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Game on with Formula Drift 2013

1feature_formulaD_VaughnGittin Fans and critics alike note that professional drifting is more “entertainment” than “racing” – and after reluctantly warming up to this brand of motorsport, my opinion is, “It’s too fun to care!” Formula_Drift_Round1_LongBeach_VaughnGittin_03 2013 marks the 10th year of Formula Drift as we know it – a migration of drifting motorsports from Japan. While there’s still a plenty of influence from the Land of the Rising Sun, there’s also plenty of good ol’ American muscle. Formula_Drift_Round1_LongBeach_01 Formula D travels to different spots around the US, each time changing its course layout depending on the track it’s hosted on. Long Beach is a special event, as it’s taking place on the “Streets of Long Beach” - and as such offers a harrowing course confined by walls on either side. Held just a week before the Long Beach Grand Prix, it uses part of the street-prepared track for its tire-shredding action. Formula_Drift_Round1_LongBeach_02 Breezing through town in just two days, the event passes by about as fast as the cars do. Race Day #1 is qualifying – with drivers taking the course one car at a time, being judged on their form, proximity, and entry speed. By the end of the day, drivers gather and receive their qualifying standings. Seeing the group all together seems more like a summer camp meeting versus a heavily competitive professional sport! Formula_Drift_Round1_LongBeach_09 Race Day #2 is when the real action begins. Cars run in tandem, at times getting within inches of one another while swinging around corners as fast as possible. Formula_Drift_Round1_LongBeach_08 While there's plenty of action on the track, the pits hold tons of fun also. Spectators are free to walk around and check out everything - some manufacturers and teams have well set-up trailers with swag to give out… Formula_Drift_Round1_LongBeach_05 …and others are just getting off the ground (quite literally sometimes). Well-sponsored teams bring fancy rigs, tons of staff, and plenty of spare parts. Others are more grass roots - bringing only the most basic items they may possibly need… lest they hit a wall or something. Formula_Drift_Round1_LongBeach_VaughnGittin_04 Formula Drift is an open-pit sport – meaning fans can mingle with race teams as they walk the pit area. Getting to see and talk to the drivers is a treat that not all race fans have the pleasure of enjoying. Formula_Drift_Round1_LongBeach_06 Of course fans bring their own cars too. A walk through the garage will give you a good look at a number of different enthusiast styles including rice rocket, VIP, stanced, and no-nonsense drifter. Formula_Drift_Round1_LongBeach_14 In addition to drivers, there’s also usually a car show that goes on in conjunction with other Formula Drift activities. Many of these cars are well-designed pieces of art. Formula_Drift_Round1_LongBeach_07 All the excitement of the event is just building up to one thing. Drifting. It's the one reason why these events sell out. Tires squealing as they pour off smoke while a mix of rubber and fuel permeate the air. Drivers are paired up in a bracket, depending on their qualifying positions the day before. Formula_Drift_Round1_LongBeach_10 Battles can become fierce during their two runs. Driver A leads while Driver B tries to keep up and match their line – then they switch with Driver B in the lead position. After both runs, judges decide who did a better job. In some cases the judges can’t come to a consensus, so they’ll ask the drivers to run the course again. This past weekend Daigo Saito and Fredric Aasbo were asked to rerun their battle not one, but twice, making a total of six runs for these drivers before judges named Aasbo the winner. Formula_Drift_Round1_LongBeach_VaughnGittin11 Formula Drift: Round 1 saw Vaughn Gittin battle Dai Yoshihara for the final competition. Dai is known as a very consistent and calculated driver while Gittin wins the crowd with gutsy and aggressive lines. During Gittin’s follow lap, he clipped the proximity sensor while pushing his Roush Yates/Ford Racing-engine powered Ford Mustang in hot pursuit of Dai. This mistake resulted in a 0 score for the run, and a 2nd place podium. Formula_Drift_Round1_LongBeach_VaughnGittin_15 Sometimes you’ve got to go all or nothing though. Gittin’s 2nd place finish is still a terrific start to the season, and the fans couldn’t get enough of this dynamic driver. Atlanta will be the next stop for Formula Drift…if you’ve never seen drifting live perhaps you should check out this unique blend of motorsports entertainment! -Kristin Cline
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