Drifting, what is it all about??
Discussion
At FoS the idea is to drift as close to the barrels as possible, it's a long, long way from being a suitable drift course but they tend to get some of the best drivers in the business in and they make it work remarkably well.
The driver of the Liberty Walk S15 had unbelievable car control, by far the best drifter I've seen at FoS (saying something when James Deane is there, who is also incredibly talented)
The driver of the Liberty Walk S15 had unbelievable car control, by far the best drifter I've seen at FoS (saying something when James Deane is there, who is also incredibly talented)
It started off in the hills around Japanese cities, like Americans going drag racing in hot rods the kids were racing up and down the hills. Two styles started to emerge based on the cars used - ‘Grip’ for fwd/4wd cars and ‘drift’ for the rear biased stuff.
As with anything this car culture fed into car design at the time, with manufacturers making more easily tuned rwd budget cars. Corollas, RX7, Silvia, Supra etc…
As police clamped down on it the drivers moved to track, so it was only a matter of time before drift ‘matsuri’ became popular and eventually over time codified into a motorsport.
D1GP as it was eventually known was based on judges scoring, each driver would be paired up against a competitor and would be scored for speed, angles and whether on not they could ‘gap’ their opponent (increase if you were leading, close if you were following). Some of the cars and driving from this period were absolutely wild so it’s not surprise it’s at this point (and with the emergence of the internet) the sport started to go global.
The latest version of the sport seen at goodwood seems to have taken inspiration from the Americans - judges scores are obviously not objective and this always seems to be something the US is really keen on in any sporting event. Someone has to demonstrably be better to win. The LED markers and proximity sensors are a great way to do this as competitors can now be scored based on technique following a pre-determined route.
To summarise the point is to clip all the sensors and get up the hill as quickly as possible.
If you found the display teams good to watch I’d strongly recommend going to YouTube and searching for some of the D1GP tandem runs. Imagine doing what you saw at goodwood, but at much higher speed and with another competitor 3ft away from you.
As with anything this car culture fed into car design at the time, with manufacturers making more easily tuned rwd budget cars. Corollas, RX7, Silvia, Supra etc…
As police clamped down on it the drivers moved to track, so it was only a matter of time before drift ‘matsuri’ became popular and eventually over time codified into a motorsport.
D1GP as it was eventually known was based on judges scoring, each driver would be paired up against a competitor and would be scored for speed, angles and whether on not they could ‘gap’ their opponent (increase if you were leading, close if you were following). Some of the cars and driving from this period were absolutely wild so it’s not surprise it’s at this point (and with the emergence of the internet) the sport started to go global.
The latest version of the sport seen at goodwood seems to have taken inspiration from the Americans - judges scores are obviously not objective and this always seems to be something the US is really keen on in any sporting event. Someone has to demonstrably be better to win. The LED markers and proximity sensors are a great way to do this as competitors can now be scored based on technique following a pre-determined route.
To summarise the point is to clip all the sensors and get up the hill as quickly as possible.
If you found the display teams good to watch I’d strongly recommend going to YouTube and searching for some of the D1GP tandem runs. Imagine doing what you saw at goodwood, but at much higher speed and with another competitor 3ft away from you.
GordonGekko said:
Can people with direct experience explain the objectives of drifting as it isn’t obvious.
The performance of the cars is clearly astonishing, but what are they trying to achieve?
It's an outlet for all the noisy/ADHD kids from school, you know the ones - busy trying to explode a chemistry laboratory with a bunsen burner whilst the teacher was scribbling something on the board.The performance of the cars is clearly astonishing, but what are they trying to achieve?
Never understood it myself, I love sliding about in something RWD as much as the next person, but buying some overpriced piece of scene Jap crap/rusty old Beemer, welding the diff and then carting 6 sets of spare rear tyres about so I can do lap after lap of some outdoor go-kart track isn't really what I class as motorsport! Must admit, whenever I get a whiff of someone smoking a joint, I can close my eyes and am immediately transported back to the paddock at a Teesside/Three Sisters/Driftland drift day...
Chunkychucky said:
GordonGekko said:
Can people with direct experience explain the objectives of drifting as it isn’t obvious.
The performance of the cars is clearly astonishing, but what are they trying to achieve?
It's an outlet for all the noisy/ADHD kids from school, you know the ones - busy trying to explode a chemistry laboratory with a bunsen burner whilst the teacher was scribbling something on the board.The performance of the cars is clearly astonishing, but what are they trying to achieve?
Never understood it myself, I love sliding about in something RWD as much as the next person, but buying some overpriced piece of scene Jap crap/rusty old Beemer, welding the diff and then carting 6 sets of spare rear tyres about so I can do lap after lap of some outdoor go-kart track isn't really what I class as motorsport! Must admit, whenever I get a whiff of someone smoking a joint, I can close my eyes and am immediately transported back to the paddock at a Teesside/Three Sisters/Driftland drift day...
I don't really understand the negativity towards it. It's clearly a very skilful form of driving and many, many people find it very enjoyable to watch (I also believe it's one of the fastest growing forms of motorsport). Even at Goodwood MM, which I assumed could be the least appropriate place to have had a drifting demo so far (in terms of acceptance from the cliental) it brought the crowds forward as much as some of the bigger races.
The difference between even an excellent and a supremely talented drifter at Goodwood was obvious, so clearly there is so much more to it than just throwing it in and creating some noise and smoke.
I have no interest in motorcycle racing but I don't mock it or those that spectate.
The difference between even an excellent and a supremely talented drifter at Goodwood was obvious, so clearly there is so much more to it than just throwing it in and creating some noise and smoke.
I have no interest in motorcycle racing but I don't mock it or those that spectate.
Edited by ch37 on Thursday 30th June 16:46
KarlMac said:
It started off in the hills around Japanese cities, like Americans going drag racing in hot rods the kids were racing up and down the hills. Two styles started to emerge based on the cars used - ‘Grip’ for fwd/4wd cars and ‘drift’ for the rear biased stuff.
Look up "Initial D" on You Tube. It started out as a Manga comic which was then made in to anime.ch37 said:
I don't really understand the negativity towards it. It's clearly a very skilful form of driving and many, many people find it very enjoyable to watch (I also believe it's one of the fastest growing forms of motorsport). Even at Goodwood MM, which I assumed could be the least appropriate place to have had a drifting demo so far (in terms of acceptance from the cliental) it brought the crowds forward as much as some of the bigger races.
The difference between even an excellent and a supremely talented drifter at Goodwood was obvious, so clearly there is so much more to it than just throwing it in and creating some noise and smoke.
I have no interest in motorcycle racing but I don't mock it or those that spectate.
+1 The difference between even an excellent and a supremely talented drifter at Goodwood was obvious, so clearly there is so much more to it than just throwing it in and creating some noise and smoke.
I have no interest in motorcycle racing but I don't mock it or those that spectate.
Edited by ch37 on Thursday 30th June 16:46
It’s a great spectator sport at the Nurburgring 24hr the drift show draws a bigger crowd (in one location) than any other race or event. And if it’s not for you go grab a coffee. I’ve said it before but some of the drifters can navigate the chicane at Goodwood with a lot more accuracy and speed than many that race there!
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