A few drivers from Japan confirmed for D1GP USA

[allmotorking]

For those that keep up with D1 or not, Heres a few drivers from Japan that have confirmed to drift for the D1GP USA series: Daigo Saito (#1 Ranked Driver - 2008 D1 Champion), Yoichi Imamura (#2 Ranked Driver), Ken Nomura (#4 ranked D1 driver), Takahiro Ueno (#8 ranked D1 driver), Toshiki Yoshioka (#9 ranked D1 driver)

more info here (http://www.livesockets.com/article.php?id=2235)

[aoiken3]

i sooooo miss having the speed channel.........

[adrians_s13]

dude... I can't wait.

I wonder what car D Saito's driving... have you guys seen that mustang that he's supposed to be driving this season? no more jzx100? :(

[SochBAT]

This is still going on?!?!

[zorak]

i will get to see nomuken.

cool.

maybe meet him irl. that would be sweet.

[Camo]

Im so going to D1 if nomura is there. fucking rocks!

[Mister.E]

dude... I can't wait.

I wonder what car D Saito's driving... have you guys seen that mustang that he's supposed to be driving this season? no more jzx100? :(

saito's new mustang was at TAS this year. shit looked pretty hot. i dont remember if i took a pic of it or not, ill have to look.

[blessing]

Sweet........

[Flicktitty]

cool, should be a fun year.

[fckillerbee]

I heard ken will be driving the new skyline as his D1 car.. that's gonna be gangster!

[Brian]

Looking forward to it.

I hope Daigo brings the 100 Chaser again.
That car is bitchin.

[Bobadrift]

I was at the very first D1GP stateside. It was the best one, but that's most likely cause I had a media pass and they let us all over the place. Of all the drivers Kazuhiro was the shit. On the media day he said KFC, "Kazuhiro Fucking Crazy!" and overall was a crack up. This was after giving press members a ride on the course.

[Brian]

He used to have a KFC sticker on his S15.

[CityTireOnline.com]

Looking forward to it.

I hope Daigo brings the 100 Chaser again.
That car is bitchin.
Wasn't it for sale? dunno for sure tho.

[Brian]

Beats me .

[JayDee M Rolly]

theres a driverlist on the D1GP usa website, YAY NOB

[Mister.E]

Looking forward to it.

I hope Daigo brings the 100 Chaser again.
That car is bitchin.

Daigo is not driving the JZX100 anymore. he has made the switch to the Mustang

[lost240soul]

not sure if anyone has looked on d1's website.. but i guess they aren't drifting at irwandale anymore.. i guess they gonna have a new set up in anahiem kinda like a bull pin for drift cars.. its called the drift dojo..check out the new set up



D1GP USA Announces 2009 Season - D1 Grand Prix USA (http://www.d1gp.com/v2/headline-news/d1-usa-announces-2009-season.html)

[Brian]

Daigo is not driving the JZX100 anymore. he has made the switch to the Mustang

I am aware of the Mustang.

I don't give a shit about it.


I hope he brings the 100 Chaser over here.
He brought it before, he can bring it again... Probably leave it for a year too.

[Mister.E]

I am aware of the Mustang.

I don't give a shit about it.


I hope he brings the 100 Chaser over here.
He brought it before, he can bring it again... Probably leave it for a year too.

oh ok i got you. i believe though in some recent option video they were talking about getting rid of the JZX100 altogether and just drifting the mustang

[Brian]

I don't know how/why he would.

He has multiple 100s... what's he going to do? Toss them in the garbage?

I doubt that they will constantly transpost the Mustang to and from the USA / Japan.

[ESmorz]

"when night falls on the Elite 8, the Dojo will be transformed into a dazzling display of lighting effects that only Driven Events, made up of the original founders of Hot Import Nights could pull off."

Gaaaaaaaaay

[Mister.E]

I don't know how/why he would.

He has multiple 100s... what's he going to do? Toss them in the garbage?

I doubt that they will constantly transpost the Mustang to and from the USA / Japan.

dunno man, they will probably sell them here in country to some rich japanese dudes.

honestly id rather he keep the 100 too. we'll just have to wait and see how it plays out

[lost240soul]

"when night falls on the Elite 8, the Dojo will be transformed into a dazzling display of lighting effects that only Driven Events, made up of the original founders of Hot Import Nights could pull off."

Gaaaaaaaaay

hahahahahahahah

[allmotorking]

"when night falls on the Elite 8, the Dojo will be transformed into a dazzling display of lighting effects that only Driven Events, made up of the original founders of Hot Import Nights could pull off."

Gaaaaaaaaay

:bowrofl: lets see if its really that good

[adrians_s13]

so I'm guessing Ford's paying D. Saito's drift team or something??

cuz shit, jzx100's just seem right with him. :(

[240XTC]

Niiiiiiiice!!!

[Sexxxyslide]

I wonder if Takahiro Ueno will be driving his new car....2jz power BMW....gangstars!!!

[Dousan_PG]

probabl not
takes a few months by boat to get a car stateside and then back

all past events of D1gp for years no one has really brought their "real" car when D1 season is is full swing.
there were some exceptions but for the most part, most drivers bring the backup cars.

[allmotorking]

probabl not
takes a few months by boat to get a car stateside and then back

all past events of D1gp for years no one has really brought their "real" car when D1 season is is full swing.
there were some exceptions but for the most part, most drivers bring the backup cars.

that is so true

[shishcabobers]

so I'm guessing Ford's paying D. Saito's drift team or something??

cuz shit, jzx100's just seem right with him. :(

Ford has money?

[EmKayThree]

For those that keep up with D1 or not, Heres a few drivers from Japan that have confirmed to drift for the D1GP USA series: Daigo Saito (#1 Ranked Driver - 2008 D1 Champion), Yoichi Imamura (#2 Ranked Driver), Ken Nomura (#4 ranked D1 driver), Takahiro Ueno (#8 ranked D1 driver), Toshiki Yoshioka (#9 ranked D1 driver)

more info here (http://www.livesockets.com/article.php?id=2235)

So who's going to go to the Pre qualifying events to perhaps get a chance at competing with champions?

Maybe perhaps we'll see some locals from Southern California make it big at the D1 event in Anaheim?

[allmotorking]

So who's going to go to the Pre qualifying events to perhaps get a chance at competing with champions?

Maybe perhaps we'll see some locals from Southern California make it big at the D1 event in Anaheim?

it'd be cool if some socal people can make it but D1 is pretty good competition tho. isnt it?

[Brian]

Anybody know if they have a qualifying event in SoCal by any chance?

[ESmorz]

Anybody know if they have a qualifying event in SoCal by any chance?


Anaheim, May 2nd.

[Brian]

I thought that was a main event kinda thing.

That is a qualifyer too?

[ESmorz]

I thought that was a main event kinda thing.

That is a qualifyer too?

That's just what I heard.

Date is wrong. I would imagine they are holding a qualifier in Socal if they are having one in Texas. They are announcing more crap on the 6th, so maybe that will be when we get more info?

[azndoc]

I don't know if its true or not but I heard that they were going to hold a qualifier in AZ.

WTF.

Seriously I don't even remember the last time Socal had a qualifier for anything.

[ESmorz]

Arizona?

Arizona sucks.

[worangejuice]

I heart this guy.
http://mos.dunlop.co.jp/blog/nomuken/20081230180304_s.jpg
http://mfiles.cururu.net/9b4bae77613a57e4c9aa/data3/2008/12/4/46/image9246823.jpg

[spoolandslide]

Arizona sucks?

Your mom sucks.

Let's all go to Arizona.

[fckillerbee]

they should have a qualifyer on big willow! that would be fucking nutts! just turn 8. if you live...there's your license haha

[articdragon192]

From what I know, driver search is the Friday before the event which the leads to qualifying. Here's what I got in an email

Event Format

The D1GP USA management team set out to create a format that will not only provide the world’s top drift teams with a new Championship Points Series, but also a format that will also serve as a breeding ground for the next generation of drift competitors. Therefore, the drift weekend is broken down into a two day format consisting of a Pre-Qualifying and Pro-Qualifying on Friday, culminating with the Professional Competition’s Championship Points Series on Saturday.

Friday Pre-Qualifying

On the Friday prior to each drifting event, D1GP USA will hold a Pre-Qualifying event also known as a “Drivers Search.” This competition will be open to amateur drivers who do not hold a Professional D1 Competition license. They will perform solo runs in front of the D1GP USA judges and based on their performance, D1GP USA will advance the drivers who possess the skill level to compete in the D1GP USA Professional Qualifying round later that same day.

Friday Pro-Qualifying

Following the Pre-Qualifying round, D1GP USA will hold a Pro-Qualifying round to secure the top drivers for Saturday’s competition. Those that competed in the Pre-Qualifying round that have the right skill set to make it on to the Pro-Qualifying round will then compete against the professional drivers in hopes of making it in to the top 30 for Saturday’s Professional Championship Points Series.

Championship Points Series

The Championship Points Series will begin in Anaheim on May 2nd 2009. On May 1st, all professionally licensed D1 drivers who register (defined as drivers who competed Internationally in 08’, all D1 U.S. licensed drivers from the 07’ season, drivers who competed in other event series’ who are waived in and given a D1 Provisional license, and the drivers who advance from Pre-Qualifying) will be required to compete in the Pro-Qualifying round. The Pro-Qualifying round will determine the top 30 drivers who will move on to compete in the Pro-Competition held the following day. The drivers who make it to the top 16 will then be seeded for the following event in Miami on May 30th, and will not have to compete in Pro-Qualifying, thus leaving 14 open spots for Pro-Competition in the Miami Pro-Qualifier. Points will accrue over the course of the season and the top 16 seeding may change leading into the Philadelphia event on July 18th, and the Chicago event on August 1st. Only the top 16 drivers in each event will earn points as outlined in the D1GP USA Rulebook at www.d1gp.com. The driver with the most points at the end of the season will be crowned the 2009 D1 USA Champion.

Battle and Attack

The top sixteen qualified drivers “SUPER16” will have an opportunity during their practice to bump the number one qualifying driver off the top spot before the competition actually starts. The driver will simply declare to the Head Judge during practice that he wishes to challenge the top spot and he will be scored accordingly. Once practice is over the “SUPER16” run order may be completely reshuffled. This is an exciting battle within the event that can easily change the outcome of the competition. Additional prize money of $1,000 will be awarded to the number #1 qualifying driver going into the “SUPER16” round.

Progressive Prize Payouts

D1GP USA has developed a Progressive Prize Payout System. The way it works is that the registration fees from each driver will be totaled for each event. This total will then be cut in half with ½ going towards that events prize payout and the other towards the Championship Points Series prize payout. For example: registration for each driver at a D1 event is $100 for qualifying day. If 100 drivers register to compete, the total is $10,000. On Pro-Competition day there will be 30 drivers who advance and those drivers will pay $250 each. The total is 30 drivers x $250 or $7,500. The total prize payout is then the total of the Qualifying entry fees (example: $10,000 above) and the Pro-Competition entry fee’s which will always be $7,500 for a total prize payout of $17,500. Of that, ½ or $8,750 will go directly towards paying the top 4 drivers of that particular event as follows: 1st place 50%, 2nd place 25%, 3rd place 15%, and 4th place 10%. Over the course of the series the other ½ (in the example above $8,750) will get thrown into the progressive “pot” accruing over the course of the series (4 events in 09’) for a total (in this example of $8,750x4) of $35,000.

The Championship Points Series payout percentages will be the same as above. Making the deal even sweeter for the drivers, D1GP USA encourages and incentivizes companies to offer contingency prizes in the form of cash and product to both the per event payout as well as the Championship Points Series payout. The sky is the limit in this system.

[DALAZ_68]

so what dates do i need to save on my calendar :hyper:

[allmotorking]

- D1 Underground Connects Local Promoters and Drivers Through Unique Program -

Drivers who place 1st -4 th at D1 Underground events will have their profiles featured on the D1 Underground homepage. This will provide drivers with worldwide exposure to fans and potential sponsors. These drivers will also receive an open invitation to leap directly into the pro-qualifying rounds at D1GP USA Championship Points Series events. By skipping pre-qualifying, the most difficult stage in the qualifying process, these drivers will have a chance to go head to head against the best in the world. If they prove themselves worthy, they can earn a D1GP USA Pro license, the most coveted honor in all of drifting, or even earn a spot in the Championship Points Series rounds by qualifying in the top 30.

another release from D1 (http://www.livesockets.com/article.php?id=2247&siteID=)

[EmKayThree]

so what dates do i need to save on my calendar :hyper:

Well from reading previous posts, i understand that they have a qualifying round each the Friday before the Event.

Friday May 1st: qualifying (if you're planning to compete I guess, or be a spectator)
Saturday May 2nd: event


Also I read on their page that the Top Four (1st-4th) drivers at D1 Underground will receive an open invitation to the pro qualifying rounds at D1.

[EmKayThree]

it'd be cool if some socal people can make it but D1 is pretty good competition tho. isnt it?

You never know, people come out of right field sometimes and show what they are worth.

[ReaperKouki]

Just a heads up to all you fellow Zilvian's, I have a promotion code for $3 discounts, given it's not a huge discount, but with the economy the way it is every little bit counts! Hopefully it'll be useful to some of you.

Promotion code is: PGD1GP

Code is good for Anaheim, Miami, and Chicago only. Not currently usable for the Philadelphia event.

[deadpirate]

d1 qualifier for the anaheim event is may 1st

[ryceboy_124]

probabl not
takes a few months by boat to get a car stateside and then back

all past events of D1gp for years no one has really brought their "real" car when D1 season is is full swing.
there were some exceptions but for the most part, most drivers bring the backup cars.

True but Ueno has his T&E 2JZ powered Soarer that he rocks in Japan and Vertex USA has their own 1J powered Soarer that they usually run here in the states. I dont think Team TP Checker will be bringing out the BMW. :(

[PoorMans180SX]

Gosh I hope Koguchi comes to Chicago. I need his autograph and I want to see his car.

I am a Koguchi fan boi.