whats wrong with drifting?

[Keeper of The Kitten]

It's a loaded question!

If I was asked "Is drifting a sport?" I would have to say yes, it is.

Equally, I can't say that it is something requiring no skill or that everyone pursuing it is a nob head.

However from an engineering viewpoint I return to my original point, that a drifting car is set up against all motorsport principles - deliberately making a car that handles worse than it should. To the people who think the drags are pointless, at least those cars are set up to derive the maximum possible traction for the fastest possible acceleration - something I can relate to, just as much as I can relate to making a car go round corners very quickly. Nothing about a drifting car follows those engineering principles. A car set up for drifting wouldn't make a great road car to drive on the limit, never mind a race car for driving on the limit!

Yes, drifting is a sport. No, it's not all a bunch of nobs. But it isn't related to anything or anyone seeking higher performance from a machine.

__MDC__

[Rusty]

Surely the cars are set up to be as controllable as possible beyond the limit. This takes as much skill and balls as any other form of motorsport and the drivers make large numbers of mistakes trying to understand the limits of their car on a specific track under the conditions thrust upon them. Pulling the handbrake on a 100mph and enterring a corner on full throttle at 45-50deg to the straight ahead is an awe inspiring sight no matter what car, Jap or otherwise. It's made even more superb when the head to head races are held. The drivers are fighting for position, completely sideways, far beyond the remit of any ordinary laws of racing, attempting to hold their line for the required points, defend their position and prevent their oponent from gaining advantage for future corners. The Japanese guy are at the pinacle of their sport and deserve every bit as much respect as all other top racing drivers.

[Billman]

I dont like this poll! I like drift but not as it will be performed by overpowered RWD cars but from mid powered RWD or from High-Low powered 4WD cars from really skillful drivers!

[Keeper of The Kitten]

@ Andy - suggest asking any race car driver or engineer what they would think about controlling excessive oversteer through Church corner at Thruxton!

Oversteer is slow, simple fact. A car set up to oversteer will be slow. Racing drivers who catch a car that snaps to oversteer have definitely got considerably more skill than a driver who is controlling a deliberately contrived slow slide. There is a world of difference between drifting and a racing car in a drift (including the 50s single seaters, the drivers of which were using their best skills to hold in the fastest possible fashion given the limited technology of the time - eg narrower tyres and less mechanical and aero grip).

I'm not knocking drifting, but it is something of an insult to the best race car drivers to suggest they cannot control a slide - the ability to do that at a car's genuine limit is rather more skillful, I would suggest.

__MDC__

[Ski]

Oversteer is slow, simple fact. A car set up to oversteer will be slow.

__MDC__

Yeah were not saying over steer slide doing 100mpg around the corner is the fastest way to get around that corner (on tarmac), but were saying its not as stupid sport as you lot make it out.

Those who oppose it say that pple who drift are 17 yr olds in baseball caps trying to be the bandit they saw on tv.

Those who are defending are saying its not as bad. Were not saying drifters are the best and the rest are muppets, were just saying its not as bad as u lot make it out.

[Ski]

P.S. im loving the vote result

[WabTheKing]

you get wannabes with every sport, DEAL WITH IT!

cheers for the poll greg

@ski :mischeif:

[BRY]

This post is a scam to sell an RX7 that WAB has in his big shed!

[WabTheKing]

nah ahh just bought another to keep it company :mischeif:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...tem=4586254286

[~Delta]

Loving the poll results too! Result!

[BRY]

nah ahh just bought another to keep it company :mischeif:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...tem=4586254286

You drifting chav scum

[Rusty]

I'm not knocking drifting, but it is something of an insult to the best race car drivers to suggest they cannot control a slide - the ability to do that at a car's genuine limit is rather more skillful, I would suggest.

__MDC__

Not knocking other racing drivers. Not sure where you got that from?

[Keeper of The Kitten]

This takes as much skill and balls as any other form of motorsport

That was where I got the idea from, but I may have misunderstood your implication. I would tend to disagree with the above inference.

I have already said that I don't have a problem with drifting the original thread asked what is wrong with it, I have tried to illustrate where I think it falls down. Just an opinion!

__MDC__

[Rusty]

Nay problems! I love a good discussion!

[OOOO]

Those who oppose it say that pple who drift are 17 yr olds in baseball caps trying to be the bandit they saw on tv.

Those who are defending are saying its not as bad. Were not saying drifters are the best and the rest are muppets, were just saying its not as bad as u lot make it out.

Whos saying its bad?
Just not hot on it.

Drifting takes skill. Its very skillfull...
so sorry can't vote on that Sad poll!

Skate boarding is very skillful too. Couldnt even attempt most of the crazy moves, but dont dislike it or like it. I just dont rate it that much.

The real race reigns supreme.
Why miss the clear point: Drifting aint bad, but dont compare it to performance racing.

I dont dislike drifting... And it obviously means a lot you, but why do you keep going on and on...
... and on... and on...
and on... and on ... and on...
and on ... and on about it?

You love it, and some just dont dig it
Whats the issue?
Take a chill pill

ps @ Ski thanks for loading my wheels from Tims and bringing them back to Ammers that day