What the heck is a Drift Kit?

epengr · #1 12-10-2002, 11:44 PM

Hey,

I have looked everywhere And I can't seem to figure out what a drift kit is, or what "drifting" your car is, or why (or how) you'd want to do it?

My best guess is a sort'a skid turn, slidding out the rear to turn tighter, but then what is this "drift kit" I've heard about?

Thanks

AutoFOCUS · #2 12-11-2002, 01:08 AM

Your right about drifting, its a controled slide.
The Drift kit is the "Tune up Set" with the different suspension arms and an axle that has hard plastic tires and the medium gears(stock) and i think a set of tires too. This is what it looks like. http://www.microsizers.com/speedshop...cac1304-02.jpg

Blue Bit · #3 12-11-2002, 01:20 AM

Drifting is a big thing in Japan even to street racers. In the US, it seems 1/4 times drag is the most important. There are a lot of drift webpages out there and videos too that you can download to see it in motion. Your guess is pretty much accurate

epengr · #4 12-11-2002, 10:46 AM

Thanks for the replies.

That's gotta take some skill to do a meaningful drift with a bit!

epengr · #5 12-11-2002, 11:42 AM

And, really, without the smell of burning rubber, what's the point?

MTL · #6 12-11-2002, 04:27 PM

this may be just me, but i used to go to a few drift forums that were situated in the US, and it seems that they didnt want drifting to become popular in america, and saying that you shouldnt get into drifting by watching some cartoon blah blah[ie Initial D]..
those guys hated initial d, and GranTourismo even....
driftclub.com forum closed down...when i went there, they even made a "Secret" forum for the techicnical hardcore drifters...they got tired of all the noob questions, and "kids" trying to get into it etc...
there are still some decent drift forums out there, but they are really dead...
*shrug

epengr · #7 12-11-2002, 04:35 PM

Well, I have to say I know what they mean.

I has big into archery way back when. And when Robinhood with Kevin Costner came out my archery club was FLOODED with little kids wanting to be like Robinhood. I guess it was good for the club owner, but it sucked not being able to get a lane (or even move sometimes)....

epengr · #8 12-11-2002, 04:37 PM

But I can't see how they could be offended by us trying to drift a bit.....

They would probably think it appropriate if a kid wanted to emulate his favorite anime did so with a toy car :-)

Blue Bit · #9 12-12-2002, 12:38 AM

you can drift all you want on your BIT. try experimenting on different tire settings and surfaces. And also the front suspension.

as for your real car, you can drift that too after you make all the necessary safety precautions.

as for these people in the US who think drifting is just for them, well you make your own judgments. they did not invent it. It's the attitude of mine,nime,mine! you can't have it! and we are better than you! Kind of thing that is dominating street racers today. A few are actually respectable.

The drifting in Initial D is like any Action sequence in any movie that is exaggerated. That's the attraction of movies and animation. In my opinion it is about the interaction between characters that makes Initial D very interesting

JBit · #10 12-12-2002, 01:16 AM

As to the original question, the drift axle wheels in the drift kit are hard plastic (knobby looking too which might help bounce the rear axle loose in a turn) and thus helps the rear slide out more than grippy tires would.

VERTiG0 · #11 12-12-2002, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MTL

there are still some decent drift forums out there, but they are really dead...
*shrug

Says you...

MTL · #12 12-12-2002, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Blue Bit

The drifting in Initial D is like any Action sequence in any movie that is exaggerated. That's the attraction of movies and animation. In my opinion it is about the interaction between characters that makes Initial D very interesting

the thing that bothers me about intial d, is that the car motions itself are too smooth and fluid, thats sort of hard to believe or do..
i mean sure its not real, but they could at least show the characters steering motions more. there is no sign of body tilt or weight transfer......no ones that good...i think

err...well nevermind

VERTiG0 · #13 12-12-2002, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MTL
no ones that good...i think err...well nevermind

Komatsu? Keiichi Tsuchiya?

I think they're "that good."

hogjowlz · #14 12-12-2002, 05:18 PM

so this art of drifting is just doing really neat power slides and donuts?

VERTiG0 · #15 12-12-2002, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by hogjowlz
so this art of drifting is just doing really neat power slides and donuts?

Drift
To cause a vehicle to exceed its tire’s limits of adhesion, exhibiting a lateral slip, resulting in an oversteered condition.

Taken from www.DriftSession.com

Anyway, drifting is the art of making the rear tires lose traction in a bunch of ways, clutch kick, feint, power-over, etc. A real drift is not just the rear wheels sliding, but all 4 wheels. The car should be completely sideways.

For a good example of this search for videos of Drifter X or Keiichi Tsuchiya, aka. The Drift King. Alternatively, look for Justin Kikkikawa, he's the main/best drifter at Drift Session in Hawaii, drives an '85 Toyota Corolla GTS (AE86 Trueno).

On another note, donuts are NOT drifting, and they have absolutely NOTHING to do with drifting at all, I don't know who brought this up, but it is 100% incorrect and unrelated.