With Formula Drift Irwindale just around the corner I can’t help but get all nostalgic, especially since North American professional drifting will hit its ten year anniversary.
Before Formula Drift there were D1 Grand Prix exhibition competitions and even before that there was the Falken Drift Showoff.
Prior to these demonstration events, drivers like Yoshinori Koguchi could only be seen in Video Option DVDs.
Falken basically took the chance and brought over Koguchi-san and Seigo Yamamoto to compete Stateside with the hope that drifting would take off.
In a tribute to the teal and blue scallops I’ve put together a little visual list of the drivers of the Falken team and their cars.
D1 Japan versus USA at California Speedway was actually my very first drift event. Before this I just watched those crazy Japanese go sideways through my television.
That day was also the first and last time I have ever seen front-wheel drive drifting. Keisuke Hatakayama is known for ass-dragging his 1991 Honda Civic SiR (EF) all over the world. He even thought about moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in professional drifting with a front-wheel drive.
One of the very first American drivers to get picked up by any team was Vaughn Gittin Jr. You can read more about his story in my in-depth interview.
Like most guys at the time, Vaughn built his own car in his garage. It made a whooping 350hp, which was actually very competitive at the time. He still has this car in his garage and is planning on returning it to its former glory.
His second car was a 2005 Mustang, which earned the very first win for a foreigner in D1GP. The last time he drove this car was in 2008 for the Red Bull Drifting Championships. He also has this car in his garage; one day I think he will find enough time to restore all his old toys.
His third car was the one he piloted to his very first Formula Drift Championship. This one is retired now, but he still uses it for demos as it has his new livery.
There are probably at least ten of these 2013 Mustangs scattered all over the world. This one was built from the ground up. Who knows, this may become a championship-winning chassis as well.
These three guys are the epitome of cool. Mitsuru Haraguchi is one of the few drivers who has an FD win under his belt.
He drove an S13.5 as well as an S14 in competition, but he has not competed in a few years. He was actually spotted earlier this year in Seattle running his 326 Power booth. Hopefully he will start competing again.
Everyone’s favorite AE86 driver and the only one who still has an AE86 in Formula Drift is none other than Taka Aono.
Although he has gone through quite a few different chassis over the years, as always he gets right back up after he takes a spill.
He has yet to miss a Formula Drift event, even when he broke his leg.
Seigo Yamamoto has driven the most teal and blue cars out of any other driver, including this RX-7. I never even got a chance to see his RX-8 before it was parted out. Now what is left of it is at Dmac’s shop in Ireland.
The first FD win in a Japanese car went to Calvin Wan in 2005 at Infineon raceway.
Sadly he wrecked the Falken G35 at the same track.
He then drove his personal FD RX-7 for a while before moving on from professional drifting.
Hubert Young was your average Batman of the drifting world. Accountant by day and drifter by night.
He drove his heart out in FD as well as other series like Nopi drift, but unfortunately drifting was not paying the bills so he moved on.
When I think of Ryan Hampton I think of big American V8 muscle, because the ’69 Camaro he drove was one of the early V8s in Formula Drift competition (Rhys and Gushi being the first two). Believe it or not, Ryan was actually a member of Drift Alliance.
Just like most of the North American drivers, they all started in an S-chassis of one form or another.
The Camaro was the loudest car out of the entire grid at the time. I kicked myself for not having ear plugs as I am sure this car gave me permanent hearing loss.
One driver that I always admired for his sense of style as well as his laid-back outlook on life was Ross Petty.
He originally piloted the S13 that Daijiro used to win his first championship, although back in 2007 this car was still powered by an SR.
It is interesting because Ross complained that this car was too light and it was hard to drive…
…but once he built his own S15 which was heavier he seemed to do much better.
The sport of drifting is getting to an age where there are just so many new fans that don’t know the roots of their favorite drivers.
It is hard to imagine but Tony Angelo was once a Falken driver too, way before he was an FD judge.
The same goes for Chris Forsberg. I bet it’s hard for you guys to imagine him being a Falken driver.
He actually helped build this S15 and it was quirky for him at first because it was right-hand drive, but he eventually got used to it and earned his very first win at Irwindale in 2005 with the car.
The next year he picked up Sears as his title sponsor, but he was plagued with car problems all year. It was his worst year in FD, but two years later he would earn his first championship.
Ben Schwartz is another one of the pioneers of American drifting.
He was actually the first driver of the Saturn Sky before Darren McNamara took it over.
His stint in the Sky was short lived, so he drove his personal S13 ‘vert that was powered by a Honda S2000 F20C Turbo. Now he does not get behind the wheel much – instead he follows the Scion team around the North American Rally series.
Dmac’s role in North American drifting is pretty interesting. He is the gambler, if you will.
He put everything he had on the line by shipping his car to California one-way, in the hope that he would do well enough to get picked up by a major sponsor.
Well luckily it worked out for him and it was not a gamble after all. The following year he drove the entire season with his personal car painted in Falken colors.
Then he drove one of the most beautiful drift cars I have ever photographed: the Saturn Sky. According to Darren it was super hard to drive, but boy did he make it look good.
For the 2011 season the boys at ASD built an entirely new Saturn Sky, but this time it was a hard-top. Darren had an unfortunate incident with the walls of Long Beach this year and completely wrote the car off.
He jumped in the ASD 350Z, but it did not suit his driving style. So he moved on to the S15 which was newly refreshed with an almighty V8.
Tyler is another driver with a couple wins under his belt. It is neat because I also get to shoot his antics outside of drifting as he comes from a wheel-to-wheel racing background.
He first drove in the convertible LS-powered 350Z. That was wrecked at Irwindale, but it was rebuilt and it is currently sitting at ASD.
This hard-top version was the one that caused a bit of controversy at Las Vegas last year. At least he went out with a bang by winning his last race at the finals in Irwindale.
Before driving the Achilles Radial SC300, Robbie was driving a teal and blue Zenki S14.
But even before that he was driving the S13 sil truck for Team Orange.
Hiro Sumida is one of the OG guys who started drifting way before it became popular.
He was a force to be reckoned with, back when the cars were much less powerful and it was more about the driving. He even earned two third-place podiums in his personal Chaser.
Hiro had a thing for four-door drift cars: he has always had them. Since he left professional drifting in 2007 he has just been doing stuff behind the scenes by helping out Taka whenever he can, as well as judging at local pro-am events.
Dai has also been around since the beginning, I am used to seeing him in an S-chassis, so when he started with Falken in the IS350 it felt weird to me.
He said it was hard to drive at first and by the time he got used to it he stuffed it into the wall at Evergreen Speedway in 2009. After that the team only had a month to fix up Ross Petty’s old car into…
…the car he is known for, which is the LS-powered S13 that he piloted to his first championship. This is probably the most developed S-chassis in the world.
James Deane is a Falken-sponsored driver in Ireland, but he did come Stateside for one exhibition round so technically he has points in Formula Drift.
He drove the S15 that just about everyone has driven, but when it was still powered by an SR20.
And last but not least we have Justin Pawlak. He is one of the last drivers to join the Falken team.
He came so close to winning his first championship last year. A perfect storm would have to happen for Justin to be able to take top honors this year, but you never know: the Irwindale banking has its ways with these drivers.
Over a span of almost 10 years there have been 19 Falken factory-backed drivers who have earned points in Formula Drift competition. Who will they pick up next? Whoever comes along, I look forward to the next 10 years of North American drifting.
Larry
larry@dev.speedhunters.com
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Ass dragging? You really outdid yourself this time, Speedhunters. Couldn't you just call it "FF drifting" (because that's what it is)?
Ass dragging? You really outdid yourself this time, Speedhunters. Couldn't you just call it "FF drifting" (because that's what it is)?
Ass dragging? You really outdid yourself this time, Speedhunters. Couldn't you just call it "FF drifting" (because that's what it is)?
they should bring back the old Falken livery....Looks 10 times better than the current one that they have, sorta getting bored of looking at them to be honest!
they should bring back the old Falken livery....Looks 10 times better than the current one that they have, sorta getting bored of looking at them to be honest!
they should bring back the old Falken livery....Looks 10 times better than the current one that they have, sorta getting bored of looking at them to be honest!
@apex_DNA ass dragging it is.
@apex_DNA ass dragging it is.
@apex_DNA ass dragging it is.
@apex_DNA ass dragging it is.
Loving the Old camaro drifting. I hope to see some older modell drifting machines in the future.
Loving the Old camaro drifting. I hope to see some older modell drifting machines in the future.
http://cdn.dev.speedhunters.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/falken_ten_years_in_drifting-25.jpg
How i can find this spark plug cartoon?? under tein sticker
@MatsNorway So "FR drifting" is then ass pushing? Gotcha.
@BrunoArnoldUreta Dampachi!
Ass draging. This is why I love you Larry.
Amazing write up.
Isn't the ASD S15 the old HKS one that NOB used way back in D1GP?
Yes although ASD doesn't run the car. The second NOB HKS S15 chassis is in the UK.
James Deane drove 2 rounds in Formula Drift afaik!
Brilliant write up Larry! Very insighful!
Thanks for the history lesson Professor Chen.
@Dekro Ass pushing sounds just as retarted.
What ever happened to "Weapon H" I was watching Drift Alliance's Bad as Hell the other day and it seems like he just went from being an awesome top tier American drifter to vanishing into thin air. Anyone know?
You also forgot to mention that the S15 Chris helped build was actually Calvin's car for a couple years, before Calvin was kicked off of Falken. Also Vaughn has had 5 competition Mustangs. Not 3. He had the ones you mentioned, but you forgot the 2010 that he handed off to JTP once he got his 2011. He also built a new competition car (which is supposed to be a 2013) over the last off season. From what I've heard, he still has his 2011, and Falken still has his demo cars. (if he doesn't keep them himself lol)
@Wegs You just learned me something.
@Nicholas Rodriguez Last I heard he was still a driving instructor at Firebird Raceway. Maybe I am way off.
@sean klingelhoefer np junior Claus.
@LeDerp Thanks, you are right I forgot. Most of this stuff is off the top of my head. Which is scary.
@Dekro McDonalds tray drifting anyone?
"back when the cars were much less powerful and it was more about the driving" - THIS. Motorsports take more than a motor. I remember all of those cars and actually remember seeing the Honda and Falken team drifting in a random bay area parking lot. I use to drool over the G35 and Calvin drove the S15 for a little while if I remember correctly.
"back when the cars were much less powerful and it was more about the driving" - THIS. Motorsports take more than a motor. I remember all of those cars and actually remember seeing the Honda and Falken team drifting in a random bay area parking lot. I use to drool over the G35 and Calvin drove the S15 for a little while if I remember correctly.
"back when the cars were much less powerful and it was more about the driving" - THIS. Motorsports take more than a motor. I remember all of those cars and actually remember seeing the Honda and Falken team drifting in a random bay area parking lot. I use to drool over the G35 and Calvin drove the S15 for a little while if I remember correctly.
@Larry Chen Yeah most of it is off your head but not all!! you are welcome from the real OG around here!!
@Larry Chen Yeah most of it is off your head but not all!! you are welcome from the real OG around here!!
@Larry Chen Yeah most of it is off your head but not all!! you are welcome from the real OG around here!!
@Photoguyjay how rude of me. Thanks Jay!
@Photoguyjay how rude of me. Thanks Jay!
@Photoguyjay how rude of me. Thanks Jay!
What about Ross Petty's FD RX7?
What about Ross Petty's FD RX7?
What about Ross Petty's FD RX7?
That was not a full fledged Falken sponsored car. I do remember it though. It was red and it was built by Rotary Power. I think it was one of the best looking cars back then.
That was not a full fledged Falken sponsored car. I do remember it though. It was red and it was built by Rotary Power. I think it was one of the best looking cars back then.
That was not a full fledged Falken sponsored car. I do remember it though. It was red and it was built by Rotary Power. I think it was one of the best looking cars back then.
@apex_DNA @MatsNorway Ass pushing is understeer. Cmon guys!
@apex_DNA @MatsNorway Ass pushing is understeer. Cmon guys!
@apex_DNA @MatsNorway Ass pushing is understeer. Cmon guys!
Is it wrong that after looking at all these pics of Silvias, RX7s, Mustangs and 86s, that I went and looked up prices for EF Civics?
Is it wrong that after looking at all these pics of Silvias, RX7s, Mustangs and 86s, that I went and looked up prices for EF Civics?
Is it wrong that after looking at all these pics of Silvias, RX7s, Mustangs and 86s, that I went and looked up prices for EF Civics?
@Wegs The S15 that Calvin used at the end of his time with Falken was the Ex HKS Ex Rockstar-Yoshihara chassis.
@Wegs The S15 that Calvin used at the end of his time with Falken was the Ex HKS Ex Rockstar-Yoshihara chassis.
@Wegs The S15 that Calvin used at the end of his time with Falken was the Ex HKS Ex Rockstar-Yoshihara chassis.
@James1010 No.... If you enjoy sucking dick you fagot.
@James1010 No.... If you enjoy sucking dick you fagot.
@James1010 No.... If you enjoy sucking dick you fagot.
lol... no vision.
There is a ton of potential in all of these chassis, but I see a chance to create a unique and interesting DD with the EF.
lol... no vision.
There is a ton of potential in all of these chassis, but I see a chance to create a unique and interesting DD with the EF.
lol... no vision.
There is a ton of potential in all of these chassis, but I see a chance to create a unique and interesting DD with the EF.
@ReinisAlps tiešām ? Tu painteresējies par tām trubām ?
@ReinisAlps tiešām ? Tu painteresējies par tām trubām ?
@ReinisAlps tiešām ? Tu painteresējies par tām trubām ?
@James1010 To be honest there great cars.... Unique and interesting eh. What would be really cool is an AWD civic. That would own up at targa events.
@Lada Niva eater @James1010 Whatever you say, Initial D RWD drift fanboy.
@Lada Niva eater @James1010 No need for that. EFs already "own up" most FFs and take on boys three times its size. And AWD Civics are lame.
@Larry Chen @MatsNorway What are you trying to say?
@James1010 No, not at all. EF is the best FF drift chassis around. Most, if not all, FF drift greats have used the chassis in the past.
@RodChong Interestingly, the RS2 is now for sale in the UK - http://www.sumopower.com/blog/34/Sumo-Power-Demo-Car-Legends-For-Sale-Open-Day
As a new person to the sport, It's incredible to see how far things have come in a decade. I had no idea Falken contributed so much early on.
Mitsuru Haraguchi was a guest driver in King of Europe drift championchip filnal round at Slovakiaring, in Slovakia, this past weekend, together with Daigo Saito and Tetsuya Hibino. It was was amazing for me to get the chance to see them drifting in my country.
@Larry Chen It was pretty good, I personally could have done with out the fixed bug eye looking head lights and the black tribal decals.
Damn, Mickey looks like a 12 year old in that pic with JR's s13.
@apex_DNA @Lada @James1010 How can I be an Initial D fanboy if I am talking about Targa and AWD cars. Read everything in a comment before replying
@apex_DNA @Lada @James1010 Can you give me an example of an AWD civic so I can view it in all its lameness.
@Lada Niva eater @Lada @James1010 How does 10% of the power to the rear wheels sound? Lame.
@Lada Niva eater @James1010 Still doesn't take away the fact that AWD Civics are lame. They're the best FFs ever made, why ruin them with AWD? That's what Imprezas and Evos are for.
@apex_DNA @Lada @James1010 Yea defiantly the best FWD cars ever but imagine the ability it would have with all the changes in speed and tight corners on a Targa course. Evos and WRXs do well in targa but somthing like a civic with such a short wheelbase and lightweight has so much untapped potential.
Great to see Hiro getting a mention. Still got old pics of him driving from my first events as at Photog.
@Castro He still drives, but not a pro events. He will probably be at All Star Bash.
@Nicholas Rodriguez he is a tire tester for Cooper ires out in texas now
i am upset with FD for kicking Ross Petty out though...get real.
@DennisReese He did not get kicked out. He left on his own accord. Also he is still doing demo events for FD.
@DennisReese Really Dennis? I would love to hear where you got this information. Haha, that's a pretty good one.
Almost all of the cars are on tein suspension
@Ryan Ricers.
@Lada Niva eater @Lada @James1010 It's not that short, it's actually longer than that of an AE86, unless you're thinking CRX.
Ahh the good ol' days when it was easy to shoot photos at an FD event. I am really glad to see the sport grow, but damn is it hard to shoot on a Saturday anymore.
Here's a venue I miss
http://www.floridaracing.org/drifting/fdchicago05/images/IMG_9162.jpg
@Larry Chen
I thought Dai wrecked that lexus at irwindale? I remember holding one a traction rod that was bent into a "U" that was discarded by the 1st inner clipping point. or was that wreck hiro?
Hampton actually got his professional carerer started in turbo FC. Just saying. Lol
Lots of S Chasis. Those were the days..
Lots of S Chasis. Those were the days..
@Yanesnyawai How is it different from all the RWD fanboys now?
@apex_DNA Sorry. I'm just saying that there's a lot of S-Chasis. I'm a big fan. No offense man.
Man i miss seeing that teal and blue FD! Tony's old FD was always styling. Never got a chance to see it drifting in person. Hopefully Falken keeps it around for a few more years!
i remember the day at ggp when JR blew up his s13. good ol days