I don't get this drifting thing

Gary, drifting (as defined here) is absolutely NOT the fastest way around any hard-surface track. Drifting is an art form, not a speed contest.

Ferraris are rolling works of art... Ferraris are NOT the best drag racers... I don't own a Ferrari because its the fastest track car I could buy (its not)... I own a Ferrari because its the FUNNEST car... because of how it sounds, how it looks, and how it feels when I drive it.

Drifting is an art... its fun... it sounds good... to some even smells good... and it makes you feel good to do it right. So, what's the problem? Sounds like a sport right in line with me... having fun in automobiles!

If I ever get an empty track during the winter with some nearly toast tires, I may even give it a try in my Ferrari!

 

Brian, thanks for the insight, I must admit it looks like a huge amount of fun to do and to watch, although a good tire sponsership would be in order.
What is really neat is that all types of cars are participating. I guess I still have the question that while it is still a race to the finish line and the first to finish wins, how is this an art form? My original question was would a set up road racer be as fast as a drifter without the fire show?

 

People fear the unknown, if it's not in their comfort zone most dismiss it. I have no problem with drifting. When it began in Japan they were sliding their cars (and still do for the hardcore) next to concrete barriers just inches away in parking structures. My childhood buddy lives in the Lake Tahoe area. We used to drift our cars on the fire roads near his home, full smokey slides, on a road barely a lane and a half wide. You had the side of the mountain the road and a cliff in some corners with a drop of over a 1000 feet. How we didn't kill ourselves is beyond me.

How come nobody is troubled by Ferraris (or any kind of sportscar)that when you look at their tires look as though they have never turned a wheel in anger. I try to be somewhat open minded but that always bothers me. Taking my son to day camp this morning we were about to hit my favorite on-ramp, I flicked the steering wheel left quickly to set up the slide then quickly right and started to smoke some tires (mind you I'm a old fart husband and dad).
My little boy just busts up laughing in these corners. We caught a guy in a 355 (top down, hair slicked back, stupid bluetooth earring,oversized sunglasses), he was putzing around the corner. But as he went straight picked up the pace until the last corner on the clover leaf. Then grandma style in the corner, at that point I had enough and passed him on the outside in a full on smokey drift(my son and I were in the 997). We ended up both getting off the freeway he looked over, and gave me the stink eye. Wife is trying to keep me from fighting in front of my little boys so I looked back and told him that was pretty sad on his part. Why buy a sportscar and corner like that?

But to each their own some may not understand the drifters yet like I said I don't understand sportscar owners of any marque who drive like that. At least those kids are out pushing their cars to their own personal limits, I salute them.

 

In drifting contests, the first to finish does NOT necessarily win.

A good road racer in a street car could easily finish first against a bunch of drifters drifting their way around... but he would lose the drifting contest, no matter how far ahead he finished.

Or am I misunderstanding your question?

 

Nobody is bothered? Maybe they are just polite and don't say anything. Why do I say that? Because I often get comments on my tires... like just yesterday... "Do you track this car!?" "Yeah, why?" "You don't see tires like these on a street car! That's great." (pointing to my melted tires with a ring of chunks pulled from the rubber)

While I salute your "lighting them up" on any curvy on-ramp, I don't salute you putting other people at risk on the street. Passing someone on the street with tires lit up is unsafe and could scare the $#it out of them, leading to loss of car or life. Not cool. Either stick to empty roads or take it to a track where people are expecting to be passed by someone at the limits of adhesion. My 2 cents.

And, as for that Ferrari driver, how do you know his car was warmed up? I drive mine like a grandma too for the first 5-10 minutes... until all the parts are warm.

 

Brian, I think I am begining to understand that drifting in itself is a contest and a demonstration of extremes of control and lack of control or rather driving with skill on the very extreme edge of losing it, and this is what attracts some to it. It is after all just another form of motorsport pitting man and machine against another utilizing high skill in the process.

 

Awesome like to hear about other drivers with track or canyon cheese on their tires.

Big wide double lane on ramp with break down shoulders on both sides. No one was in danger. Plenty of room for both cars.

Because like I said "Mr.Driver" was hard on the gas going straight he would just putz around the corners. To me that's sad. He was passed by a car with a booster seat.