Yesterday we looked at some action from qualifying and practice, and now it's time for the Top 32 tandem competition from Formula Drift Long Beach.
As usual, the Top 32 brought more than its fair share of white knuckle battles, and a few upsets as well.
The first tandem match of 2010 was between #1 qualifier Rhys Millen, and #32 qualifier Jodin LeJeune. Not surprisingly, Rhys advanced from this one.
Next up was Stephan Verdier vs. Alex Pfeiffer. On the first run both cars spun on different parts of the course, but Verdier made up for it during his next run, advancing to the Top 16.
The third tandem match was a David and Goliath battle as Matt Powers faced Sam Hubinette. It quite literally looks like the Challenger is about to run over Matt's car here! In the end, the burly Challenger would move on.
Next up was a battle of two guys both driving new cars. Justin Pawlak in the Falken Mustang, and Forrest Wang in the Drift Emporium G35.
The battle would go to a One More Time before JTP spun the Mustang on the hairpin, allowing Forrest to advance.
Rookie Charles Ng was faced with the tough opponent of Darren McNamara in the Top 32. Ng tried his best, but a flawless run by DMac sent him and the Saturn Sky to the Top 16.
The next battle was one of the greatest of the weekend, with rookie James Deane performing a radical entry which shattered his rear spoiler on the wall. After beating Ken Gushi to move on to the Top 16, Deane had proved himself as a driver to fear.
The next match saw Tanner Foust going against Joon Maeng. Joon's RX8 seemed to he having some issues, so Tanner opened up a huge lead and never looked back.
John Rusakoff vs. Dai Yoshihara was another one the day's more exciting matches.
The battle went to a OMT, with Russakoff looking like he might be able to pull off the upset.
But in the end Dai and his V8 S13 narrowly earned the win and the ticket to the Top 16.
The biggest upset of the Top 32 happened in the next match, when Tyler McQuarrie misjudged Michihiro Takatori and lost his drift at the entrance to turn 10. This crucial mistake allowed Takatori to move on.
Next up, Pat Mordaunt and Conrad Grunewald. Conrad struggled to keep up with Pat while following, and this allowed Pat to earn the favor of the judges.
The following match had Fredric Aasbo going against Dean Kearney. With his aggressive moves and fast driving, Fredric and the Supra would move on.
2009 champ Chris Forsberg made his debut against Kyle Mohan's RX8.
Kyle had some solid runs, but Forsberg is the champ for a reason. The 350Z would advance.
Rookie driver Dennis Mertzanis had the misfortune of facing Vaughn Gittin Jr. in the Top 32. It wasn't that Dennis ran poorly, it was just that JR ran better.
Taka Aono had some transmission issues on his first run against Tony Brakohiapa, and by the time the AE86 was fixed, Tony B just had to finish his run to to seal the deal. The Mustang fighter would move on.
Next up privateer driver Jeff Abbott and his Miata faced the Pontiac Solstice of Ryan Tuerck. Jeff spun on the first run, handing the battle to Tuerck – but it was still a good weekend for Jeff and his little Roadster.
The final battle of the Top 32 put Ross Petty against Ryuji Miki in a battle of JDM machinery.
It took an OMT to settle, but Miki eventually earned the final spot in the Top 16.
That will do it for the Top 32. Top 16 action coming up tomorrow!
-Mike Garrett
OFFICIAL SPEEDHUNTERS SUPPLIERS
Some of them cars are damn fugly
Section09 your face is fugly. DONE.
I like the contrast of the s14 vs Challenger photo, really shows how low Matt's car is and how Large Sam's car is in size.
I hate the look of the superchargers sticking out from the hood.
yep SAM'S car is betond FILTH!
So...when do we get to see some of these V8s and Champions go up against the Champions of D1GP?
i dunno bout u but all these pics look exactly the same. BORING
All I have to say is that Powers should have advanced, the Challenger is a horribly overpowered ugly POS, and that Deanes a bad ass.
imo vaughn gittin's win against aasbo in the semi-finals was BS. i was there. JR was good, but Aasbo was just going further sideways faster. with JR chasing, there was a huge gap between them, compared to a much smaller gap during Aasbo's chase. Aasbo should've moved on to the final bout, not JR. the crowd seemed to agree with me.
http://www.youtube.com/user/DRFTmonkeh
James Deane against the wall looks amazing! Sam's Challenger on the other hand... stop even showing that thing- it makes my eyes hurt! It looks like an SUV out there!!! ROFL! He went from one hideous car to one something even worse... I almost feel bad for him... Nah!!!
its because he has a damn dodge endorsment. i have nothing against dodge, its just they have a tendency of making their cars as big as boats
Nice pics!
Looks like an awesome day.
Damn, so many haters out there.
Are you guys driving in Formula D? No? Shut the hell up then.
Getting sick of reading "omg those cars are ugly" or "that driver sucks ass"
what does being a formula d driver have to do with commenting on how ugly these cars are?
so you have to be a formula d driver to have an option on style? LOL
what does being a formula d driver have to do with commenting on how ugly these cars are?
so you have to be a formula d driver to have an option on style? LOL
Anyone pissed on how aggressive Von was with Millen on the final chase? That hit to the side in the hairpin was retarded, should have been a 0 for him. But hey, cool day to watch drifting in LB, beautiful weather and beautiful cars.
that Supra is siiick! good job Fredric and the FSR crew even though they only finished 4th. but damn, even 4th place is impressive!
There's only two problems with the Challenger. It needs to lose the big wing, as it should have a decklid lip spoiler or none at all. It also needs to lose the roof vent. That's it. It's a musclecar, it should look like a behemoth on the track trying to run over the small JDM hardware.
Why do you gys keep jamming LSxs into Nissans.
Maybe Nascar builders cant figure out how to get the RBs to work with tube frames?
drift emporium team seems to have exploded this year!
@ hater: low end torque, reliability, parts, and most important, no turbo lag. Duh.
@ driftmonkeh
Look man, we all LOVED Aasbo, he flat tore it up. BUT HE DID NOT WIN. Why can't you knock it off? Both Gittin and Aasbo were on a mission, thats no doubt. But look again at Aasbo vs Gitten, then Aasbo vs Faust. Plain to see, Aasbo was losing his edge in those final runs. "WOW, thats the biggest gap Aasbo has let anyone have all day" I distinctly heard and SAW from my FRONT ROW seat.
Some people want to see the same thing over and over again.
I personally LOVE the V8's, muscle cars, and the superchargers sticking through the hoods alongside the familiar s13,14,15's ae86's, rx's and such.
Yes my face is fugly, I accept.
aasbo should have adavnced!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ...fd is starting to get boring
PLS post a desktop of the opening picture!!!