HeelnToe

Hmmm, I have to admit, some of the most fun I've ever had was "drifting" my old CRX around the track. Now keep in mind there was an actual point to it, I wasn't sliding it for sliding's sake... but it felt so GOOD to come up to a corner, brake late (rear comes loose), then get hard on the throttle (front comes loose) and steer out of the corner with the throttle and steering in a wonderful, four-wheel drift.

Organized hooliganism, lol... bunch of high schoolers doing burnouts in a parking lot, getting busted too many times, and wondering, "hmmm, how can we get away with this? I know! Call it a sport!"

LOL, people will watch anything. It seems to be here to stay. Kids love it. I think it's incredibly stupid and boring, but a gazillion kids disagree with me, and I respect their opinion. Well, their right to one anyway

I can't wait for organized spinouts... organized screeching stops... organized rollovers... the future of motorSPORTS is indeed promising

Hanzo

sport ( P ) Pronunciation Key (spôrt, sprt)
n.

1. Physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively. A particular form of this activity.

2. An activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively.

3. An active pastime; recreation.

I would consider drifting a sport. It is not a fad and will not go away until flying cars become the norm. Drifting has been around ever since people started to motor race. The present form of drifting is just a more exaggerated version. WRC is a perfect example of drifting used in motor sports.

T.T.

Many consider the four-wheel drift the ultimate cornering technique. The only reason why race cars don't use it is to get better exit speeds. Since you lose speed in a corner when drifting, some drivers use it to slow themselves down if another turn is approaching really fast. Instead of braking before the turn, it's sort of like breaking while turning. Since it really eats away at the tires though, almost all drivers would prefer smoother driving techniques. However, I really don't like how all of these high schoolers are trying to drift either. How are you gonna learn to drift when you don't even know what a slip angle is? The amateurs....

Hanzo

People got to learn somehow, no one is born knowing how to drift. They shouldn't do it on the public road though.

KC_Prelude

I'll have to disagree. I like to watch drifting and I like the feeling of breaking loose while still being in control. I think there are few feelings that compare to going sideways and recovering. I do however think that making competitions out of everything is stupid. Drifting, like surfing, is something that I don't think you can assign a point value to, its just something to do for personal satisfaction.

shelleys_man_06

Thanks for the opinions guys . To judge whether drifting is a real sport is in the eye of the beholder. T.T., do you know what a slip angle is? Don't use your mechanics book you cheat .

Skyline Maniac

Drifting is fundementally a technical sport, much like other extreme games such as skating and trick snow boarding. It's not all about the speed around the track. This is quite ironic since most RX-8 enthusiasts care more about 'fun' rather than 'speed.' You don't go to US Open Surfing Championship and pick a winner base on who can get through the wave the fastest. If you can't understand that then it's your loss. As far as judging drifting events, I agree it's too objective right now~ and that is exactly why D1GP is already incorporating GPS sensors to determine exact speed, drift angle, and lateral acceleration for competition purposes. Sport is not just about pure speed, it's about entertainment.

T.T.

Yeah shelleys_man, I know what a slip angle is. But I knew about these things FAR before I started reading about suspension tuning. Besides, maybe they (the high schoolers) should start reading more to about tuning. It may help them stay away from ricers. Please, talk to your kids about rice.

Hanzo

Yes, please educate them.

shelleys_man_06

Haha. Sorry if it sounded like I was insulting your intelligence T.T. Well, kids need to learn the basics about cars before they can step up to tuning. Kids are stupid. I'm smart :D.

NAVILESRX8

iTrader: (1)

This post is gay...arguing about wether or not drifting is a sport...who gives a fu*k. This is as pointless as those "Is the RX8 a true sportscar?" threads....labeling it something doesn't change waht it is. It doesn't change how much fun it is whatever you call it. I drift my RX8.....it's awesome.
If you choose not to like drifting then so what..I choose to hate fwd cars....that's my choice...I don't expect all people to agree....just as I don't agree with your opinion. It's cool.

shelleys_man_06

Is there really such thing as a [I]gay[/] post? I didn't know these things had a gender preference . Who gives an f-bomb, you say? Well, I suppose anyone who responded to this thread I started cars. I don't know, maybe their opinion doesn't count, since they presumably don't give a...Why do you hate FWD cars anyways? It's a strong stand. Perhaps you could share your thoughts please .

shelleys_man_06

Repost due to my affixation with correcting syntax errors :D.

NAVILESRX8

iTrader: (1)

Nahh....you seem to love arguing...I said what I had to say........I don't agree with you and that's that. I won't try to convince you. Be happy!


You hate drifting...alright....good for you......

wakeech

it's... just another facet of global motorsport culture, notably a japanese one; whenever you're talking about, or associating japanese sports cars in anything, drift is always there inthe background these days.

i think it's good silly fun. i think drag racing is a serious, skillful competition. i badly want to get involved with road racing sports cars. drifting may not yet be a credibly serious competition, but it sure as hell is cool (although i hate the aesthetic).

DOMINION

LOL! true...

shelleys_man_06

I hope this thread never ends .

Overport

Drifting is the dumbest thing to ever come to America. Contrary to popular belief, drifting though was not started in Japan. It was started by a bunch of white dudes in Canada. Japan made it popular, why i have no idea. For goodness sakes they get judged on how much freakin' tire smoke they have! WTF? Its the dumbest thing i have ever seen.

"hey guys! The D1 Grand Prix is in town tonight man! Lets go watch some asian dude named Tarzan spin around in circles...it makes cool smoke come from the tires man! Its so awesome! you guys gonna come?"

"The guys all look at eachother and say...NO....HEEEELL NO"

shelleys_man_06

Looking back on this thread, I have come to my senses. I really like drifting. I guess denial is not a river in Egypt. In fact, I love drifting, I just hate the culture. That's my two cents. Close this thread!!

Hanzo

I think the culture has always been there (Hot Import Nights, Nopi, Battle of the Imports, Hyper Fest) type of culture. Drifting didn't really create any new "culture", it just join in with the hip hop/hot import night culture in the US.

I personally am too old for "Import Live Style" culture. I just enjoy automobile and motor racing.

shelleys_man_06

Stuff like drifting is going to be absorbed by the boy racers and the poseurs. I just don't know why. At least autox and rallying are rarely touched.

devoid

I don't know what's wrong with you guys but I don't have trouble drifting my FWD Plymouth Acclaim....come on, an Acclaim, no where near that of an eclipse. I'm no pro, but I love to learn and try. Personally I'm in between. I agree with Shellys_man_06. We may be attracting a wrong croud, but hey, if that's what people are into, so be it, let them be, but oh boy will they meet my wrath when they screw up outside of a sanctioned event such as in the mall parking lot. I'm mean I'm on both sides, I myself love the winters in the mall parking lot or on the twisty roads through the park, but never when there's anyone around, I'm talking 3-4am. It's the showoffs that bother me.

I love to learn drifting b/c it truly helps you learn the ultimate limits of your car, especially in rain or snow. By putting yourself purposely into a drifinting scenerio you learn how to handle the car when it happens unexpectedly. I can't begin to count the number of times I've hit ice or rain slicked road, but managed to keep control b/c I know how to handle my car. Again, I'm definitely not a pro by any means, but I love to learn.

Finally, as for drifting as a sport, I have the same view as toward the Fast and the Furious crowd. PLEASE be competitive at a sanctioned event. Don't be stupid. I'm not a fan of street racing by any means...people get hurt and killed and more often than not its innocent people having nothing to do with it. I'd much rather you go compete at an event then come racing down my street drifting your car down the road. That was the design of the SCCA. So food for thought Shellys_man_06, is drifting any less of a sport/event than the SCCA? SCCA is simply a "sport" or event that gives people the chance to compete and open up their vehicles potential and learn how to handle their car in a structured and controled manner. There are plenty of people who frown on and shake there head at the SCCA. I say good for these events, and lets try and give people the opportunity to learn safe and proper techniques as well as help subdue that itch everyone has to race or drift or whatever it be!

shelleys_man_06

I think the United States should build more mountains to promote the downhill.

Digi7ech

I love drifting. It's not a sport though. It's a fun way to learn about your car and improve your skills.

I don't like the rice boy/imitators which eventually follow the real people.

I use to do it all the time in my GTU. I haven't lately due to my engine swap.
Once my car is broken in I will start up again. I have gone to quite a few empty lots to practice. I think this is safer than the street racers because I do it in an empty lot where I only endanger myself.

Drifting is OK to watch but you get the real feel driving or being a passenger.
It's just plain fun!

Here we have a drift event once a month and it has started to gain popularity.
My buddies drift all the time too.

I'm a turns/curves man so downhill/drifting/whatever is my happy place.

I haven't gone to one of the big drift events but I think it would be cool to see.
I get to see techniques used and some damn sweet cars.

It's the same thing as drag race events.
More of a Ooooooh Ahhhhhhh thing than a track event.


Oh yeah. No matter what you say. FWD can't drift. That's just Ebrake *** dragging.

The Ebrake is for initiating/sustaining some drifts. Not for 24/7 lock out.

Also.
Let the Rice boys buy Rx7's/240's/AE86's.
It'll raise the value of my car :D

truemagellen

so have you changed your mind on this?...I find watching regular racing to be bloody boring...drifting is much more exciting