Motorsports To Go! December 11, 2020
Welcome to Motorsports To Go! Each week, we will take a look at an upcoming event on MotorsportReg.com. We will tell you everything you need to know in order to participate. It’s the easiest way to get out of your recliner and into the driver’s seat. We’ll be covering everything from $25 autocrosses to million-dollar “gentlemen racer” opportunities, all of them explained in simple English via the same basic set of questions. Let’s get started!
What is it? January Novice Drifting Clinic — register at MotorsportReg.
Well, what is it? If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to drift — or just understand the sport a little better — this will put you in the driver’s seat.
Where is it? Richmond Raceway, just outside (you guessed it) Richmond, VA
What’s it cost? $175
What kind of car do I need? Probably something with rear wheel drive and a reasonably low center of gravity; drop the organizers a note here if you aren’t sure whether your car is right.
What kind of personal equipment do I need? A full-face helmet with a DOT or Snell rating, plus a mounted fire extinguisher within reach. This can be as simple as buying a portable fire extinguisher at Home Depot and zip-tying it to something solid, but ask the organizers if you aren’t sure.
How long will it take? All day!
Will there be someone to answer my questions at the event? Absolutely. This is a novice clinic, which means it’s for people who have never tried it before.
Can I damage my car or get hurt? Oh yeah — but if you listen to the instructors you’re not likely to experience any issues.
Why would I bother to do it? Some people are absolutely captivated by drifting. If you’re one of them, why not make the transition from spectator to competitor?
What’s the hot setup, if I have time and money to prepare? Well, there’s the time-honored 240SX-with-a-Skyline-engine approach, but V8-engined Mazda Miatas are also popular nowadays. Want a factory-ready drifter with a warranty? Look into a new Mustang GT.
Give me two tips or tricks to really shine. Let’s dial up the classic dialogue between Lucas Black and Bow Wow in Tokyo Drift:
Lucas Black: Well if I needed a 30 second lesson on how to drift…
Bow Wow: All right look man there lots of ways you can do this all right. Handbraking is the easiest so the first thing I want you to do, I want you to rip that E-Brake all right. After you rip that E-Brake then I want you to power over.
Maybe you’re best off listening to the instructors!
