Let’s talk about street drifting.
Nearly for as long as I’ve been a legal adult, I’ve been street drifting. As much as driving on the track is entertaining, drifting is a street sport. Even those of us who have grown up, gotten careers, and can no longer take risks like we used to have a passion for the street, and how it feels to be somewhere with your friends at 3am.
Me personally, try as I might, I can never forget street drifting.
Tons of new kids are getting excited about drifting, and naturally are going to street drift some. Sure, learning at the track is the best possible way, but it’s not realistic to think that people won’t drive on the street as well.
If you’re new to drifting, you might have already been bitched at by grouchy old drifters who call you an idiot for streeting, and you might be wondering why. If you’re drifting in mall parking lots, if you’re drifting in front of people who don’t drift, if you’re drifting near residential areas…. that’s why.
So why am I posting this? Because I’ve been street drifting for a very long time, and I’ve never had major issues with police. The reason for that is because the people I drive with follow very specific rules- rules I now see getting broken constantly by newer drivers. I’m going to tell you those rules. Follow them or don’t, it’s your choice. Just know that these rules have kept us safe and out of trouble for longer than most people have been drifting.
When you look for spots, look for places that are away from areas of population. Do not drive at active warehouses. Do not drive near residential areas where home owners can hear your car. Look for abandoned industrial zones, far away from all people.
Keep street spots to your crew. Do NOT invite as many people as possible to your spots. When you invite people outside of your crew, they invite people outside of their crew, and before you know it police are at that spot before you are, waiting for you to show up, every night.
If you’re staying at a spot and not hitting it once and leaving, take sound breaks when you drive. Don’t drive for 2 hours straight. Drive for 5 minutes, then stop for 10. Drive again, then take a sound break. This way, if police do come, you’re more likely to be parked and not actually drifting. You can also more easily hear and see them coming.
If police do come (and you’re in a state where CARB won’t seize your car for having a modified muffler), do NOT leave when police arrive. Act normal, don’t get into your car, don’t act suspicious, don’t have your hands in your pockets, just wait, stand there, and talk to them. They’ll probably give you a bunch of shit- that’s their job. Stand there, and take their shit. Let them say whatever they need to say, and respond with “yes sir” or “no sir” as much as you can. Don’t lie to police. Don’t argue with police. The more you roll with it, the more likely it is that they’ll let you go without major consequence.
ALWAYS have spotters. Spotters should stand at a point where they can see all incoming traffic, including people walking by, and signal you not to take a run. Hitting an oncoming car or worse yet a person will end your life as you know it. Keep that in mind when you drive, and ALWAYS have spotters. A system that works is having a few people watching the corner and signaling with bright flashlights if anyone is coming.
If you have a gallery (audience/spectators), keep the audience at a place where your car can’t hit if you spin. Do not drift in the direction of your spectators. Hitting a person will end your life as you know it. It will also end street drifting in your area, so keep the spectators positively out of harm’s way.
If your friends are parked somewhere, keep that area out of harm’s way also. That means putting the people who aren’t drifting somewhere where they cannot be hit if a car spins or understeers. Think about the course layout for a long time, before you decide where you’re planning on placing people.
If you’re running the course regular and reverse, have all of the cars complete their run and park at the end of the course, then have all of the cars run the course backwards.
If you street drift a ton, consider not having the loudest exhaust available.
Lastly, if I’ve learned anything, keep that shit to yourself. Don’t post videos or photos of you driving on your facebook, and probably not even your instagram. Don’t put your name on your driving. There’s a reason this blog almost never shows street names, locations, or driver names. There’s a reason that the only cars on this blog with visible license plate numbers are long sold. There’s a reason Drift Tengoku has a “No Name Heroes” section.
See you out there.
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