RETROSPECTIVE>> GAME CHANGERS: WINGS AND PRAYERS

In the road-car world, vehicles that introduce revolutionary concepts normally spawn reams of imitators. They are the obvious progenitors of those that follow, laying down a clear lineage where you can track a certain style or engineering approach back…(read more)

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CAR SPOTLIGHT>>THE SHARK BLUEBIRD

I want to take a moment now to share one more car I found while browsing the 2012 JCCA New Year Meeting. This car caught my eye not just because of its style and quality, but also because of its rarity….(read more)

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EVENT>>HONMOKU STYLE: THE RAZZLE DAZZLE

I'm back home in California now, readjusting after an incredibly productive and very fun visit to Japan. Before hopping on that jumbo jet across the Pacific, I spent the day Sunday taking in some of Japan's custom car culture in Yokohama's legendary Honmoku neighborhood….(read more)

Origins of Drifting

The Origins of Drifting

The art of Drifting started on the mountain roads in Japan back in the 1990’s. The word Touge literally means pass in Japanese, many drift races in Japan are still held in the Touge or mountain passes. The winding mountain passes make for perfect drift courses except for the risk of death. The Japanese street racers realized that the racer who can brake later in a turn causing the vehicle to lose traction had more opportunities to pass and could maintain more speed throughout the entire course.

Even in professional racing drifting is an old trick, drivers who can maintain control of a vehicle past the limits of tire traction has a definite speed advantage over a driver that slows down in order to maintain traction. 

Drifting started gaining much needed momentum in the United States and United Kingdom after the movie “Fast and the Furious – Tokyo Drift”. Tokyo Drift really brought the sport of drifting into the spotlight on the big screen. Many drifters in the United states have Hollywood to thank for their most beloved pastime.

 

Drifting has evolved from racing into a style type of show. Today’s drift courses consist of multiple linked turns, usually in the typical S-shape. Drivers are expected to complete the entire course without losing drift. Judges score drivers based on speed, angle, line and style. Drivers receive 0 point runs for losing drift, spinning out or passing the lead car.