On the topic of drifting

"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa)
03/20/2016 at 09:06 • Filed to: dew and dorifto

Does anybody here drift or have any interest in it? The financial barrier to entry and the ludicrous skill involved is far too much for me but well executed drifts and Gymkhana stuff (not sure how much overlap there is between drifting and gymkhana) are some of the most beautiful forms of motorsport. There’s currently a drift competition a couple hours from me in Oklahoma and my Instagram feed is full of videos, and the build threads on places like !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and general “zero fucks given” attitude most drifters seem to share is greatly appealing.

DISCUSSION (43)

Flavien Vidal > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
03/20/2016 at 09:11

I enjoy to get my car sideways, sometimes early, but I don’t “drift” or anything... Getting your car sideways regulary is fun, but doing just that is not something I can afford tire wise lol... That and... I don’t actually have a rev-limiter sooooooo :)

Jarrett - [BRZ Boi] > Flavien Vidal
03/20/2016 at 09:12

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Flavien Vidal
03/20/2016 at 09:19

Yeah, much like any other motorsport it’s not really something we can do on a regular basis without a venue.

wunderwagen wants a longer roof > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
03/20/2016 at 09:19

I very much enjoy drifting and gymkhana, the builds are nuts.

Tripper > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
03/20/2016 at 09:25

I’ve got a friend that is really into it. Most of his cars are fucking beat as the should be lol. I would say it’s more of a time barrier than a financial one. Sure tires are expensive, but he is constantly fixing these cars. He owns a landscaping company, so he’s got the tools and facilities (and a lift) to be able to do the work himself. Every time I talk to him he’s pulling an engine or rebuilding a rear end etc... Drifting is hard when you do it in your nice car that you care about, but when you’ve got one that you don’t care if it nics a wall or another car or a buch of tires, it gets a little easier:) The guys who do it competitively are crazy skilled though.

Flavien Vidal > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
03/20/2016 at 09:25

Well, it depends on where you live really... :)

Certainly not legal, but I have lots of roads that see a couple cars a day at best that are quite welcoming for this kind of hooning... I even have a few 1-way downhill and 1-way uphill roads in mind... Not forgetting night time, where roads are simply empty for 12 hours around my place...

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > wunderwagen wants a longer roof
03/20/2016 at 09:29

The cool thing about most drift builds is you can start with literally any car. FWD, RWD, AWD, doesn’t matter. The whole drivetrain and suspension is gonna get replaced anyways. Take a FWD car, hack the shit out of it and put in the rear IRS from some Ford with a built dif onto a modified rear subframe. Drift Geo Metro or some shit. It’s fantastic.

LongbowMkII > Flavien Vidal
03/20/2016 at 09:30

I knew initial D was a documentary! All the press has been covering up the truth!

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Flavien Vidal
03/20/2016 at 09:31

There are roads like that in the industrial parts of town that the street racers congregate at. Nothing really good for drifting shenanigains other than the odd parking lot which is still full of stuff to hit and crush dreams in.

Nibby > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
03/20/2016 at 09:38

I drift in Mario Kart.

Flavien Vidal > LongbowMkII
03/20/2016 at 09:49

lol, just avoid the roads “documented” in Initial D itself, which leaves you with 99990 other road choices and you’re good to go :)

Flavien Vidal > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
03/20/2016 at 09:50

haha, and everybody runs away at the same time when cops show up :)

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Nibby
03/20/2016 at 09:50

Everyone knows that’s how you get the most boost

Tohru > Flavien Vidal
03/20/2016 at 09:55

If you’re going to run the Irohazaka uphill and downhill runs you better be fast, that’s Emperor and Todo Racing School territory.

Tohru > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
03/20/2016 at 09:56

I think if you keep practicing with your Miata you’ll have it down in no time.

Flavien Vidal > Tohru
03/20/2016 at 09:58

haha, I have actually, a couple of times... Skateboarded down it also... They mostly better be early morning! It’s a crowded place from 9am all the way until 7pm. And I ended up going to the french ambassador residency at the top, by the lake. FREAKING beautiful place!

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Flavien Vidal
03/20/2016 at 10:03

It’s actually pretty funny.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Tohru
03/20/2016 at 10:04

Fantastic idea. A+ would recomment. 11/10 idea of the year.

djmt1 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
03/20/2016 at 10:14

I got drifting lessons as a birthday gift a couple of years ago for the suspiciously low price of £60. The reason why it was so low is that it was on a skid pan so no chewing through tyres bellowing smoke everywhere. Still fun though if a bit easy. So I’d give that a gander.

Jonathan Harper > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
03/20/2016 at 10:24

I know some guys who do it. It’s not a cheap hobby but there are *cheaper*ish ways to go about it.

wunderwagen wants a longer roof > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
03/20/2016 at 10:27

My thoughts exactly. Good example is Rutledge Wood’s Scion xB.

Tohru > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
03/20/2016 at 10:44

I figured the 3 weeks in the shop was to install all the high-end adjustable suspension and drift angle steering kit on the car.

Kinja'd!!!

Tohru > Flavien Vidal
03/20/2016 at 10:45

Skateboarding down Iroha... That’s hardcore.

Urambo Tauro > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
03/20/2016 at 11:21

When I was a boy, my father would do snownuts in the church parking lot. The fun drew me into it, but I soon discovered the legitimate benefit it offers in practicing car control.

Almost all of my cars have been RWD, and every winter I’ve found time to get sideways. I later discovered drifting, and although the sport fascinates me, I just don’t have that kind of tire budget. So my sideways stuff waits for winter. It gives me something to look forward to in those colder months.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Tohru
03/20/2016 at 11:25

Needs more angle + drift wing

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Urambo Tauro
03/20/2016 at 11:26

We got no snow this winter. I am so sad. First winter with a RWD car and we get jack shit in kansas

Urambo Tauro > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
03/20/2016 at 11:32

Bummer.

Do you have access to a large unpaved surface that is ok to chew up a little? I mean, don’t go tearing up someone’s gravel parking lot like a jerk... Other than that, all I can think of is a lucky rainshower. I know it’s not the same, but it’s still easier on the tires than dry pavement.

Tohru > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
03/20/2016 at 11:33

That’s the spirit. Looking forward to seeing you in D1GP in a year or two.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Urambo Tauro
03/20/2016 at 11:42

Most of the parking lots around here have light poles spaced around them and I don’t feel like risking that, lol.

DeLM > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
03/20/2016 at 11:46

I grew up by Chicago, so learning to drift is just a way of life if you want to survive winter driving. I don’t drift per say, but it is definately a skill to learn. The miata is not a good drift car. I have one too. too short of a wheel base, makes snap steer a thing even with the increased lock angle, the best vehicle to learn to drift in would be an old S-10 or ranger , long wheel base will help with car control and holding the slip angle. it will also be easier to catch if things get squirrely.but if you are already this far in to a drifter build with a miata... go with skinny tires in the back. like stock skinny, and old junk yard tires. this will help keep costs down and you will learn the drift at slower speeds, less damage when you muck things up. which will happen. but in any case... Have fun! hope it is all you were hoping it will be!!

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Tohru
03/20/2016 at 11:47

Or /r/justrolledintotheshop

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > DeLM
03/20/2016 at 11:48

I’m not actually building the Miata as a drift car, though I’ve considered going to a junkyard and finding a couple compact spare tires and slapping them on the back for low-speed sideways shenanigains

wiffleballtony > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
03/20/2016 at 11:49

I like drifting as a spectator. I think I only got my car sideways once on purpose. I’ve been sideways a few more times accidentally.

The big obstacle to me is tire cost. Other than that one of the local tracks has a drift night. But my area doesn’t have much in the way of unused back roads. And most of the roads are arrow straight.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > wiffleballtony
03/20/2016 at 11:50

I’ve gotten sideways on accident plenty of times. Each time I totally blank out on what I’m supposed to do and end up wrecking. Good job, me.

d15b > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
03/20/2016 at 11:53

Drifting is the figure skating of motor sports. It’s all about looks, but it is technical and hard as all hell.

wiffleballtony > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
03/20/2016 at 13:18

For me it’s a combination of wet roads, summer tires and too much power. I haven’t wrecked yet, fortunately.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
03/20/2016 at 14:10

Originally my engineswapped rx7 was going to be drift car but im going with grip now to get used to tracking it and maybe will drift it down the road. I live in michigan and get hit wit lake effect blizzards and drive an unloaded diesel truck in the winter so i know i to get sideways

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
03/20/2016 at 14:11

I don’t see why a well-balanced track car couldn’t also drift with a change in tires. Honestly I don’t understand the mechanics in drift cars. Seems like everyone just goes with the most steering angle and the hardest suspension and the most low.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
03/20/2016 at 14:16

yea once i get used to it as grip its slight changes to get it to slide easier. Camber caster and toe adjustments and possibly valving changes to the coilovers i will be running.

Suprisingly pro drifter actually run very sticky tires front and back

Tohru > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
03/20/2016 at 16:43

You mean /r/Shitty_Car_Mods.

I saw the Murdersofa posted in there a couple times.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Tohru
03/20/2016 at 18:25

It was posted by people from here, naturally.

Tohru > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
03/21/2016 at 00:58

I regret nothing

Flavien Vidal > Tohru
03/21/2016 at 02:25

Not that bad really... Straights are not long enough to pick up much speed... You don’t really go over 60kph ever there...