Drifting Gains Popularity In The US

July 10th, 2006 by CobraMatt

As the latest import from Japan, Drifting dates back to the 1930’s in some form as racers used to drift around a racecourse. Drifting became a mainstream motorsport about 20 years ago in Japan while the US caught on a little later around 1996 in California. These days drifting is an organized competition where drivers pilot big horsepower rear wheel drive cars to see who can have the most dazzling drift. Winners are determined by the almighty judges who judge on angle, line, speed and show factor of the drift.

Ford Racing/Toyo Tires sponsored driver Ken Gushi and probably the best known drifter in the states competes in the Need for Speed Formula D Championship which host’s races all over the country. Gushi also does special promotion events like the one I saw him at in Scottsdale. When I was in Scottsdale, Arizona for the Barrett-Jackson Auto auction I had the privelage of seeing Gushi up close and personal as he did some jawdropping moves on a closed course on the auction grounds. With the Toyo Tires/Ford Racing drift car that is powered by a 600 horsepower engine Gushi wowed the crowd with his awesome driving skills.

At the most recent Formula D competition which was June 10 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Gushi drove the 2006 Mustang GT drift car to a sixth-place finish. The season still has four events left and plenty of time for Gushi to do well. The final event of the year is scheduled for October in Irwindale, California.