Formula D - Heading the Wrong Way?

[STFUAD]

okay, okay...

Alrighty guys, time for my take... ready? Here we go...

First of all, I'm all for the growth of this sport, as long as it grows in the right direction. What is this direction I speak of? A direction towards focusing on the drivers, the drifting, and getting the US drivers up to speed with the Japanese drivers. Our sponsors get their exposure through use of their parts on our cars while drifting, plain and simple. Do they get exposure through some of the Jackass people running around doing stupid stuff taking up valuable practice and drift time during the day? Formula D has to already realize that they run into huge time constraint issues with these events. Is it fair to the drivers that they lose valuable practice time so that Bucky Lasek can do donuts in his m3? What in the sam hell does a guy from Jackass and a pro skateboarder have to do with drifting? Now... if Bucky Lasek and Ryan Dunn have like booths at the event and like sign autographs or whatnot between runs, cool... more power to them. But if like someone said before, if Ryan Dunn lights a bottlerocket from his arse and Bucky Lasek does a 360 spin over him during... I'm gonna call "shenanigans".

One thing that disturbed me was the Formula D flyer in which the main focus was the import models and the "special guests" with tiny little pictures of the people that count, the reason we are there, the drivers.

If something happens again like losing a practice run or miscommunication with what run counts and what doesn't because Formula D is being rushed for time because of these special guests doing their thing... you will have no sympathy from me, and you will have a lot of pissed off drivers on your hands. If you have a lot of pissed off drivers, then you definitely have a problem.

Formula D, we thank you for bringing this event to us so that we have an American series to turn to this year. We just please ask that the focus is not lost on drifting to laser light shows or booty shaking contests. Please focus on DRIFTING. I am not trying to hate on you guys, far from it. Just that the drivers have seen flaws in the program and we are worried what might happen.

We, the teams, the pit crews, the drivers look forward to this Formula D event this month. My parents are even coming out because they had a blast a D1 this year. They loved the drifting. Let's not only put on a great show for the hardcore drifters, but the people that wanna see what it's all about. Good luck!

[my 1 88 u]

I've figured this all out, You guys don't give a sh*t about us up and coming drifters, only for the current superstars and potential masses of spectators that follow. I like watching and talking about drifting, but love actually drifting more. If you aint trying to make that more available for me and the thousands of us that are actually trying to drift, F_ck you and the viper that built you.

[Formula D]

FYI, Ryan and Bucky are not driving or taking practice time. Further more we are coordinating an entire day of practice prior to the event that we will hopefully announce shortly. They are there strictly to be there.

[Formula D]

And if any of you want to come drifting with us all you gotta do is call. No one is saying you can't. We'll make FD as available as we can afford to do it.

[AlexPfeiffer]

Thank you 97,

Feint, what you dont know is that chris actually sponcered signal and signal isnt one of the big name tuners they are made out to be. Its all hype just like the guys that are on those fliers you guys are arguing about. When chris was driving for signal, he had to personally tow there car to and from the events with his own truck and trailer, work on the car because most of the time it was broken, even pay for the gas that he used in the car. I was there and helping chris do all he can to keep that POS car running, why do you think he and tony built chris's own car (350z) with his own money! The worse part was that the signal banner on the car was the biggest and he didnt get a cent from signal and had to pay for all his own parts that went into that car.

You guys have this image that we are all making money and our sponcers have an influence on what we do. That is just not the case. We are still hard core drift fans just as you are. We just get to participate in the actual driving side too. And most of us pay for it as well. Our oppinions come from a different angle since we know the lagistics of what is going on behind the sceens that you guys dont see.

[my 1 88 u]

Originally posted by Formula D
And if any of you want to come drifting with us all you gotta do is call. No one is saying you can't. We'll make FD as available as we can afford to do it.

Oh, ok so I can finally practice legally at next years round 1 , Road Atlanta.

[STFUAD]

Excellent!

Originally posted by Formula D
FYI, Ryan and Bucky are not driving or taking practice time. Further more we are coordinating an entire day of practice prior to the event that we will hopefully announce shortly. They are there strictly to be there.

Excellent, thank you very much for your reply. Please keep all of us updated. We all need that practice time. Drivers need to know the info on that practice time A.S.A.P. because we need to know how to plan around it. Thanks!

['97 S14 SE Turb]

Originally posted by AlexPfeiffer
Thank you 97,

Feint, what you dont know is that chris actually sponcered signal and signal isnt one of the big name tuners they are made out to be. Its all hype just like the guys that are on those fliers you guys are arguing about. When chris was driving for signal, he had to personally tow there car to and from the events with his own truck and trailer, work on the car because most of the time it was broken, even pay for the gas that he used in the car. I was there and helping chris do all he can to keep that POS car running, why do you think he and tony built chris's own car (350z) with his own money! The worse part was that the signal banner on the car was the biggest and he didnt get a cent from signal and had to pay for all his own parts that went into that car.

You guys have this image that we are all making money and our sponcers have an influence on what we do. That is just not the case. We are still hard core drift fans just as you are. We just get to participate in the actual driving side too. And most of us pay for it as well. Our oppinions come from a different angle since we know the lagistics of what is going on behind the sceens that you guys dont see.

Np Alex, (still owe you that round in Vegas from last SEMA where I thouht I had $10, but had a $5 instead. Sorry!)

Seriously, I see many of the fans here not understand the real going ons that happens.

I'm lucky to be in the inbetween. I know many of the guys that are competiting in Forumula D. Heck, I too want to compete in Formula D, but my reality doesn't allow me to go compete.

You guys (fan types, and many of those on this forums), need to give it a rest. You guys act like those that are in the know and control have absolutely no idea what's going on.

I've had to chance to talk to one of the Slipstream guys when he was out at Phoenix earlier this year. They definetly know what's going on, and willing to listen to drivers.

[STFUAD]

We need to bring it down a notch...

Okay guys, having fully read the posts, it seems like we are starting to go on a tangent.

As you can see, some of the drivers share your same sentiment. They agree with your views but just not how you are going about expressing them. We can all voice our opinions, but lets not make it so unbearable for people to post because of fear of getting flamed or personally attacked for their views. Chris is obviously getting defensive and Alex always has no problem expressing his views. These two drivers are here, posting their thoughts on things and they feel like they are getting attacked once they do. You may not agree with some of the things they say but please don't attach them to problems with the scene at hand because really... they have NO control over it. Like Alex said, we as drivers/teams are paying to play in this game and a lot of us are getting poor because of it. We drift in these events to drift. You can ask any driver... Gushi, Foresburg, Pfeiffer, Hubinette, Millen, Mcquarrie, etc... etc... They all get excited to drive in these events. There are few events out there except for the Formula D series and D1 right now. Even if they don't agree with how things are being handled, do they have a choice? It's either roll with the punches or protest and not compete. My guess is that 100% choose to drift.

Please feel free to post ANY opinion you have on this subject, but please, stay on point and avoid personal attacks.

Can't we all just get along?

[Weapon X]

Well it's becoming more apparent it's not our money you want, not the true enthusiasts, people that breath drifting, or people that just want to get out and drive just like the Formula D drivers, and/or see driving without all the excess fat. It's the kids you want, the ones that don't know about drifitng, that will learn about it all the wrong way. They represent the larger demographic so you target them, it all boils down to business. I refuse to believe that drifting cant attract new fans on it's own without the car shows, the bling, and the celebrities. I dont believe the reason for this is because "this is America, we do things differently". But whatever, seems like you've made your decision and that's the kind of audience you want. Fine by me, my money can go to some tires instead.

Edit: I know plenty of people that got into drifting just because it lacked certain things that the trailer queen/car show culture had.

[CRASHDRIVE]

Misinformed audience = catastrophe (ex, Street Drifting, Touge crashes, bad publicity, etc)

Informed Audience = Informed audiences and civil culture (Ex. Drift Tracks, more parts enhancement, better and closer community among other drifters, etc).

That’s my take on the cake 

You know what I really want to see in FD, a series for the Amateur League.

Like any other motor-sports, two or more classes competing for the trophy.
Half of the day is the Amateurs League and the other half on the “PRO” league, what do you guy say Formula D? Can that happen? I mean “DRIFTING IS A PRIORITY” right?

Also, Formula D is a US “Pro” league?
I though D1GP is like the F1 of drifting? Hell it’s even international.

So why make another “PRO” league? I was under the impression that FD was like the F3000 of drifting, the step before the top.

I don’t know I just need some clarification.

[GoukiS14]

yea I heard about the Chris having to fund his own project thing... and I agree that there is some logistics that are really back doored in this industry. I agree w/ the whole drifting can stand on it's own thing, but you have to look at it this way, it's the final one of the season they want to end it w/ a bang. Sure it's going to bring in the wrong crowd.... but I saw that in D1. It was bringing in "hooligan" types, but they all behaved themselves. Something about drifting is less strenueous than drag racing for some reason. I say let it be. If it does well then so be it, more people that got to experience drifting because they happened to leave the show car area and stumbled upon the track to see some drifting. It could possibly change them to our lifestyle, then they can come on this board and see how it truely is, not all about the bling. It's like those people that think the fast and furious was the way import cars are, they go on the forums and learn that it's all just movie and that most people don't like that stuff and eventually try to get it right. Like guys that come onto this forum and ask opinions about their cars and truely are looking for guidance.

They're are always people that are going to want to market the hell outta this. THIS IS AMERICA and we (notice I said we) tend to try to make a buck out of everything cuz I mean a guys gotta eat.... or buy some tires to drift on.


Oh and Kevin it was nice meeting you at the Subaru meet. Your opinions on certain matters on drifting were ones that I agreed on (especially about the Viper ). I was the guy w/ the hat at the Tanabe booth. I was just helping Mike out that weekend.

[GRiDRaceTech]

I am the "Opposite Lock" featured in Weapon X's first post. I have a bit more to add:
When I speak of posers, I mean the guys who kit out their 240s for drifting and then just show 'em. The guys who put "drift" bodykits on their Sunfires, Civics, and Tercels. The ones to whom drifting is just another reason to play music really loud and increase my insurance premium. The ones in it to make a buck, to adulterate the sport. I mean, this is the first sport that has the import crowd TURNING. Before, they had no exposure in the SCCA races, only in drag racing. Now, they have this, an exhibition of driver skill, the "coolest thing" one can do in an automobile, so obviously they'll cling to it like rats. Really, drifting was doomed in coming to this country, where fads come and go faster than the seasons, commercialization is key and hypocrisy is the order of the day. Eventually, though, the spo-com-influenced drifting movement will die out and we'll be left. We can only pray that day comes sooner rather than later, before the sport becomes a black hole out of which no goodness comes.

[GoukiS14]

oh and the models are umbrela girls even D1 has umbrella girls... (sorry I took a little offense to it cuz of my friend)

[STFUAD]

Yeah, the D1 umbrella girls are there to compliment the cars not to become the main event. You don't see, "Come take pictures with Sayouri the beautiful Umbrella girl!" pasted all over a d1 flyer.

It was nice meeting you too man. Hopefully I will see you at driver's search. Take care!