DRIFT Questions

[Roy]

Ive read all about it, but have never done it. So a few questions for those that may be able to answer.:confused:

Cost

What does it actually cost? How many tyres do you go through in the average day, i suppose i could run 16" rears which will cheapen the cost of rubber. What is entry typically worth?

Track Time

So on avergae does it work on a lap count, timed, how many laps; how long are the sessions and typically how many runs do you get?

Wear and Tear

Here is my big concern.... i imagine its akin to torture for the diff and clutch, not all that great for a gearbox or engine either. So just how hard is it on components, would you routinely drift your daily driver?

Also when a tyre lets go, i hate to think about the damage it does to guard/panels....and then of course there is the issue of tipping wheels onto the dirt and damaging rims returning to the black stuff. Less of a concern is hitting stuff, not that i can drive but i think im sensible enough not to get too carried away with the moment and push harder then my abilities.

I do the occasional track/circuit open day and really enjoy it, and i suspect once i get through the frustrating "i have no clue how to drift" stage i would enjoy it too.

However my car is my daily driver and as such i like to keep it in as good condition as possible and not be breaking things....and im not convinced by the whole Drift = Cheap motorsport (if its really even motorsport :headspin: )

[someonestolecc]

Roy, I haven't done drift days and never owned a drift car, but intend to as soon as the import approval gets here - but here is my answer

Can't help you about the cost - I play to be getting el cheapo tyres from the wreckers. Obviously it's not that good to get thin and cheapo tyres because you'll just spin everywhere but it has to be matched to your car/style/speed/power. When learning I aim to put the tune down and use cheap tyres.. thats just me though.

Don't know about track time - I don't believe it is timed however. I believe they said at driftnats that every friday night will be open at driftland OP for drifting.

Clutches I would assume would depends alot on driving style but I think it would be from bad to worse. ie. stress on your clutch but alot worse if you use clutching in your style.

Diff .. I would recommend you get a chunky diff so it's built to take the stress. I wouldn't like too many whole days with a stocker. In the 'drift bible' dvd from that drift guy says if you drift once a week have it rebuilt every month. Sounds like good advice if slightly expensive.

For the tyres letting go, just get cardboard and duck tape it under your guards before you go on the track.

My biggest personal fear is getting that inertia and not being able to tip it back and bending my suspension going up the gutter of the inside - that's just me though..

Hope to see ya out there soon!

Oh - also if you set up your car for drift then I don't think it'd be the best circuit car so you'll have to get your settings setup to change if you want to do both. (Things like pineapples set to anti-squat and your camber settings etc.)

[Roy]

Oh - also if you set up your car for drift then I don't think it'd be the best circuit car so you'll have to get your settings setup to change if you want to do both. (Things like pineapples set to anti-squat and your camber settings etc.)

LOL, no way im going to go backwards and start changing things so my car has less mechanical grip, why modify i car to have less grip then it comes from the factory.

With crappy 205s on the rear im sure a heavy foot and hillbillie steering inputs should get the thing moving around nicely. :headspin:

Another concern is with the load and rpm the engine sees, but with low speeds means i may have overheating probs as well as you dont get the airflow normally seen by such high rpm.

I need some convincing that this can be done in your daily driver :Bang:

[~Hypnotik~]

Diff .. I would recommend you get a chunky diff so it's built to take the stress. I wouldn't like too many whole days with a stocker. In the 'drift bible' dvd from that drift guy says if you drift once a week have it rebuilt every month. Sounds like good advice if slightly expensive.

I'm pretty sure on the Drift Bible he says replace the diff every month if drifting FIVE days a week, like he did when he first started.

[someonestolecc]

I stand corrected perhaps then. I don't remember much.

[Twincam16]

Buy a cheap R33 GTS,run 18" wheels up the front and 16" on the rear with a hard compound and the standard viscous diff should allow ya to drift for a while fairly cheaply

Its very easy to slide around and only really wears the tyres and drinks a lot of petrol

Have Fun

http://www.reallymeansounds.com/promopower...hampionship.wmv

http://www.reallymeansounds.com/promopower...1%20Trailer.wmv

Vids of my Skyline on that link

Sean

[zer0for0je]

you dont have to dive in head first man, take your car to a empty carpark on a wet day or to a gravel carpark, and just give it a fang, its easy and fun in these conditions.

you'd want to buy the drift bible ( DVD ), it'll help you learn alot of techniques, and good one to start with is just to come up to a corner, reef the wheel, rip the handbreak, let the handbreak down & counter steer, then power out... though, that was on gravel at about 40-50 k's, still its heaps fun.

good luck mate!

[fatz]

just bring you standard car to a drift practice day

if its on a skidpan you wont need any tires but if you go to a proper drift day at a track i usually go through about 7 sets of rear (used bob jane rubber is a winner!!)

does it thrash your car out.... yes

does it cost..... yes

a typical drift day you would get at least 2 hours non stop on the track

machanical damages is limited to your driving style

pete

come out to a fatz drift day and you will never look back

(next one is at the start of next year)

[CMS Drifter]

I enter drift meets every month here in WA.

It costs me about $25 each day. (because i am a member of the club)

On the average day I would go thru 4 tyres.

I use crappy s/hand 16s on my stock rims.

My car handles the day really well, regualar servicing and checks make a huge difference.

Total track time would be around 1hr. (thats actually drifting)

The track day here starts at 11 and would finish between 4 and 5 with as many runs as u can handle.

Coming off isnt too bad, as long as there is nothing to hit. I was unlucky enough to hit a small lump of dirt that destroyed my front bar. But thats drift for ya!

[MerlinTheHapyPig]

yeah, before you drift if you can be bothered, take off your front skirt/guard (might be better to leave it if you have a big front mount), and tape up your rear wheel guards. That protects your body kit/paintwork, and when you blow a tyre it won't cause too much damage.

Most people i know, weld/lock their diff, which makes drifting a lot easier, but reduces the cars road-drivability. I think it might also make the diff stronger.

You also want to look at suspension things. You really need a decent set of coilovers.

get some second hand stock rims to use and keep your normal set of rims to drive home on. Most people I know use the same car as their daily driver without any problems.

You'll probably go through 2 sets of rear tyres and a tank of petrol. Calder Park (in Victoria) charges $100 to drive on drift practice nights. And if you will stay on the track for the entire time (about 4-5 hours) minus time to do a wheel change, you just have to line up for a short amount of time between each lap (typically 0-5 minutes between each lap)

check out www.nissansilvia.com , they have a pretty big drift community.

[Ceffo]

yeah, before you drift if you can be bothered, take off your front skirt/guard (might be better to leave it if you have a big front mount), and tape up your rear wheel guards.  

Use cable ties to hold the Front skirt up .. If u hit something.. It just comes off and doesnt **** up the rest of your front bar. These can be used on road as well.

[MerlinTheHapyPig]

yeah,

hehe remember to pack lots of cable ties and duct tape! they're like the 2 most important things aside from a car and a death wish!!!

[Mase]

yeah,  

hehe  remember to pack lots of cable ties and duct tape!  they're like the 2 most important things aside from a car and a death wish!!!

yep!!!

The laurel's front bar is a easy/quick removal so that's what i'll be doing.

From when i took the onevia to one of the drift days we had here....

I had temp issues, which sorta really sucked,

cleaned up a set or 15" snow tyres

then drove home afterwards, but serviced the car a couple of days later.

[Lozzle]

CMS Drifter: where are u entering drift days every month in WA? I'd be interested to know... The only drift events I manage to get to are the Collie track days or the comps held there. Doesn't quite make it once a month, more like one time at Collie bi-monthly...

Anway like the others said, be prepped to damage your car if you're learning and going to go hard

Cost will include the track day entry and fuel etc and tyres - however I manage to source freebie 15s usually so that keeps $$ down. 16s, not so easy but look around and you'll find some cheap old rubber to score.

As for wear-and-tear, I run a 5puck h/d clutch and stock diff and I've been to several drift comps in collie and track days tehre for drift this year. Sure I may not go as hard as the guys, but even my learning this year thru to gettin better with each attempt I have destroyed any driveline components majorly... yet.

Take care of your car and it'll take care of you!

I hope I haven't just jinxed myself

[ex_zero]

been drifting for all of... 2 events, and i've gone through 2 sets of tyres already. Not going to add onto what's already been said, basically the bases have been covered. It's just a great sport to get into, to be able to control the car on the verge of spinning out. Just come prepared, mech. diff, coilovers, and LOTS of tyres, and you'll have fun. Power would be nice, but handbrake is a good tool to get sideways also.

[Lozzle]

2 sets? u need to go harder

-Lozzle

[ex_zero]

heh, wish I could, but not enough track days, need to have more track days to burn tyres!

[boostn32]

there r so many variables in drifting. cost cat be put on a single dollar, i can eat up 2 brand new tyres in a couple of runs, but i have 350rwhp+ it depends on the speed u drift at and the corners, a diff that locks is a must either a 1.5 way or a 2way, stiff suspension, braces every where, any way u can make the car stiff do it. its not all ways the best to use thecrapiest tyres u can get as u need front end grip as well as grip in the rear, (as long as u have the hp to spin them) its all about making the car that appears to be out of control, in control. the cooling systems take a pounding due to the high rpm and slow car speeds. oil coolers are a good idea to take the load off the cooling systems.

[Twincam16]

Well Roy

did ya finally start drifting ???

[spunkrat]

When I get my car fixed I plan on drifting it. Three major things I will be getting are fmic, big radiator, and oil cooler. As said, because of slow speeds and lack of frontal flow, the enigne gets hot quick, so I figured these are important assetts. I also plan on a forged rebuild in the near future, to help reliability issues...