Drifting is one of the fastest growing forms of motorsports in not only the USA but across the world. This amazing sport has spread from the remote mountains in Japan to some of the most remote places imaginable. Do a quick search on YouTube and you will see thousands and thousands of videos submitted by enthusiasts from all around the globe drifting everything from full out race cars to their parents lawn mower…as long as its sideways it doesn’t matter what your driving.
What makes this growth amazing is that most major forms of auto racing is in a serious decline, the numbers are down for NASCAR, Formula 1 and NHRA both in event attendance and television viewers. So why is drifting growing while other motorsports are in a steady decline? Many people believe it’s because drifting is more of an art form and less of just another type of racing. Watching the highly skilled drivers sliding sideways side bye side through the corner with smoke bellowing from the tires is something that must be seen to appreciate. The drivers are not only able to pull off some amazing maneuvers but they are able to do it while driving alongside their competitor at extremely high rates of speed. Just when you think they have the car out of control and there is no way they are going to be able to recover they snap it back under control and setup for their next stunning feat of control.
Another thing that helps keep the drift scene growing is the amazing community that has steadily grown along with the sport itself. There are literally hundreds of drift clubs that have sprouted up across the country and these clubs are setting up legal competitions that give drifters a place to practice their craft. There is also a ton of online places for drift fans to gather, between forums and blogs there is no shortage of places for junkies to get their drift fix. There is a brotherhood among members of the drifting community that you don’t usually see in other forms of motorsports, not only do they help each other get their cars ready for the next competition but they often teach people new to the sport tricks and tips that will help get them out on the track.
So if you haven’t checked out this exciting form of automotive art yet take a few minutes to watch some videos online and you will be amazed at the skill and the beauty of drifting.