Bimmerworld at Road Atlanta (also some pro drift fools)

[BLINGMW]

Had a good 3 day weekend crewing for Bimmerworld down here. It was their 2nd world challenge race of the season, although just an invitational race (not for points) so less than half the field was there-- some of the other big teams were missing. But a good chance for Bimmerworld to show off, with James winning a qualifying race on saturday, (http://www.speedvisionwc.com/news/04press66.html) and the team getting 2nd, 3rd, and 4th on sunday's main event. And that was with Matt starting from the pits (his car didn't start as the pace lap began) and Seth starting very near last too (a spark plug backed out a bit saturday and messed up his qualifying). Seth also grabbed the Holeshot award AND the Hard Charger award. (http://www.speedvisionwc.com/news/04press67.html) So an incredible weekend for them, and the new rig, the new cars, the new setup and better organization... I was really impressed. The biggest quirk was the cars not starting randomly, just cranking and cranking, which got to be a real pain as the race drew near. Still a few bugs for the Motec guys to work out I guess, and it almost cost us the race. So a little excitement there, but other than that, it went very smoothly.

Also, there was a big drift competition, the other headliner for the weekend. The WC guys shared the inner paddock with the drift guys, many ricer vendors, a bike jumping demo, car show, model competition, all kinds of crazy stuff. And big crowds with sketchy guys and hot women. It was quite a spectacle, but interesting to see these pro drift teams with some very nice setups. Falken tire especially had a really nice trailer with a matching fleet of cars that put the WC guys to shame. I didn't get to watch all the drifting events, but these guys were a big level up from the Hyperfest guys I've seen. Pretty neat, I have to admit, watching them connect multiple corners, sliding the car the whole time, using the whole trackt, and often with 2 or 3 cars at once following eachother, passing, or holding next to one another. A lot of Nissan variants of course, but also 2 vipers and even a RWD integra. Road Atlanta had even paved a little loop in the track for them to go around, giving a nice playground for the event.

So I've got plenty of pics of course, check 'em out.

http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4287039439

Here's a few previews:

Falken's traveling circus:


Me and the ladiez:


Big crowds come out for autographs (mine of course):


For Dave:


Slide or DIE:


The "how not to drive quickly" event:

[ViPER1313]

Mustangs and Camaros have "drifted" for years and people didn't care, yet do a little controlled over-steer in a turbo Nissan 240SX or RWD Corolla and it's "drifting." Bah.

[Mike]

I heard there was a RWD Integra there! That's so damn cool let me tell ya!

[ScottyB]

Mustangs and Camaros have "drifted" for years and people didn't care, yet do a little controlled over-steer in a turbo Nissan 240SX or RWD Corolla and it's "drifting." Bah.

powersliding and drifting are two different things. i never knew muscle cars had a history of drifting....

[BLINGMW]

yeah, I've got a couple pics of his car up, including one showing the rear suspension/axle shaft. Pretty neato. When I first saw him pull up, I HOPED he had something up his sleeve (unless he planned on running backwards).... He got a lot of cheers, let me tell you. 8)

I just noticed I spelled Bimmerworld in the thread title sans a few characters. I guess I was tired! :roll:

oh, and don't worry, the "muscle cars" were still out there as far as I'm concerned. At least 5 factory 5 cobra type kit cars, 2 mustangs and a Pontiac GTO. They could really light 'em up. What a mess.

[G.Irish]

Mustangs and Camaros have "drifted" for years and people didn't care, yet do a little controlled over-steer in a turbo Nissan 240SX or RWD Corolla and it's "drifting." Bah.

Yeah well had some of the muscle car boys decided to put together drift competitions in the 60's and 70's then they could take credit for drifting. Fact is people have been doing slides in rwd cars ever since someone figured out it was fun but it wasn't until those silly Japanese guys turned it into a competition that drifting became a sport. Does it really matter who came up with it first? Not really. Its just a fun, silly thing to do that requires excellent car control. Quite frankly I'd like to see more of the domestic crowd show up and compete with the import crowd, it'd be a good way for people to stop being automotive snobs.

[ScottyB]

Mustangs and Camaros have "drifted" for years and people didn't care, yet do a little controlled over-steer in a turbo Nissan 240SX or RWD Corolla and it's "drifting." Bah.

Yeah well had some of the muscle car boys decided to put together drift competitions in the 60's and 70's then they could take credit for drifting. Fact is people have been doing slides in rwd cars ever since someone figured out it was fun but it wasn't until those silly Japanese guys turned it into a competition that drifting became a sport. Does it really matter who came up with it first? Not really. Its just a fun, silly thing to do that requires excellent car control. Quite frankly I'd like to see more of the domestic crowd show up and compete with the import crowd, it'd be a good way for people to stop being automotive snobs.

yeah pete, get your merkur out there and represent the US/Euro at the same time!

[BLINGMW]

Seth finally got a little in-car vid of him out there banging it up, check it out:

http://208.165.28.194/~mel/videos/seth/RA_for_net.wmv


*edit* ....did someone fix the spelling of the thread title for me? Creepy.... big brother is watching.... 8)

[Evan]

nice video!

he must be slow though to have qualified behind the subaru

what happened at .44 in the video? looks like it jumps and loses about a half second.

[.RJ]

Nice shortcut through 10A