The Drifters: A Guide to the Art of Drifting in a Car

THE DRIFTERS Drifting, which originated in Japan, is more art form than racing. Drivers skillfully slide their cars sideways through turns, with style and showmanship being the key rather than speed. It is remarkable to see drivers execute these maneuvers, especially on a tight street course, where concrete barriers line both sides. Those walls leave no margin for error. Choose your weapon The vehicles of choice for drifting are rear-wheel-drive cars that are close to having a 50-50 weight ratio from front to rear. Some of the cars likely to be seen: I Honda S2000 I Nissan 350Z Ford Mustang I Pontiac Solstice Drifting techniques Here are two basic techniques that could work in the Almaden hairpin: BRAKING CLUTCHING Drift is initiated using either the brake pedal or the emergency brake. Drift is initiated using the clutch. Older imports that are very suitable for drifting: I Mazda RX-7 I Nissan 3002 I Nissan 240SX Toyota Supra Toyota Corolla GTS 1 Approaching corner, driver hits the brake pedal or throws on the emergency brake. Driver pushes in clutch, downshifts, revs engine and releases clutch. 3 Driver keeps the car balanced with steering and throttle input. The hand brake can also be used to correct errors or fine tune drift angles. The closer to the wall the back end af the car gets, the more points for the driver. 2 Rear end loses grip on the road and swings outward. The more it swings-and the more smoke the tires make – the more points the driver gets. 3 Driver uses a combinationn of acceleration and steering to control the drift. 2 Surge in power to rear wheels makes them spin so fast they lose traction and spin outward, 团 。 When to watch FRIDAY 4-430 pm SATURDAY NSSAN Catsonic Z NSIN 13:15-3:35 pm. SUNDAY 11:35-11:45 am. 4:50-5 pm. NYSSIN 团 POTENA Front wheels always face the direction of travel. 12 POTENZA NISSAN NISSAN In an ideal turn the car is perpendicular to the road during the turn caLSONIC calsonic Sourte Mertury News reseorch, howstuffworks.com, Turbo Sauid NOREAMASEHIETTO MERURY MWS aso HISSAN THE DRIFTERS Drifting, which originated in Japan, is more art form than racing. Drivers skillfully slide their cars sideways through turns, with style and showmanship being the key rather than speed. It is remarkable to see drivers execute these maneuvers, especially on a tight street course, where concrete barriers line both sides. Those walls leave no margin for error. Choose your weapon The vehicles of choice for drifting are rear-wheel-drive cars that are close to having a 50-50 weight ratio from front to rear. Some of the cars likely to be seen: I Honda S2000 I Nissan 350Z Ford Mustang I Pontiac Solstice Drifting techniques Here are two basic techniques that could work in the Almaden hairpin: BRAKING CLUTCHING Drift is initiated using either the brake pedal or the emergency brake. Drift is initiated using the clutch. Older imports that are very suitable for drifting: I Mazda RX-7 I Nissan 3002 I Nissan 240SX Toyota Supra Toyota Corolla GTS 1 Approaching corner, driver hits the brake pedal or throws on the emergency brake. Driver pushes in clutch, downshifts, revs engine and releases clutch. 3 Driver keeps the car balanced with steering and throttle input. The hand brake can also be used to correct errors or fine tune drift angles. The closer to the wall the back end af the car gets, the more points for the driver. 2 Rear end loses grip on the road and swings outward. The more it swings-and the more smoke the tires make – the more points the driver gets. 3 Driver uses a combinationn of acceleration and steering to control the drift. 2 Surge in power to rear wheels makes them spin so fast they lose traction and spin outward, 团 。 When to watch FRIDAY 4-430 pm SATURDAY NSSAN Catsonic Z NSIN 13:15-3:35 pm. SUNDAY 11:35-11:45 am. 4:50-5 pm. NYSSIN 团 POTENA Front wheels always face the direction of travel. 12 POTENZA NISSAN NISSAN In an ideal turn the car is perpendicular to the road during the turn caLSONIC calsonic Sourte Mertury News reseorch, howstuffworks.com, Turbo Sauid NOREAMASEHIETTO MERURY MWS aso HISSAN THE DRIFTERS Drifting, which originated in Japan, is more art form than racing. Drivers skillfully slide their cars sideways through turns, with style and showmanship being the key rather than speed. It is remarkable to see drivers execute these maneuvers, especially on a tight street course, where concrete barriers line both sides. Those walls leave no margin for error. Choose your weapon The vehicles of choice for drifting are rear-wheel-drive cars that are close to having a 50-50 weight ratio from front to rear. Some of the cars likely to be seen: I Honda S2000 I Nissan 350Z Ford Mustang I Pontiac Solstice Drifting techniques Here are two basic techniques that could work in the Almaden hairpin: BRAKING CLUTCHING Drift is initiated using either the brake pedal or the emergency brake. Drift is initiated using the clutch. Older imports that are very suitable for drifting: I Mazda RX-7 I Nissan 3002 I Nissan 240SX Toyota Supra Toyota Corolla GTS 1 Approaching corner, driver hits the brake pedal or throws on the emergency brake. Driver pushes in clutch, downshifts, revs engine and releases clutch. 3 Driver keeps the car balanced with steering and throttle input. The hand brake can also be used to correct errors or fine tune drift angles. The closer to the wall the back end af the car gets, the more points for the driver. 2 Rear end loses grip on the road and swings outward. The more it swings-and the more smoke the tires make – the more points the driver gets. 3 Driver uses a combinationn of acceleration and steering to control the drift. 2 Surge in power to rear wheels makes them spin so fast they lose traction and spin outward, 团 。 When to watch FRIDAY 4-430 pm SATURDAY NSSAN Catsonic Z NSIN 13:15-3:35 pm. SUNDAY 11:35-11:45 am. 4:50-5 pm. NYSSIN 团 POTENA Front wheels always face the direction of travel. 12 POTENZA NISSAN NISSAN In an ideal turn the car is perpendicular to the road during the turn caLSONIC calsonic Sourte Mertury News reseorch, howstuffworks.com, Turbo Sauid NOREAMASEHIETTO MERURY MWS aso HISSAN