Down with Formula Drift

[driftxtreem]

Originally posted by 1.3ltre
Knowone has done anything for me but me. Thanks for nothing, i could give a fuccless about the events. I dont like to watch people drive when i can be doing the damn thing myself.

I apriciate your honesty and you are 100% right. and you should drive for you Im directing this to the ones that can only hack at people. And yes I can drive like you, I drive for myself and I only like the crazy crashes and the extreem psycos that I see here when Im out.

[Special K]

This day was inevitable. The sport is growing really fast and North America is the place to make things trendy, faddy, hip and cool. Unfortunately not every one wants the sport handed to a bunch of corporate yuppies.

Slip Stream marketing is behind this...they have very good marketing strategies and have always had a good hold on the automotive culture. Sometimes I wonder how reputable their information sources are. I have a background in research analysis and GIS systems and I question the autenticity of their sources...I hope I'm not the only one asking. Anyone from Global here? If so...where are your sources from? How well do you clean your data?

Anyways....if the corporate world wants a part of drifting let them be...it will push the sport, bring in more $$$ and seperate the hard core from the sell outs.

All I know is I won't be participating in any of those events unless a clear strategy is given on measures to keep roots of drifting alive. I hope all those who really love the sport will resist temptation and stick together to run drifting for the pure love of the sport consisting of members who actually drift a day in their lives.

We need a good balance....instead of coporate using drifting, drifting needs to use coporate as a tool. Let us have control please! Give us something....we gave you snowboarding, skateboarding, and tuner shows...let us keep drifting!

I pray to god Slip Stream will take good care of our sport

[J-BloodAE86]

drift xtreem i respect you organization and your teams skill, but don't act like you are doing us a big fukcing favor, we all know you are making big money of the american scene. And you act like you guys are so much better then us we should fukcing bow down at your toes. Well screw you, we dont have to money, resources, or corporate backing to have cars and facilities necesary to compete at the level you compete at. You want a fair fight? Give us equally prepared cars, and a year of practice, then we will be even. its not like you are better because you have god given skill. compare the cars at drift days (which are the REAL u.s. drifting events) with the cars seen at drift tracks in Japan. fair fight? i think not. we are still learning, and parts are alot more expensive and harder to find over here, so get the hel| off our backs and dont go saying how much better than us you are.

[driftxtreem]

Originally posted by J-BloodAE86
drift xtreem i respect you organization and your teams skill, but don't act like you are doing us a big fukcing favor, we all know you are making big money of the american scene. And you act like you guys are so much better then us we should fukcing bow down at your toes. Well screw you, we dont have to money, resources, or corporate backing to have cars and facilities necesary to compete at the level you compete at. You want a fair fight? Give us equally prepared cars, and a year of practice, then we will be even. its not like you are better because you have god given skill. compare the cars at drift days (which are the REAL u.s. drifting events) with the cars seen at drift tracks in Japan. fair fight? i think not. we are still learning, and parts are alot more expensive and harder to find over here, so get the hel| off our backs and dont go saying how much better than us you are.

I hear this Ive been driftin for five year stuff on here all the time. In Japan five years and you better be in the D1 line up, Or atleast to the semifinals. Also have you ever been to a track in Japan and see what these guys are running Strait out of the scrap yard most of them. What do you meen parts are expensive you think cause there built here there any cheeper fraid not. Every body here thinks there sellin Rolexes and half of its crap. You want a fair fight well hows this Drift Xtreme brought over three cars that aint got half of what the US drivers had and they still Kicked a$$. Yea the Driver baby. The cars are four year ran harder than a turkish whore slaped together out of a junkyard pile of sh't and we still went farther and faster than most of the drivers there. Think Im high to bad you couldnt see the sigh of releif the teams had when they saw what we were driving. Want names Ill PM them.
And to those of you that think Sunpros and Vid-Opt are pure hearted for the good of the sport take another look. What do the drivers get for the vids you all by. NOTHING who get the cash from all of that. How bout the Mags if it werent for the drivers do you think Drift Tengoku would be interesting. NOT. Heres one for you , When Vid - OPt took Kumakubos S15 and blew the fukin engine do you think thay paid for the 10k rebuild NOT not even a fuk you very much dont tell me like I dont know what the fuks going on. You dont think I aint got nothin goin on in your behalf. Im workin My as$ off with sponsers and what not to find the fukin funding for a drift track in the states anybody else goona step up? I have an independent wealthy friend thats thinkin about putin a mill up so you guys got some were safe, secure, and with qualified instructors to help you raise the bar and help dominate this FAD. You think F1, Nascar and Cart got to where it was on ideas allone. Whats a ticket to that cost. Like I said Im doin my part and not for myself. One more thing for all I put into this year I took home exactly 5300 and put that much in out of my own pocket.

[SlideRiceFC]

Isn't the Drift Xtreme team the new poster boys for APC? That's a sad thing. Everyone is moaning about companies like Slipstream but I think APC is poised to do more damage than any other company out there. Anyone in the industry has no doubt been reading the industry publications for the past year where APC blows their own horn as the company who has recognized the new "trend" and is moving to capitalize on it. Drifting's newfound fame was a chance to bury APC and instead someone gave them a leg up. How did this happen?

[Chas]

Really, how many apc parts do they use on there cars?

[SlideRiceFC]

I'm not entirely sure it's them. Since I make it a habit not to purchase rice magazines and I live in a hole (New Orleans, LA) I haven't seen the cars since the D1 drivers search. But APC has been bragging about their "Team Orange" and running ads for their "DRIFT!" line featuring what looked to me like the drift xtreme cars. Supposedly they have three Japanese drivers under contract and I imagine use of the parts is a part of the deal (although the crap I saw them advertised seemed more geared towards FF cars and not the cars in Team Orange). At least one of the cars was in the APC booth at SEMA this year.

Originally posted by Chas
Really, how many apc parts do they use on there cars?

[D1 DRIFTER]

STOP HATING ON DRIFTXTREEM!

OK! i asked him about the whole apc thing and he said, APC throws down the $$$$$$ they are rich as hell and a sponsor is a sponsor.. so stop b i t c h i n g and just be thank full that hes trying to do his part in bring a track and instructors to the US for us. And hes not saying that he's all bad a$$, why is it that ppl get so mad when they aren't sponsored so they start hating on the ones that are? he gots sponsors and you don't so just chill. i respect him and his team as well as respect all of the other drifters. so just be happy with what hes trying 2 do for you

[SlideRiceFC]

Re: STOP HATING ON DRIFTXTREEM!

I'm not hating on Drift Xtreme. Don't twist what I'm saying. What they do is their own business. I'm saying that their alliance will do more to hurt US drifting than help it. If Adolph Hitler (a bit of an extreme comparison) laid down cash to promote his crew would you take it? Hell no...because you'd have to sell out on sooo many levels to do something like that. Different but the same deal here. They are giving something priceless to APC that they never could have had otherwise. CREDIBILITY. I for one will not cheer for or support anything with APC attached to it. So in my eyes, it backfired. While they may offer credibility to APC IMHO, they lost their street cred entirely. Besides, not every one on this board (actually a very slim few) are into drifting to become stars, make a ton of money, or do what they can to make it a mainstream accepted sport. Some of us were content with grassroots events, making runs with friends, etc. It's all good if you want to do whatever...it's a free country. I would just rather let things happen at their own pace instead of taking money from some rich rice salesman to accelerate things. God I hope that's not the independently wealthy person being spoken of here.

Originally posted by D1 DRIFTER
OK! i asked him about the whole apc thing and he said, APC throws down the $$$$$$ they are rich as hell and a sponsor is a sponsor.. so stop b i t c h i n g and just be thank full that hes trying to do his part in bring a track and instructors to the US for us. And hes not saying that he's all bad a$$, why is it that ppl get so mad when they aren't sponsored so they start hating on the ones that are? he gots sponsors and you don't so just chill. i respect him and his team as well as respect all of the other drifters. so just be happy with what hes trying 2 do for you

[Nightwalker]

I'm not going to hate on drift extreme but, I am going to say this.."F#CK APC and their capitalist CRAP producing ways"

I was at D1 and did not see a single APC product on either Team Orange cars. I almost took a $hit when I saw the DriftWorks APC decal on the cars.

I have the APC ad, and the so called "DriftWorks" line is a load of chicken $hit. A bunch of slanted sloppy looking metal slabs, and nothing but $hit that makes civics look worse than factory. I have no idea why they have it marketed as "DriftWorks" it has absolutely no relation. ....wait I do, they want to capitalize on this new scene. After it's been played, then they'll jump the wagon and rape something else.

APC is a hated name in 100 percent of 240sx and AE86 circles, and none of these enthusiasts will ever buy an APC product, don't believe me? Spend some time on their forums, or ask someone on the street.

.
.
On topic though, I sincerely hope Formula D does what they promise, and help take Drifting into more mature circles where it can be appreciated. I like the fact that SCCA adopted drifting, this is a nice step in the right direction. This will also help people who don't live in California get some track days, and keep it off the streets. I have heard that there are a lot of hardcore drifters from Cali and Japan helping guide Formula D, so at least it's getting good direction. But as of now, we can only wait and see.
SCCA is the exact opposite of APC so there shouldn't be much worries.

[Dilandu]

I reall dont think its fair to blame or attack Driftextreme for what he is doing. He is working hard to help us out, and he just like the rest of us is concerned for the future of drifting. But unless someone else takes a stand and starts to do something or contribute to US drifting then other people will just do what they think is best, which in Driftextremes case is not a bad thing I dont think he is controlled by a corporation and is trying to suck the money and spirit out of drifting, but the fact is you need money to make things work, im not saying that I support APC in ne way but the truth is $$$$ is the key.


and I kind of feel the same way about keeping drifting a grassroots kind of thing where you have fun wit your buddies thats why I am affriad to much attention will bring cops and eleminate that part of the culture.

[SlideRiceFC]

Again, we are not hating on him or his team. I don't know them, but I respect them as people and talented drifters. If they visit New Orleans a round of beer is on me. But nobody should believe that sleeping with APC is for our own good. I SERIOUSLY wish they would reconsider their alignment with APC. They are doing everyone a disservice. Hasn't anyone seen Japanese magazines lately doing features on "USDM"??? APC isn't content to rice out America...they've moved on to Japan. Why give them the credibility they need to do this. I for one think everyone should kick APC out of the drift scene by making it known they are not wanted here.

Originally posted by Dilandu
I reall dont think its fair to blame or attack Driftextreme for what he is doing. He is working hard to help us out, and he just like the rest of us is concerned for the future of drifting.

[Nightwalker]

APC = the 16 year old with a welded muffler, foglights, cheap-o wheels, metal shop spoiler, cut springs, stickers, and loud music.

also = CRAP!

[Apex Killer]

Here is the thing and I am going to piss a lot of people off but so be it!

Before I get into this I will be straight forward and say that I am the Director for the US Drift events.

There are a handful of guys running real drift events this year.
US Drift-Run and managed by enthusiasts
Slip Stream-Run and managed by enthusiasts
Drift Day-Run and managed by enthusiasts
Drift Session-Run and managed by enthusiasts
DGTA-Run and managed by enthusiasts

All of these events are run to their own rules and standards. But I am VERY sure that we are all doing events for 2 reasons. Because we love this stuff and we want to make some money. OH NO, we want to make money!?! Is there a better dream? To live your dream, work in an industry that you love and love going to work in the morning. I have not had more then 2 consecutive days off in over a year doiong our events. Do I complain? Hell no I love this stuff. All of the groups listed above have put just about everything in their lives on hold to run drift events.

Now for the money side of it. Do you guys really think the money is that big? If that was the case we would all be driving sick *Censored**Censored**Censored* dream cars, partying every night and have wild houses. This is not the case. I am trying to build a drift car on a $2500 budget, not to see if it can be done, but it's what I have to spend on the car. To throw an event is VERY costly and sponsor dollars off set those costs. None of us are getting rich!

Now for this corporate taking over crap. The thought of big companies coming in is scarey even to me. I have seen big company influence ruin many things in my life but those things were not run by guys that care about and are part of the scene. I used to ride a skateboard and was a sponsored rider. When the big money started coming in and skating started getting crazy attention everyone, including me was against it. But it the end all big company money did was to hype the sport. Sure it is everywhere now but is that a bad thing? How many of you live within 30 miles of a skate park? In '86 there were 3 parks in the ENTIRE country. Most counties now have 3 parks! What about sponsored riders. look at the pro teams. They have associate sponsors like Toyota, Mountain Dew and all that. But that money means that the team now can do more, take more trips, support more riders and so on.
The same thing will happen with drift if it gets that big.

And what is this fear of television? Formula D is working on a deal and so are we, I don't know about the others. But here is really how this plays out. None of us are making money on it. To air a 30 minute show on Speed it costs about $30,000. That's right you have to pay for it. CART (The open wheel race series) paid something like 1.2 million in 2003 for Speed to air the entire series. NASCAR and IRL are the only series that get get paid.
The reason we are all into TV is because it exposes drift to more people, it gets more people into the scene and so on. Sure it is a bit commercial but it is for the better of the sport.

The rice and F&F element is going to happen. There is no way around that and it would happen no matter what. Hoolywood makes things fake, that is what hollywood is. They F up every enthusiasts scene, fact of life. The rice thing is really full of newbies and over time they will learn what is up and get rid of their crap. Now I don't consider FF cars rice. We have had FF guys run with us this year and these were hardcore guys not punk *Censored**Censored**Censored* kids showing up with giant wings and all that. They were real!

If you are all that hardcore and concerned about the scene staying underground you would not be on the net on boards talking about it. EVERYONE has web access now and that means that everyone can read how cool this scene is, be it a 12 year old kid at school, an 80 year old lady at church or the CEO of Pepsi looking for the cool new thing. And this site is the first to pop up when you type "drifting" into a search engine.

And lastly, assuming anyone is still reading this. Bashing the Drift Xtreme guys for running under the APC banner is BULLSH!T! If you could get a deal that paid you to drive, be transported around and live like a rock star, would you turn it down? Not likely! Sure you would rather be paid by some hardcore company but if it were Tampax that offered me the deal I would take it. Not because I am some whore, but because I would rather get paid to do this stuff, get the crazy exposure and so on, instead of worrying if I have enough tires to make it through the weekend and wondering where I am going to sleep at the next event. Now, US Drift is not sponsored by APC so don't go reading crapp into this. I have toured their place and have seen these Drift Works parts and guess what? They are made by some of the big names in Japan rebadged as Drift Works, parts that you could not get here otherwise. Does APC care abot drift? Nope! But they are supporting our scene.

Send all hate mail to mike@usdrift.com

[SlideRiceFC]

I agree on some level

I totally agree with you on most of your points...in the grand scheme of things I don't think it will matter. And yes, we all like money...who doesn't? I'm not against Formula Drift or whatever other organizations are out there except the ones I recognize as solely out there to make a buck. You mention being a sponsored skater. In 86 if you had signed up with Nash you'd have gotten your *Censored**Censored**Censored* kicked by your friends and people you didn't know. If you were Tony Hawk and you signed with Nash people would think you were out of your gourd. Why? Because everybody knows guys like Tony are above that. I think Drift Xtreme sold themselves waaaaay short. I think they could have held out, still got paid out the wazoo and not had APC to thank for it. And no, if APC offered me money I'd tell them to *Censored**Censored**Censored**Censored* off. I don't think drifting should be all underground...don't misunderstand. God knows it's not that way in Japan either. All I'm saying is here is a place where we had a clean slate...a chance to make things as they should be. Sure it's all good to make money in the process (sorry to hear you're not). But sometimes you need to tell a few people to take a hike.