Just finished watching the "Drift Bible" again, and I want to get started practicing some of the Kings techniques, but first I have a few questions for you experienced drivers. Before I get started, I want to try and quell the anger of the anti-street racing/ car abuse crowd, by saying that I am practicing this in a massive, abandoned parking lot behind my friends scrap-yard, and it is a totally safe environment for training your driving skills. Anyways, that aside, have any of you been successfull in doing full 180 degree turns using the handbrake? If so, how did the car manage its weight, was it easy to toss around? (Watching Tsuchiya fling the AE86 made the RX8 seem heavy). Finally, I currently have 19" Volk LE37t's on my car, and was wondering if you guys think that is a concern for drifting (E.g too short a sidewall) because I am kind of concerned about them bending. Please, give me any other tips you guys have before I embrace the world of drifting.
Thanks in Advance
-Alex

 

your rims should be fine...are they the forged one pieced wheels? dunno but they will be fine...as far as drifting goes, get ready to spend mucho dinero on tires...i suggest you practice with your stock tires other than your performance wheels. It'll be cheaper to replace those 18's than the 19's... Also keep in mind that drifitng is much harder than it looks...the corolla made everything look easy cause of its weight and not to mention tsuchiya's skills.. and most important of all BE SAFE!!!!!!!! P.S. ..you will get frustrated!..

 

a 180 in the rx-8 with the proper technique should be no problem. i have done it many times.

the rx-8 is a GREAT car for drifting although some people may argue its a bit new and expensive for a drift machine. i agree with them but i can't help it....drifting is really fun.

in a past issue of rev speed magazine from japan, *** (taniguchi nobuteru, hks d1 driver) did an anaylsis of which cars were good and which cars were not so good for drifitng in stock form. the rx-8 was one of the best overall.

a few more comments......watching tsuchiya drift or any other professional drifter for that matter is kind of a double edged sword. i say this because watching there technique will help alot but also they do it so smooth and effortlessly that it may look very easy to pick up. i can assure you that it is NOT the case and you will burn many years of tire life practicing. so go out there and have fun.

 

bassik277 - where is this awesome parkinglot and who do i have to sleep with to get in?

 

Your wheels will be fine. You've got the same ones I have and I've taken them out on a road course and they've been fine. The a$$ end will come out relitively easy (at least for me). I've done it several times. I second the idea of practicing on your stock tires. 19" rubber is expensive to replace.