Ok, That's it...

[transient]

U know, drifting is #### near IMPOSSIBLE! Well... maybe I just suck, but I totally can't get the hang of it. Then again... I did just learn heel-toe downshifting today.... But I mean come on, I can't break the rear tires loose! Can anyone give me some tips?

i dunno about you but in my #### auto i can break the rear loose like anytyme i really want to...maybe your suspension setup is too #### perfect...hehe..mine is stock all stock i jsut go full throttle to a corner...lift off the throttle while turning in and then full throttle...and couter steer....i don't know if thats even consider drifitng but #### it breaks the rear loose and looks tyte...even got myself on video...haha..

[DSC]

I almost wrecked my car...I gave it up too <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

[HippoSleek]

I've played with it, but it takes some figuring out. First, if you read the history, it is an show-off technique created by people who lost control of their cars in mountain races. Lesson - get control before you lose it. Second, a drift isn't just getting the tail out - it more about turning while the tail is out and controling it with countersteer. If you watch Option or Best Motoring videos, you will see that it is a constant slide - at pretty high (3d gear) speeds.

The best practice, so I've heard, is doing figure-8's with the tail out. This way, you will learn to corner with the proper tail out attitude, but the 8 makes it easier to understand to how keep the tail out (which is essential for a true drift) under power. &nbsp;This also helps control the &quot;snap spin&quot; that occurs after the tires grip. &nbsp;Just keep your eight until you lay a long drift out or you spin.

As for getting it out, trailing throttle oversteer (what benns13 said) will not cut it. The thing I've worked with is rapidly changing the speed of the rear wheels so they lose grip, then applying power. Pulling the handbrake is the traditional method, but a simple 3d to 2d gear downshift would do it too (I've done this more often during autox's). Once it's out, work to keep in there.

Oh yeah, and don't hit a curb, don't do it on expensive sticky tires, and learn in the wet.

(Edited by HippoSleek at 5:51 am on Nov. 8, 2001)

[BlankFlip]

nice explanation hippo. does nebody know what happens if u get caught drifiting, in the street, in a parking lot, or newhere else?

[yenpit]

careless driving...reckless driving...depends on cop and if he feels u are endangering someone else. yes its $fines AND points. just use ur head.

[transient]

Cool, good info. I'm not saying I'm going to drift all the time once I figure it out. I just really want to have the skill, u know?

[BlankFlip]

same here, but i'm not all about losing my license n getting tickets.

[konkman]

Listen you want to learn how to do drifts, to it the right way, pay for a performance driving school. &nbsp;You'll drop at least a grand for one week, but you'll have the tools to go nut on your ride.

BMW does a killer 3 stage driving school.

[transient]

mmm, i've actually been considering that. It seems like the way to go.

[drifterx]

trans: do this... forget toe heeling for now....
downshft and brake into a turn going really fast, then gas hard... u will lose traction

do it in a large parking lot
have fun!

[DSC]

Drifting looks soooo frickin cool! &nbsp;I was driving around today and made a left turn and after I got about 1/8 of a mile down the road this beautiful red s13 drifted the turn I just took and straightened out perfectly. &nbsp;Saw most of it in my rear view mirrow. &nbsp;Did I mention it looked awsome!

[gh6o6]

if you learn when your trying to do it in a SAFE area (no poles, lights, cars, ect.) its easier to recover when you dint want to - rain/snow. i agree with learning in the rain or wet its easier. if you get stoped just make up a story like my car is rwd and i afraid of the upcomming winter so i want to learn how to control fishtailing.
Note:
This works better if you live somewhere that has snow and ice

[misnomer]

Controlling a fishtail was one of the first things I learned out here driving on the dirt roads in my pickup. I don't look to do it intentionally on the streets though. It may look slick n all, but I'm more impressed with a car that will keep it's ass on the road in a hard turn.

[tanabs]

Also, do you have LSD? &nbsp;If not, then drifting is pretty tough. &nbsp;LSD helps A LOT in keeping a smooth evenly powered drift.

Controlling fishtail on a 240 should be easy...unless u have too much HP..but then again..what is &quot;too much hp&quot;..haha..but my 240's been easy on me in fishtailing incident...i drove my brother's mustang and i saw another mustang so i decide to do something dumb i took the turn a lil fast then i fishtail then i made a few 360's and a few S's b4 i regain control...scary a$$ moFO...i laid off the gas when i felt my rear next to me..and it still kept spinning...

[ca18guy]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Quote: from benns13 on 3:20 am on Nov. 9, 2001
Controlling fishtail on a 240 should be easy...unless u have too much HP..but then again..what is &quot;too much hp&quot;..haha..but my 240's been easy on me in fishtailing incident...i drove my brother's mustang and i saw another mustang so i decide to do something dumb i took the turn a lil fast then i fishtail then i made a few 360's and a few S's b4 i regain control...scary a$$ moFO...i laid off the gas when i felt my rear next to me..and it still kept spinning...</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

You did'nt lose the rear on the mustang because of the HP. you lost it because you laid off the gas which sent the wieght of the car to the front where you lost all traction. If you start to fishtail you need to still gas a little and steer out of it. Not to mention a foxbody can't corner that well anyway <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

[92fastback]

ca18guy i like that little thong shot lol real nice..... but anyway i dont now what this guys problem is i cant keep my car on the road...

[rubbersidedown]

i'm curious. its becoming winter where i live so there won't be much rain to wet down the parking lots. would i still get some experience by trying to drift in snowy parking lots and such? oh yeah, and at the moment i'm practicing in my 'lil '84 200sx. hehe, my 240sx is outta commission for the time being.

[transient]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Quote: from 92fastback on 12<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'>3 pm on Nov. 9, 2001
ca18guy i like that little thong shot lol real nice..... but anyway i dont now what this guys problem is i cant keep my car on the road...
</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

If you can't keep your car on the road then I suggest you go to driving school. As far as my problem, it probably doesn't help that i've got aftermarket suspension set up to hold the road, and no LSD.

is that 200sx rear wheel drive?

[Archangel]

Hey transient, what kinda tires do you have?
LSD?
Can you adjust you supension (coilovers or adjustable shocks?)
How fast are you going when you try to break the rear end lose?

[Archangel]

I'm disappointed, I know that there's a few more people on this board with the word &quot;drift&quot; in their names other than drifterx, and none of them have posted here.

[S13Grl]

I think you should first get experience regularly driving in rain, feel how your car handles, and when you feel confident in yourself, go to an empty parking lot and pull 360s and drift all you can. I know I can't do it right, that's why I gave it up for now. I mean yeah, I take crazy turns and do tend to drift out of them sometimes, but it's not done perfectly and definitely not professionally. So, I'm waiting for more rain.

If you're like me, and this is your first RWD car, and you've only gotten it this year, drive it through a rainy/snowy season (for a few months) and then try and drift with it.

[chickenmanq]

Better yet, find some nice dirt roads. &nbsp;I use just about all the forest roads in Flagstaff as my personal rally course. &nbsp;IF you can find a nicely graded dirt road though, your car will be able to drive it without whacking ground (I don't know how low it is or whatever) &nbsp;Anyway the diminished traction will make it easy to break the rear end loose and slide it sideways. &nbsp;Maybe I'll see if my buddy can get a video camera. &nbsp;I've always wanted to have a vid of my truck playing rally racer.

[rubbersidedown]

yes, my 200sx is rear wheel drive. i've tried drifting and doing donuts in this developement they are building near me. its quite big and has a few diff streets and they are all stoned chipped so its easy to slide around. but my problem is that my front tires continually wash out so i have to start the turn kind of slow. so i can't really drift on that road i guess. i really can't see drifting in the snow either. your front tires would just wash out and you'd keep going straight. :-\

[transient]

Actually I did in the snow a few times. I was able to do it a bit before I got the new suspension, so that's probably it. Oh well. I think for now i'm going to work on grip driving a little more, I know I can be faster than I am. I just don't want to stop developing my skills.

[KoukiS14]

C'mon guys... We're not really concerned about what cops think, are we? &nbsp;Why'd we all buy 240s? To get from point A to point B like you'd do in a Civic? &nbsp;I don't think so!!! &nbsp;Can't be legal all the time... But as was said... use your head... don't be stupid, and don't put anyone's life at stake but your own.

-Rob

[s15dude]

Go to a big empty parking lot after a good rain. &nbsp;Had some fun tonight in my car cuz it had just downpoured for half n hour.

[91CRXsiR]

yea i had some fun tonight too .. love the rain.. &nbsp;

[gh6o6]

i herd a story in drivers ed on a video where a kid was driving in like gravelas the road with sand on the outside of the gravel. &nbsp;he was fishtailing all over the place and was showing off to his friend. &nbsp;he lost it and his front inside passenger tire caught in the sand and pulled the car all the way around and as it did the driver door opened and he started to come out (no seatbelt) as he was comming out the door closed with his head in it - ovioulsy he died. dont be stupid and think you know what your doing when you really dont. &nbsp;be careful and i would stick to wet parking lots. &nbsp;i dont mean to be a pain in the ass but i just wqanted to give some friendly advice with a reason to back it up.
RWD is fun - when you want it to be
learn to control it safely

[S13Grl]

Exactly. So, get a grip for the car first (drive it for an extended period of time in all weather conditions) and then find an empty parking lot and practice slowly.

Hapy drifting!