftstreetwear
Amidst import automotive enthusiasm's continued push into the mainstream with the development of attire, music and lifestyle outlets unique to the scene, online niche retail outlet attic2zoo.com has emerged as the official streetwear sponsor for the 2009 Formula D drift season, with signature brands Rogue Status and Crooks & Castles backing Formula D sleds like Ken Gushi's RSR/Scion tC, and Robbie Nishida's Hankook tire/Dynamic Autosports Nissan 350Z, respectively. To celebrate, the Attic crew held a `spring cleaning' event at their Buena Park, CA outlet, and slashed prices on rare goods by 60%. "Being based in SoCal means we can work closely with brands like Rogue Status and Crooks & Castles," explains front-man James Yang, "which allowed us to develop tech jackets and pit uniforms for the race teams, and corresponding limited-edition versions for our customers . . . which lasted about five minutes on shelves." In addition to the soft goods and vinyl, the Attic crew and its brands will be hooking up race teams with contingency pay-outs, tools, lending a wrenching hand in the pits, or at the very least, a posh, white leather sofa in the Attic booth at each event to grind some melted rubber into.
www.attic2zoo.com

I was the first driver to run in the new Top 32 format. The 32nd-ranked qualifier was a friend of mine, Matt Waldin. He runs Import Intelligence, which sponsored my S15 back in 2005. For the head-to-head match, my qualifying rank earned me the lead run first, where I pushed as hard as I normally would. On my follow run, as we took off down the straight, I dropped back about two car lengths to allow him to get in front and get set in a drift. Once we flipped sideways, I jumped on the throttle and closed the gap to one car length. We transferred across for the left turn and I jumped on the throttle and closed the gap a little more, and got the thumbs up to move on to the next round.

Walking through the halls of any major show, you're bound to see some pretty sick cars--nicely detailed layers of wax and tire shine, with some self-proclaimed model giving away stuff you don't really want--but what happens to these cars after the show? Do they just hop back onto the trailer and into storage for a lifetime of pampered show-car status? Or can they serve another purpose--a higher calling? That's exactly what Mitsubishi Motor Co. and the 2NR staff set to find out, by holding a little performance competition (cough, call-out, cough) for Lancer Evolutions displayed at last year's SEMA show in Las Vegas.

Legend
Cars
Products
Models

Back for the 14th time in as many years, T.O.R.C. welcomed owners/fans of anything Toyota out to Long Beach, CA's Queen Mary Park for its latest, free-to-the-public show-off of the absolute cleanest modified and restored Toyota/Lexus/Scion rides you'll likely see anywhere in the world. Once a show held for owners/restorers of pre-1985 model-year vehicles only, this year's show saw just as many modified late-model whips as fully restored old-school rides. Flared and outboard-oil-cooled, Boso-themed Cressidas sat next to turbo, widebodied Scion show-winners; bagged and dubbed LS and GS Lexus VIP rides next to vintage RHD Crown and Century reclamations; race-prepped, upgraded twin- and single-turbo converted MKIII and IV Supra street cars, next to all-motor ITB'd Hachi, Celica and Starlet road racers. Even a few OG Land Cruisers prompted double-takes from the Jeep community, and a modified '60 Crown harkened to the days before the manufacturer at hand came into its own, with blatant domestic-inspired styling a V8 swap.

In case any of you thought D1GP and JDM Option magazine front-man Daijiro Inada only comes to town for cameo appearances at the D1 events, guess again. Not only did Dai, himself, drive Friday and Saturday of the Anaheim event, but he also rented El Toro airfield in Irvine, CA, the very next day, for a come-one, come-all grip/slip instructional track day. With help from Shogun Style Performance (Course Management), Garage Boso (rental and demo cars), Ross Petty (driving instructor/translator), and Taka Aono (driving instructor/translator), Dai invited any and everyone to learn the tricks of high-performance driving on a drift skid pad, intermediate and advanced drift courses (that offered triple digit speeds, for the brave), a Gymkhana course, and an autocross course.

After a three-year hiatus, D1GP brought its unique blend of competitive drifting back to U.S. tarmac, with the first of four nation-wide stops scheduled for the 2009 season. Under new management, with new judges and judging format, and with the addition of a vendor area, car show, VIP services, food court, stunt bike demos, RC car drifting, live music and the official Gumball 3000 kick-off, the Anaheim event became a sharp departure from "just drifting"-themed events of events past, and, combined with drastic last-minute schedule, format and track changes - along with the addition of the infamous "DriftBox" - a bit of a controversial one.

Stroll down Pine Avenue in Long Beach toward Oceanfront blvd. at 9 A.M. on any other Saturday of the year, and not too much would jump out at you. A few European-style bars and restaurants that come alive by nightfall, and blend in with their surroundings by day, serenaded by the hushed bustle of commerce at work - distant sirens behind hurried motorists in their daily commute; the sounds of business as usual, in a city that doesn't sleep. But for the past four years, pedestrians during the first weekend of the Long Beach Grand Prix have been met with an entirely difference ambience: that of burning R-compound rubber, unfiltered C116-laden exhaust fumes, and the mightly, uncorked din of squealing tires under boosted SR20DET- and RB26DETT-, blown VK56- and LS1-, and bridge-ported 13B-powered race machines roaring off the condos, hotels, and fine upscale eateries that line the otherwise tranquil Long Beach oceanfront. It's a shocking experience - witnessing the tranquility of the early morning streets being shattered by vehicles and driving that would otherwise prompt an all-out national guard assault - but one that seems a perfect fit for enthusiasts that never stop pushing the boundaries of ability and legality, in a city that sets the pace for the world to follow. Wake up! Round 1 of Formula D: Streets of Long Beach just blew the f-- up!

Walk through the doors of a high-priced venue on your way to an HIN or Import Showoff, and you know you're in for a good time. Grassroots, enthusiast-organized parking lot meets, on the other hand, are unpredictable--turnout can be low, legality sketchy, and if you're not part of the crowd that threw the event, there's usually a chance you're not entirely welcome. Right?

Possibly the only thing that keeps our import-infused automotive hearts warm and toasty in the middle of the winter (other than Autozone shift knobs, steering wheel covers, or other crap gifts our relatives buy us that we don't want... but will gladly accept with the original receipt) is Hot Import Nights' annual stop in Miami. Noticeably smaller in attendance this year than in years past, we have to ask, "Where are all the South Florida tuners?!" To those of you who did go, we either loved you or hated you. Lightly modded R35 GT-Rs, S2Ks rollin' Works, drag-prepped DC5s, and generation-correct 180SXs: awesome. Blaze orange, knock-off kitted-out Civics with Lambo doors and painted interiors, uh... not so much. Thanks to Longshots contributor Mark Eccleston for the pics. www.hotimportnights.com

It's past noon at Buttonwillow, CA's aptly named Raceway, and you're nestled comfortably in your gutted Impreza STi `s Bride seating, waiting patiently for the final event of the day to begin. The growl of your hungry EJ25 at rest is hypnotic--its lumpy cams and straight-through exhaust growl deeply, barely holding an idle, as its high-flow fuel pump whines away behind it all. Any other day you'd be fighting to stay awake, but not today. Today there is EVO ass to kick.

Prior to SEMA opening its 67-some odd doors, ruminations were percolating about the turnout of the event: Are people too caught up in the Presidential elections to head out to Vegas? Will the show traffic be dead? With the economy in the proverbial stinky toilet, will vendors show? Is SEMA going to suck a big fat one this year?