http://speedtv.com/articles/au...8812/

Scott, who knows this isn't the end of the world...but still...

 

*buying canned food for the impending holy war*

def not the end of the world. SCCA's gotta do what it's gotta do.

 

as I pointed out in the other thread...

they are among us already

 

"Drifting is the most exciting new sport to hit North America in the past decade "

 

I can hear it now already.....
"as a result of Drift Competitions, demand for body panels for 240sx's and rx-7's has increased tenfold!"

and of course....
"the teenager that died last night appeared to be involved in an illegal Drift event on the streets of downtown ________ and chaarges are pending against the other caught."


dang, Drifting on T.V., cant wait to see how teenagers take this to the streets intheir old cars.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by owen_the_soyboy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">dang, Drifting on T.V., cant wait to see how teenagers take this to the streets intheir old cars.</TD></TR></TABLE>

How is this different than any kind of racing on TV? Everyone is in love with Speed Touring, but I'm assuming that it would be a bad thing if kids watched that and re-enacted it in on public streets...

 

I don't think I really mind. I've never been into drifting, and I probably never will, but what's wrong with SCCA sanctioning the next "grassroots" sport? After all, they're going to be using our tracks more and more in the future, might as well avoid any conflict between sanctioning bodies.

 

I wonder if they will allow turbo RWD Swedish cars to participate.

 

I think it's cool. Ask yourself what the motoring establishment in the US thought about those bad seeds that wanted to race their MGs around in a New York field, back in the late 1940s...

Kirk (who hopes he never gets old enough to forget what it was like to be young)

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">What's the opposite of "Blort"?.... </TD></TR></TABLE>

Dunno! Maybe I could tell you, if I only knew what "Blort" meant.
Or even Bueller! hehe

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Knestis &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I think it's cool. Ask yourself what the motoring establishment in the US thought about those bad seeds that wanted to race their MGs around in a New York field, back in the late 1940s...

Kirk (who hopes he never gets old enough to forget what it was like to be young)</TD></TR></TABLE>

Well, Hell Kirk - just go get some dope, smoke it till you're really fuggin stoned, then go get in your car and start "racing" around the streets.

Scott, who forgot to mention the "benefits" of impressing your equally idiotic friends...&lt;I know that sounds harsh, but that's how I remember it&gt;...

 

I just don't think organized drifting is a bad thing. At the very least it will get a bunch of dangerous yahoos off the street. At best it will be an intro to the uninitiated to the world of organized motorsports.

I am surprised at the amount of negative attitude that racers have expressed to this motorsport. Drifting takes car control skill. I respect that in the same way that I respect good drag racers; not my cup of tea but nothing to put participants down about either.

Regards,
Alan

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 00R101 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">At the very least it will get a bunch of dangerous yahoos off the street.</TD></TR></TABLE>
...for a couple of hours.

Then they'll try out the new **** they saw at the show on the street on the way home.

Like the n0obs at an Autocross. It happens every event.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 00R101 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I just don't think organized drifting is a bad thing. At the very least it will get a bunch of dangerous yahoos off the street. At best it will be an intro to the uninitiated to the world of organized motorsports.

I am surprised at the amount of negative attitude that racers have expressed to this motorsport. Drifting takes car control skill. I respect that in the same way that I respect good drag racers; not my cup of tea but nothing to put participants down about either.

Regards,
Alan
</TD></TR></TABLE>

You're being extremely tolerant and politically correct. Which isn't entirely bad.

So do you respect the doods in Monster Trucks equally?

Scott, who just can't help it...so much of this stuff looks like jackassery to me...I know, there's really nothing to distinguish my drives from their drives, and I can live and let live. I just don't want that stuff infecting my stuff. I joined the SCCA that I joined. I want it to stay the way it was when it attracted me. I'm sure I'm not alone in that. Why do organizations (most notably including 20th Century Totalitarian society's) always want to replace their membership? How can the leadership of a membership organization work to replace it's membership with a new and different membership? I just don't get it. And don't give me that "grow or die ****".

 

I better get my 240SX before the Drifting events launch the popularity of 240SX's and AE86's and drive up the prices... I remember the prices of used DMC Delorian both before and after "Back to the Future" - instant $5,000 price jump at a minimum... After reading the newest GRM issue, I actually think the D1 events are cool and a good outlet for those interested in drifting. I myself wouldn't be drifting a "silvia" - mainly because of the cost of tires and I like precision turning (autocross/Track days) not precise tire burning cornerning.

Vracer111, soon to be looking for a '91-'93S13 240SX coupe... once he sells off his Integra.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RR98ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
...just go get some dope, smoke it till you're really fuggin stoned, then go get in your car and start "racing" around the streets. ...Scott, who forgot to mention the "benefits" of impressing your equally idiotic friends...</TD></TR></TABLE>

With all possible respect, Scott - you remember your version of the past. I remember being a non-drinking, non-dope-smoking, reasonably risk-avoiding car kid who would have loved to have a way to play without being a fuggin' idiot.

The kind of thinking that says giving young people a venue to pursue their car fun will lead to death and dismemberment on the highways is pretty close to the logic that says if we don't teach kids about condoms, they won't have sex.

You don't have to like what they are doing but disingenuous arguments to rationalize personal tastes in motorsports seem pretty lame.

Kirk (who seems to have forgotten to smoke dope)

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Knestis &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

With all possible respect, Scott - you remember your version of the past. I remember being a non-drinking, non-dope-smoking, reasonably risk-avoiding car kid who would have loved to have a way to play without being a fuggin' idiot.

The kind of thinking that says giving young people a venue to pursue their car fun will lead to death and dismemberment on the highways is pretty close to the logic that says if we don't teach kids about condoms, they won't have sex.

You don't have to like what they are doing but disingenuous arguments to rationalize personal tastes in motorsports seem pretty lame.

Kirk (who seems to have forgotten to smoke dope)</TD></TR></TABLE>


Kirk,

I WAS NOT disengenuous. I freely admit that my membership in SCCA is a matter of personal taste.

My rememberence is of course mine. Offered in part to be outrageous. Offered in part to remind the reader of what alot of this new blood will be carrying. I remember non-drinking non-dope smoking risk-avoiding non-fugging-idiot guys like you. Most of you weren't interested in being an *** clown on the street. More of us were. We'd be the ones hyped out on Drifting now.

And let's not forget: You can teach kids about condoms, or you can not teach kids about condoms. Either way most of them are going to have sex without condoms.

All the time I was an assclown (and I burned a tank of gas damn near every night of the week in the hills), I was racing motorcycles two times per week. I was a motorsports speed junkie - nothing less. An idiot as I look back on myself now.

Here, see if this passes your Disengenuous meter:

If the chess club, in an effort to gain membership, changes the game to checkers, is it still a chess club?

Now I know that the SCCA isn't changing the game. They're just adding something new. A new division. But to me it's a little different than making Spec Miata the next new national class.

Scott, who thinks that alot of crashing increases spectator interest which promotes growth too, maybe we should all drive rougher? See, I'm open to new ideas.

 

Wow. Never realized how closed minded some of you are. Drifting may take off may not...some of us may like it others may disagree, and thats great.

However eluding that drifting mixed with Monster trucks and dope smoking seem a little off the wall...paranoid?

I always get confused (thats an understatment) when I chat with Drag racers or autocrossers or the few track guys I know. There seems to be a rather large majority of folks involved in Motorsports that cant see why someone would do any other type of Motorsport than what they're into.

Some years ago I was in that category...more Drag race or Motorcross oriented. Then I was introduced to autox and I began to look at other forms of racing in a different light.

Its agonizing sometimes talking with folks that think Hondas suck or Ford sucks and so on. Its pretty much all relative in my book. Im just waiting for someone to say blue cars suck and white cars kick-a**...

To the point of kids are gonna be bashing their cars up after watching such an event is no different then its ever been. Im not a young pup thats for sure...I remember watching the first Smokey and the Bandit getting in my car and leaving a couple hundred feet of rubber on the mall parking lot. Kids will always be kids lets just hope they were taught limitations.

I really dont mean to yank on anyones chain and its around 5 in the morning and Ive felt like crap all day...

Dan who lost his train of thought in the first sentence...oh wait I know. Take off the blinders so you can see whats going on around you.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RangerDan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Wow. Never realized how closed minded some of you are. Drifting may take off may not...some of us may like it others may disagree, and thats great....</TD></TR></TABLE>

Dan,

Yep, I'm pretty closed minded on some things.

I've lived long enough to see many things distorted or even destroyed by "the next big thing".

Tony Bennett never switched to Rock & Roll in Spandex and Long Hair. That's why he's still Tony Bennett.

And don't get me wrong - I said Live and Let Live.

Why don't YOU tell ME why latching onto Drifting by the SCCA is a good thing? And explain in detail how it benefits the existing membership.

Scott, who may change his mind someday....when the BRDC inducts it's first Drifter...

 

Its all fun and games until the white AE86 with "Fujiwara Tofu shop" on the side mops the house

Anyhow, im glad to see changes like this take place, its an additional color to the spectrum of racing. I find it rather enjoyable to watch.

 

I think Its great for spectators, and Im sure it'll give the SCCA more money to toss around. I know alot of you wont like it, but you dint have to. With the bringing of speed freakz(or whatever they changed it to now) the SCCA is trying to attract a younger crowd, and I think that this might do the trick. I would find an event like this nice to watch at something like the 12 hours of Sebring, traveling around the country with Speed T/GT.

Tim, who think this might add more spice to motor-sports in the US of A.

 

I don't think drifting is a bad thing. I'm 19 and smart enough to figure out not to do it on the street. The way I look at it, it's no different than like motocross freestyle competitions. To be good at drifting you first have to master car control and driving your car at the limit.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RR98ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Dan,

Yep, I'm pretty closed minded on some things.

I've lived long enough to see many things distorted or even destroyed by "the next big thing".

Tony Bennett never switched to Rock & Roll in Spandex and Long Hair. That's why he's still Tony Bennett.

And don't get me wrong - I said Live and Let Live.

Why don't YOU tell ME why latching onto Drifting by the SCCA is a good thing? And explain in detail how it benefits the existing membership.

Scott, who may change his mind someday....when the BRDC inducts it's first Drifter...

</TD></TR></TABLE>

Hey theres the Scott Im used to.

Actually I dont think I said it was a good thing.

Seems to me that alot of sports are "evolving" into some kind of extreme sport. While some have flourished and others haven't I personally ( I feel like an old fart saying this) dont think drifting is here to stay.

It is fun to watch, funner than watching some guy jump a jalopy through the flaming circle of Death. But overall the cars have slower lap times and really who wants to go slower?!?

Even if a bunch of yahoos latched on to this and it does do well perhaps the tracks could make some more cash and put some of that money back into the the tracks.

And if it actually is going to be a big thing isn't it good that the scca got into it on the ground floor? Basically if theres money to be made in this the scca is setting up for that.

I personally wont be affected by it as I dont live close to a track so for me its just peeking over the fence and making an opinion. But when the scca picked up drifting early on it was a smart move I think. A.) It could bring in more money. B.) If they dont pick it up they could lose money.

Dan who is grumpy when tired and shouldn't be posting at 5 in the morning. Still in a Haze.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RangerDan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
And if it actually is going to be a big thing isn't it good that the scca got into it on the ground floor? Basically if theres money to be made in this the scca is setting up for that.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Money... yep, that prettymuch sums it up.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RangerDan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Even if a bunch of yahoos latched on to this and it does do well perhaps the tracks could make some more cash and put some of that money back into the the tracks.</TD></TR></TABLE>

More events would mean more business for the tracks, but from a purely selfish standpoint, I'm not glad to see it. The tracks are booked as it is. More business only means fewer events that I can participate in, and higher rates when they do happen. It could, however, lead to new tracks being built which would be a positive thing.

I am interested to see how this plays out. I do think it's a fad, but one that's just getting started and likely has years of growth before interest wanes. The import industry will be positioned squarely behind the movement. Again, it's all about the money. Taking a look at the current drift cars in Japan, they're not the bone-stock AE86's and 240's that you see kids playing with on the street here. They're highly modified, primarily high horsepower, purpose-built cars. Sponsorship/Advertising opportunities are limitless.

If I had the money to build yet another purpose-built car, I would be first in line to go "play".

 

Drifting is to Racing as Figure Skating is to Speed Skating.

I have nothing against Drifting (or Figure Skating). Both take skill. But, I still prefer to watch the "real" sport, where the winner is the guy/gal who finishes first.