Here are some of our favorite photos and outtakes from the Formula D
competition rounds at New Jersey's Old Bridge Township Raceway Park,
better known as Englishtown. We decided not to post complete
play-by-play coverage, because plenty of other sites do that already.
Instead, we've decided to zero in on certain photos and aspects of the
event that we thought were interesting! Check it out!
The BN Sports aero kit on Tony Angelo's Mazda RX8 make the car look
way better than the normal RX8's bumpers, and the 787B Mazda LeMans
livery make the car look better than most of the other RX8s competing
in drifting nowadays.
Above, Tony Angelo and Tyler McQuarrie return to the grid area after some impressive tandem runs. Check out the grandstands, they were packed with drifting fans!
Drift Alliance team mates Chris Forsberg and Vaughn Gittin Jr stood together on the side of the grid, watching their DA brother Tony Angelo (aka T-Bone, aka Hurricane, aka Belushi) run in his tandem battle against Tyler McQuarrie. Tony put up a good fight in front of all the East Coast DA fans, but ultimately, he lost and Tyler advanced to the next round.
Speaking of JR and Chris, there was a bunch of drama surrounding the JR Gittin vs Chris Forsberg tandem battle. Apparently, JR's power steering line broke, causing his car to leak power steering fluid on the track. The Formula D officials held his car at the start, so he backed his car up onto the grass, and they called for the 5 minute rule, which means they had 5 minutes to fix the car, or else they would call it a DNF (Did Not Finish) mechanical failure. Even though JR told his Team Falken mechanics, "Screw it, cut the power steering line off, and I'll just run it and try to muscle it around the track," they couldn't get the car finished in time. Even though they disconnected the power steering, the Formula D official at the start line noticed that the car was still leaking a bit of fluid, and told JR he couldn't run like that.
Needless to say, JR was outraged. He had been looking forward to putting on a big show, running against his good friend Forsberg, but their plans were thwarted by lousy luck and the failure of an insignificant, inexpensive power steering line fitting. Such a disappointment, better luck next time, JR. Chris obviously advanced to the next round, due to JR's mechanical failure. What a shame. I'm sure Chris didn't want to advance to the next round that way, he definitely would have preferred to run against JR.
Daijiro Yoshihara accelerates into E-town Raceway Park's banking, initiating drift early and at high speed, to the crowd's delight. I still think it's hard to believe that Dai is now driving Rhys Millen's old car, but he's doing very well in it. Even though the RMR team built the car several years ago, with Dai behind the wheel, they have proven that their winning formula is still successful, and still competitive. But I honestly think it looked better with the blue and yellow Red Bull graphics that Rhys had on there when he was still driving it. Don't you think?
Tyler McQuarrie practically attaches his Porsche to Dai's rear quarter panel as they negotiate E-town's technical infield course! Look how close the two cars are, as they both lay down a crazy smoke trail for the fans! No wonder more and more people around the world are going crazy for drifting!
Daijiro Yoshihara initiates drift early as he follows Tyler McQuarrie into the first clipping point on E-town's banked course. Tyler was running so fast in his Porsche, it was difficult for most drivers to keep up with him! Even though Dai ran extremely well, Tyler would end up advancing to the next round because his Porsche was just that awesome.
During the Top 16 driver introductions on the track, Samuel Hubinette's chrome Viper was doused with the tire smoke of other cars as Samuel prepared to leave the Top 16 formation and create some tire smoke of his own. I personally think the chrome paint and blue graphic combination looks very good on his Viper – it certainly makes the car stand out from the rest of the cars in the competition. What do you guys think of the chrome paint? Yes or no?
When Rhys Millen competed against his good friend and housemate Tanner Foust in the Great 8 Competition, he went wide on his line, dropping a rear tire in the dirt! Millen's dirt drop drift ended up kicking up lots of dirt into the air, adding brown hues to the already thick white smokescreen that Tanner had to drive through. It wasn't a problem for Tanner though! He ended up winning the bout against his good friend Rhys, and advanced to the next round.
Tyler McQuarrie and Tanner Foust were both throwing down extremely clean, smoky runs, as the fans cheered loudly! These guys just drive so well, it's hard not to be impressed.
The Final Battle. As he was following Tyler McQuarrie's Porsche GT2 during the final tandem battle of the competition, Tanner Foust had to drive into so much smoke, I don't even know how he could see anything. I suppose he just had to drive with sheer guts and confidence, and trust that Tyler wouldn't spin or something. Much respect to both these drivers!
I'm not sure if anyone else noticed this or not, but on the podium, while Rhys and Tyler were holding up their trophies and smiling for the media's cameras, Tanner just zeroed in on Ms Formula D, Catherine Kluthe. Great taste, Tanner. Couldn't agree with you more.
-Antonio Alvendia
OFFICIAL SPEEDHUNTERS SUPPLIERS
Yep....Ms. Kluthe is tasty...lol
The first photo is dope, looks like your on the track just waiting to get the drifting back end right to the lens. I need more shots of that Hankook Porsche, I want one so bad.
Too badd they didnt let JR go. I've been waiting to see that mustang drift for a couple years now. Last time I actually saw it drifting was @ D1 in Iriwndale when he beat everyone for the first time. We were all so pissed they didnt let him run, we saw him drive up to the judging area, it looked like he was telling them that the car is fixed, but Rules are Rules right? ahh that was total BS. Let the fans see what they came to see! I hope JR beats the living shit out of everyone in FD this year! Go Go Go!
+1 on Tanners taste in girls haha
These pics are fantastic! thanks!
Alex and Section 09: I couldn't agree with you guys more, Catherine is HOT! Thanks for the compliments on the pics too!
Section 09: You didn't get to see JR running during practice? He was running in the morning, I hope you got to see that much at least!
Pat: Thanks for the compliments homie! Dude you have no idea how dope that Porsche is. Come out to an FD event with me so you can take pics too, it looks amazing on the track. I'll be doing a full feature on that car eventually, so your dad can print out the Speedhunters page and put it on his bulletin board! Porsche + drifting is an awesome idea.
What year is McQuarrie's Porsche? If I remember correctly, that Porsche sports a mono-nut (for lack of word) for the wheels, pretty sick !
I was there, and while the pics are amazing, they just don't do the event justice. Now that said, the pics are beautiful, especially the first one. This was my first drift event and definitely not my last. all the people on the far side of the grandstand, (away from the announcer) we were bugging out when the Koyorad R34 almost took out the camera man in th boom. We though when he was pulling the cord the whole boom would topple.
Again stunning shots, I wish I could have gotten a media pass.
Hahaha Antonio, I think my pops does need some new swag for his office. He was laid off for four months and got a new job so I'm sure he doesn't have it decked out yet.
I actually read your article btw I didn't just read the pictures lol... and I'm not sure how I like the Viper, I do think the chrome is really cool though. With the old school Hankook Porsche it makes me really want to see the original Viper put to the test and drifted because the form and total 90's styling might be interesting sideways. I'm just uninspired by the new Vipers (especially the model that comes with a tribal Mohawk on top)
YEAH BIG_BIRD! The R34 pulled out our best camera position....the Birds eye view. We never thought the cars would go around that area. Pretty scary moment for our camera guy though!
HELLLLLA SICK SHOTS FO SHO ANTONIO!
Big Bird, if you're not familiar with the way we do event coverage here at Speedhunters, we break it up into several stories, rather than having 300+ pics galleries without much info. If only you could see the photos I have in my HD! You will eventually as I post them up.
If you're a photographer or know someone who can pull better coverage than we do ourselves, by all means hit me up and I'll get them (or you) a media pass so you can try it out, and post the results on Speedhunters. No problems here, we'd love to have as many good photographers as we can get. Good photos is something we pride ourselves on, for our website.
PatDaly: I see what you mean, I dont know if I like the newest Viper or not either, maybe I'll have to test drive one and try it out for myself...
Belle 1: Thanks for the props! And thanks for the drinks in NJ man! We were dying out there, it was hot as hell.
Next stop Vegas....Your gonnna need some major drinks out there Antonio. Stop by!
Next stop Vegas....Your gonnna need some major drinks out there Antonio. Stop by!
Its unfortunate when cars like the Tylers porsche can advance "just because the porsche is that awesome" rather than looking at the actual drifting style.
I think its time that cars be put into classes to even the playing field.
eclipse, that's crazy. he advanced cause he kicked ass with his driving ability. AND of course the car's ability to accelerate like crazy mid drift, and catch up to whoever he's chasing. but it wasnt just cause it was a porsche. tyler has been paying his dues in the FD series, he's been in there a long time.
i do agree with the classes thing, that might make things a bit more interesting, huh....
Most fans and spectators at drift events don't get to see the behind the scenes drama unfolding in
By now most of you have seen the automotive action photos I shot at the Formula D New Jersey event. However
BN sports always for the win.