Space says this commercial used to run all the time in the D.C. area:
World Cup of Surfing, 11/25 - 12/7.
Looks like we just missed today's bracket.
North Shore, Oahu.
Hiking Pt. Reyes.
We spent about 6 hours hiking Pt. Reyes -- drove out to where the road ended and then hiked down to where freshwater meets salt (about 4 miles). Funny how good a Safeway sandwich tastes after that.
What I Learned About Drifting.
- Drifting is more about throttle control than steering.
- Drifters are dark -- not because they are tan, but because they are covered in grime.
- Driving requires wrap-around eyewear, to prevent that same "track tan" (asphalt dust and finely-ground rubber) from flying into your eyes.
- A regular car seat is murder on your body when you drift, especially if you're the passenger. The lateral motion and changes in direction will pinch your sides and arms.
- Wear a helmet. Your head will bounce around like a pinball.
Drift Day 24 was a blast. During normal driving, a car isn't supposed to go sideways, but that's pretty much the whole point of the sport. It's exhilarating to chuck a vehicle around like that, in controlled chaos. The minute the rear end kicks out, hell breaks loose a little bit, and suddenly there's a whole lot more to do with your hands and feet.
It takes a whole lot of work inside the cockpit to keep the car sliding smoothly around in a graceful arc. Lots of fiddling with the hands to countersteer against the front wheels' natural tendency, and lots of footwork to modulate the (generally) forward motion. For me, the trick was to keep the gas down to keep enough power going to keep the rear wheels sliding (if you let go, they catch and then you'll straighten out).
It was a little like snowboarding for me -- especially linking the turns (at least from where I sat, as a passenger. I never linked mine). You slide in one way, there's a tiny moment's floating transition, and then you're off in another turn.
The key thing is that track days like this are the only real way to get any practice -- it's just plain illegal to try this at home. That's why it's great that Drift Association is running these events.
The best and weirdest part, though, is driving home in the same car that you just threw around the track. Temptation isn't the word. It's more like... awareness.
Drift Day 24 - Random Cars.
It's great to see cars of all kinds at drifting events -- and unlike other "motorsports" events in this segment, all cars go on the track. Driving is mandatory at these events; very few people go there just to spectate, and if you don't drive your car at the event that day, you might as well leave it at home. (The purists even say something about driving your car to the event.)
I saw sponsored cars with trailered crews and tens of thousands of dollars of work, along with homegrown private cars driven and pitted by high school kids. I also saw older cars from the 70s and 80s, plus new and old domestics.
I should have taken more pictures.
