What is your "opinion" of this?
- Thread starter milefile
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it shows the knowledge of a person to know about the car and what needs to be done in order for it to handle to their likeing, it also proves skill and control.
but then again is not that the same for almost any form of racing, though it not every form does the driver know what to do to the car. In some cases a 'race car driver' can not even keep control of a car when it slides out.
but then again is not that the same for almost any form of racing, though it not every form does the driver know what to do to the car. In some cases a 'race car driver' can not even keep control of a car when it slides out.
- 24,344
- Midlantic Area
- GTP_Duke
Touge drifting does indeed require quick reactions and excellent car control. Calling it an art form is a stretch, but I'll leave that aside.
What I dislike about "drift culture" is this: like many things Japanese, they have taken a by-product or side effect (good car control) and transformed it into an end in itself, developed to an absurdly high degree. One thing they have developed into an "art form" is: missing the point.
Excellent car control and lightning reactions are nothing but two tools required in the service of driving as quickly as possible. To deliberately set the car up in certain ways and throw it into situations that require this degree of control, but divorced from the goal of going fast, is at best pointless and at worst (when practiced like street racing on public roads) dangerous and stupid.
What I dislike about "drift culture" is this: like many things Japanese, they have taken a by-product or side effect (good car control) and transformed it into an end in itself, developed to an absurdly high degree. One thing they have developed into an "art form" is: missing the point.
Excellent car control and lightning reactions are nothing but two tools required in the service of driving as quickly as possible. To deliberately set the car up in certain ways and throw it into situations that require this degree of control, but divorced from the goal of going fast, is at best pointless and at worst (when practiced like street racing on public roads) dangerous and stupid.
Ain't that the truth Alex.
Took out the IS 3 many a time to go drifting in the snow. I do have to admit that there is certainly some skill involved with being able to do it well. It wasn't easy to master. But I got the hang of it rather quickly. On snow that is.
I think that the major draw for drifters is the excitement of having your vehicle so close to the edge and getting a vehicle to do things that it wasn't really intended for. I know that it was for me. Absolutely intense. Literally, I would be driving not by looking out the windshiled, but out driver or passenger side windows. A very unique feeling to say the least.
As far as the whole "Drifting" crowd is concerned it's just a phase that all new sorts of "sports?" go through. Everyone is trying to justify it or put it down.
I know this lesson well as I went through the same thing when snowboarding was making a run on the scene. Skiers didn't take to kindly to it and snowboarders were trying to prove that it was a worthy sport. Which it is now.
It will just take some time for drifting to become a bit more accepted.
I don't mind it one bit, it's just another aspect of what has gathered us all here in the first place. The love for the automobile.
GilesGuthrie
Staff Emeritus
- 11,038
- Edinburgh, UK
- CMDRTheDarkLord
Drifting is, when you're the person doing it, pretty cool.
However, as milefile almost says, drifting for drifting's sake is akin to wanking: fair enough in theory, but doesn't really get the job done.
I wonder how many of the regular contributors to the "Drifting" forum have ever driven a high-powered RWD car in anger. The simple fact is that getting a real car sideways in the real world is quite scary, and only after you gather it all up and continue on your merry way should you congratulate yourself on your genius and not throwing is at the nearest hedge/wall/ditch/oncoming vehicle.
Controlling oversteer is a great skill, drifting is for wankers.
Just my opinion, of course!
However, as milefile almost says, drifting for drifting's sake is akin to wanking: fair enough in theory, but doesn't really get the job done.
I wonder how many of the regular contributors to the "Drifting" forum have ever driven a high-powered RWD car in anger. The simple fact is that getting a real car sideways in the real world is quite scary, and only after you gather it all up and continue on your merry way should you congratulate yourself on your genius and not throwing is at the nearest hedge/wall/ditch/oncoming vehicle.
Controlling oversteer is a great skill, drifting is for wankers.
Just my opinion, of course!
GilesGuthrie
Staff Emeritus
- 11,038
- Edinburgh, UK
- CMDRTheDarkLord
Originally posted by Cobraboy
Whoa!,I'd never expect you Giles to be using those terms.
Sorry. I mean it in the self-pleasuring (i.e semi-medical) sense.
- 6,977
- old-guy64
"Drifting" may be a Japanese art form. But I recall the "Dukes of Hazzard" keeping the "General Lee" sideways on opposite lock an awful lot.
I guess that the whole "drifting" thing doesn't strike me as a new thing. People have been driving cars sideways, since they were invented.
I recall a story in a Corvette book, that tells about the author of the particular anecdote test driving a used '53 Vette in about 1955 or '56 that was for sale on a dirt road to exagerrate any tendency to over or understeer.
He related "spinning loop de loops, and drifting thru corners and in general cutting up in the car for quite a while and enjoying its handling, even with the lack of power."
I guess that the whole "drifting" thing doesn't strike me as a new thing. People have been driving cars sideways, since they were invented.
I recall a story in a Corvette book, that tells about the author of the particular anecdote test driving a used '53 Vette in about 1955 or '56 that was for sale on a dirt road to exagerrate any tendency to over or understeer.
He related "spinning loop de loops, and drifting thru corners and in general cutting up in the car for quite a while and enjoying its handling, even with the lack of power."
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