Where is the car scene headed

[BOOSTMEISTER]

Here is the question ….. Where is the Australian Car Scene Headed?

A short while ago the first ever D1 Drift event to be held in America was staged and was a huge success. While this wasn’t an official race for points in the Japanese D1 calendar some 16 drivers AND THEIR CARS flew to the states to do an “Exhibition” race at Irwindale speedway in California for an estimated 10 000 crazy Americans, who apparently have a thing for drift ??? but don’t we also have a thing for drift ???

So why is this craze taking off in the USA faster than here? A fair bit of the reason would have to be that Signal have been racing R33 and Civic Drag cars in the states for some time and have developed a good relationship with the automotive public, they have also been developing the scene in Hawaii for a while now as well both in drift and drag, so why not in Australia?

For me, I think that one of the reasons is that while the Japanese easily lead the world in awesome cars they feel they have to follow trends in the States, this is obvious by looking at photo’s from recent events in Japan and seeing all the F&F look-a-like cars getting around, they think that the USA trends are the way to go and as such tend to leave us out down here.

Please don’t forget the truly magical moment when the HKS R33 came to Australia, it was awesome to think that it was here and was going to race, while some saw the chance to criticise the workmanship and quality of the car I couldn’t care less … The HKS Drag R33 is in AUSTRALIA, just think, now in OPTION magazine there will be photo’s from an Australian event, how cool.

Anyway, back to the question ….. Where is the Australian Car Scene Headed?

First we have to look at the options open to the new enthusiast, for this exercise we will ignore anything that isn’t an import of sorts. The options are as follows.

1. Modified – Drag

2. Modified – Drift

3. Modified – Circuit

4. Modified – Cruise Hardcore

5. Modified – Cruise “Rice”

DRAG

Of all the motor sport based options this is by far the easiest to get into. For most of us this will only be a social type of event as there really isn’t a structured division for import cars. This is quite a shame as there are lots of quick cars in Australia and with the right backing and publicity I think it would do well. They have been running import drags in the States for many years and no doubt lead the world in FWD drag.

DRIFT

Of the motor sport based options this is the hardest to get into. Its not that it takes great skill, a correctly set up car and a cheap tyre shop but the fact that there is no where to participate in drift. At this stage our options are, illegal street drift which is um well … illegal. Track hire where the owner thinks you are there for circuit work, most track still don’t allow drift days cause they don’t understand it and think their insurance will not cover it … which it may not. Finally if you are lucky enough, a track day where it is all ok. Even if you find a track that will allow drift, the chance is that it will probably be the wrong design to learn on.

CIRCUIT

Unfortunately for those wanting to get on the track for laps, you soon find it takes a fair toll on your car and using your daily driver becomes a big gamble. If you have the opportunity to run a dedicated car then it is loads of fun. Some of the Queensland guys have been running out at Morgan Park near Warwick which is great.

CRUISE HARDCORE

I recon the biggest percentage of us fit in right here. We build a car that will be used primarily for driving around and hanging out in. The style is normally based on mods that “actually do something” rather than just look good. You normally spend a fair amount of time and cash on performance without going over-board and styling is simple.

CRUISE “RICE”

For those who follow the guys from the States and unfortunately now some people in Japan you build a car that no one likes …. Apart from other “Ricers” you spend loads of money on styling that looks bad, or worse, you don’t spend enough to have a good job done. Your performance mods are next to nothing and draw most of your extra HP/KW from the “Cool” graphics on the side of your car.

So now is your chance to answer the question where do you want the scene to head, do you love a diet of the short grained white food or do you want us to head for more exciting and adventurous realms. Just saying you want something will not help matters thou, do any of you have some concrete ideas on how to advance the scene, I would love to hear as would many on this forum.

Surely we don’t want the Americans having all the fun, until only very recently the drift scene in the USA was restricted to Naval bases where the Japanese influences were present, so how can they go so far in such a short time, from material I have read we cottoned on to the idea of drift well before them……Thanks for reading.

[sammus]

i want to see drift

i want to be cruise hardcore

[Elithrar]

I'd love to see a lean towards circuit racing; if it is made more accessible, then hopefully it will persuade people to use the track for high-speed corners, and not the road (ala Mines_Datsun).

[Rezz]

Top thread Cam...

The Japanese (in the Auto Industry anyway) have a deep seated idea that nothing they do is really *legit* until it takes off in the US. Inferiority complexes are still evident, but very well hidden... A good deal of ego-boosting is derived from Japanese culture making it's way into the US (which has it's own self-proclaimed "culture"), and so it's kind of like reverse satisfaction. The US stuck it to them in WWII, but the Japs now have the upper hand with the cars and all the aftermarket stuff that goes with it. So why not push that angle?

This is one reason why you get the Japanese literally just dropping everything to break into the US market, even though the support for such a thing is minimal.

Why don't they come to Australia with the D1? Because Australia is not as cool as the US on a world scale... period. Having said that, there are a few drifter guys in the UK who are thinking the same thing.

**This just in...

I just got off the phone to my firend Kazuya, and he seems to think that in the US, there are a whole bunch of guys who are interested in drift *who have money to make things happen*... whereas in Australia, you've basically got a bunch of young guys with no money who have big dreams of drift becoming a pro sport in Oz... Kazuyas been to Brisbane and Sydney a few times by the way!

[BOOSTMEISTER]

Good comments Rezz

[Lozza150]

There is also 155 Million American's. Great car marketing potential, which of course means more money.

makes cent's to me....

[Cecam]

correctly set up car and a cheap tyre shop but the fact that there is no where to participate in drift. At this stage our options are, illegal street drift which is um well … illegal. Track hire where the owner thinks you are there for circuit work, most track still don’t allow drift days

Doesn't Aussie have any legal drift tracks or clubs at all!?!?

Here in NZ theres Nizan (Drift and Drag club) which holds organised drift meets and theres also a D1NZ club which is purely for (legal) drifting which is quite popular also. Theres a few tracks too, one track ("U-Drive") reckons its had 400 street cars there last year, or they have 'buggies' (looks like offroaders with cage etc) so you try in one of their cars and not yours ($20 fee for 12 laps).

So I don't think its a lack of money, probably just need some enthusiastic people who can actually organise it, drift tracks are usually fairly short compared to a proper race one shouldn't cost *too* much I would think. Doesn't have to be privately funded either, you could try the local councils too, one SouthAuckland one built a small track/burnout pad called the valodrome to get racers off the streets.

[Rezz]

There is also 155 Million American's.

... in 1955...

[Lozza150]

Oh yeah.... thought the ol encyclopedia was a bit on the crusty side...

it's more like

268 mill or more no doubt

[Snowman]

I find this topic interesting also.

Ive really only recently got into the "scene" in a more involved way. My initial impressions where that things where highly centered around the DRAG scene - which to be honest came as a bit of suprise to me. It was a little while before the major reason I discovered this to be the case was ACCESSABILITY.

For me personally Im setting up and looking forwards to getting into Circuit racing. There are a lot of small sprint events that aren't overly taxing on your veichles and not expensive to get into. Ultimately events like the Dutton Rally which only require the L2S CAMS licence and for me will as much be about social fun than anything (and being allowed to drive fast) are highly appealing. But the biggest killer is the insurance problems.

Drift is something I think a LOT of people here are interested in. But again it comes down to accessability. Im sure many of us have even tried thinking of possible business oportunities in this area because we all know that if something decent was set up there'd be a lot of interest. From a few discussions I have had there has been talk from a few influential cash stocked people about getting some things set up but apparently there is plenty of red tape involved with CAMS and the public liability problems. The new motorsport agency (AASA) may be a shining light however and I think a good response to the drift event soon at Caulder Park may open some new avenues. One can only hope.

[franks]

i think turbo's are dead. the world struggle for a more healthier planet overrules. Japan is going NA performance.

you dont see many NA drift cars do you?

as such i think it will go circuit or pimp vip style.

i hope it goes circuit because there are too many try hard drifters (who think they drift but all they are doing is trail braking) in australia atleast.

[DaiOni]

I disagree, I think the japanese car scene and the way they perceive it is definitely legit in its own right - sure, there are US influences (nitrous, graphics and lighting are definitely following suit), but there are just as many euro influences as well (or pseudo-euro influences - I think the japanese definitely have their own take on what is 'euro'). The japanese have made an art out of remaining a tightly homogenous culture, yet picking and choosing what they like from the west.

As for us not being 'cool' - probably has much more to do with us not having the $$$. It makes sense for workshops to target the US market - as it's obviously huge, with the import scene growing exponentially over the last few years or so. The japanese market itself is ultra competitive, and over regulated, so the US market can only be seen as 'ripe' for the picking. The true multinationals - HKS, etc, have been doing it well for years now.

Boostmeister mentioned how cool it would be to see australia in option magazine. Unfortunately, over the last couple of years, in Option (and Opt. 2) magazine I've seen twice as much about NZ as I have Australia. It's a sad fact of life - we are small fry with few dollars to offer.

Getting back to the actual thread topic - "they took a great country and turned it into a police state" was a comment I heard on a recent trip back home - and it's hard to disagree. In which direction will the car scene go?? Well, if the current progression of enforcement, rightly or wrongly, is any indication... 'sleeper' mode might be the only viable option.

[Kinks]

I think the car scene, like everything in life, is heading down the toilet. But it SHOULD be heading in the direction of improved safety and improved fun - which means people get better training (eg the 3 stage mcgill course in events!), have enjoyable but safe cruises on the road and take it to the track for any and all forms of fanging - circuit drag and drift.

Sure, we didn't all buy high performance cars to accelerate gradually to the speed limit and take corners at a leisurely 50km/h but so long as excessive speed is avoided, dumb shit is avoided and people drive within the limits of their car and their ability then in my book it's all cool. Even soccer mums do 10km/h over the limit so I'm not going to lie through my teeth and say we should all be 100% legal - because there's a difference between following the rules, bending the rules, and being an outright ****wad

[Roy]

More circuit work, with venue promoters and the ARDC/CAMS helping out to make it more viable for the average punter. Eastern Creek in Sydney are starting to run their own days now just as Wakefield have been doing for years.

And circuit work is easier on a car then drift, as for drag racing, while its cool to get good times out of a car, i dont think Skylines are all that great for drag racing,

So hopefully plenty of daily drivers seeing plenty of use on public roads and circuits around the country.

[Villainous_J]

I'd like to see things go to circuit. I know there's a lot of cost involved, but I do hope to one day get a cams license and go in a few track events and maybe even a rally, like targa stuff. I'm sure I'm not the only one with these ambitions, and to see clubs and the culture in general support this, will go a long way to making these dreams reality

[Rezz]

I disagree

I thought you would...

[Rezz]

I disagree

My post above was a direct summary of what various Japanese friends have told me, so I don't know how you can "disagree" with anything I posted. Twas not my opinion. You're disagreeing with what Japanese people have said about their own car industry...

As for the "Australia isn't as cool as the US", that was a direct quote (although not "" quoted) from my man Kazuya himself. The context is: If D1 had it's overseas debut in Australia, not the US, of what benefit would that give the D1 organizers? Everyone outside Australia would be asking "Why didn't they organize a US event instead?" The US is a drawcard in Japan, Australia is but a curiosity for most. Having said that, from a business perspective, money is the driving force for Japanese expansion to the US, that obviously comes under the banner of "cool"...

[EVO83]

If the DOTARS have there way and if the POLICE have there way then there will be nothing. Drifting is fround on and wont change. Its big in Japan and Big in America but I dought it will be anywere in Australia. We all luv to drift and So what we need to do is MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN.

Its good to see that there are more and more track meets every year, But we need to get the words out more. I think we need to advertise it a hell of a lot better. There are heaps of ppl with imports but dont know were to go. I have alwayz loved the drift before I even got into Imports used to CRUIZ in the Gemmi. But didnt know how to get into anything.

Thats what we need to do if we want it to go anywere.

My opinion anywayz.

[JezR31]

how do you plan we advertise??

[EVO83]

put the word out to as many import yards and RAWS as possible. I work for a RAW so id be happy to advertise it. Make flyers put them in shops even the radio some times lets you advertise for free on lke B105 and crap stations like that. NEEDS to be on JJJ. (thats what i listen to). Umm things like that. Just get the word out any way you can.

Any ides plz PM me. I am going to get something going.