RJF

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/04/d...a-d-rule-book/

Professional drifting series, Formula D, is trying to quickly win over fans and competitors in order to become one of the top forms of motorsport in the United States. As folks have learned in the markets this past year, though, rapid growth does not come without some giant bumps in the road. It looks like Formula D has now slid into a wall with a few of its teams. Confusion surrounding the series rule book has come to a head in discussions at Drifting.com. The rules state that any change to a vehicle's OEM suspension design must be approved by Formula D. Of course, a visual inspection of every car lined up for a run at a Formula D event proves that no one is utilizing 100% OEM suspension components. Aftermarket coilovers, adjustable control arms and urethane bushings are all-too-,common modifications seen throughout the pits. Therefore, there must be a list available to competitors outlining the approved components for all competing vehicles. No such list is available, however. That means teams have no method of verifying that other competitors are following the rules, other than the fact an entry passed Formula D's own tech inspection. Current discussion is making a case for the use of vehicle technical sheets as found in series such as SCCA Speed World Challenge to list all allowable modifications for approved competition vehicles.

One particular team lies behind the call for rule revisions, while other concerned competitors back up their request for clarification. The vocal team is the group behind the Super Autobacs Nissan Skyline, which was recently deemed ineligible for competition by Formula D. The series organizers claim the Skyline features illegal front suspension modifications by using the OEM parts off a Nissan Laurel. However, the RWD Scion tC campaigning in the series is eligible despite also using suspension parts from another Toyota vehicle that shares the same chassis. The rules become particularly unclear when other vehicles are allowed to run with obviously altered suspension setups. 350Zs have altered the mounting points of their rear axles and Chevrolet Corvettes have converted from leaf springs to coilovers. Hopefully, Formula D can learn from this tussle and develop a fair and documented method of approving vehicle,s rather than leaving everyone in the dark.

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slothonaleash

Why did they even turn drifting into a competition?

gotta240

sweet. Show up with a bone stock 240 and win by default...

Jordn

I don't know much of the politics behind FD but it must be pretty good for them to have factory-backed cars in the championship, maybe worth bending the rules to make sure those cars get to drive.

1five10

That's the problem. Some feel the rules are being bent for some, but not others. Will see how it plays out. Vegas is next weekend.

svensko

Does this mean I get to put corny "crew" stickers on my stock S14 now?

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Felipe

does it count if i paint some parts red?

lmao...

240XTC

Really funny. Seems as if politics is definitely an issue. Plain and simple, "they" are scared of they Autobacs Skyline and will nit pick on anything in order to make sure it doesnt become a threat to them. Hopefully in the future, guidelines will be set, the skyline will meet "the standards" to qualify and come out and kick ass.

Z33dori

yea this reset dispute is pretty bullshit.

being that alot of these cars have altered suspension.

i mean really.

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thefro526

I say that's bullsh*t... Let be serious, modified suspension because they used components from a Nissan Laurel? It's pretty much the same damn car, we all know how nissan likes to share components from chassis to chassis. How bout Rhys Millen's GTO and solstice? they were as close to race cars as anyone can get with out being full on tube frame race cars. Then there's the Tanaka (?) corvette, I've never, ever, seen a front suspension like that before. IMO Formula D sucks, Let people run what ever they want as long as it's not tube framed and other crazy stuff.

norbac

theres a rule book? lol, everything is so modified anyways

626 FC3S

EVERY CAR MADE FOR DRIFTING AND BEEN MODIFIED FROM OEM!!!!!

They have got to be kidding

"to become one of the top forms of motorsport in the United States."

Really???

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ericcastro

I always have talked shit about the stupidity and favortism of Formula D and praised D1.

this just proves it.

Formula D, the new NOPI

fucking idiots


(you like how i am misspelling the second word after stupidity

svensko

Isn't there a drifter that uses a stock S14?

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Respect begets respect.

Matej

Hahaha.


Hahahahahaha.


The only rules should be:
1. No cars without aero.
2. No cars with wheel gap and/or sunken wheels.
3. No cars with aero sitting more than 3" off the ground.

luftrofl

What? Formula D, stupid?

NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!11111111111111oneoneone

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Engrish is funny in Japan. In America, it's for stupid fanboys.

spool_sample

LMFAO. Who the fuck cares about suspension being altered, it's fucking judged DRIFTING, not timed wheel-to-wheel competition.

The fact that there are even any rules to begin with beyond safety standards is hilarious in its own right.

alexander500

I read all 18 pages of that shit.

It seems that Formula D did not or has not been able to produce any

documentation on which teams/car/drivers have been pre-aproved to

modify the suspenion and to what extent, so you must assume they are

going off of their memory. What if SA petitioned for and recieved the

appoval to modify their vehicle and Formula D just forgot? If Formula D has

not been documenting they petitions for modification they don't have a

leg to stand on.

KwKouki

yet the tC is running rampant in RWD form.

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IIIXziuR

Takatori & SA Drift FOR LIFE, NO MATTER WHAT!
Those are the nicest/coolest guys ever.

All this controversy with the R34 suspension is so asinine!
All these cars are modified, it's not like SA car has some kind of auto pilot button installed on the car. Just drift!

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turns101

Eric, D1 is just as bad if not worse...

FD has been making serious efforts to do the right thing for more of the privateers.

I;m not saying they are perfect or better than anyones else though. As you can see, there are still politics in all the "pro" drift series..

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norbac

FD seemed like a great alternative to D1 for the states, now its time for something better, ZILVIA DRIFT CHAMPION LEAGUE, support the ZDCL yall!!

JeremyR

what a joke, epic fail

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revat619

Formula D is a joke. It ALWAYS has been.

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xamraci

"The vocal team is the group behind the Super Autobacs Nissan Skyline, which was recently deemed ineligible for competition by Formula D. The series organizers claim the Skyline features illegal front suspension modifications by using the OEM parts off a Nissan Laurel."

Thats all I needed to read...and then the thoughts on the TC only strike further at this arguement...Watching a tech inspector walk thru a car and KNOWING that the altered factory dynamics of certain vehicles are being permitted kinda sent a bad feeling thru me when i was at FD in Atlanta this year

Some specifics would stiffen the competition in my opinion and make things a bit clearer atleast...

Another thing...the Saturn Skye...its like a Cage with some plastic panels...the rear suspension setup on that car doesnt seem to share the same characteristics of the stock vehicle...

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Shawn shawn

I guess Autobacs didn't shove enough $$$$ in FD's face.

frosti108

wow. honestly the rwd scion didnt raise any reg flags though>? lol you dont even have to do any reading to know there is loads of BS going on


who the hell in formula D has anything stock in their suspension anyway. thats fuqin stupid

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Goodnight

240XTC

Yeah. True to that man! They're forgetting what the drift is about. What ever gets you to that perfect speed, style, and finesse. Judges will make the best call upon who deserves to win.



Hell yeah man!!!... then ZDCL vs. FD .... Im down for that!

luftrofl

Wait... doesn't the Corvette run coilovers? That's a change from OEM

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Engrish is funny in Japan. In America, it's for stupid fanboys.

DMaxUSA

Thats what alot of the drivers/companies/teams in Japan are thinking.....Another big issue is that a lot of Japanese drivers are coming the U.S. to drift, but they aren't getting the points they deserve, most likely to make it "fair" for the American drivers. Maybe Formula D is afraid of a swarm of Japanese drivers taking over the series (and possibly upsetting all the domestic companies, i.e. Mopar, Ford, etc)