Drift Question

[KTKai]

I am new to the scene of drifting and wanted to improve my newfound skill. Close to where I live there is a place called "El Mirage" it is a dry lake bed mainly used for Dirt biking, etc. I wanted to take my 240sx up there and experiment. Would that be a good idea? I know the basics of drifting but I want to expand on my knowledge. I was told though that little things can mess up a drift and cause bad things to happen such as rollovers and ....... In some areas there are small areas of brush and weeds, but in the middle it's pretty smooth. Not really any jumps or anything, those are mainly on the outskirts of the lake bed. Please give me possible a run down on what the pros and cons are and if there are any major dangers to consider (other than the danger in drifting itself). Thank you!

-KTKai

[chmercer]

no dont try to drift in a dirt hole

[kdashy]

Doesn't sound like a good idea, every crevice of you car will have dust in it, including your engine bay.

[ramblux]

If you try drifting at El Mirage you will get your ass kicked for messing up the dry lake beds for the land speed guys.

Why not www.driftbuffet.com, www.justdrift.com, or www.driftday.com?

[breakindrifts]

El Mirage is ok to mess around in, but you wont really learn to control the car unless you practice in an area with some obstacles. And it will get dirt all over the damn car.
The best way is to just go to one of the many track days we have in Cali. (www.justdrift.com)
Or if you have a secluded lot to set up cones in thats a nice environment to get the basics down.

[KTKai]

I don't know of anywhere near me where the cops won't question me! If you are aware of anywhere, let me know. I live close to Disneyland, so if you know some where, tell me! Thank you!

[McRussellPants]

You live in fucking california.


there is a track event once a week.


cut it out with this stupid "i want to donuts by myself" crap.

[KTKai]

Thanks so much but I would much rather know what I am doing before I fuck up my car. I would like to feel the control I have before running a track with other people. I have a crew I go out with but I am not quite up to par yet. I am still afraid I am going to flip or run into something. I have new feet, I can't run with out walking first and I can't walk without learning to crawl.

[94cc0rd]

thats what track days are for man...

i just spectated the drift buffet event at the NOS event center today and it was very nice with 2 track layouts and a skidpad...

if you want to learn car control and stuff, they say start on the skidpad and learn how to do donuts and keep ur car in control...

i think thats better than doing it on your own where you don't have experts and instructors there to tell you what your doing wrong...

and the chance of hitting a curb or something...

at track events, unless you go terribly off course, there really isn't much to hit besides cones..

[Wykydtron]

If you want to do something immediately, goto a local GoKart track and mash the throttle the entire time, don't brake, use weight transition and angle to slow you down. I got it down to the point where I could skim my hand across the oval track wall and pressure people in tight corners (usually they panic when they see my kart sliding at them sideways, and for some reason I never get flagged :rolleyes: Just don't make contact.


I know I know, Go Karting and a real car is a whole different world. Remember that under powered cars are safer to learn the limits with before you go nuts on the rebuild. A hachi or stock 240 would be a decent step up to learn how the physics of the car behaves (and you can contrast between karting and drifting, response, speed entry, initiation).

:cj: Now I've never actually tracked my car, but at least I've never put it into a pole or sunk it in a ditch. :spank: 2007 will be a new experience for me.

If your serious about learning the limits of your car, throw 50-150$ down to do an auto-x day. The drivers you meet in the pits are complete guru's and will recommend different techniques and strategy. Once you know the limit of your car you can push your traction from 95% to 105%, or maybe even more if they won't ban you for kicking it sideways. :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank:

Good luck!

[qwikspool]

You are just making your car dusty and dirty. ^^^^i vouch on that. spend that extra cash on track days. you will learn from experts & others out there and maybe make some new friends.

[Dousan_PG]

stop being a fucking pussy
there are tons of events here.
i know of 2 in january
no make that 3 iirc
1 of which is good for newbs
and you know the people who go are not only super cool but also they'l teach you everything you need to know
el mirage is fine and all
but you can get a ticket out there, and its not as great as you think.
u would learn some stuff but not nearly as much as you would at the track, dont waste your time.

your ideas of a track event are ridiculous
flip your car? hahahahahaha
this isnt d1
you will be going MAYBE top of 2nd gear?

[snatch13]

^^ listen to the man... you live in cali, you have events year round... don't be a pussy, go to events...

[CA18_S13]

Drift Day bottom line. Take a drive out to Irwindale Speedway when its open for a drift day or drift event for practice plus you go to Irwindale on driftbuffet you might meet some pros.

[HyperTek]

dont drift there.. the locals get pissed.. and if u do it.. might give drift a bad rep if other 240s show up just to do speed runs.

[joshuaput]

I live here in utah and there is no events at all. I wish we did. but not enough people drift here for an event. Most people that say they drift here cant. Just get used to driving your car. then once you know how your car handles/feels then try drifting. We just go to the mountains away from anybody and everybody. Find a nice big road that doesnt have traffic and mess around. dont think you are better then you are. cuz that will just make you crash. If your trying to drift to show off to people you will just probably crash. Drift for fun. Be smart about it. know your limit. and stay below your limit. that way you will not destroy your car. Thats how we do it here in utah. hope it helps. Good luck. thats all the insite I have for you.

[Brian]

As somebody who used to ride dirtbikes out there all the time, I'd say, don't.
It will just suck. Plain and simple.

The only cool car stuff there is when they run land speed stuff.

[KTKai]

You know just to comment back to all the males calling me a pussy, It is quite difficult to be a pussy when you have a pussy. I will go to the track and see what I can do. I'm sure it won't be hard for me but I don't want to get over cocky and do something wrong. I know how to do it, I just never really put it into practice. Alright so El Mirage is out, I guess I'll be heading out to the Cali Speedway on Jan. 13 then. I haven't done shit to my car, so it is completely stock (reply to a gentleman above). Thanks everyone!

[Brian]

Is your name Katie?

[Ian]

omgzor a girl!


Relax. They're saying, don't be shy. Buck up and just go to a track event. Chances are you won't be the only first timer out there and you'll have people there who are HAPPY to help you learn how to drift.

[aznpoopy]

suddenly the entire tone of the thread changes... lol

[sideview_180sx]

fuck it. girl or not. don't be a dumbfuck. yorba linda isn't far from shit, drift buffet held an event at orange show yesterday. fucking check the motorsports thread for dates and places of events going on. stock or modded. you will learn something. better yet don't spend money on a event just yet. go to these events and ask those who drive at the events what they use and where should start (most people say handling). you mite luck out on someone selling some used stuff to score on. still don't be a dumbfuck.

[deadpirate]

suddenly the entire tone of the thread changes... lol
lmao




either way, make it out to an event, most driftdays at irwindale have a cone course set up off the main track for you to mess around doing donuts and such, just go to drift day or justdrift. greatest way to learn how to drift. plus you will most likely find someone who is selling parts

[koukimonster139]

You know just to comment back to all the males calling me a pussy, It is quite difficult to be a pussy when you have a pussy. I will go to the track and see what I can do. I'm sure it won't be hard for me but I don't want to get over cocky and do something wrong. I know how to do it, I just never really put it into practice. Alright so El Mirage is out, I guess I'll be heading out to the Cali Speedway on Jan. 13 then. I haven't done shit to my car, so it is completely stock (reply to a gentleman above). Thanks everyone!

how could you get over cocky when u have a pussy XD

[nightkid86]

Better than doing it on public roads.

[cmcdougle]

how could you get over cocky when u have a pussy XD

hahahaha that's funny.

where is el mirage?

[KTKai]

I thought the irony was funny! I am not afraid just want practice! Thanks everyone for the responses!

[TurK]

how could you get over cocky when u have a pussy XD


she is saying its hard to be a pussy when you have one...i just hope...nvm.

[jrmiller84]

flip your car? hahahahahaha
yeah, your not drifting an F-150 ;)

[Dousan_PG]

my tone doesnt change
i stick with what i said
i taught a few girls from drifting pretty some small stuff to do at willow springs
a safe environment
most of the girls had AT cars and few had MT
worked on basics like donuts and j turns
nothing crazy
most had stock suspension with open diffss too
you can still do a lot just imo, not as fun but thats because of skill levels
even showed Reiko how to upshift into 3rd as an entry of the drift into a corner and down to second as well as controlling super long ebrake slides
there are TONs of insturctors and skilled peopel at events. doesnt matter what your car is. there is someone ALWAYS available to teach

it really depends if YOU WANT to learn.

anyways there are no excuses for not going to the track in california there are events ALL over the state
i know guys from San diego who drive to lancaster for event
just like ther eare guys from the bay area who drive down to so cali (lancaster) to WSIR to drive at envents
if they can make an 8 hour drift u can do a 2 hour drive.


btw your more likely to blow your stock suspension or flip your car at El Mirage. fyi.

[big_schaf]

I thought the irony was funny! I am not afraid just want practice! Thanks everyone for the responses!

empty parking lots late at night are your friends....
or track days which are safer..but the other option is still safe...

[koukimonster139]

empty parking lots late at night are your friends....
or track days which are safer..but the other option is still safe...

yeah so are parking garages and you can drift up the ramp onto a platform with lots of ppl waiting to chear u. dont hit the walls tho




:keke:

[CA18_S13]

No doubt drift day or just drift is a good event. You might meet people who you are cool with and start learning from them. Drift is an anti-drug. HAHA. Drift is just about having fun meeting cool people. If you meet people who think they are the best and not professional then they shouldn't be on the drift scene. Not even professionals act like they are best all the time.

[KTKai]

I agree with you ^^

[Dousan_PG]

we are trying to setup a beginner day for JUST DRIFT on Jan 20th weekend
might come thru
you should try and go.
cost? maybe 125 bucks
totally safe and fun environment.

ill be at HTM on the 20th

[S14Josh]

There is another at balcony on Feb. 10th

I'll be there. Sucking hardcore :keke:

[94cc0rd]

does getting a welded or 2way diff make drifting any easier??

i've been to 2 JD events so far and i... suck.. :( all the other beginners in my run group @ the balcony were able to hold drifts and somewhat finish the drift towards the end of the day but i wasn't able to...

after the event i just felt that drifting was not my thing... :-/

[Dousan_PG]

yeah you really need a diff to drift imo
at least drift awesomely and transitions and long slides and insano stuff that makes drifting drifting
imo most folks 'drifts' are just power slides and such. weak.
i need some of that haruguchi full lock going backwards into the corner action

[Wei240]

does getting a welded or 2way diff make drifting any easier??

i've been to 2 JD events so far and i... suck.. :( all the other beginners in my run group @ the balcony were able to hold drifts and somewhat finish the drift towards the end of the day but i wasn't able to...

after the event i just felt that drifting was not my thing... :-/

just like anything, it'll be difficult to do in the beginning but it gets fun once you get a hang of it, and much more fun once you become better at it

if you can't afford 2way, weld it

best thing to do at these events is to get someone/instructors/helpers to sit in with you, their feedback will help you out alot, they see what you don't

[Ian]

Well that and some people get it and some people don't


Just like in everything else in life...there will be prodigies, there will be average people, and there will be those who fall behind the curve and possibly never get better.


Only way to know is to keep trying.


All you REALLY need is some good suspension (coilovers, tie rods, RUCA), 2 way diff or welded if you can't fork up the cash, a solid clutch...everything else is really unecessary for low level drifting

[Edgar]

You live in fucking california.


there is a track event once a week.


cut it out with this stupid "i want to donuts by myself" crap.


I agree. Go to a track!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Everyone else wishes they had as many events as califas

[94cc0rd]

I have MR street coilovers, RPS sport street clutch coming soon, and hopefully a diff soon as well. I'm trying to find a used 2way for cheap but if I can't find anything, i'll probably get a welded.

I don't plan on going to another track event until I get a diff.

[EJ253]

Thanks so much but I would much rather know what I am doing before I fuck up my car. I would like to feel the control I have before running a track with other people. I have a crew I go out with but I am not quite up to par yet. I am still afraid I am going to flip or run into something. I have new feet, I can't run with out walking first and I can't walk without learning to crawl.

go to some canyons, drive a few over the speed limit. learn to control your car in turns at higher speeds. then, once you can control your car, go to the race track. once your good at driving on the track, try drifting.

[street240]

Drifting in a lake bed is like drifting in the rain. Practice on pavement.