The Evolution of Drifting

[HORShi]

This past weekend after watching Formula D. My mind was blown by the sheer numbers of HP/TQ that was being put up by these cars. This had me pondering about the world of drifting.




1125HP? Nitrous oxide? Now before I go any further, let me say this

This is NOT a thread to bash DRIFTING, FORMULA D, OR ANY OTHER PLACE, ORGANIZATION, TOPIC AND THING CONCERNING DRIFTING.. This thread is specifically to talk about and converse about the "evolution" of drifting. Details, pictures, facts, folklores, theories, myths, opinions, experiences, technology, trends, crazes, mechanics and videos of how drifting has evolve from the early days, to the "modern" times. Raising questions about the potential future of drifting (future problems, mainstream potential, tech evolution etc and etc.)

Note: If you don't like drifting...there is a little "x" on the top of your browser with a tab that has the keywords "zilvia" in it (Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, IE, Safari...it's universal mobile or desktop) click it, then start over and avoid this thread. Thank you.

I would like to think of this thread pretty much as the "study of drifting". So this is a long enough introduction...let me start off in a new post.

[HORShi]

Kunimistu Takahashi, Grand Prix Motorcycle racer from Tokyo, Japan. In regards of drifting he is considered the "father of drifting". Now me personally, I'm not that knowledgeable regarding this man, as I was introduce to drifting and always thought that Keiichi Tsuchiya was the "father of drifting" and therefore my ignorance of not knowing K. Takahashi is definitely prevalent.

But anyways, here is an excerpt from autoevolution.com article "Drifting Legends"

"Back in the 1970s, while racing cars like Datsun, Nissan Fairlady 240Z or March 73S BMW, he started, out of necessity, using drifting techniques. His most interesting maneuver was entering the apex of a bend (the geometric center of the turn) at high speeds and making the car drift, to allow it to maintain its speed. Of course, this method made him win a few races, but most importantly drew many fans to the sport." So assumingly this "tail-sliding technique" which Takahashi used was actually a form of being able to keep his momentum forward without losing speed.

Now as I'm a rally fan (by any means not a Rally specialist) I do know the "tail-sliding technique" was heavily used in Rally, since...the birth of rally racing. Used in the same manner that K. Takahashi used it. In fact, the most exciting display of this technique is definitely the Group B era of Rally. Group B was HIGHLY known for there "drifting" as a technique as the Group B field was filled with insanely powered, light cars. The extremely sharp hairpins and corners of many of the tracks such as Monte Carlo and Tour de Corse - Rallye de France. Some say that drifting actually started from the Rally era. Which I won't disagree with because the technique was used in that same fashion.


(The first few seconds of the video displays Michèle Mouton's hellified, demon sounding Audi Sport Quattro using the "drift" technique. There is more)

But I do believe that "drifting" as we know it now, was indeed popularized and started from Takahashi...later perfected, defined and refined by K. Tsuchiya. Rally has a different objective and circumstances that makes it an completely different discipline than drifting.

For people who don't...this is Keiichi Tsychiya aka "Drift King"

[HORShi]

Circa 1987

"Pluspy" known as the first drifting video to date, was produced. In collaboration with Tsuchiya, several car magazines and tuning garages, this video was made to display Tsuchiya's "drifting" skills in the mountain passes of Japan.



Interesting enough, he accomplish the task of getting his racing licenses, for only it to be suspended literally soon after this video. He still continued to do illegal street racing during the time. Studying the tail-sliding technique of Takahashi, Tsuchiya (Dorikin) honed and practiced the technique. Thus creating a completely different style of driving, Drifting. From this point on, (which I can only speculate and is up for debate) this is where Drifting, becomes separated into it's own discipline. This is where Drifting as we know it now, is considered "Drifting". It has a different objective, a different purpose, different circumstances and distinguished enough from all other driving disciplines and styles. This is where it becomes more or less a driving art form. I believe drifting during this time of "Pluspy" and real early days was more of the "cool" and "trendy" thing to do, instead of actually taking it to a motorsport-class level (which soon after it would be with the help of Daijiro Inada)

[TMW]

this should be in ot

but heres a contribution, s0ap wrote this out a couple years ago

Sexy Knights - SHOWup Asahi - Sexy Style

Street drifting legends from Chiba, known for their shakotan low car style. Their leader Satoshi Suzuki is a D1 driver.

Mitsuru Haruguchi - 326Power - CluBmanS

A veteran in the drifting wolrd, recognized as the hero of pushing the limits of drifting and automotive style. He also owned a sweet FC3S.
Haruguchi runs his tuning shop 326Power out of Hiroshima, home of the team CluBmanS. He specializes in shakotan suspension mods and body kits.

Koguchi Yoshinori - Koguchi Power - K-Style

Also known as the Drift Emperor and the king of 180sx. He owns a tuning shop in the Tochigi prefecture just north of Tokyo nearby Tsukuba circuit. Koguchi Power is renounced for high quality and pride in their work. Koguchi includes private personal drift lessons for his customers to help them get the most out of their cars.

Teruaki Itai - N.O.L.S.D.

Owned one of the very best 180sx "Type X". Competed in D1 during its grassroots period.

Rough World - Team Orange - Kumakubo + Tanaka - K-Style - Ebisu

Team Orange is composed of several D1 competitors Kumakubo Nobishige, Kazuhiro Tanaka, and Naoto Suenaga. Kumakubo is the owner of the famous Ebisu track sometimes referred to as the "Temple of Drift". Kumakubo runs a drift school at Ebisu all year long on the 9 different tracks. Kumakubo and Tanaka have a long history in drifting as well as track history as members of the famous old school drift team Rough World. Both cars made an appearance at D1GP Chicago at Soldier Field.

TEAM BURST - Nakamura

A new comer in the drifting world, Team Burst and leader Nakamura have made large strides in making themselves known with their exciting car style and intense Tsuiso drifting. Nakamura has competed in D1SL, MSC, and a new series Drift Muscle.

Grip Gambler

Famous Chicago Team. Leaders of ClubFR and drifting events in Chicago.

Marionette

Possibly the best drifting team to ever exist. Leader is "Drift Zamurai Mamura". Members include Wakamatsu, Asamoto, Inose, and Fukuda.

Pink Godzira

Hailing from Long Beach, California. An inspiration to most drifters in America. Members include Brian Harte, Aaron Suarez, and Lindsey Ross.

Viceroy

Texas "Life Luxurious" drift club. Members include Stewark Leask, Charlie Mercer, and Russel Walker.

Night Zone - Utsumi

A famous drift team from the 90's lead by D1 driver Akinori Utsumi who owns the shop DRFT.

Night Walkers

Famous for their red 4 door drift cars and street drift antics in the Yokohama Bay area.

Komatsu - Drifter X - Signal Auto

Komatsu holds a special place in drifters hearts. His orange sexy style 180 has seen its fair share of street drifting in Osaka. Known for amazing style and smooth drifting.

Akinori Ito - Break - GT-1

Leader of Team Break and owner of the Pro Shop GT-1. Known for his superb execution in building cars, attention to detail is his high point.

Team Magician

Famous street drift team from Chiba. A rowdy bunch lead by Yuuki Takamiya the driver of the BN SPORTS Magenta JZX110.

Drift Faction

USA East Coast drift club, known for partying and street drifting in their very low cars.

Youichi Imamura - ICBM Intercontinental Ballistic Missle - PARTS Shop Budounoki "Grape Vine" ぶどうの樹

D1 competitor and driver of an amazing AE86.

Masato Kawabata - Stink

Running Free

Hideo Hiraoka - Pro Shop RAPID

Nobuteru Taniguchi - Nob "No One Better" - Team AFTER-FIRE

Simply the best, long history in drifting and often appears in Video Option. Known for his incredibly smooth style and brake drifting.

[zooopreme]

HORShi, just because you can make a thread, doesn't mean you should. Chill, friend.

[Matej]

This is the coolest thing that has ever happened in drifting. Nothing else compares.

[tayloray]

Originally Posted by Matej

This is the coolest thing that has ever happened in drifting. Nothing else compares.

Favorite drift video ever.

[Reece]

It sucks that all those pictures s0ap posted are all gone now.

[zurud]

Its expected. Everybody loves hp. The more the better. Only when people start dying then they will limit the hp.

[1on1]

Originally Posted by Reece

It sucks that all those pictures s0ap posted are all gone now.

Not necessarily, I was able to upload them to my tumblr, starting from 6/12, and I saved 95% of them. It was the only reason for me to create my account so the pictures can stay alive, lol.

[Bushido]

I like seeing those nostalgic photos.

Here is a cool drifting video

[Reece]

Originally Posted by 1on1

Not necessarily, I was able to upload them to my tumblr, starting from 6/12, and I saved 95% of them. It was the only reason for me to create my account so the pictures can stay alive, lol.

Well... You're my new favorite Zilvia user. Hahaha.

This is exactly what I want drifting to be like. Forever.

[GabeS14]

Like thread button!

[HORShi]

I should had call this the "Drift Thread" (I tried to be fancy and doctor up a awesome name and history intro...possible fail lol)

But pretty much I know a lot of people don't care or hate drifting. I myself love drifting, every aspect of it, and I wanted to make a thread dedicated to that. So people who is new to drifting and want to get know what drifting is, likes drifting but want to know more or even really passionate about drifting and stick to it solely, this thread is that place to talk, share, provide experience and converse about anything drifting related.

I didn't see a drift section (a lot of other forums have a "drift section") so figure to push a thread dedicate to it. Hopefully it keeps on strong.

[HORShi]

Definitely a cool Japanese drifting nostalgia video

I find it crazy how far drifting came from this point to now.

From what it looks like...there is a MR2 drifting?

[Reece]

^ That's my favorite video by far. And yes, at 1:23 that's an SW20 MR2. Way cool.

This thread should be renamed Cool Drift Stuff thread.

[chanklas]

HORShi, Very good on the introduction of this thread, thumbs up. Im not a big fan of the high horsepower and ls engines into an s chassis' or any japanese car. But to each there own. I stay true to the japanese styling and engines because thats the style i like and its true to the japanese culture.

[LockOn!]

Can this be a sticky? Please? It's important.

[az_240]

Cool thread. Will never forget my introduction to drifting and how/when it really took off in the states with the rise of FD in 04/05. Watching Rhys Millen connect the entire west track at Firebird/Bondurant in his GTO and having the privilege of changing his tires was a blast! Was hooked ever since.
http://ultimategto.com/cgi-bin/showc...rant04/04_1025
Japan still does it best though.

[yomisiu]

Originally Posted by Bushido

]

How cool would it be if the next "mainstream" drifting "championship" of the future was team based... 3 or 4 maybe more cars/drivers per team. Wherein the appearance of the cars mattered as much as how they performed. Teams would be judged on coordination and synchronization, overall style, and excitement.

Instead of having the events in parking lots and oval tracks, they would be conducted on closed portions of mountain roads in various events all over the country, similar to rally stages.


Just a thought.

FINAL BOUT

Final Bout is a two-day team tandem contest taking place at USA International Raceway in Shawano, WI. This will not be the run-of-the-mill team tandem competition based solely on driver’s ability, but in fact a competition judged by team unification. 50% of each team’s score will be based on a car show - judging the cars presented as a team. Teams will be judged on unity and style, based on team colors, livery, car style, and general car presentation. The remaining 50% of the team score will be based on team runs and tandem skill. *

i want to attend this event ;_;

[RurouniMidnight]

It's fun and makes me feel very nostalgic to look back on the early driftin days, I remember watching drift ten goku and option videos everyday when I came home from work. I feel glad and privileged being able to be in the time drifting was at its best. It was a special period of time and can't ever be reproduced again. I don't think it will get better, cars will get more over engineered and more uglier but hey if the people driving them are having fun that's cool, but for me it's about the balance of the car as a whole, style and power mixed with close attention to small details I guess that is why I'm so fond of the street legal drifting series : )

[Confuzedd]

Originally Posted by yomisiu

FINAL BOUT

i want to attend this event ;_;

I hope theres alot of film from this event

[Reece]

Originally Posted by Confuzedd

I hope theres alot of film from this event

I'm doing media for it! I'll post a lot. Super excited for the first cool drift event in a LONG time.

[HORShi]

Originally Posted by Reece

I'm doing media for it! I'll post a lot. Super excited for the first cool drift event in a LONG time.

Reece...make sure you get shits load of footage lol. Post links, pics, videos...MAX OUT ALL available storage haha. I wish I was able to go man. I start my upper-class semester around that time, so I won't be able to unfortunately.

[jamg]

american drifting isn't even fun to watch anymore.

[HORShi]

Here goes another cool drifting video. I don't recommend street drifting...but I love street drifting.

[Goofs]

Originally Posted by HORShi

Onikyan - Demon camber (Crazy camber)...Ole' school stanced

Pure art .

[ZenkiKid]

No talk of Katsuhiro Ueo?!?!?!?

No talk of Benson Hsu,Nadine Toyoda, JDM Rice, and Slide Squad?

[LockOn!]

ドリフト AE86：UEO KATSUHIRO with Hathigo kai Hathiroku
ueo's ae86
Ueo- High Speed manji drift

[5280VertDET]

With respect to history: