The Green Goblin Drift Car

Racing is relatively new in China. Heck, owning a car was just a dream for most Chinese people less than 30 years ago. So, without much influence from the outside world the local racecar drivers have found their own style. This A31 Nissan Cefiro was the brainchild of Chinese professional drifter Lu Jin of the Tornado Drift Team. I have been watching him compete in World Drift Series China since 2009 – he was actually a Red Bull China-sponsored driver with a rallying background.

I’ve seen this car evolve from a drift car that was mostly stock to this ‘Mad Max’-style build. The Nissan is still running the RB20DET, but it is extensively modified. Lu has taken as much weight out of it as possible, but he has not sacrificed safety and had bolted on as much crash protection to the outside as possible.

To save weight he even used hood pins as the rear door handles. Pretty efficient if you ask me.

Does it drift? Well, does this photo answer your question? If that does not blow your mind get this: he has found an ingenious way of keeping the temperatures down on the RB20DET. If you think those fins on the door are for aesthetics then think again. That’s right, he mounted the radiator in the door! Since the car does not spend much time going straight it actually makes sense. It may not be the safest solution, but it is a very Chinese way of thinking. There was an overheating problem and he presented an efficient solution. Amazing to say the least.

What about the helicopter-style skids around the side? Do you still think they are stupid? I didn’t think so. How else will you transport your eight closest friends to the Top 16 opening ceremony? It might just work Stateside, but with eight umbrella girls instead of flag guys. Out of all the Chinese cars this one was Fredric Aasbo’s favorite because it reminded him of his Supra, ‘Chucky.’  I agree with him one hundred percent.

Larry Chen

More car spotlights on Speedhunters

More stories from Larry Chen on Speedhunters

ADVERTISEMENT

Comments



Comments are closed.

234 comments

by Oldest
by Best by Newest by Oldest
1
mbretschneider

Make LAR_6959.JPG and LAR_0593.jpg into wallpaper versions, this beasts deserves being featured on desktops all around! (and its good to print out and scare people too!)

2
KietaPhillips

Genius build

3
mbretschneider

 @KietaPhillips Indeed, its a fantastic car! completely the opposite of the cleaner builds, it seems like it survives of scavenging and it is full of battle scars

4
nick666666666666666

this is the biggest piece of shit drift car i have ever seen , hope it goes on fire or he drives it full speed into a wall

5
KietaPhillips

 @mbretschneider Agreed, its what I call experience.

6
KietaPhillips

 @nick666666666666666 Gee, hateful much? if you don't like then leave and take your rude comments with you.

7
nick666666666666666

 @KietaPhillips nope , it looks shit  and i want everyone on the internet to know my opinion

8
KietaPhillips

 @nick666666666666666 smh, sad...

9

is it ugly? i will say yes. do i like it? no. but hey, its a competition and one can do anything (within the rule) to win. i think with some nice graphics it can look good too. :)

10
mbretschneider

 @yanes33537 living in a place with barely NO rwd cars and wanting badly a japanese RWD car, i can know how much they might struggle with imports in china. Car imports here have 300% of the price on taxes... I can immagine how this guy must struggle to get his parts and such, and this has my respect

11

This thing is even better in real life.

12
mbretschneider

 @MattPowers I bet this guy puts a show out there,  have you battled him at any point?

13

 @MattPowers I think Matt battled him last year. It was all flat black back then. Kyle Mohan knocked him out this year though.

14

 @mbretschneider  @yanes33537 I agree. When the Inital D live action movie came out they were e-brake sliding VW Jetta's "Santana's". At least this is an upgrade from this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rChCe5j5kl4

15
mbretschneider

 @Larry Chen  @yanes33537 The scene around here is FWD VW turbos hooning in the streets, brazil has only one pro drift team that competes against itself in our local championship...

16

I had a good look at this car, and the driver had hand held squirter bottles to spray the door mounted radiator as he was drifting.  Awesome!! 

17

I had a good look at this car, and the driver had hand held squirter bottles to spray the door mounted radiator as he was drifting.  Awesome!! 

18

I had a good look at this car, the driver had hand held squirter bottles to spray the door mounted radiator as he was drifting.  Awesome!! 

19

I had a good look at this car, the driver had hand held squirter bottles to spray the door mounted radiator as he was drifting.  Awesome!! 

20

I had a good look at this car, the driver was using A hand held squirter bottle to spray the door mounted radiator as he was drifting.  Awesome!! 

21

I had a good look at this car, the driver was using A hand held squirter bottle to spray the door mounted radiator as he was drifting.  Awesome!! 

22

@mbretschneider I don't think I have. I've seen him get pretty big angle though especially last round. Also one time in tandem his tapped the guy in front of him and his bash bar ripped off and got stuck in the lead cars fiberglass. It was awesome.

23

@mbretschneider I don't think I have. I've seen him get pretty big angle though especially last round. Also one time in tandem his tapped the guy in front of him and his bash bar ripped off and got stuck in the lead cars fiberglass. It was awesome.

24

It needed a photo from the rear, since you can't get a whole idea behind this crazy build. It is something new to my eyes, but I still hope they will repaint this car in the future.)

25

It needed a photo from the rear, since you can't get a whole idea behind this crazy build. It is something new to my eyes, but I still hope they will repaint this car in the future.)

26

build for its purpose... looks strange but awesome at the same time ^^
 

27

build for its purpose... looks strange but awesome at the same time ^^
 

28

The last photo is priceless...

29

 @mbretschneider @Larry Chen @yanes33537 well actually we do get jap RWD machines made in China, the Toyota Raiz...or better known as...MARK X!!! and of course the Crown that shares the same platform...unfortunately they only come with auto...none of the other RWD models from Toyota has officially on sale here so there's little resources for engine/trans swap and our tuning industry is simply not developed enough to build our own box so yea...sadface indeed...=(

30
ILoveDrifting19

You would think the lighter the car the worse it drifts...? if you think about it, time trial cars have as much weight as possible taken off so they increase grip.. don tyou want just the opposite for a drift car? idk lol help me out!!

31
ILoveDrifting19

either way that car is bad ass!!

32
ILoveDrifting19

Love the green paint w/ black rims!

33

@mbretschneider i didnt mean disrespect. i didnt demand a better car. nissan cefiro is a reputable driftcar. got no comment on that. but what im tring to say is please give this car paint and stickers. mr larry already give an idea of what theme suit it best: GREEN GOBLIN! and i dont think this "....Chinese professional drifter Lu Jin of the Tornado Drift Team. I have been watching him compete in World Drift Series China since 2009 – he was actually a Red Bull China-sponsored driver with a rallying background." got problem with that. look what RedBull had done to rhys millen genesis? madmike's twin rotaries? and he's a professional. im sure trading paint with the wall and losing body kits is a rare occasion.

34

Drifting Derby, coming to a track near you!  If anything it has echos of Death Race...

35

Team Orange of D1GP has had door radiators for years

OFFICIAL SPEEDHUNTERS SUPPLIERS