they are idols that have been there and done that.people cant be expected to be saints all there lives.speaking from personal experience.YES!!,though not in motorsport.
those who know about drifting and drift in general and those who respect the sport have often had a background in life that allows them to appreciate what they are good at and what it takes.and as such they promote that, in just doing what it is that they do.ie:they walk the walk and talk the talk.
it comes down to personality pretty much IMO.For example:you can go to an interveiw witth the best of intentions and have all of the credentials on paper to say that you are going to be good at the job.but when it comes down to it you cant beat people that have the experience in the industry.
im not saying that you cant have your cake and eat it.all i am saying is that in order to do the right thing by everybody you need to be selfless.somthing that unfortunatly not everyone has the time for and not every1 (ie:sponsors) are broad sighted enuf or have the money,to see or finance.thus wasted talent and just another dream gone.
aussie drifters do need more recognition though and the only way to be "recognised" i think anyway is,through hard work and perciverance.rome wasnt built in a day.hey hey hey!!!
back to the big names in aussie drifting.they are doing all they can at the moment in drift australia and it is evident in the ammount of big name sonsorship that they are bringing into drifting in australia.its pretty easy to say here you go heres our money and then all you get for it in return is recognition what the sponsors want is "SALES".if they dont have any then they sure as hell wont be sponsoring any drift events.
drift as a professional sport is and has been big and going on for quite a while now in japan,they have the appeall and the direction that allot of us envy for aust drifting.we cant copy japan because we arnt from japan.but we can be similar to them.
seriously though i wouldnt worry.you are a concerned person ammongst the many and you are in japan.
end rant.want more.