(FEEDBACK) FORMULA D SONOMA 2006

[AlexPfeiffer]

Nice explaination Slapshot!

[Slapshotnerd]

Nice explaination Slapshot!

i got lucky

[J-Rod]

As a concerned spectator at the Formula D Sonoma event, I have a few questions for J-Rod & Formula D.

Best 16:
1. Taka vs. Hiro - The first run taka had an advantage due to a spin out by Hiro. This should have given Taka the 10-0 advantage, since spins are considered 0 points. In the second run Taka corrected before the first clipping point, but did not spin. Taka completed his run with the correction which should of given Hiro the advantage, but not a 10-0 score. Why was there a "One More Time" call. Are there some new rules implemented as the event goes on?

2. Ken vs. Samuel - In the first set of runs there was understandable reason for the "One More Time" call. During the "One More Time" first run. Samuel was clearly 2 wheels off course as J-Rod had announced. This should be considered as good as a spin, giving ken the 10-0 advantage, which J-Rod had also announced. In the second run when Ken Gushi was the leading car, he had drifted the center line, while Samuel followed in the outside line. It was clear that it was an even matched run. This would give Ken the win, with the earlier 10-0 advantage. Even if Sam received the 8-2 advantage which clearly didn't happen, why was Samuel given the win?

Further mistakeable calls:

3. Ryan Tuerck from Cooper Tires broke and was announced to be given a "5 minute rule" to fix his car. Why was his car not allowed to run again, and the OK for the next run started?

With these questionable calls being made, are there any answers or facts that can be given to us paying customers and drifting enthusiasts to support the calls by the Formula D organization.

As a concerned amateur drifter, it brings up concerns of proper "Formula D competition" style drifting requirements, and judging criteria.

Thank You for supporting drifting and answering the questions that I have as a concerned enthusiast & amateur drifter.

First and foremost thanks for your feedback as you are obviously interested and have followed Formula D closely that's really respectful of you on how you delivered these questions.

Seocndly, I'm the LIVE announcer and do say things that get changed, reveresed and also I say think instinctively as I'm on site and calling it as I see it.

The judges are in very difficult situations and I don't envy their difficult situations one bit.

Again, thanks for the support and keep up the support.

Also, keep in mind drifting is unique in being that it's unlike any other motorsport, it's subjective which is bitter sweet, it can work for you and against you.
Any and all sports with judges there's always controversy so stay tuned and stay loyal as Formula Drift is also unlike any other drifting series by having interaction with the judges, the drivers and you the fans!!!!

Keep it gangster, keep it sideways!!!

Thanks for all the comments guys and also keep it friendly as we're all in the same game, we're having fun and doing sideways burn out's with style!!!

[AaronConklin]

Keep it gangster

lol...gangster angle..........CURSE YOU HYPHY~!!! (please dont busta cap in me for cursing hyphy!!!!)

[J-Rod]

lol...gangster angle..........CURSE YOU HYPHY~!!! (please dont busta cap in me for cursing hyphy!!!!)

Yeah I mentioned and used that term at Formula D Sonoma but I did that on purpose because we have used that term forever but I'm entering it into Formula Drift's vocab and now will go down as a proper drifting term!

[PhoPower]

Yeah I mentioned and used that term at Formula D Sonoma but I did that on purpose because we have used that term forever but I'm entering it into Formula Drift's vocab and now will go down as a proper drifting term!

Yeah, there was alot of gangsta being said by you jrod haha. Like almost every run you said this was gangster and that was gangster. Little bit less or find a new cool word haha. It was fun though and definately need something to do during the long dead time. But overall it was pretty good. Bring it back to the Bay Area next season

[Pennyman]

I had a lot of fun. I also came prepared, hehe. Brought probably 3 gallons of drinks for my girlriend and I.

Whoever the DJ was during the break gets my vote. I REALLY REALLY liked the music he played. It was funky and hip and groovy and it really fit the mood of the day. Damn it was good.

Whoever he was, please let him know he has good taste. (he also played a tune which was played atthe previous D1, which was kinda cool. I don't know if anyone else caught that).

I liked the drifting, made some friends, saw some old friends, bought a DA shirt (as I do every year, 3rd one now!), and I'm sad it's over. I have post-drift event depression!

[my 1 88 u]

I had a lot of fun. I also came prepared, hehe. Brought probably 3 gallons of drinks for my girlriend and I.

Whoever the DJ was during the break gets my vote. I REALLY REALLY liked the music he played. It was funky and hip and groovy and it really fit the mood of the day. Damn it was good.

Whoever he was, please let him know he has good taste. (he also played a tune which was played atthe previous D1, which was kinda cool. I don't know if anyone else caught that).

I liked the drifting, made some friends, saw some old friends, bought a DA shirt (as I do every year, 3rd one now!), and I'm sad it's over. I have post-drift event depression!

I thought that was just me after atlanta, it must be a real condition then

[haiedras]

Well, after going to my official first Formula D event, I had the benefit of some of the drivers attempting to qualify along with the Mckinney folks for some commentary and explanation.

Overall, the track at Infineon is great for spectators. Plenty of seating that lets you get a GREAT view of the entry and clipping points. Definitely hot, but the weather was much more pleasant once you got to the final 16.

Qualifying was interesting. The qualifiers definitely went out with something to prove, and I was very surprised by the performance of the seeded 16. In the first round, I believe 10 of the 16 seeded drivers spun out or zeroed in their scores. Not impressive at all. Mike Peters in the Bubba Drift 240 had an impressive first run, as did Ryan Tuerck.

Good response there Slapshot, seeing the competition for the first time, it was a bit confusing to the audience the calls on Kazu vs Casper as well as Ken vs Sam. That being said, the Casper vs Sam run was sweet!

+1 on the music during the breaks, felt like I was sitting at an Adult Swim feature, and fit in perfectly to keep the crowd laid back until the races started up again.

Overall, great first experience, this might be a bad thing for my professional career as I'll be taking time off work to follow this stuff around now!

Final thoughts: Where'd all the girls go? Although there was one Cooper tires girl that had some badonkadonk!. And personally, I like to spend as much time checking out other people's cars as I do watching racing, but I understand the lack of room for a proper car meet.

And if I had herpes, I wouldn't take showers either...

[Slapshotnerd]

And if I had herpes, I wouldn't take showers either...

haha, good ole' joey redmond! No more hanging out with ATL people, they're just wierd!

Haiedras - I do agree with you on the Sonoma event. It's an amazing facility for the drivers, the spectators, and for the media people as well. My parents came to Sonoma last year for the event, and had a blast.

[X-M-P Guru]

OK, for one, i must disagree on the Cooper DJ. That guy blows so hard. C'mon everyone.... to quote him....

1, 2, 3... hangin' with Cooper at Formula D.

It was like a bunch of third grade nursery rhymes and bad quasi-hip-hop. And the Cooper models... Where do they find them? It's like the modeling equivalent to the first round eliminations of American Idol!

OK, now onto the event...

I have been following drifting for some time now. I understand the judging, the dynamics of the cars, what the drivers do, how they do it, and undertand just about every angle of the vehicles and tracks they run on. What i do not understand is the rule changes and judging? At what point do we not all question the sports credibility? We need to be able to stay with one set of rules for the entire season. Or the teams (and all of them) need to be informed of the changes and approve them as well. Spins can go one more time... passing is not allowed... but sometimes it's ok... hitting someone from behind is allowed, and getting two wheels in the dirt is ok too. Also, you get five minutes to repair a car, but only if you're a seeded driver. These drivers are good enough (understatement) to protect their lines at any venue!

That being said, with all of the "misunderstandings" in Chicago and now Sonoma, at what point do we push for the drift box? the Drift box can plot the course, the tracks line, the entry/exit speed, entry/exit angle, and times. The only subjective part left is crowd reaction and smoke!! Keep the new judges like Alex and Andy as they help lend their own credibility to the sport (sorry i always forget the 3rd judges name) and hire a few celebrity judges to rate smoke and get the crowd hyped and let's have real fun with real proof of the winners!

Formula D has the potential to be the next big thing, I love almost everything about this. But let's remove to doubtful nature of subjective judging. It's NOTHING personal, but this type of judging doesn't work. Too many "what ifs". It didn't work for the Olympics and it cannot work propery here either. Otherwise you will see the credibility fall off, the fans walking away, and the potentiallly HUGE corporate sponsors turn away from distaste.

I saw all of this first hand at the event. Fans upset, teams upset, drivers upset, and most importanty for the sucess of this sport, the TV crews and title sponors upset.

Either way, see you all in Seattle where we will all try it again!

[FD3S_pilot]

I had a great time...shooting pics,getting free stuff(tires,signs banners,drinks) and autographs...meeting drivers,i got to meet some of the guys that post here like Mike P.,Hubert Y. and Al (thks for sign my shirt guys lol) and of course showing Ken a thing about posing was fun too haha.

And the Cooper models... Where do they find them? It's like the modeling equivalent to the first round eliminations of American Idol!

I dunno Michelle was the f**ken cute!!

[markshatchi86]

And I really hope Mike's car is ok. I haven't wanted to call him just yet.

we have a date setup with the s13 and the frame puller for friday.

and the car may be getting a sil front now.

[Slapshotnerd]

we have a date setup with the s13 and the frame puller for friday.

and the car may be getting a sil front now.

that hit didn't look good... although the track people didn't look to competent either.

At least I won my $5 bet with one of the photographers because of mike! we both picked someone from unseeded who would qualify top 16, and my pick was mike. I just wish he could have gone further...

[markshatchi86]

that hit didn't look good... although the track people didn't look to competent either.

At least I won my $5 bet with one of the photographers because of mike! we both picked someone from unseeded who would qualify top 16, and my pick was mike. I just wish he could have gone further...

your tellin me....

funny, 1st F-D i missed all season and its the 1st race after we sponsor a competitor, go figure, lol.

probably will be in WA....