(FEEDBACK) FORMULA D ATLANTA May 8-9th 2009

[Formula D]

Victor, if you really have questions that you want answered, you should just call my office and I'd be happy to talk with you one on one. I'd love to have an open and honest dialogue with you in the right environment not one in which you say the following regarding a 6 year FD tech: "I can't imagine accurate enough readings were obtained from individuals who would have a hard time trying to spell the word "durometer".

[courantcom]

Pat is not lying, nor is everyone else. He was DQ'd for tires. While the entire summation is not for a public board, the bottom line is that his tires (along with every other pairing in the top 16 after their two successive runs) were durometer tested.

As everyone with access to the internet can educate themselves, there are several different ways to obtain a false reading with regards to a durometer. Several variables have to be constant in order to setup a platform where one tire can be compared fairly against another. I can't imagine accurate enough readings were obtained from individuals who would have a hard time trying to spell the word "durometer". They would have to have a calibrated hand to apply the same amount of pressure on each and every tire that comes off the track. It would make a total difference in numbers if the driver were to keep the tires spinning well past the finish line vs another driver that just rolls past the finish line. I would hate to have seen someone like P. Mordaunt be disqualified because of a false reading by an unqualified "technician". People like Pat spend thousands of dollars to make it to your events. It's like someone spending thousands of dollars getting a show car ready for an event, and then having a 14 year old kid come to judge it wondering what in the world is a Kharman-Ghia. What I'm saying is that maybe too much responsibility was laid upon a single random individual that now totally decides who stays and who leaves.

His came in at a level of 44 which is 5 points higher than the legal limit. Now many people are going to say that other drivers tested below the level set by the chief steward so they should have been dq'd as well. We that would be true except the fact that both of those situations those tires that came in under the level both lost their run so it was moot.

Are all four tires inspected, or just the rears?

Let me first state the Patrick Mordaunt is a stand-up guy and not someone I believe would do anything intentionally illegal to gain an advantage. For some reason or another he tested well below the legal limit. I am not a scientist and can't say why. He was using old/used tires from last year and perhaps the chemical make-up had changed. I don't know.

I can confirm that the tires he used were from last year, and they were used (not new and in storage). They were more than likely improperly stored (outdoors), and just thrown in the truck for additional tires to run your event. Usually tires get harder when they get older...I don't think tires are line fine wines which get better with age.

Rules get put in place for many reasons, one of which is to keep costs down relative to the growth of drifting. So if a competitor like Pat who is trying to save $ by using a used tire gets DQ'd for having an extremely low durometer it is possible that we have exposed a situation where duromoter readings (softness, hardness of the tire) should be looked at in a different way in the context of tire eligibility. I should add that the number "49" that is in the rulebook came from two years of testing competitors tires at random and in all types of different conditions: new, used, hot, cold, different tracks etc.

Really? I've never seen any kind of testing ever done for the past two years on tires of the cars right after they complete their run. The cars always go straight back to their hot pit right after they complete their run. If you were doing your testing after the cars have returned to the hot pits, I think the readings will be different. Can another driver chime in and attest to what Formula D is saying? ...as in, have they ever experienced durometer testing prior to this recent Atlanta event?

49 was the low of the numbers we saw, not the average. Until this year we had never seen tires consistently come close or lower than that number. Why?

You guys previously approved brands of tires along with product lines within those brands. Only specific tires are allowed to be used at your events, and you have provided an exacting list. For example, competitors can not use anything in the Dunlop product line. Only particular types of the Toyo brand are allowed. Only particular types of Federal Tires are allowed.

Are you going to start allowing any brand of tires to run in your events so as long as they meet your durometer readings?

[Formula D]

Has the "proper forum" started yet? Formula D, You have rules...and obvious enforcement. Can you fill us in as to exactly why P. Mordaunt was DQ'ed? He says its tires...everyone says it's tires. I don't wanna listen to anyone else other than the people that DQ'ed him.

I'll wait for the proper forum...just don't take too long or other "fanalysis" type people will just start one on their own.
__________________

Pat is not lying, nor is everyone else. He was DQ'd for tires. While the entire summation is not for a public board, the bottom line is that his tires (along with every other pairing in the top 16 after their two successive runs) were durometer tested. His came in at a level of 44 which is 5 points higher than the legal limit. Now many people are going to say that other drivers tested below the level set by the chief steward so they should have been dq'd as well. We that would be true except the fact that both of those situations those tires that came in under the level both lost their run so it was moot.

Let me first state the Patrick Mordaunt is a stand-up guy and not someone I believe would do anything intentionally illegal to gain an advantage. For some reason or another he tested well below the legal limit. I am not a scientist and can't say why. He was using old/used tires from last year and perhaps the chemical make-up had changed. I don't know.

Rules get put in place for many reasons, one of which is to keep costs down relative to the growth of drifting. So if a competitor like Pat who is trying to save $ by using a used tire gets DQ'd for having an extremely low durometer it is possible that we have exposed a situation where duromoter readings (softness, hardness of the tire) should be looked at in a different way in the context of tire eligibility. I should add that the number "49" that is in the rulebook came from two years of testing competitors tires at random and in all types of different conditions: new, used, hot, cold, different tracks etc. 49 was the low of the numbers we saw, not the average. Until this year we had never seen tires consistently come close or lower than that number. Why?

[courantcom]

Patrick Mordaunt impressed the hell out of me big time. Seriously, this kid is for real. It was unfortunate that he got DQ'd. More will come out on this I and we will in the proper forum, but that is why we treat FD just like any other high level motor sport and not a wild wild west with no rules or enforcement. That aside, Pat killed it as well as all the other guys. A new level of drifting has happened and what I am seeing now is a true treat. Having seen every single run personally the past 6 years, never have I seen so many unbelievable runs and the addition of top 32 tandem is possibly one of the best decisions we have made. There were naysayers that were critical of it, but now it is clear that 32 rank and number 1 will put on a sick show. No doubt about it.

ATL, you guys are amazing!

Has the "proper forum" started yet? Formula D, You have rules...and obvious enforcement. Can you fill us in as to exactly why P. Mordaunt was DQ'ed? He says its tires...everyone says it's tires. I don't wanna listen to anyone else other than the people that DQ'ed him.

I'll wait for the proper forum...just don't take too long or other "fanalysis" type people will just start one on their own.

[J.Herron]

Yeah dude, the twitter communication was illin'

I felt like I was there and caught myself at times getting all antsy while following all the feeds. Sounds like I picked the wrong event to skip out on!! haha

See you all in New Jersey!

[J-Rod]

WOW!!!
Best event in the history of drifting...
Seriously Top 3 if not THE TOP event ever, just amazing driving, progressive skill and style but to address what my world includes would be the AMAZING fans, Atlanta Area fans you guys and gals are so enthusiastic, if it's alcohol infused or not, you stayed until the end!

Thank you to each and every one of you, I can't please everybody but I tell you what I had a blast and ATL does receive from ME THE BEST FORMULA DRIFT CROWD EVER!!!!!

So let's see if Jersey, Vegas, Seattle(who was the BEST until this event) and of course Sonoma and THE House of Drift can represent their region in the months to come...

Bottomline, without YOU the fans, of course the drivers, the teams, the sponsors and of course the willing and able Formula Drift staff NONE of this would possible, it's amazing in a "tight economy" we had the LARGEST FD ATL event EVER!

Thank you and congrats to Chris, D-Mac and Tuerck for receiving their FD APR Performance carbin fiber trophies....

Peace and see ya'll in Jersey...

BTW, the Twitter communication was pretty cool,
I'm at www.twitter.com/jarodcapitala
+ www.twitter.com/formuladrift

[Formula D]

I know this particular sunday wouldn't make sense but for the past 5 years you've changed it to friday/saturday. Just give it some thought please. Saturday as a primer, Sunday will be off the hook.

Agree 100 percent. Track traditionally gives us Mothers Day though so we have to work with what we get.

[my 1 88 u]

Not in ATL bro. Mothers Day is Sunday, one of the most notorious weakest days for events historically.

I know this particular sunday wouldn't make sense but for the past 5 years you've changed it to friday/saturday. Just give it some thought please. Saturday as a primer, Sunday will be even more off the hook.

[Formula D]

I promise if you make the event saturday/sunday in the future you will see at least double the turnout. I have friends that work saturdays that haven't been able to go to Drift Atlanta since 2004 because of the day change.

Not in ATL bro. Mothers Day is Sunday, one of the most notorious weakest days for events historically.

From what I have seen, there is PLENTY of rule breaking that goes on.
At round 1, a majority of the field should have been disqualified.

I know you guys want to make drifting more and more legitimate, so please consider enforcing ALL of the rules instead of some, sometimes.


You are on your way to doing very well (and you HAVE done very well already), but in MY opinion, set rules and follow them, or just don't make them in the first place.

Brian, I agree with you and ironically every team says that about every team; even those with the most vanilla builds. So to say that you really have to know the full grasp of each issue and the verbiage and further interpreataton of that verbiage in the rulebook to be able to say that with 100% assurance. However, at the level we are at now with the number of competitors, like in many motor sports, people try to get whatever edge they can. If we catch it an issue, we address it, but if a team thinks we are wrong or missed something, they have every right to submit a formal protest and we are required to act on it as we did on Saturday.

This season Randy has been ultra firm on the rulebook. Ask those that got DQ'd in LB. Aside from that, this is one of the reasons why besides event techs we have a pre-season tech day to issue "Annuals". Teams have this opportunity to spend all day on a lift and have us go through the car with a fine tooth comb. This is their opportunity to not be limited by time and get a very thorough inspection. Even deeper irony is that those that took advantage of that day had zero issues with their legality while those that chose NOT to attend had issues. Coincidence? Some small, some big, but the point is they have to prove to us the car is legal.

Top 32 tandem was one of the those duh, why didn't anyone think of this before type of things. I wouldn't be surprised if D1 decides to change their format.

More irony.... it was people in and around that group that were critical of us going to that format. We have seen some of the most exciting drifting to date in the round of 32. Did anyone see Dai vs Mordaunt. Whoa!

[Formula D]

I promise if you make the event saturday/sunday in the future you will see at least double the turnout. I have friends that work saturdays that haven't been able to go to Drift Atlanta since 2004 because of the day change.

Not in ATL bro. Mothers Day is Sunday, one of the most notorious weakest days for events historically.

[my 1 88 u]

Top 32 tandem was one of the those duh, why didn't anyone think of this before type of things. I wouldn't be surprised if D1 decides to change their format.

[Brian]

From what I have seen, there is PLENTY of rule breaking that goes on.
At round 1, a majority of the field should have been disqualified.

I know you guys want to make drifting more and more legitimate, so please consider enforcing ALL of the rules instead of some, sometimes.


You are on your way to doing very well (and you HAVE done very well already), but in MY opinion, set rules and follow them, or just don't make them in the first place.

[my 1 88 u]

I promise if you make the event saturday/sunday in the future you will see at least double the turnout. I have friends that work saturdays that haven't been able to go to Drift Atlanta since 2004 because of the day change.

[Formula D]

In an attempt to be objective and non-bias, I too felt that was one of the best FD events we have had in terms of attendance but more importantly crowd vibe and competition. Everyone on our staff was in agreement. ATL brings it big time. Jarod did an amazing job and his knowledge of each of the teams and his delivery is par excellence. He has truly emerged as a tremedous live announcer.

For those of you that missed it there were some runs that were straight up ridiculous. I should be able to get a few vids and post it. Patrick Mordaunt impressed the hell out of me big time. Seriously, this kid is for real. It was unfortunate that he got DQ'd. More will come out on this I and we will in the proper forum, but that is why we treat FD just like any other high level motor sport and not a wild wild west with no rules or enforcement. That aside, Pat killed it as well as all the other guys. A new level of drifting has happened and what I am seeing now is a true treat. Having seen every single run personally the past 6 years, never have I seen so many unbelievable runs and the addition of top 32 tandem is possibly one of the best decisions we have made. There were naysayers that were critical of it, but now it is clear that 32 rank and number 1 will put on a sick show. No doubt about it.

ATL, you guys are amazing!

[my 1 88 u]

I've been to every Formula D drift Atlanta and this by far was the most competitive. Previous years had about 8 to 10 drivers that were at the top skill level and in dependable vehicles but this year was at least 25.

Jarod and the judges where great but I wish they would work out a system for commenting and relaying decisions that don't drag into the next run. Maybe put a head mic on all four people, have JRod do the play-by-play, the judges add color and let them read the judgements.

My only disappointments were the Tanner Foust spin which I think was intentionally caused by Gushi, and Pat Moulderant's disqualification. The way Pat and Tanner were driving Saturday they would have definitely seen the podium but that's drifting.

Thanks Drifting.com for the free Ticket. Can't wait till next year.