Drifting: Here to stay or just a fad?

[AkumaNoZeta]

My friend and I had a "discussion" about drifting. He's a drag racer and I love corners, whether sideways or just plain fast. He believes drifting is just a fad and will die off soon while I say it's just starting out and will grow. What's other's opinions on it?

[skib]

from the looks of it its growing, but for how long? who knows...

[hoov100]

its hard to say right now, but it will probably die down a bit, seeing as no movies are being made and the import scene seems to be turning towards road racing more and more.

[240hoke]

I don't know how people can afford it, Ive always wanted to try it but the cost of tires these days makes it wayyyyyy out of my reach.

[skib]

I don't know how people can afford it, Ive always wanted to try it but the cost of tires these days makes it wayyyyyy out of my reach.

 

thats why I stick to the fri/sat night drags down at PIR lol

[1 fast z]

In my local area, a year ago, drifting was HUGE! Now, I honestly dont know anyone who goes to events or out on the streets doing it anymore. It is a fad, and is on its way out, FAST, atleast around here.

[rwdawg2]

It started huge here and is still growing. I couldn't imagine it dieing here, at least not as quickly as it grew.

[S30TRBO]

IMHO drifting is a fad! It was the next big thing, it hit California hard then made its way east. Everyone rode the wave and cashed in big time. Just as the Import scene hit California in the late 90's although the ricer fad has died down...at least where I live...thank god.

[Evan Purple240zt]

Nopi dropped drifting which hurt the sport pretty badly.

 

Fad? I dunno about that, it will always have its loyal followers.

[johnc]

Its here to stay but the participation level is still in flux. Drifting has actually been around here in California for over 10 years but it was only in the last 5 years that the automotive press found out about it. A reverse example: Autocross is huge nationwide but you never see it on TV or in the press.

[dr_hunt]

Well, it's never been huge here, but now it's non-existent.

[JMortensen]

I don't know how people can afford it, Ive always wanted to try it but the cost of tires these days makes it wayyyyyy out of my reach.

That's always been the thing that confused me too. It seems to be mostly young kids who are into it, and how you can work a crap job at 18-20 and afford so many sets of 225/15/20 tires is beyond me.

A reverse example: Autocross is huge nationwide but you never see it on TV or in the press.

That's because watching autox is like watching paint dry.

 

At some point I think the drifters will realize, or maybe already have realized that they're burning up huge amounts of $$$ and that they'd be going a lot faster if they actually kept traction.

[capt_furious]

At some point I think the drifters will realize, or maybe already have realized that they're burning up huge amounts of $$$ and that they'd be going a lot faster if they actually kept traction.

 

That's part of what's always bugged me about it. It's the automotive equivalent of ice dancing. Sure, it takes tremendous skill and talent, but what for? Style points? Lots of smoke and noise and not much else.

 

It's a skill a good driver should be able to master...but it should be treated as a tool in the bag of tricks - something to use when you've buggered up a corner. There's more to driving than just being able to go sideways.

[dr_hunt]

IMO that is why there is dirt track racing.

[stony]

drifting has been around for a long time in japan and is still going strong. i first saw it on Okinawa back in the late 80s!!!!.

 

Drifting in japan seems to be one of the first steps for gear head car guys to take. is it a fad??? it think it has been around long enough to not qualify as a fad anymore but will it stay. not sure current crowds at the events say it will stay for a little while at least.

[Ferrariferg]

Its still growing here. Nearly every week I see someone new that just got a 240sx or other car that they want to drift. When I went to Formula D this summer the seats were packed. Even after the rain started pouring very few people left. The ones that did were mostly guys that brought their girlfriends that couldn't care less about cars and nagged them until they left (Had a couple sitting next to me and the guy did NOT want to leave). And I think 50% of the people there got a tire. lol. I'm one of them. Completely bald toyo used and signed by Ken Gushi. I think to some its a fad. Others like myself and my friends are drifters for life. My dad is even getting into it. lol.

[kiwi303]

it's big here in NZ, has been for years, Mostly Skylines, Cefiros and Supras etc. theres a D! championships thats pretty hotly contested and gathers a noticable amount of sponsorship cash.

[capt_furious]

IMO that is why there is dirt track racing.

 

Indeed! It's how Mario Andretti started off, but he didn't stay there. He kept going, to Indy Car, F1, LeMans and other series, where driving skill keeping traction - not getting sideways - is key.

 

I think a lot of what we're seeing isn't so much automotive enthusiasts as it is auto culture enthusiasts...and there's a very blurred line between the two. Most of us start out culture enthusiasts and many cross over, but few go beyond to full-time racing and careers.

[(goldfish)]

All high end racing is expensive, how can anyone afford it!? Drifting or not, it all costs, and will stay around. Maybe just not in the spot light like it is now.

[nbesheer]

Well I don't know. I just spent three days at the Red Bull Drift Championship in long beach. it was my first time experiencing drift and I thought that it was pretty awesome. Now the coolest part is that I got to ride in one of the cars while it raced. but seeing the car up close was pretty cool. and from what i can tell there is not really any regulations other than the tires so it seems like you have nearly endless options. I don't know, to me (someone with no race experience) that seems pretty awesome.