WORLD DRIFT CHAMPIONSHIPS (WDC) vs. FORMULA DRIFT (FD)

[AlexPfeiffer]

Thank God they did.

cinderblok, I dont think modified/FD has come on here bad mouthing wdc, but has just stated facts to what they have done to develop the sport. WDC and primedia has equal oppertunity to state what their objectives are but have yet to say a damn thing.

[MonkeySlide]

Thank God they did.

cinderblok, I dont think modified/FD has come on here bad mouthing wdc, but has just stated facts to what they have done to develop the sport. WDC and primedia has equal oppertunity to state what their objectives are but have yet to say a damn thing.

They haven't said a damn thing ..but it seems like they are obviously paying attention. Who knows maybe they are taking some of these opinions to heart and are going about changing their current policies right now?

From what I know about WDC it seems like it would be a really good series for up and commers if they just changed the "Invite only" thing..but perhaps thats just wishful thinking.

[DriftGirl]

Thank God they did.

cinderblok, I dont think modified/FD has come on here bad mouthing wdc, but has just stated facts to what they have done to develop the sport. WDC and primedia has equal oppertunity to state what their objectives are but have yet to say a damn thing.

Didnt you sign a letter of intent with WDC? what happened with that? I dont understand why they would list people who had no intention to run in their series....

[AlexPfeiffer]

Yes.
I feel that both WDC and FD should work more contingency programs in. WDC has offered the "invite" thing to pay for transportation costs, but how does that help the developing teams/drivers if you have to be "invited". I feel you should be payed for how you finish, not just to show up.

[AlexPfeiffer]

DriftGirl, Yes i did, but it was to run only a couple events if any and in my personal car, not my sponcered car. (please read the previous posts) And im pretty tired of media people telling me that our names are mentioned by WDC. Even my sponcers have called me confused to what events i would be running because they keep hearing that i've commitied to running in WDC which is far from the truth.

That is the reason for this post, if the media is confused, the drivers/teams are confused, then the fans are confused, then the sponcers are also confused. That means the whole industry is confused and we are in deep *Censored**Censored**Censored**Censored* cause no one knows what the *Censored**Censored**Censored**Censored* is going on.

[hondoo]

Cinderblok, do you work with WDC?

[cinderblok]

Cinderblok, do you work with WDC?

Hondoo-I do not work for WDC nor do I work for FD. If WDC came in here, I would be talking the same smack towards WDC. I like that Alex brought this up to help everyone who is involved to make things happen. I would like these things to start happening without influence from anyone or any series that we are trying to make change.

Alex, I believe they are trashing indirectly and slightly directly. I also believe, like you said, that the drivers are very confused. I will say that I am not THAT confused, because I take the time to call both series with questions. I do this to help make MY desicion for what is best for 2005.

I like to look into things and hear both sides. I ask a million questions. I have a few for this post:

I would like to know if anyone has asked WDC about their "Invitation" and what does that mean?

Has anyone asked WDC why your names were up?

Has anyone asked Formula D why there dates changed to make 4 conflicting dates?

Has anyone asked if Formula D tried to work anything out with WDC?

[Slapshotnerd]

It would not surprise me if the Primedia folk were keeping tabs on this topic, but choosing not to pipe in.

[Formula D]

Has anyone asked Formula D why there dates changed to make 4 conflicting dates?

Our dates were not changed to conflict with WDC. The date changes we had came as a result of a venue (Road Atlanta) pulling out a date from us due to the fact that they decided to hold an ALMS event on our weekend. Some may know Don Panoz is deeply involved/owns Road Atlanta and ALMS and when that happens your date gets moved.

Our second date change came as a result of that change which now confliced with our season opener so Jersey was changed to the end of the year.

Those are the only two date chages we have had.

Now let me say this. It is not our obligation to check with everyone trying to start a series to see when and where their dates are. Both WDC and us announced tentative dates at SEMA so there was no way to cross reference and quite franky we did not even know if it was real or not. If they wanted to know our dates we would have gladly told them just like we do everyone else. We plan our dates off of what is already out there in the market place. It doesn't make sense for us to purposely plan dates on other peoples dates. It makes no sense whatsoever. Pretty wreckless actually considering the drivers and sponsors involved. So we would never purposely do that.

Has anyone asked if Formula D tried to work anything out with WDC?

I have spoken with Russel and Terence a number of different times over the course of our relationship. They have been interested in trying to work together as it has been made apparent to me they are doing this no matter what. Even before PM came into the mix they were already trying to launch WDC and asked us if we wanted to partner. We were open to that but never heard back. Quite frankly we have an already existing series to run and so many obligations to fulfill. Additionally, I cannot recount the number of times I have tried to make contact with people at PM.... From editors of mags to higher-ups. No response, not even an email back. Much respect to the boys at Tuner and Super Street though. Nads has always been a straight shooter and I respect him greatly. Jason at Tuner is a class act bottom line. Jon Wong is amazing.

[Hubert Young]

...Our second date change came as a result of that change which now confliced with our season opener so Jersey was changed to the end of the year. ...

I thought Jersey is April 16?

[Formula D]

it is.. it use to be at the end of the season though

[vrtblacksheep86]

Man, Alex............This all sucks!

We rarely speak, but I know you're good peoples and I know Ernie real good and I hate seeing you guys do so much only to get screwed in the end by something so damned retarded as this!
I can only say this. I hope that all here recognize that most of the drivers don't really get squat for their efforts. Every time they go out there they're putting there lifes on the lines, purposely trying to get closer to that wall a little more sideways, and little faster everytime. If your lucky you don't crash, but it's gonna happen and you sponsors and companies think about this too aside from the obligatory, "Hey be safe out there!". These guys could be killed in hyping up your weenie little markets and all they have to show prior to it from several of the companies are stress lines in their foreheads...
Get a clue!! Pay these guys and there crews...
While your at it get a camera crew and sneak up on some of these sponsors and see whats really going on in there shops the night before...At 3am in the morning, some of these weenie companies have their drivers stuffing motors in cars the night before when he should be resting to be focused the next day....ever talk to the pro's the day of and event..they're worn out cause they are always running around trying to help each other from one garage to the next. When they should have a crew doing that...I've seen it personally and it's wrong.
I'm personally glad I'm still stuck in the military, because had I gotten out of the military and taken a shot at this...I'd be severly let down by it and regretting and wishing I was back in a society that takes pride in loyalty and respect as opposed to the manipulation of an up and coming sport and its drivers by money grubbing companies driving it.

Alex and all the other pros out there...Ganbatte and I hope all clears up for ya!!
Thanks for a job well done and we all are waiting to see your outstanding performances real soon..

Booney

[illegalgarage]

I think D1(i know off topic) is cool but i hate having to wait until 5:30, 6, 7, 8 pm for the finals.

F D i liked a lot, i got to go to the event at sears point.
there were a few delays but there was driving going on the track almost at all times.
You guys know most of us have severe ADD (its a joke) but with more action you will get more repeat customers.
My biggest complaint is that its hard to see most of the action from ground level, event coridinators need to realize people want to be RIGHT THERE UP FRONT, i.e. courtside seats.
But at the same time people need to be safe.
I belive F D has a good thing going and will continue to grow.
I dunno how WDC is gonna do, but i have heard from friends in the magazine buisness that drifting is getting over exposed.
I think that if there were more names in magazines that would help out.
You know guys from Texas are not gonna root for some one from SoCal.
They want a local to cheer for.
Having more events would probably make that happen.

Max

[ALI]

You know guys from Texas are not gonna root for some one from SoCal.
They want a local to cheer for.

You got that right pal!!!

Nah, we root for everyone we like, which is just about everybody. Everybody that enjoys drifting is a friend of ours, we call that "southern hospitality".

[Hollywood]

this WDC thing, I'm still not sure about. couple weeks ago I was at a driving school at TMS, I asked a few people from the track if they knew anything about how they are gona run this WDC. They had no idea what I was talking about. it was not even on their schedule, though from what I hear on this forum the event is scheduled for 5/27