Drift Atlanta Backwards Entries , Message to the Drivers

[my 1 88 u]

Last year, we the fans were treated to some bad a#@, balls out, backwards entries into turn one by a few drivers.

Conrad Grunewald


Michael Essa


And of course the legend

Tanner Foust


This year, 2011 Drift Atlanta we want to see every last top 32 driver trying to top that.

Pass it on!

[Jonny Fonseca]

I like how u aranged the videos from "Good" to "Holy S#!+ did he just do that"! haha we should get fans to bring posters saying "Sick entry please!" or something like that!

[valvetiming]

Wow tanner killed it for sure

[my 1 88 u]

I want to hear from some FD drivers.

[AlexPfeiffer]

I dont know. Looking at those vids, most of them are pretty far off line in order to do that. If the judges say the line doesnt matter then yeah why not push it a bit but we only have 2 laps to qualify so dont expect everyone to get crazy.

[my 1 88 u]

Originally Posted by AlexPfeiffer

I dont know. Looking at those vids, most of them are pretty far off line in order to do that. If the judges say the line doesnt matter then yeah why not push it a bit but we only have 2 laps to qualify so dont expect everyone to get crazy.

Essa was definately on line and Tanner qualified first with that run.

Come on Alex. Get crazy for us man.

[Bebop]

I rather go crazy and loose then not go crazy and still loose.

[boxmod]

Originally Posted by AlexPfeiffer

I dont know. Looking at those vids, most of them are pretty far off line in order to do that. If the judges say the line doesnt matter then yeah why not push it a bit but we only have 2 laps to qualify so dont expect everyone to get crazy.

Agreed. I don't know how Tanner wasn't docked on /line/ enough to not give 1st.

[techtrix]

Well, im going to try and do a crazier entry than last year. Faster, more angle and more smoke! I might not be tight on the first clip, but ill give that up for a backwards entry, that is, if i can do it in the new Z4... I will try!

Michael Essa

[my 1 88 u]

Originally Posted by techtrix

Well, im going to try and do a crazier entry than last year. Faster, more angle and more smoke! I might not be tight on the first clip, but ill give that up for a backwards entry, that is, if i can do it in the new Z4... I will try!

Michael Essa

A freaking hero!

[Jonny Fonseca]

Originally Posted by techtrix

Well, im going to try and do a crazier entry than last year. Faster, more angle and more smoke! I might not be tight on the first clip, but ill give that up for a backwards entry, that is, if i can do it in the new Z4... I will try!

Michael Essa

yeah!!!!!!!

[boxmod]

Originally Posted by techtrix

Well, im going to try and do a crazier entry than last year. Faster, more angle and more smoke! I might not be tight on the first clip, but ill give that up for a backwards entry, that is, if i can do it in the new Z4... I will try!

Michael Essa

GL, not to say it isnt exciting and awesome, but sometimes being in the show is better than watching. I'm sure any competitor agrees that they hate to watch when they could be driving. 32nd place is far better than 33rd on Friday.

I'll be watching from the stands after I drive in ProAm

[my 1 88 u]

That's three drivers. Anyone else, please chime in. I'd like to hear what you competitors think.

[Bebop]

Dang, now I see why some of my friends call this Formula P

+1 to the drivers who are down to give a show and remember people spend their hard earned money to see them compete. Make a fan please a sponsor, don't just squat on a slot on the bracket.

[boxmod]

Originally Posted by Bebop

Dang, now I see why some of my friends call this Formula P

+1 to the drivers who are down to give a show and remember people spend their hard earned money to see them compete. Make a fan please a sponsor, don't just squat on a slot on the bracket.

its easy to say from the stands.

[Bebop]

Originally Posted by boxmod

its easy to say from the stands.

Tell that too your sponsors lol

[Cavi Mike]

Unfortunately, Americans are so biased towards #1 that it's all anyone cares about. Not enough people care about style, skill or finesse, they just want to see a "win" and sponsors know that. It's kind of sad to think about it really. The only motorsport in the world that's based on visual appeal instead of laptime and somehow we still managed to screw it up.

[boxmod]

Originally Posted by Bebop

Tell that too your sponsors lol

tell them that there are a bunch of haters in the stands? i think they know that, some of them are IN the stands at these and other events.

[boxmod]

Originally Posted by Cavi Mike

Unfortunately, Americans are so biased towards #1 that it's all anyone cares about. Not enough people care about style, skill or finesse, they just want to see a "win" and sponsors know that. It's kind of sad to think about it really. The only motorsport in the world that's based on visual appeal instead of laptime and somehow we still managed to screw it up.

I agree. the mentality is that if you arent the BEST, you are the worst. When scene first started in FL, sliding one turn then spinning out was AWESOME, everyone thought it was cool. Now its max angle, brushing walls, and full throttle or you are a FaIL n00b.

[Bebop]

Originally Posted by boxmod

tell them that there are a bunch of haters in the stands? i think they know that, some of them are IN the stands at these and other events.

You must not have very many serious sponsors then.

But seriously why even compete with that mentality? To get a couple pictures of your self on speedhunters or some other website? To boost that confidence when spitting game to import models? Maybe its the cool FD sun visor and door decal? Or maybe to have bragging rights within your local grassroots scene and with the rest of your drinking buddies? Because a mid tear boring driver wont get you much more. This ain't F1 where you qualify last finish second to last and still make a million a year.

And my mentality is not if your not the best your the worst. Look at my sig, I support a bunch of drivers who never or rarely win a event let alone a championship. I like them because they are entertaining drivers who drive/drove cool machines that represented their individuality. They don't show up to the track purposely shooting for 16th place on the bracket, they take it one run at a time and give 110%. If you hate the fans, don't care about the sponsors, and have zero intentions of wining...why show?

[my 1 88 u]

Look. If it wasn't for these three drivers busting their butt to do something special I would not have spent the energy to search for these clips, create this thread and use these clips to brag to coworkers, friends, family and acquaintances of why they need to come to Road Atlanta May 7th. Fans like me do mater. I may be opinionated and critical but I am no hater.

[boxmod]

look, if you are going to complain that its FormulaP then go drive better. I said from the start it is sweet to see but if you take a step back from your preaching and realize that 1st qualifier doesnt mean you finish 1st for sure, you'd understand my point. I'm simply stating that ANYONE that makes top32 has a shot at winning, whereas the guy who tries backwqrds and spins one and straightens another has NO SHOT AT WINNING. its not always about being 1st qualifier, its about winning battles and thats how you win a drift event. Who won last year? not one of those in the above video of.... they are amazing drivers with incredible skill for sure. Its a strategy to qualify before trying to win, and once you have- then focus on win. If you have a good run 1st, then by all means go big.

If you think sponsors only care about winning, you are wrong. If you think fans only care about winning, your wrong. if you think i dont appreciate every fan and every sponsor (mine or someone elses) your wrong.

sorry for the hater comment but its just what it sounds like when you say that its formulaP. we all like to see these entries but i think its unfair to be negative about a driver(in general, not talking about me, im not even in FD) who is strategic.

i drift for fun, sponsors are a huge help, and fans are the icing on it all. i will never claim to be best either, there is a sh!t ton of better drivers in the world.

we should hand hug at ATL and make fun of people who fall down the hill. ive done it so its fair game hahahha

[Bebop]

I'm not really talking about or even focused on winning here. I'm talking about giving a good show. But yeah, the #1 qualifier usually does not win.... but statistics show even in this top 32 format the winner is usually someone who qualified int he top 10.

Quite frankly I agree with the judges score but the most entertaining runs in my eyes are usually not by the top qualifiers. The company I work for is actually interested in drifting but aren't quite sure if they want to market them selves through the series or through a driver or both as of yet.

I work along side my regional marketing manager and know a few others (not as bebop/blaze1 obviously lol) that are already involved in the series, and yes winning is not everything but overall presentation means alot as well, and none of them would ever help a program the fans aren't interested in as is.

If I had the budget and most of all the spare time I wouldn't mind trying out pro am circuit. I always been more of a street guy when it came to my drifting but I got a reasonable kart and club racing background. But too be honest I wouldn't step into the pros unless I knew I would be a valuable asset to the series in the form of entertainment and competitiveness.

I don't use the term Formula P or Formula Smoke or any other variation that these guys who dont like the series use, but threads like this make it reasonably hard for me to defend it.

[my 1 88 u]

What's "Formula P"?

[Bebop]

Formula.....kitty cat

get it? lol