Touke Drift Sept 17th: We Goin' Sideways Again

Well well well...another drift event BUT it's a TOUKE DRIFT EVENT!!!

A full-roster of 20 drivers signed up but unfortunately, some had to drop out due to mechanical issues and because some could not get their cars ready in time for the event.  That's OK guys- See you out there at the next event!  Besides that, it was another full day of instructing, drifting, instructing, hauling cars out of ditches, trying not to get sunburnt, breathing in various brands of tire smoke (Nexens don't have a sweet smell like Federals do) and having F-U-N.  And of course, getting sideways nasty was in full-effect too. 

- Smoking more tires the sideways nasty style-

"Tandem" drifting is something I have gotten into doing more and more and it's both a challenge and a rush to either follow or lead another car that's drifting with you. Mike in the white S14 has been my usual Tandem partner and he's good at it too; his lines are easy to follow and his drifting is nice and fast.  

 -Tandem with the S14, Awesome! -

Mike was drifting the S14 well all day until he got a little bit too crazy on the "manjis" on the back straight and stuffed the car into the ditch:

- I was the first one there: Guy running around with my helmet on while the Emergency Response guys rushed in -

- Yep, that's a 2JZ Cressida pulling an S14 outta the ditch!-

After we got the S14 out of the ditch, the drifting resumed although there was another car that found its way into the ditch again (a grey S13 coupe for the curious).  There were no really other serious stuff that happened and the day ended with good vibes and the drifters wanting more. Another Touke event in November maybe?? Bring it on!!!

- Another Touke Family Pic -

- Parting Drift Shot...Laters!-

TAKE a look at the Video here (Skip to 5:08 to see me in action!):

>>>Touke Drift at Willow Springs (by "Dino Images")<<< 

Fresno AutoX August 28th

So the day after I drifted, I decided to participate and compete in Fresno SCCA Chapter's autocross championship that weekend!  Talk about pulling double-duty going from drifting to gripping but it's something I've done many times before. 

Since there is no "California Street Tire" or "CST" class in the region, the only class I'd be eligible for without anybody crying foul was "Street Modified" or "SM" class.  This was the first autocross event/championship I would be competing in with my car since the recent modifications and changes I made so, I was both a little nervous and excited to see what she could do now...

AND, she didn't disappoint as I got 1ST PLACE with a best time of 51.759 over second place whose time was 53.458 (you drove great Kurt!)- I think I might have had top time of day out of all the cars there too! Anyways, I had a lot of fun and the Fresno Autocrossers are just as competitive as we are down here in the Southern Pacific Region; their passion and dedication for autocrossing is die-hard as well...Thanks guys, will come up again soon! 

Ready to Rock.

Link to results: August 28th results SM Class

Fresno Drift Part II: Hot & Humid Sideways Fun!

The Central valley city that is Fresno lies within the heart of California's rich and vast farmland area which is billed as "one of the world's most productive agricultural regions." So, what the heck does this have to do with drifting?  Absolutely nothing! 

EXCEPT for the fact that there was a drift event this past August 27th at the Fresno Fairgrounds again! WOO-HA! Got y'all in drift.

Hearing that this could be the last drift event of the year in Fresno, I figured I'd join in on the fun and make the 3 hour trek up north to get more sideways nasty and smoke some tires too.

Smokey, smokey, smokey

The new diff configuration (discussed in another post) worked very well as it was locking smooth and the drifts were nice and smokey as you can see from the pic above.

- Sideways Nasty-

Those poor 205/40/17s I was running in the morning session just had no chance as I was able to spin them at will and mercilessly produce smoke at full-throttle. I pretty much wore them down to the metal wires and decided to put them to rest at the skidpad as I popped them.  Thank you 205 Federal 595s- you served me well. 

More smoke, less tires!

The weather was probably 90degrees+ with the humidity turned up plus the track temp must have been hovering around near over 100degrees+ to top it off!  BUT the drifters and I still went out there to slide it all out, some with sweaty shirts and others just shirtless.  Above all, I had a great time hanging it out with the Fresno drifters- YOU GUYS ROCK!

Here's a vid a guy shot from that day:  Fresno Drift Vid

***SPECIAL thanks to Chonh Lee for the AWESOME pictures!***

Great Pic!