Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » Who says drifting isn't motorsport « 1 2 3 4 »
  • imirk

    March 21, 2011 9:03 p.m. imirk Reader

    Build Article

    This is a medium budget drift car rebuild for Formula D, I don't think that there are people that spend more on the car without factory support, but there certainly are those that spend more in support and such.

    Also that clutch is pretty mind boggling

  • novaderrik

    March 21, 2011 9:19 p.m. novaderrik HalfDork

    it's as much of a sport as anything else that relies on judging to find a winner. gymnastics, figure skating, air guitar..

  • John Brown

    March 21, 2011 9:40 p.m. John Brown SuperDork

    You take that back novaderrik,

    Air guitar is a serious sport damnit.

    Internationally known as The Brown Stig

  • Maroon92

    March 21, 2011 9:43 p.m. Maroon92 SuperDork

    novaderrik wrote: it's as much of a sport as anything else that relies on judging to find a winner. gymnastics, figure skating, air guitar..

    Everyone take a shot!

    XBL GamerTag: bcbrownell Racing is the process of turning money into noise.

  • HiTempguy

    March 21, 2011 9:55 p.m. HiTempguy Dork

    You know whats gayer than drifting?

    Rollerblading BTW GRM, the day you run an article on drifting is the day I cancel my subscription, even though I got the 10 year. DON'T DO IT.

    Rallying; It's like skydiving, except you have to dodge trees on your way down!

  • unevolved

    March 21, 2011 10:22 p.m. unevolved Dork

    Drifting is getting more and more legitimate, from an engineering perspective, at least. They're figuring out high-strung 4-cyls, while fun, aren't the best way to produce power. It seems there's starting to be a divergence from the lifestyle-types and the competitors.

    I have no problem with drifting. It's taking the car control skills you learn when road racing, and abusing them. Anyone who thinks it's easy has never tried it before, it takes a ton of skill to do well.

    Texas A&M Racing

  • imirk

    March 21, 2011 10:31 p.m. imirk Reader

    My main criteria for grading it a motorsport is that is seems an effective way to make a small fortune out of a large one, and of course the engineering and development perspective.

  • novaderrik

    March 21, 2011 10:31 p.m. novaderrik HalfDork

    i forgot ballroom dancing in my last post.. sorry for the oversight..

  • ditchdigger

    March 21, 2011 10:34 p.m. ditchdigger HalfDork

    The GRM article on drifting was great! It took the science of chassis setup, explained what would work best and showed that most of what the drifters were doing at the time was counter intuitive and mainly for style.

    Huge brakes, over lowering, wheel and tire size and offsets were chosen for appearance not function. No suprise really but it was neat to see it rationalized.

    "Sweat is what makes it rock and roll, otherwise it is just folk music with drums"

  • friedgreencorrado

    March 21, 2011 10:47 p.m. friedgreencorrado SuperDork

    Like Patrick Bedard said in Car and Driver years ago (about Hollywood stunt drivers): "The Harlem Globetrotters never won an NBA Championship, but you don't hear a lot of people saying they can't play basketball."

    The drifters are OK with me, I just wish the local group would use some kind of sound control at the downtown site we (Atl Region SCCA Autox) share (the motors are a lot louder than the tires, and the locals think it's us). It looks like a lot of fun. The young folks at work (they know I used to club race and occasionally autoX these days) ask me if I've ever drifted, I just tell them, "Never on purpose.."

    How can it be a midlife crisis, when I've driven sportscars my entire life?

  • oldeskewltoy

    March 21, 2011 10:51 p.m. oldeskewltoy Reader

    novaderrik wrote: it's as much of a sport as anything else that relies on judging to find a winner.

    hit the nail on the head........

  • ShadowSix

    March 21, 2011 11:08 p.m. ShadowSix Reader

    The drifting thing looks like a lot of fun, and I wish I had the budget to go give it a shot, but it really seems like a fad to me.

    Very reminiscent of the import drag racing thing a few years ago. I do think that, although 90% of these guys will move on to the next cool new thing in a few years, some of them will discover a life long interest that translates into SCCA or NASA membership.

    Cars in America will always be more fashion statement than anything else.

  • gamby

    March 21, 2011 11:28 p.m. gamby SuperDork

    HiTempguy wrote: You know whats gayer than drifting? Rollerblading BTW GRM, the day you run an article on drifting is the day I cancel my subscription, even though I got the 10 year. DON'T DO IT.

    I agree on the rollerblading thing (calling it "gay" offends gay people--I wouldn't want to associate them with something as deviant as rollerblading).

    That said--didn't GRM do a drifting feature at some point???

    I don't care if it's considered a motorsport or not. It's entertaining--much more so than NASCAR, IMHO.

  • imirk

    March 21, 2011 11:46 p.m. imirk Reader

    The most popular motorcar show ... in the world is about drifting.

    At least thats what I can surmise given the amount of time spent going sideways in any car the presenters climb in.

  • ShadowSix

    March 21, 2011 11:50 p.m. ShadowSix Reader

    In reply to imirk:

    That's a good point. Everybody worships Jeremy Clarkson as a god, and 90% of the footage of him driving a Civic Type- R is tail-out.

  • mr2peak

    March 21, 2011 11:50 p.m. mr2peak Reader

    It's Qualitative, not Quantitative.

    Quantitative: Relies on numbers. Racing Treasure hunts highest/fastest/furthest getting laid

    Qualitative: Relies on perspective. Ski jumping Dancing Music getting laid

  • curtis73

    March 21, 2011 11:55 p.m. curtis73 Dork

    Drifting IS a motorsport, but its not RACING like they all think it is. But by that rationale, mowing my lawn is technically a motorsport as well.

    I might call drifting "repetitive precision driving" or "a sport involving motors" but racing it is not.

    One of my own personal "motorsport" chassis has three motors in it, and I think I'll go sit in it right now... its my hot tub. Its a motorsport.

    I'm bringing sexy back

  • curtis73

    March 21, 2011 11:58 p.m. curtis73 Dork

    friedgreencorrado wrote: Like Patrick Bedard said in Car and Driver years ago (about Hollywood stunt drivers): "The Harlem Globetrotters never won an NBA Championship, but you don't hear a lot of people saying they can't play basketball."

    Yahtzee. Perfect analogy.

    I'm bringing sexy back

  • imirk

    March 22, 2011 12:01 a.m. imirk Reader

    worst HOA ever, if they give scores on how well you mow your lawn :P

  • March 22, 2011 12:17 a.m. killerkane Reader

    curtis73 wrote: Drifting IS a motorsport, but its not RACING like they all think it is. But by that rationale, mowing my lawn is technically a motorsport as well.

    But what if you get sideways while mowing your lawn?

  • mr2peak

    March 22, 2011 12:47 a.m. mr2peak Reader

    love the lawn mowing analogy.

    If you mow your lawn with deft precision in a way that may possibly kill you with a lawnmower that has been tweaked to show it's true potential, then yes, it's a sport. Because you try.

    You don't try to hot tub. If you try to hot tub, you are a looser.

    It's another way to use a car, don't put it in the same arena as racing. It's not fair.

  • novaderrik

    March 22, 2011 2:23 a.m. novaderrik HalfDork

    i think the sprint car guys invented drifting about 40 years ago..

  • curtis73

    March 22, 2011 2:29 a.m. curtis73 Dork

    imirk wrote: worst HOA ever, if they give scores on how well you mow your lawn :P

    No, they just send you a nasty letter if you don't mow. Scores are either 1 or 0. Either I suck or I don't :)

    I'm bringing sexy back

  • Wally

    March 22, 2011 2:42 a.m. Wally SuperDork

    friedgreencorrado wrote: Like Patrick Bedard said in Car and Driver years ago (about Hollywood stunt drivers): "The Harlem Globetrotters never won an NBA Championship, but you don't hear a lot of people saying they can't play basketball."

    They have won as many championships as the Knicks in my lifetime so I will always consider them New York's better team.

  • curtis73

    March 22, 2011 2:42 a.m. curtis73 Dork

    mr2peak wrote: love the lawn mowing analogy. If you mow your lawn with deft precision in a way that may possibly kill you with a lawnmower that has been tweaked to show it's true potential, then yes, it's a sport. Because you try.

    Have you seen my lawn? The only reason its green is because it has weeds. and if you saw my hot tub.... yeah, its not a sport.

    I'm bringing sexy back

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