Starting age

[4WD-4WD]

Originally posted by s0nny80y
wow, you guys are really putting me down. i mean, im hearing 14, 15, 16, and even a 13!!! i guess you can say i got interested at 15 but thats not compared to the tofu delivery drivers we have here!

DUDE that is is really funny ... you really like Initial D ... me to PM me anytime brah. Were Im from we have one lane and a half streets on the mountains and some people were racing (not drifting ) they ended dead going 55 on a 25 zone.

[s0nny80y]

Originally posted by rwd polak
Hey I was wondering, where in south Florida do you live?

Pembroke Pines, you?

Originally posted by 4WD-4WD
DUDE that is is really funny ... you really like Initial D ... me to PM me anytime brah. Were Im from we have one lane and a half streets on the mountains and some people were racing (not drifting ) they ended dead going 55 on a 25 zone.

Like Initial D? Hah. Watched the first 2 sets of DVD's released for rental at Blockbuster. Just to tell you, rentals cost too much so I haven't been able to catch up. BTW, the tofu reference was a joke B/C I find it really hard to believe people in here have been drifting from that young of age.

[4WD-4WD]

Originally posted by s0nny80y
Pembroke Pines, you?



Like Initial D? Hah. Watched the first 2 sets of DVD's released for rental at Blockbuster. Just to tell you, rentals cost too much so I haven't been able to catch up. BTW, the tofu reference was a joke B/C I find it really hard to believe people in here have been drifting from that young of age.

Heres my advice ... go to E-Bay and for 60.00 you can get series 1,2,3 and 4

just put in INITIAL D STAGES BOXSET

[FC3SGTU]

I started at 16, Still 16. Owned 2 RX7's, Just sold my first FC today to keep on modding, Mod list is:

F + R Strut Tower Bars
RB Toe Eliminators
RB Cat-Back Exhaust
Tokicko Illumina's
Tanabe Springs
Stock Clutch Type LSD
Exedy Street/Race Clutch
4 TII Rims
4 GXL Rims
4 Aftermarket rims.

Everything is paid by me, The toe elmiinators are in the mail. To finish my car I need:

Camber Plates
Possibly Sell my Illumina/Tanabe Setup For Coilovers
Koyo Radiator
Full race clutch kit


And theres my life story! I'm not thaat bad at drifting, Come see me at DD20 (If my clutch is in and broken in by then) White FC GTU

-Andrew

P.S. I've been to DD17 and DD18 as a Driver, and done some street drifting. After I'm done building it and good enough I'll start canyon drifting and whatnot.

[Drift For Food]

There is no starting age really. I started driving, legally, at 15 like most normal people. I had my mom's driving spirit, so wanting to have a little fun came naturally. My first car was an '87 Buick Somerset(2 door Skylark). I and my brother both got one, and we had lots of fun going to and from school down the gravel back roads. We beat the tar out of those cars, but it was fun and you learned quite a bit about your limits. However, with a total lack of understanding of physics behind what makes a car go, I was a rolling crash waiting to happen. Luckly, I never did crash. Looking back, I was a stupid, stupid kid going way to fast in a car.

I only got into drifting last year at 23. I got introduced to drifting by the Initial D series. From there I started looking online about drifting. I also found an awesome PC game with near true-to-life physics called Live For Speed. I started playing with drifting on there and got a good idea of drifting concepts. I started in the real world on a fwd, my old '87 Buick Lesabre, and I practiced trying to get that boat sideways. I learned a lot about weight shift and braking techniques. After that, I moved to my bro's old '88 Ford Ranger, a rwd finally but no power. Technique changed but everything I learned from my fwd still applied. I later moved to my newish('02) Subaru Forester, and it's now again a learning process with awd. Techniques change, but everything learned previously applies. I always attribute a good start to knowing my first drifting car very, very well. I owned that Lesabre for 4 years and have been driving the same platform car for another 2, 6 years on the same chassis gives you an unbelievable understanding of your car, god-like understanding, 2 as 1 kind of stuff. The transition into drifting was very, very easy, but technique and practice was still needed.

What I suggest to anyone who wants to learn to drift is to learn to drive first. Know how to drive a car normally first. You need a strong base to start with. Then start to push it...slowly at first. Always keep it safe and within your and your car's ability. Work on grip and how hard you can push the car, cornering, braking and such. Learn the cars limits without trying to do anything foolish like trying to throw it sideways or pull the e-brake and 70mph and seeing what happens. Once you get comfortable with the car, the progression into drift is much easier.

However, before you jump right in, learn how drifting works. Learn techniques used to initiate a drift as well as techniques to hold and exit a drift. Learn a little science about how cars work. Learn about weight shifts, traction circles, driving techniques, etc... The more you understand, the safer you are. You'll also know what to do when you do get the car sideways. Do I brake, do I give it gas, should I steer in a little more, steer out maybe, pull the e-brake a little? You'll know ahead of time, cause everything is governed by the basic laws of physics, the laws that all of nature follows. If you have the understanding, you'll know what will happen.

I'd like to talk about car choice too. Really any car will work for learning. Rwds are the best for drifting, but just learning to drive, any car will do. Also, look at something old. You'll beat the tar out of your first car. You'll probably crash it too. Get something cheap and old, put only liability insurance on it(under your parents name with their cars, it's cheaper), and don't worry about upgrades. If you jump right into drifting, you won't have it long. If you think you want 400hp to start off with, say good by to the car right now, won't have it long. Old, cheap, and start learning to drive first.

Now one last thing I'd like to bring up is try to have a go at drifting in the virutal world. Play some quality driving games with good physics. If you're a Playstation fan, Gran Turismo is good to learn some aspects of car behavior. If you're a PC gamer like me, check out a game called Live For Speed. With a good force feedback wheel and pedals, you'll get a good idea of car behavior even before you step in a car. Now, the virtual world is no substitute for real world experience, but it can be a useful tool that can be used prior and in conjunction with the learning process of drifting your real car. It also allows you to try things in complete safety. If you crash your car in the virtual world, you just hit reset, you do it in the real world and you say good bye to your car and possibly your life.

Lastly, be smart, use your head. If you use your brain, you should stay safe.

[Ghost of Duluth]

33 here. Use this time that you have until you turn 18 to grip, learn the road, learn your car, learn to be at ease in your car. Learn all of these disciplines young warrior and your path to enlightenment will be attained. Only by traveling the hard road, will the easy road be opened to you.

[Drift For Food]

Can I get an AMEN? AMEN Brotha'!

Halalua!