Drifting - an idiots guide

[Keith_C]

We have a lot of drifters here, so I was wondering if one of them could post up a 'Beginners Guide' to the rules and conventions of drifting. Things like what makes a good drifter, any benefits/penalties for car type, etc would all be good stuff. Basically an intro for beginners like me to be able to watch and enjoy drifting events - and actually be able to understand what's going on at the same time.

Cheers :)

[Dave_S]

That sounds like a brilliant idea :thumbs:

come on drifters!!!

Dave

[200sxer]

http://www.aquarterof.co.uk/acatalog/drif0001.jpg

mmm Drifter:smitten:

[BanjoMaster]

Hmm, one of the most important things is probably the genenal attitude of everyone involved. Yeah, they can be competitive events, but it's still a laugh and everyone should be really friendly and encouraging too. You know, clap if they do good, clap if they mess it up too.

Does that make any sense? :confused: :confused: If Paz see's this he'll be able to go into more depth ;)

[PhilMorrison]

Are we talkin D1 Japan rules? as they are differnet to our rules.. either way I'll wait for Paz to answer aswell, he'll explain it so much better than me :)

[Keith_C]

Well - all rulesets ideally :D

[PazzaAE86]

Err, thanks guys ;)

For the Drifting scene all over the world, i think BanjoMaster hit the most important thing on the head... :)

To me, peoples attitude is one of the key things that makes drifting so enjoyable. From my experiance in England, most everyone who attends the Drift Sessions, be they spectating or driving, has an excellent attitude towards everyone else. Respect seems mutual between everyone and friendlyness abounds. Some People have even offerd to let me (yes, ME!) drive their cars for them! :wack: :D

Speaking to other people from the USA and Japan, it seems that it is very much the same over there, but obviously that little bit more so in Japan. So again, if spectating or driving, i think having a good attitude and supporting everyone who is there is key to enjoyment. Applause for a good drift, applause for a spin, or even applause for just trying!

Other subjects, like Car Manufacturer and particularly a Cars asthetic condition shouldnt really come into it because lets face it, any car looks good going sideways, and these cars certainly arent show queens. They get hammered! :D I do have my own preferances towards how i think cars should be styled, but then doesnt everyone? I dont think this should affect judging critera either, altough it does count to a degree in how Japanese D1 is judged. For me and my tates, it is nice to see great looking drift cars (IMHO Phatty's is the nicest Drift Style S14) and its also nice to see a wrecked one (Mine!).. haha.

Benefits and penalties for car types? I suppose that could mean which platform the driver chooses (FR, MR, FF etc), but if that driver can drift his chosen car well, then thats all that matters because a good run of drifts looks good, regardless.

The aim of drifting a corner, and this is somthing that makes good spectating aswell as fun driving, is to get sideways before the corner (the sooner you can, the better) so you enter sideways, apex sideways and exit sideways. This up and coming Silverstone Event will be the first time on a proper track for most people (me included. Ive done small sprint tracks but nothing with this kind of scope) and so its going to be differant that what most everyone is used to.. So hopefully, given this new environment to drift in, we can try new things that we havent been able to on Airfields... So expect some spins from me!

Things to look for when it comes to judging is usually speed, consistancy, line, drift angle and style. Style can encompass many things, including smoking tyres, arm out of window, linking turns or just having a car with some attitude, etc.

I'll add more later if i think of any (im at work and its dinner time now), and if you guys have any comments or anything, post em up cus that was some huge mass of typing i just did....

Thanks

Paz

[BanjoMaster]

Wow, that must be your entire lunchbreak used up Paz!

I can't really think of much to add to that at the minute, except the flamboyance of a drifter's style is an obvious factor too. In the D1 vids I've got the judges like things like using all of the track and more (getting a rear wheel on the dirt and kicking it up is nice :D ) and I've even seen or heard about Judges awarding points for someone ripping stuff off of their car mid-drift! Not something many people here'll be too keen on though I'm sure.

Like Paz says, it's not really as if there's a rigid judging structure as such, just whoever is, well, the coolest basically :)

[Dave_S]

Nice one Paz. Are there specific things you're awarded points though? (As Keith said). Do you get more points for a longer drift or just a cleaner one that exits at the right time??

Dave

[BanjoMaster]

Originally posted by Dave_S
Nice one Paz. Are there specific things you're awarded points though? (As Keith said). Do you get more points for a longer drift or just a cleaner one that exits at the right time??

Dave

Umm, both I think. I think the neatness of the drift i.e. keeping the angle of the car the same through the corner and jsut controlling it with the throttle is more important than the length of the drift. I could be wrong though, as I can't speak Japanese so I don't know what the judges are discussing in my vids :D

It's one of those things that's more difficult to explain than actually letting someone see for themselves. You'd immediately know a good drift over an OK or a bad one, and you'd know a great drift over a good one.

I'm talking a looad of b*ll*cks today...

[PazzaAE86]

Hehe.. It did take all of my Lunch Break up :)

As BanjoMaster says, the points structure is probably just down to the judges, and what one judge sees as good skills, might not score so highly with the other. Its all very subjective i think, too subjective to write out the specifics and such. Plus ive never asked the Option UK guys what they like, and i dont really know how the D1 judges score because i can barely understand them... Its down to each judge's tastes i believe. The cooler the better :)

I think the judging of UK drifting will be differant to the way the Japanese do it, because of how new UK drifting is. The Japanese have been doing it for over 20 years and so styles, tuning parts and circuits etc have had time to mature into the crazy stuff we see today.

Err yeah.. Ehehe..

Paz

[yeager]

oooooor

Join Pazzas Live For Speed server and drift with him online :) I had huge fun dualling on a few circuits :)

[Dave_S]

Not wanting to turn another thread into LFS but it really is good fun, done some online drifting with Paz too :thumbs:

Dave

[yeager]

Originally posted by Dave_S
Not wanting to turn another thread into LFS

I agree, but whilst we are @ it (fnar fnar) here's the url... www.liveforspeed.net and we have a regular SXOC racing server every Thursday night between 8 and 10 pm, look for SXOC Racing on here and on the LFS master server...

back to topic :)

[R33-Drifter]

Originally posted by BanjoMaster
Judges awarding points for someone ripping stuff off of their car mid-drift! Not something many people here'll be too keen on though I'm sure.

Fcuk it, I'll have a go :nod: Just leave something a bit bigger than a just particle in the middle of the track at Silverstone and I'm sure my bumper may come off or take some damage :cry:

Would I get any points for completly smashing my front sway bar off :rolleyes: :wack: :furious: