I have drifted before in my M Coupe', but today was my first chance to take the Miata to a drift event. I've tried to go a couple of times, but first I didn't have spare wheels/tires, and then I cracked my radiator at an HPDE 3 days before the drift event. Although I'm not a "drift guy" (I've been to more HPDE's than drift days), I do really enjoy drifting when I get the chance.
The day was GREAT! There was a Formula D competition going on in the Valley today, so almost no one was there. Usually there were only 4-5 cars running in each session. So, TONS of seat time.
Then the Miata... Not surprisingly it was a very different vehicle to drift than the M. Much better handling, much less power. I did not have the pure torque to give me the ability to initiate drifts with just the throttle. I had to rely on momentum (yep, a momentum car drifting too), weight transfer, and clutch kicking. However, it was much more communicative and responsive once in a drift. The suspension is a lot tighter than the BMW, and the Miata did not want to snap as suddenly or swap ends like the BMW would. 6.5* of caster also helped things. The Miata felt relaxed and in control. Like in any other venue, it just wanted to play, get tossed around and have fun. The BMW felt like you're skating on a knife-edge just barely staying ahead of it snapping around.
And the Miata was MUCH easier on tires. It saw tons of time and did not get a rest. But at the end of the day, the tires still had plenty of tread left. And these are tires that have seen 2 track days, one with two drivers, an auto-cross, and months of aggressive DDing.
Oh, and the new radiator did it's job fantastically. The temp gauge barely moved throughout the day. Got it from R Speed on the suggestion from Tim, or one of the other GRM guys on the board. Thanks for the tip! This radiator ROCKS!
sounds like fun. wish i had gotten to an event when i had my miata!
did you get any pix/vids?
Thunderdrift? I went to Formula D instead. LOL.
You going to be there in October? I'll be there in a Starion.
Wait... Thunderdrift is known to GRM?
sounds like an awesome time! I always wondered how the little bugger would take something like that. Glad to hear it went well for you!
ThunderDrift is known to me! Woot! More TD'ers!
Miata was great. For those who know TD, Geoff was taking photos. I don't know if he got any video though. He did test out a camera on his little 64hp, open diff, Cororra. I'm not sure where those will be posted. The TD site is down. ARGH!!! I'll have to shoot him an e-mail to find out where photos will be posted.
Yup, the Miata makes a good drift car. Only real issue is that I have it set up as an open-track car that also sees regular street duty, so the back end doesn't want to break free, and wants to catch again. But it's really easy to control.
Let's see... next TD is... October 12-13. I don't know if I'll be able to make that weekend. I might hit it on the 12th. I have plans on the 13th to get a group together for brewing beer. Don't want to be too tired to brew beer!
Pictures will probably be posted at norcaldrift.org. That's where everything else is. Geoff is an admin on those forums.
Super excited to take our Starion out there. How was it on the new/improved/enlarged pad?
jpod999 wrote:
Pictures will probably be posted at norcaldrift.org. That's where everything else is. Geoff is an admin on those forums.
Super excited to take our Starion out there. How was it on the new/improved/enlarged pad?
I figured the new pictures would end up there, but I haven't seen them yet.
The wider skid pad is very nice. The extra 50' helps a lot. It can make things a little tricky though, because there's a change in traction as you go between the old and new asphalt. Also, there's a bit of a channel to guide water, and the shift can be noticeable.
The big weird thing with it though is that there's a drain about 1/3 of the way up on the border of the surfaces. Doesn't hurt anything to run over it, but it is odd and unsettling.
Forgot to mention, the girlfriend drifted too.
This was her second event and she's picking it up decently. Her one big issue was being too timid, and not getting on the gas aggressively enough. She could get the back end to step out, but wasn't comfortably holding WOT. I tried to explain to her that the Miata would not hold a drift without full throttle (and even then frequently required clutch-kicking to keep the back end out). But when she got a bit nervous, she'd back off the throttle a bit, and the back end would hook right back up.
Also needed to get her driving a proper line, even though there's no course. She would apex her turns way too early at the big sweeper they always stick at the top of the track. That meant that the car kept swinging towards a corner of the pad, and not swinging in to the late apex that would get her set up to go down the pad. Once I pointed that out to her though, she started doing a lot better, and was more relaxed because she didn't feel like she was going to slide off the asphalt.
Edit: Oh and my girlfriend had the quote of the day after taking a pretty smoking ride with me: "Holy E36 M3! No wonder your face is dirty!"
Just making me more excited for October. It's going to be my third Thunderdrift but only my first time driving.
jpod999 wrote:
Just making me more excited for October. It's going to be my third Thunderdrift but only my first time driving.
Sweet! This was my fourth. The second one for my G/F.
You're making me want to watch you thrash a Starion around.
I had some drifing practice at the autoX on sunday. my tires had no grip in the heat and the decreasing radius circle turn around was a blast:)
I got scared when the SCCA saftey steward came running at me after the run but he said i did good and laughed at how w one the cones i hit fell....
I wanna try a drift
Yeah, Geoff's Corrora? That used to be MINE. I sold it to him, and he still hasn't paid me for it (that's okay, he's a very good friend of mine, and it means I get to hold it over his head :D). I'm the one that did 90% of the mods to that car (when I sold it to him, the springs were intact and it had stock wheels on it).
I kinda miss it, but I just hit the limits of that car, and it wasn't fun to drive anymore.
I really wish I had something witty to say here . . .alas . . .I am without humor . . .oh well, I'm glad you had fun getting sideways . . .can we expect Salanis to cross over to the dark side of motorsport?
-Stig
I was wondering when Stig would weigh in.
Dunno about "crossing to the dark side"... I love drift but I wouldn't call myself a "drifter". I love auto-x, but wouldn't call myself an "auto-x'er". I love Track Days/HPDE but not sure I'd call myself an "HPDE'er" (although I enjoy that more than the others... but it's the most expensive). Unfortunately I haven't had the opportunity to do Rally-X yet.
I think I'm just a general autosports slut. I take it any way that I can get it.
I might switch over to the dark side because of the teacher in me. People teach Auto-X and Track driving, but no one really teaches drifting around here. They just tell you techniques to drift and that you just need to "feel" it. The teacher in me is convinced that there is a systematic way to impart the wider array of knowledge to beginning drifters and not make them figure the basics out totally for themselves.
Of course, I'm absolutely not good enough to instruct it, but I'm convinced there's a way to instruct a total beginner.
wow this sounds like fun.
Does anyone drift AWD cars or does the AWD make it too much of a PIA ?
I haven't seen anyone drift AWD at any events. RWD is the only configuration that's legal at a number of competitions. I believe this happened after some guy totally PWND the competition in an Evo. So, I gather it can be done. I couldn't tell you how easy or difficult it is though.
Not as much countersteer in an AWD, so it doesn't look as cool. Drifting is more about style than getting through the course as fast as possible.
I've seen Rhys Millen drift an AWD Evo VII or VIII rally car before on pavement. It's possible, but extremely difficult.
Capt Slow wrote:
wow this sounds like fun.
Does anyone drift AWD cars or does the AWD make it too much of a PIA ?
At one of the earlier Thunderdrifts there was a guy in a white Evo (I think it was an VIII or IX) that tired ALL DAY LONG to get sideways. When he finally did get it to go, everyone there was cheering for him. It was pretty cool, even if he only did some wide donuts :)
hmmm I suppose there is always the good ol college try... 
Thunder drift's website seems to be down.
What does an event cost?
Salanis mentioned that some clubs ban AWD cars, is that the case with the thunderdrift events?
$100 a day if you Paypal 40 of it early.
TD does not band AWD. I was specifically referring to certain top levels of competition.
Yeah, TD's website has been down for a while. Their events are listed on Thunderhill's schedule though. Or you can find information at NorCalDrift.org
Events are $100 if you prepay $40, or $120 if you just show up.
If you want to pre-reg or get any more details, e-mail Geoff. I'll send it to you if you PM me. I don't want to post it up on a board. Alternately, he's also "Conepirate" on the NorCalDrift board.
If you show up on a day I do, and have trouble drifting AWD, I offer limited use of the Miata (basically, I don't want my own or my G/F's drift time too eaten into). Heck, I'll even let you take a run in it to feel the difference, just so that it can maintain it's reputation as the Slut.
If she really needs help mainting her slutty reputation I am happy to help 
I suppose I should check in with my social director and see if I can get a weekend free...
I know my car will get sideways, I have taken out more than one wall of cones with the side of my car, and there is this one freeway onramp... well anyways the oppurtunity to screw around on a skidpad seems too good to pass up.
PM sent.
