Announcement

**ALI's DRIFT GARAGE** · 12-20-2007, 05:59 PM

New APEX ELECTRONICS INSTALL FEATURE

A'PEXi ELECTRONICS INSTALL
APEXi AVC-R
APEXi AUTO TIMER
APEXi DECS TACHOMETER
APEXi EL2 Series Gauges

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PT.1

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PT.2

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PT.3

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PT.4

**ALI's DRIFT GARAGE** · 01-15-2008, 07:20 PM

New Videos

Some Interviews at this past weekend's Drift Day 41 event in El Toro, CA.

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Z06 powered FC by Mike at Tech Trix

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Interview with Hiro Sumida about Drift Day's Drifting 101 school

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Interview with Leon Styles, Pat Mordaunt, and Lisa Klassen. Plus Ridealong in one of 3 $80,000 MX-5 cup cars...

**ALI's DRIFT GARAGE** · 11-17-2008, 02:54 PM

Red bull drifting world championship

Ok, I'll preface this with one of the few times i'll throw around the fact that I was with D1 almost 4 years ago and running the US side of things as the second in command of what was going on. Honestly not much to brag about, but I put in a good year and was on the front lines for amazing drifting. So I've seen a lot from the front and from the back. And eventually since then I've felt a little jaded on everything. The tracks are all the same tracks and the only thing that gets me going is seeing the amateurs work their skills up at whatever bare piece of land Drift Day or JDM-Option can find these days. Not to mention getting in on some drifting myself.

Which brings me to this past weekend, the FD/Red Bull Drifting World Championship. From where I remembered Formula D starting out to where I've seen them grow has been amazing, and this weekend was yet another reason that whatever Jim and Ryan are doing is being done as well as it can be.

My experience went like this...

I got blocked by the F'n fires on Saturday trying to drive out with my wife from Riverside, we had dinner plans in OC later that evening, so weren't able to make it out to Long Beach and back in time. The following day I was determined to make it and luckily there were no fires but still some traffic and I didnt arrive in Long Beach until 1:30.

Entering the parking area I was surprised at how packed it was, from end to end all I could see where cars. Having gotten with a parking spot I rushed to the dishearteningly empty media booth where my pass was suppose to be. *Censored**Censored**Censored**Censored* no pass! Taking notice of me with cell phone in hand, a nice man came to help me out. Talking with the gentleman who I assumed was managing the ticket area, I found that he was extremely pleasant professional and accommodating and after explaining myself and my credentials I was given a general admission ticket. As I was there to enjoy the event and be part of drifting history in Southern California I didn't mind.

Next I was directed towards some buses which were there to ferry spectators to and from the event. "WOW", already I was feeling the vibe of some long forgotten LA massive. Getting on the bus I could feel everyone's excitement, people were there from all ages little 2 year olds all the way up to 45 year old guys.

Riding the bus out of downtown Long Beach we got on a huge bridge where below us I could see the event laid out, I could make out a series of bleachers towards the end of a long D1 looking track. The excitement at that point got kicked up even another level as I felt there was a magnitude to the event that I hadnt expected. I saw how packed the booth/vendor areas were with swarms of people walking around and I could make out the helicopters idling over the track. It really felt like a movie set more so than a drift event.

Getting to the main entrance the bus let us out and I made my way through the mob. I went first to say hello to my old co-workers at Apex and then hooked up with my buddy Louie from L-Con and his young son Isaac. From Isaac's point of view the cars were crazy and one of the main draws was the Playstation trailer, too bad he was with us though he never got to play.

Next, what usually takes the form of a big huge plane with massive engines lumbering low to the ground an tipping it's wing to the crowd, came in the form of two crazy kamikaze parachuters who winded their way down in big loops with smoke trailing out from behind them. It was at this point I could hear J-Rod yelling out to get the crowd pumped up to cheer for these two fools as they made their rapid descent. Right when they couldnt have been more than 50-75 feet off the ground they did a nose dive straight for the ground which to me looked like something had gone terribly wrong and they were about to be a smear on the asphalt, but to the cheers of the crowd these nut bags had pulled off a great jump with an even greater finale as they pulled up at the last minute and landed it perfect.

Shaking our heads at how crazy things were we walked over to the far end of the track where the final turn was and watched as the top 16 battled it out in an amazingly high speed and technical course. It almost looked too small for the caliber of cars there but sure enough these cars made it so exciting.

Adding to the atmosphere was J-Rod announcing the event and pumping the crowd up with a turn by turn break down of what was happening for the uninitiated. It seemed to me that whether you were seasoned spectator or a new born fan you weren't lost at this event and you could enjoy it as much as they guy sitting next you.

The event itself was amazing. The cars barreled down the main straight at an average of a 100mph and kicked it sideways into a long right hand turn. Following a few more turns they ended it with another right hand turn which placed the end of their drift within feet of the finish. I swore every time they came out of the final drift someone was going to tank it into the railing but luckily no one did.

From hearing Mike Whiddet's 4-rotor RX-7 scream, to watching Ueo bust one of the most impressive high speed and longest held 90 degree drifts into the first bank, and to seeing JR tank it into the wall and then jump on his car to the roar of the crowd, I was impressed. Even walking around the pits and talking to some of the teams I was suprised, everyone was so chill. Ending the day, Rhys took a well deserved first, Daijiro second and Tanner took third.

I will say that I am glad I made it out for the second day of the event because I feel I would have had no idea what I had missed. To make a spectator event exciting again for me was huge as it made me look forward to the future of what's to come. Kinda like finding that new favorite flavor of Doritos. I think Formula D has finally gotten the Formula Down.

Announcement

ALI'S DRIFT GARAGE, Lots of VIDS

ALI'S DRIFT GARAGE, Lots of VIDS

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