I've been experimenting around with the five disciplines of motorsports: Track, AutoCross, RallyCross, Drag and Drift. I've done Track, Autocross and RallyCross, and given the utter lack of torque that the RX-8 has, making it rather pointless in a drag race, I think it's time for me to give drifting a shot (that and the campus car club hates drifting with a passion for some odd reason).

I have a set of Hankook Ventus-RS2s that are just about bald, and I thought what better way to end their misery?

Anyway, I am curious about the potential damages to my car. I have heard a million and one things can go wrong with my car during drifting, and it's hard on parts (then again, what form of motorsports isn't hard on parts?).

I am also in Indiana, which, to my awareness, has very few drift events. I guess the "scene" just hasn't made it here yet. If anyone has any idea where I can find drift events closeby (I'm willing to travel), it'd be awesome.

 

Go to your local Wal-Mart at 3 a.m. I know there are still cars there, but not AS many. Har Har

 

Learn how to do controlled circles around an object.

Damages are part of the game, it may happen, when your going sideways the chances increases.

If you do decided to drift on public roads, make sure the area is abandoned as in no cars in the area. Don't put others in danger. Even an experienced drifter can hit "black ice" and hit a fellow car in another lane.

Have fun, and safe motoring.

 

I won't ever do it on public roads. If I **** up, someone's gonna get hit, or my car's just gonna wrap itself around a tree.

No thanks.

 

don't do it.safe the mess up to only urself on the track. where its only ur car and no-one else.

i must say that the art of drifting is controlled loss of traction. and anyone beginning will not always be in control, at least not totally.

drifting is not that bad, but we don't need the abuse on our cars if its not for that sort of competition. it can be useful if any case if u were to ever face a situation were spin-out may occur...like driving in the rain. but why not just practice controlling ur car in a wet track?

 

not to mention the need to fit ur car with drift competition gear...i.e., stronger rear diff., stronger/shorter rear final gear( to lay down the power more easier), and beefed up axles and anything concerning the drivetrain...

 

^I just wanna learn to drift, not necessarily be competitive in it. All those mods will come if and when I decide that drifting is a focus I wish to have.

 

You learn how to drift after doing alot of this:

 

Agreed...but most of all make sure you can buy new tires...Still...do the Wal-Mart parking lot thing

 

after a light rain go to like an expo center or something

 

ditto. after rainy days is best and less costly on tyres

i've done it a couple times in an empty parking lot after it rained. works great, 'lotta fun!

 

^
Just don't get caught.

 

most the time you can bs your way out of it...

just tell 'em you were trying to learn how to control your car when it is when outside and its safer to learn here than when it happens and you don't know how to control it...

they will probably just to tell you to go hoem

 

i got busted on a main highway believe me they will not let you b.s. your way out of that one...thats a wreckless driving charge oh well though you play you pay

 

A main hw is a little different than a parking lot tho...

Even better look for an abandoned parking lot.

 

How the hell do you drift on a highway??

 

^ I took him to mean the on ramp??? But you do bring up a good point

 

Practicing on the streets has too many downsides: Ticket, jail, curb your car, hit another car, hit a person, etc...

Try to learn in a controlled environment - at a track, drift day, abandoned street/parking lot, etc...

You shouldn't be initiating your drifts with e-brake or clutch kicking, so if you're not being too abusive on your car, the only wear items should be your tires and your weak LSD...

They are really fun cars to drift with a very neutral turn-in. As long as you dont have 275's on the back of your stock RX8, you'll be fine...

 

Drift...Poor tires.

 

I've never had interest in drifting. I love REAL racing

 

It's not worth it IMO. Unless you've got a **** ton of money to replace parts/tires, and if you're in college that's probably not the case.

 

Oh I am in college, the car payments are enough for me right now.

 

if you can find a place that looks like this video- i think this is the sweetest drift you could probably accomplish in my opinion... ive seen a lot of twin drift and comp. drift stuff but i like this solo run just because of the layout...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GthuhQUEevo

 

Nah, I much rather see cars on a road course battling for 1st position