FXOpen Drift Series 2011

Speed City KL... Try to tell that to any cab driver and they would not even have a clue of where that is. And not even that, they do not even have a clue of where/what "Selangor Turf Club" is! Only a small number (actually only one) of them finally understood what it was when they asked "Itu tempat lumba kuda ka?", which I said yes, and we were on the way. And I am on my way to my first drift event, the FXOpen Drift Series 2011.

Though I missed both the 1st and 2nd day of the competition, I was determined not to miss this one. Been missing too much events before, and that must come to a halt once and for all. Upon reaching the venue, my ears were greeted by the unmistakable noise of both high-revving rear-wheelers and screaming tyres. Not wasting any seconds (since I arrived quite late, somewhere around 3pm), I immediately got myself the RM15 ticket and forcefully surrendered both my unopened bottle of 100 Plus and another mineral water before entering, as they say it was "procedure". Procedure my ass.

So as I got there, a tsuiso was commencing between whom, I was not so sure. One thing about competitive drifting is that I could only recall or recognize a few names, faces and cars that are widely publicized, like the definitely famous Prince of Drift or a.k.a. the Tandem Assassin, Tengku Djan Ley, Leona Chin, Kiki (Thai drifter), and also Ah Fai. Well, maybe there are a few more names that I could put out, but as I had yet start to follow the drift scene a little bit seriously, I could say that I know almost nothing. Hopefully with this one, atleast I'll recognize some of the faces that is trying hardly to make the drifting scene more lively in Malaysia.

Back to the event, as I reached the scene, immediately my instinct tells me to go to the grandstand, hoping to get a good view. Well, the view was great from there, especially for those who wanted to relax and spectate the cars shredding their tyres, from afar. But I think I wanted more than that. I wanted to get closer to the action. Despite the superbly blistering heat, I decided to go where I could get closer to it, legally though; the barriers. And since this spot gives a clearer view of the drifting action, I managed to capture the moments where the cars are taking their first corner.

You gotta have big, brass balls to drift your car that close to the walls!

Goodyear's Cefiro doing his thing.

Same make, same look, same aim; defeat the opponent.

It was a very good idea to put myself here instead of the grandstand. Seeing the drifters lock their rear wheels on the 1st corner with such spectacle really amuses me. And as the drifters pass by and the smoke approaches, the strong smell of burnt rubber filled the air and at the same time rained bits of pieces of rubber towards the barrier-loving spectators. But somehow, what I thought of a "good idea" was not so good after all. It was actually VERY risky. In the round where Hashiguti Anderson vs Along (got these names from zerotohundred.com, thanks for the details guys!), somehow Along understeered his bright orange A31 Cefiro and went on crashing to the barriers.

Hashiguti (Yellow-red 180SX) vs Along (Orange A31)

1st corner looking good...

But on the second corner...

...understeered and CRASH!

The driver walking away as if nothing had happened.

Luckily though, the damage was not so extensive and the drifter managed to crawl out from the wreckage without any major injuries.

4 barrels were killed in this incident. Unfortunately, they did not have enough white cloth to cover them all...

So as the red flag was flagged and the competition was halted for a while, I took the opportunity to stroll to the booths, checking out what they had in store for the visitors. Put aside the usual booths that sells shirts, foods and drinks, there were also some booths that displays some exotic supercars! We're talking about F430, Gallardo, and one of the most unexpected, an LP 670-4 SV!!

I'd have the orange one, please...

F-22 Raptor on the road!!

Superleggera under the same hood with the 599.

Anyways, as the action resumed, I went back to the barriers, only a different location. And this new location enables me to get a view of the cars taking the second corner clearly. Although the heat was getting a little bit intense, none of the drift fans seemed to be complaining. So why should I?

The Hachiroku leaving the 180SX behind...

But since their run was good, an OMT was called...and...

...the spectators got some ass-kissing action..

Goodyear's 86 battling out with Federal's Cefiro.

And after the Top 8 (I think), they took a time-out, giving the drifters some time to cool down before giving on all they got to claim the RM100,000 prize. And during that time-off, an autograph session was held at one of the booths, so I wasted no time and dashed to the booth, and got myself some sideways maniac autographs, and got myself a free t-shirt too.

Was hot and humid, but they braved on and pleased the crowd, both on and off the tracks.

After getting a little bit up close but not personal with the drifters, the action resumed and I went on surrendering myself to be rained with bits of rubber...

Djan with an 86 wagon??

In case you are wondering, no, the 86 did not overtake Djan, this is just the second run..

Just look at that smoke trail!

I just realized just how long this post is going to be, so maybe a Part 2 will be appropriate... So more sideways and rubber burning action on Part 2!!

Legends of The Motoring World - Tsuchiya Keiichi

Motorsports had come a very long way, where names like Henry Ford, Ferdinand Porsche and Karl Benz had left quite a foot trail in the automotive world. But there are individuals that continue the tradition of making the 4-wheeled metal box more than what it is. They make them faster, more agile, and pushing them to the limit, where no man has gone. Here, I present to you, the Legends of Motoring World.

To those of you that has no idea who this is, he's the guy which minds are on wheels. The first man that brings cars to us, Mr. Karl Benz.

With top speeds of 16km/h, this is the first known patented car by the brilliant Mr. Benz. (Well, looks more like a tricycle to me)

Well, maybe a lot of us could easily spell them out, having their names being publish daily in the papers, mentioned a zillion times in the news or rumored around as the fastest man alive; who could have possibly miss that? But what about the others? Those that do not get that much coverage from the media? Those that are overshadowed by big, motoring cups that their existence is just something in the history books? Lets give them a little tribute by appreciating their effort in making motorsports a world-class event.

So lets move on to the first one that I have in the list. Drifting has now swept the world with such a ferocity, that it no longer stayed in the twisted and wicked roads of the touge in Japan. Vaughn Gittin Jr., Tanner Foust and Dai Yoshihara are now international stars when it comes to going sideways. But who is the man that made such driving style into an international phenomenon? There is only one guy responsible for such crime, the one dubbed as the real world Drift King or "Dorikin", Mr. Tsuchiya Keiichi .

"Dorikin" with one of his favorite cars, the Honda NSX.

Born back in 1st January 1956 at Tomi, Nagano, Japan, Mr. Tsuchiya paved his way into the professional motorsports scene from the most unlikely way, street racing. And he does not only made a name for himself, he literally became a legend with his unique style of drifting and his nerve-racking, high-speeds touge driving. After starting off from the Fuji Freshman series in 1977, Tsuchiya's professional career grew after the years with rapid acceleration.

I doubt that he ever drifted in one of these...

Mr. Tsuchiya in his "Hachiroku" during the 1984 Fuji Freshman Cup. Going sideways!!

His career then bloomed when he entered a series of world-class events such as the Japan Touring Car Championship, NASCAR, and also the prestigious race that only the strongest will remain, the punishing 24- hour Le Mans. Who knows if there is more that fits in this list. But whatever it is, he was one of the most stunning and awesome driver ever in the scene.

Finishing the Le Mans is one thing, but getting a podium finish? Truly a man for the job.

Tsuchiya had commandeered one of these NSX GTs in the JGTC.

"Was", as being that he is now retired,from racing of course. And he is now filling his past time with what most of us had always dreamt of doing while retiring. Test driving new, powerful cars like the R35 Skyline or the Murcielago on world-renowned tracks in Japan, being a judge in the D1GP, or even hosting a video line of your own. Seriously, even after retiring, this guy is living his life! If you are familiar with Japan's auto scene, shows like Option or Best Motoring should not be something new to you.

Porsches, NSXs, GT-Rs, what else would you wish for during retirement?

At such an old age, you're still flirty, aren't 'cha?

The "Dorikin" as an official judge for the D1GP.

But in case that you are, here's a lil info about it. Those shows are basically like Top Gear, except that they don't look at underpowered, weird looking cars that needed sarcastically-fueled commentaries, or even do weird challenges that needed the cars to be turned into Frankenstein. Tsuchiya and friends usually get a new car, tests them on the track ( for evaluation, commentaries, etc... ) and last but not least, put them with cars that belong in the same category and race them down. Or if its not on the track, they'll do it on the narrow, winding roads of the touge, where only those with balls will ever reach the finishing line. Getting the picture?

The usual view of Tsuchiya's videos, showing the rev meter and his footwork altogether.

Unlike these three, where their challenges range from drag racing a Bugatti with an Eurofighter, to converting your car into an amphibious vehicle. Sounds crazy? But I love them nonetheless!

Mr. Tsuchiya is also known for his never-ending love towards the RWD "hachiroku", as they call the Toyota Corolla AE-86 Trueno in Japan. It is with this midget car that Dorikin was able to win 6 consecutive wins in the 1984 Fuji Freshman Cup series, making it a serious track-killing machine that before him, was neglected and being made fun of. Just imagine, being in the race, he didn't bother to race with those in his class of 1.6 litre. Instead, he hunted those running with the turbocharged 2.0 Skylines that was way out of his league. Even after all those years, he is still sticking with his trusty "hachiroku" to get him around the touge and where "The most important thing is balance", quoted the Dorikin.

Mr. Tsuchiya in his trademark jade green suit with his beloved "Hachiroku", the car that literally captured his heart.

Neither will he settle for the new Toyota MRS nor the Honda S2000. In touge, "Hachiroku" is Tsuchiya Keiichi, and that, is something that is not going to change.

Even after all these years, and all the famous names appearing in the drift scene, no one will be able to replace Mr. Keiichi Tsuchiya's place in making what drifting is today. A special salute to you, and truly you deserve a place in Legends of The Motoring World.