American Drifting heading the wrong direction?

[malcolm]

then eventually the rest of the corporate azzholes will get on the bandwagon and sooner or later ull find a budwiser sponsered driftcar with dale jr drivin it...

so? who cares. if dale jr. can drift, then it's all good.

I think a lot of people here don't want it to be mainstream because they are afraid of what their "image" looks like. oh no, if speed channel covers it, it won't be "bad-azz" anymore... oh no, everyone else is doing it, and I am no longer doing something rare... grow up. enjoy drifting for what it is, not for the image around it.

[CRASHDRIVE]

Originally posted by malcolm
so? who cares. if dale jr. can drift, then it's all good.

I think a lot of people here don't want it to be mainstream because they are afraid of what their "image" looks like. oh no, if speed channel covers it, it won't be "bad-azz" anymore... oh no, everyone else is doing it, and I am no longer doing something rare... grow up. enjoy drifting for what it is, not for the image around it.

I dont think that's what he's trying to emphasize on. I have the same concern. But my real concern, is that the people that are being sucked into this are not too knowledgable about the sport. publicity = trouble (sometimes) if not informed correctly. Look @ drag racing. After FnF how many markets started because of that whole import FnF explosion. The street drag racing death toll sky rocketed, more and more concerns where put into public. YOu know why? because of the whole publicity that FnF showed to the viewers.

Seriously, before FnF there were no GANGSTERS in the races, there were no one getting killed. NO Freeway racing (well not as much). and the cops. They show up and leave, then we're at it again.

Well basically, what im trying to say is.
LEARN from the whole Street Dragging scene. Dont make drifting into another FnF hype and illegal/gangster tight yo. CRAP! That's just sad!

[StreetR]

Glad it came to the US

I'm glad it came to the US because when I left Japan I thought I would never have anyone to compete with.

I think it is cool that American cars compete just more styles and flava to the sport.

Its good that drifting is commericilize so that I can buy parts instead of going back to Japan find parts and then ship them.

Also, it might get more RWD cars in the market. Maybe have Toyota/Nissan bring its RWD monster sedans (Chaser/Mark II, Laurels, Cedric GTs...) to the US.

I love drifting and I hope it gets big so that there will be Drift oriented tracks popping up in every neighborhood.

Oh, anyone know where I can get a Cressida for cheap.

[Feint]

I'm not going to point fingers at sponsors,but there are some things that I've been pondering about.

Drifting has been/become an outlet for the common man to become a professional without going entirely broke.With D1 driver searches,as long as the entrants car meets the required safety regulations,they have a shot at becoming pro.These regulations aren't insane.they're actually pretty reasonable.Reasonable to the point where the common man could compete to earn his/her D1 license without ending up 100K in debt trying to become pro.Also,once pro in D1,and once a good record is sustained,you have more options to branch out in the racing world.As sponsors would be more than happy to take care of you,giving you even an even greater chance to become a well-diversed race driver.You can't say the same when it comes to trying to get your foot-in-the-door in other racing leagues.That's what appeals to me.
Bringing D1 to America brings one problem,not the American public,but corporate America.It's not the American drivers that will ruin anything,if anything,they'll be helping everyone out that's trying to get their foot-in-the-door.But the fact that put in the wrong hands,like any other business,could collapse.I'm not really fond of full factory sponsorships.I feel this takes away from the common man being able to become a professional drifter.This will end up just making it harder for the common man to get sponsored,or even accepted/noted.Making it like road racing.I don't want these factory sponsorships to block/impair the vision of people common guys trying to make a name out there who pour their heart into this.That's why I currently disagree with the factory sponsorships.

[nissanguy_24]

If you want to reject commercialization and big money, then keep money out of it. Stay amature. What we need are amature competitions. Where are the amature competitions? all i see around here are amature practice days, and pro competitions.

Think of economy class. when theres a lack of something thats needed, a black market will form. so you might as well keep that market as safe as possible. BTTS.

[Tsunami]

Originally posted by Ghost of Duluth
It's those 10%'ers that are actually doing something. The Rhyss and the Sam's and the Alex's. Then you hate on em cause they are doign odd lines and any other crapola you can come up with to bag on em. But oddly enough, they are the ones that are making something, they are the ones that are shaping the Drifting landscape. If you don't like it, get good and go out there and do something about it. Until then, shut up.

That last commet was a little sharp, I know you aimed at the guys that just talk crap all the time, and that's fine, but there are some of us out there who can't afford to build a drift car, or were born with the talent of being able to drive like Michael Schumacher. Some of us are trying to pay for school or raise a kid and have to drive secondhand cars and FF's, or have other responsibilties that come before cars. Sometimes you have to go drive hard on a public road to learn. That's what Ueo did and he's one of the best. So maybe those guys we look up to now were those idiot kids doing donuts in the parking lot. (Don't get me wrong I'm not defending the retards, just those who are out being careful but don't have any other place to practice.) Alot of people would consider me as just some stupid leadfoot, not realize I'm practicing driving techniques. I'm not jealous or mad at anybody, I just don't wanna be told that my opinion doesn't matter simply because I don't have the money to have a drifter or the talent to be picked up by a big sponsor. But hey I am out there, pushing my car to the limit and learning.

Btw guys, there's street racers in Japan too, out there doing the same stupid stuff that every young car guy does. But everybody thinks it's so cool just cause their in Japan doing it on a different type of road. Guess what if Japan had straight roads they'd be drag racing all the time like we are here in America. The only thing that makes the Japanese touge guys any different is that they have better organization and a crew that looks out for danger.

[nissanguy_24]

In japan they do 300km runs in a straight line.. thats about 180 miles an hour so eh.. They do all kinds of illegal stuff in japan.

[swifty949]

Originally posted by CRASHDRIVE
I dont think that's what he's trying to emphasize on. I have the same concern. But my real concern, is that the people that are being sucked into this are not too knowledgable about the sport. publicity = trouble (sometimes) if not informed correctly. Look @ drag racing. After FnF how many markets started because of that whole import FnF explosion. The street drag racing death toll sky rocketed, more and more concerns where put into public. YOu know why? because of the whole publicity that FnF showed to the viewers.

Seriously, before FnF there were no GANGSTERS in the races, there were no one getting killed. NO Freeway racing (well not as much). and the cops. They show up and leave, then we're at it again.

Well basically, what im trying to say is.
LEARN from the whole Street Dragging scene. Dont make drifting into another FnF hype and illegal/gangster tight yo. CRAP! That's just sad!

So before the movies "Colors" came out, there weren't as many gang killings?
Should we blame American Graffiti for introducing cruising and illegal street races because it was shown in the movie?

[CRASHDRIVE]

Originally posted by swifty949
So before the movies "Colors" came out, there weren't as many gang killings?
Should we blame American Graffiti for introducing cruising and illegal street races because it was shown in the movie?

Come on. Gang has been around since the dawn of time. You can't compare Colors to FnF. Colors did not glamourize "Gangs" they told a story and they showed how it is in the hood. FnF is WAYYYYY different than that! Do you think Import/Street racing is a bunch of thugs that hangs out in a house full of parts and just party all night? I dont think so. Most of the street racers I know was students/Co-workers and mechanics. They actually had lives, they use to drag as a hobby. Sitting around and partying and betting for races was not the lifestyle of a street racer. DO you think before FnF there were parking lots full of SHOW CARS. no! People seperated their show cars to their "fully modified drag car". and do you think a kid with his moms SUV or his dads work CIVIC pulled up to the line and raced? NO. Before all that. It was just the purest and the real enthusiast. Oh yeah. They also had experience. They also had respect to the older drivers.

[swifty949]

i used to race back in 96. It was fun then, and of course there were idiots back then too, but you have to realize that FnF is nothing more than a movie. I haven't been street racing for years, so maybe it's changed, but regardless, it's always been illegal, and it's always been dangerous. So take it to the track, and quit whining about FnF...

[Ghost of Duluth]

Sorry Crashdrive but you live in Atlanta so you of all people should know that there were ALWAYS Gangstas at the street races, after FnF the Gangstas just changed. The Fake ones came out and the real ones went somewhere else when all the punksters invaded the spots. Don't know how old you are but I have seen Funny cars roar down Mooreland ave, Alchohol bikes and crazy cars. Everything except Top Fuel cars in the heyday of Mooreland. People used to bring fully enclosed trailers down there and unload Pro Dragsters to race for 10,000 or more. Filch on a bet then and you got shot not like now where someone will scream at you and make you think they want to fight so they can put on a show for their friends. Drug dealers, REAL Gangsters and the big money boys used to be down there. You could see everything from a Pimp to a Pro ball player. Now you go down there and it's choked up with Civics, Tiburons, Saturns and all that other crap. Now the bets are like 50 to a hundred dollars and everyone acts stupid. Matter of fact most people don't go down there to race any longer. It's like one big punk car show there. Now don't get me wrong, there are some fast Hondas in Atl. One white Civic comes to mind, bout 547 hp. But they are few and far between. That is what FnF did to the Street racing scene.

As for no deaths in Street Racing. Not quite sure what you been watching but there have been deaths ALL over the street racing scene long before FnF came out. I have seen street races since the late 70's when I went to them with my Dad. People been street racing many, many years before FnF was even thought of. Hell, long before the first Honda hit the American shores. Freeway racing as well. People have always done that. I remember a group of guys in the early 90's that ran on GA400 in the wee hours of the morning in Lambos, Ferraris, Lotus's and anything else that was fast. They went all out. All of them were 30 to 50 years old or better. Matter of fact there was a 510 that ran with some of them. The guy that owns Harry's Farmers market. 2.8 Chevy v6 twin turbo car. Wasn't much on top end but from a light it was devastating. I rode in that car. Scared the crap out of me. My friend just sold it. Was built by Turbo Tom right there in Atlanta. So FnF did not create that. It just brought it to the kids and the kids took it from there.

To say that Highway racing is the fault of FnF is just naive. Freeway racing actually has it's own event in the states 2 times a year. The Nevada Open Road Challenge. It is part of a Triple crown event. The other 2 races are run in Mexico. It is the only High speed road race run on American highways that is legal. They shut down Highway 1 from Ely Nevada to right outside of Las Vegas and it's run what you brung. Classes are 10 MPH intervels starting at 110 all the way to 190 and above which is the unlimited class. People die in that race alot. But it is still run AND it started before FnF. Matter of fact a Japanese team brought a Skyline over to run in it and it ran out of gas 1 mile before the finish line. My brother rode co-pilot in 95 I think, in a Vette. That car won the 170 to 180 class. The people there are looney to say the least. But all super focused. Oh and it is sponsered by a brothel (cathouse, wh0rehouse). The Green Lantern. Whoopee what fun.

Tsunami. I was not trying to be sharp and don't think that it came out that way. I just get so tired of hearing people come down on sponsership and corperations. Everyone complains about how corperations ruin Drifting. Corperations rule Drifintg in Japan. Just because it was born on the mountain passes doesn't change that fact. Heck in Option videos there are ads for phone sex lines. D1 cars have as many or sometimes more sponsers than some Nascar's do. So saying that american corperations are ruining Drifting and the Japanese are different is calling the kettle black.

You are absolutely right though. People that practice and work hard at it are real. If you have other obligations then ok. Cool with me, I have other obligations too. Everyone does. That is why sponsership is so great. It takes away alot of those obligations. It takes away the problem of building a car, having a job and all of those other things that keep you from driving. Except maybe the child thing. But they do make mad car seats now. Heh all kidding aside, if you want to do something bad enough, you WILL find a way. I am not rich, well off or even in the ok house. But if I want something, I will get it. It's that simple. It all boils down to sacrifice. If you are willing to sacrifice something to get something else. If you are not then you cannot be mad at someone alse who is willing too. You cannot bag on their choice.

And to Mranlet, I have worked at dealers before myself and the way I described it is the way it happened there. If it happens differently at Pontiac then I am all for it and will don my tie and kacki's and head there to make a statement too because it should be that way. That I agree with totally.

Oh and Crashdrive, no sure what version of Colors you saw but it did glorify Gang culture. It was a Hollywood movie and according to everyone here, Hollywood ruins everything remember? But in all seriousness, it made every impressionable mind that saw it want to be a Gangster. After that movie, every white boy from here to Oregon wanted to be a Gangster. You never heard of Salt Lake City young white urbanite gangs til after that movie.

[Ghost of Duluth]

Had to put this in a seperate post.

If all the street racers you knew were students and what-not, then you didn't know REAL street racers. Real street racers, the ones that do it for REAL money and not piddley diddley amounts are neither of the 2. They are either business owners, Drug Dealers or rich or famous people. Cause they can afford to buy the stuff that makes reall street racers. For instance, a guy in Athens Ga used to have the fastest street car on 10 1/2 inch tires. The motor was built by Rob Hale to the tune of 40 to 60 grand I think it was. He ran it at Mooreland and Eatonton at the 1/8 mile. He also owned a Gold Shop. If I remember correctly, he got busted on something or another. Couple other guys ran with him and they got busted too. It costs a bundle and a half to really street race. It takes a grip of cash. That Honda in Atlanta runs low 10's and he has money in that thing like you wouldn't believe. And in the heyday of Mooreland, he would have been handed his rear end. We are talking 8 second street cars. Purpose built cars for Mooreland. The old days were something else. I remember when he Swat team came in on City busses and busted Mooreland. Everyone.

Plus alot of them just have the car built and have someone else drive it. That happens alot too. Specially in the big bet races. You might not even see that car owner but that is rare. Usually they are out there drumming up the bets. Making the money. Or say some ballplayer wants a drag car, he pays someone to build it and take ot to the races, that person goes out and hypes the crowd up, then the driver that he has driving for him runs the race. They collect the money and split it up to the owner. That way you don't see Pro Ball player Bob getting busted if things go south. Down at Eatonton, money changes hand like water. The bets are big and the consequences can be deadly if you can't pay up. That is where the real street racers went when Mooreland went bust. That is real street racing, not a couple stundents lining up some Camaro's or Civics. There is a dark underbelly to street racing that is much worse than the FnF thing you speak of.

[nissanguy_24]

Originally posted by Ghost of Duluth
Had to put this in a seperate post.
The motor was built by Rob Hale to the tune of 40 to 60 grand I think it was.

no relation

- Rob "SMC" Hale

[Ghost of Duluth]

Nah, I used to Roller skate with Rob Hale. He's bout 6'7" tall and weighs out 300 lbs. Huge guy and builds some of the most awesome V8's you will see.

[Tsunami]

Thx Ghost. Ya actually understood where I was coming from. It's just really hard to sit around and watch everybody else playing. I've wanted a hotrod all my life so sometimes it can get pretty rough out there, but hey at least I got a V8 FR, some kids are stuck with FF's. But hey if things go right I'll have one in a year or 2. Then watch out for the black 5.0 notchback!!