Drifting... sport or no sport?

[MaxHarvard]

i equate drifting to the male version of ice skating. There's no clear cut winner, and by that i mean, if someone who didnt know jack about the sport walked up and could easily say "Yep, thats the winner" then its a sport. if it takes a "trained eye" and subjectivity, its not a sport. Example, Hockey... the final score is 3-2... clear winner. On the flip side, ice skating... no clear winners, just a group of people in the judges box making subjective opinions about someones performance in a vein attempt to make it look objective by putting a "Objective" number to it.

Sure it may look pretty, but its all masturbation in my book. I'm all for horsepower and powerful cars... but to me it just seems like a waste of good tires and good talent.

Drifting in my books is similar to the triple jet powered trucks you see at exhibitions... its all for show, no real practical application.

Just my opinion.

[sinned]

Well put.

[Ummgawa]

Paint numbers on Turtles, get sponsors and TV time, and its a sport. I say it is a sport, VERY reluctantly, because as I stated before in a previous thread, I accidentally watched drifting for 5 minutes one time and was zipping throught the channels at 2:00 am and saw it again for 15 seconds. Funny thing though, it looked exactly the same.

Turtles racing would have been more interesting.But if it came down to Poker or drifting on ESPN, drifting wins but just barely.

[DCreations]

It's sport in my book

[JamesJ]

sport? yes.

Talented? Most of the time its peopele who are just not good enough to do any "real" racing. But I am sure alot of the "pro" drifters could beat me around a road course. or maybe not who knows.

[Bill Howell]

I am not sure it is a sport, but it sure looks like fun. I am not sure I could go to the track to watch a day of drifting, but I would jump at the chance to spend 30 minutes behind the wheel of one of the cars. I have only watched short videos of drifting, but I know from my limited exposure there are some talented drivers out there doing it. A controlled 180 slide or sliding thru the esses at 60 or 80 miles an hour in a tight environment without hitting any cones is certainly not childs play.

[mazspeed]

I voted no. It looks silly. No real meaning to it.

[JayR]

That judged argument isn't getting any events pulled from the Olympics or the ESPN X-Games so you might reconsider your "final score" opinion about sports unless you can keep up with a pro drifter which is what their judging is based on. What's next, denying the skills of a world class gymnast, skateboarder, or freestyle MXer because they don't have to make touchdowns? Ever seen the X-Games? It's one of the biggest draws on ESPN and the vast majority of it is judged. Those guys jumping 150 feet on motorcycles used to race them until they saw how much $$$ the freestylers were making and it's still a sport and they're still athletes.
Who here hasn't had a smile plastered on his or her face from perfectly negotiating a corner by only using the throttle and some skill?? Would you say no if someone offered to pay you for it? I doubt it. If you still want to argue the merits of whether it's a sport or not, try to go out and keep up with them. They have major skill and brass clankers to slide a car around a corner at 80+ completely sideways close enough to the next car to look the driver in the eye. A lot of the top pros in drifting were pro rally drivers which is undeniably a sport but isn't too big in this country so if they want to get paid to drive, they go drifting where the money and sponsors are and if they can make a living sliding a car around a course, good for them! It's a car guy's dream.
Even if it's not a "true sport" in the sense of judging instead of timing, Can anyone here say they wouldn't love to go out there on someone else's dime or watch an event without admitting major skill and enjoying yourself?
The Formula D schedule just added an event in my area this August and I can't wait to see them! Check it before you dismiss it!

[mazspeed]

That judged argument isn't getting any events pulled from the Olympics or the ESPN X-Games so you might reconsider your "final score" opinion about sports unless you can keep up with a pro drifter which is what their judging is based on. What's next, denying the skills of a world class gymnast, skateboarder, or freestyle MXer because they don't have to make touchdowns? Ever seen the X-Games? It's one of the biggest draws on ESPN and the vast majority of it is judged. Those guys jumping 150 feet on motorcycles used to race them until they saw how much $$$ the freestylers were making and it's still a sport and they're still athletes.
Who here hasn't had a smile plastered on his or her face from perfectly negotiating a corner by only using the throttle and some skill?? Would you say no if someone offered to pay you for it? I doubt it. If you still want to argue the merits of whether it's a sport or not, try to go out and keep up with them. They have major skill and brass clankers to slide a car around a corner at 80+ completely sideways close enough to the next car to look the driver in the eye. A lot of the top pros in drifting were pro rally drivers which is undeniably a sport but isn't too big in this country so if they want to get paid to drive, they go drifting where the money and sponsors are and if they can make a living sliding a car around a course, good for them! It's a car guy's dream.
Even if it's not a "true sport" in the sense of judging instead of timing, Can anyone here say they wouldn't love to go out there on someone else's dime or watch an event without admitting major skill and enjoying yourself?
The Formula D schedule just added an event in my area this August and I can't wait to see them! Check it before you dismiss it!

I did see this abomination on ESPN once, my wife asked me to turn it, and I did. I could not turn the channel fast enough, but I have also seen bathtub racing and World Series of Poker, The Fishin' Hole, and yes Dodgeball, so I don't consider ESPN the greatest sports channel in the world. I mean really, they have events for how many hot dogs you can eat. Give me a break. I also think the XGames are a joke, and I'm sorry but I no longer watch the Olympics. Too many worthless events, and I can't stomach watching sports that have no place in what used to be a great event as the Olympics was. It's all about sponsors, and what they will pay for and want to see. I'm sorry to say but sponsors will sponsor anything that they think dumb people will watch. If they thought people would watch underwater basket weaving they would have billboards for underwater tampons and douche ads. Just because someone sponsors something doesn't make that something a sport. Sorry just my judgmental opinion. I'm going to write to ESPN to see if they can get behind a "real sport". Beer chugging. I mean we can't get enough sexy beer ads in my book. Don't let my opinion think this is a cut on you JayR, it's not. :)

[JayR]

I did see this abomination on ESPN once, my wife asked me to turn it, and I did. I could not turn the channel fast enough, but I have also seen bathtub racing and World Series of Poker, The Fishin' Hole, and yes Dodgeball, so I don't consider ESPN the greatest sports channel in the world. I mean really, they have events for how many hot dogs you can eat. Give me a break. I also think the XGames are a joke, and I'm sorry but I no longer watch the Olympics. Too many worthless events, and I can't stomach watching sports that have no place in what used to be a great event as the Olympics was. It's all about sponsors, and what they will pay for and want to see. I'm sorry to say but sponsors will sponsor anything that they think dumb people will watch. If they thought people would watch underwater basket weaving they would have billboards for underwater tampons and douche ads. Just because someone sponsors something doesn't make that something a sport. Sorry just my judgmental opinion. I'm going to write to ESPN to see if they can get behind a "real sport". Beer chugging. I mean we can't get enough sexy beer ads in my book. Don't let my opinion think this is a cut on you JayR, it's not. :)

Haha, no worries Maz, but I think all tampons work underwater.....
I dig X-Games and drifting because it's not the same old overpaid, spoiled brat, stick and ball players and it's a show of unique skills. If you do something well, why not capitalize on it, no matter what you do or who you are? If people line up to see you do it, all the better!

[lil427z]

yes.
rick kirkindall :)

[R67Chevelle]

Yes it may take some talent, but if this is considered a sport, then the next nomination of the next sport will be porno..

this may sound a little outrageous, but hey it's new years eve and I having a couple of mixed drinks right now. The real talent or (sport) is all you guys out there taking our talents to craft a basket heap into a performance work of art... Now PT I would consider a sport first before considering drifting a sport...

God bless and look forward to some great new PT rides for 2006.

Looks like I will be redoing my chevelle after owning it now for almost 19 years... Will post some picture in a couple of months... :thumbsup:

[Huxsol81]

No, not in my book.

[RussMS]

I do not feel it is a sport, but I do think it looks cool and requires a lot of skill. I can usually watch about 2 minutes of it prior to changing the channel. :D

[tndude]

Well, I never studied much in high school...sort of "drifted" :lol: Is that a sport?

I'd say no.

[Kendall Burleson]

It is a sport any time the Factory get in the middle of it because they will not spend yes: time or money if it not veiw by babyboomer and the youth as a set. :yes:

[Boxer]

No matter how many conversations and arguements people have about drifting, there will never be a clear agreement made over it.

[JayR]

If nothing else, the drift cars are basically PT cars engineered to go sideways but make no mistake, there is a ton of engineering in the top level cars that we can admire and learn and borrow from. Imagine Rhys Millen's GTO with a little smaller rear sway bar to get that rearend in check out on a road course. That car would fly!
And if this thread started from the articles in Hot Rod this month, it beats the heck out of reading about another Street Car Shootout aka "Worlds Slowest Pro Mods"
And for the entry level dude looking to beat his car on a Saturday, it's alot funner than bracket racing and can teach some skills you can apply to a road course or auto-x

[Derek69SS]

Not really a "sport" in my opinion, but it looks like fun... and I practice doing it myself every time we get a little snow :D

Racing is the ONLY sport.
Everything else is just a game :lol:

[RaceMan]

its definetly fun but i don't think it should be a sport its an art, but just like alot of sports now if enough people want to see it it'll be a sport :eek:

[Boxer]

Ok, I wanted to type more last time, but I was on my way out the door. As a magazine Editor I see drifting as a great SPECTATOR sport. It isn't a winner vs loser sport and does come across as weird to alot of motorsport people due to the judging aspect, but it's traditionally Japanese and they do things differently to the US and other countries. Following the recent D1 event at Irwindale though, where the Japan vs USA battle was won by USA in an American car (the Falken Tires Mustang) I think that more and more interest will seen the the sport over here. The fact that there Vipers, Mustangs, a GTO, Charger and an ol school Camaro racing in the US series is great! Not to mention Chris Forsberg pulling the 3.5L V6 out og his 350Z and dropping a Titan truck 5.6L V8 into it!

Anyone who genuinely posts in here saying things like "drifting is gay" should probably go for a ride in a top level drift car. Nobody I know in the car industry would say that seeing a car take a corner sideways at 120 on the limiter with smoke pouring off the back tyres is gay.

As a sport in general, there's regular events in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Ireland, Europe, the USA and a whole stack of other countries.

My opinion here is that ANY form of motorspot is awesome and is great for the industry both in parts, sponsorship, media and getting more people involved who may have been concidering taking up golf or fishing instead.

Give the sport a look in if you're not convinced by other peoples opinions. Don't let other people decide what you think.

If you like smoke and noise.... you'll like drifting

[Boxer]

i equate drifting to the male version of ice skating.

Just on that point quickly too. Ice skating including Ice Hockey? If so I do too. You could compare being chased down the ice as you struggle to get the puck to the other end to being chased round a corner by another car around a corner sideways at 120 no more than a few feet away from each other. Vehicular violence! (apart from at the end of it, they don't pull their helmets off and beat the **** out of each other) :thumbsup:

[Boxer]

But I am sure alot of the "pro" drifters could beat me around a road course. or maybe not who knows.


Alot of the Japanese D1 drivers are also top level JGTC and time attack drivers.

[The Thinker]

(apart from at the end of it, they don't pull their helmets off and beat the **** out of each other) :thumbsup:

Just give us time! We will get some Ambrose v. Murphey action before you know it!

[*rayman*]

Me and my buddies used to take our cars into large well maintained grassed areas, and "play"..... does this qualify as a sport too? Lawn events we used to call it... a little safer then playing in the snow....

[Boxer]

Me and my buddies used to take our cars into large well maintained grassed areas, and "play"..... does this qualify as a sport too? Lawn events we used to call it... a little safer then playing in the snow....

If you have the approval of a governing body and spectators. Actually..... I believe I've seen the SPORT of ride-on mower racing on TV.

Infact, I know someone who hurt themself competeing in an event :rofl:

[MaxHarvard]

Just on that point quickly too. Ice skating including Ice Hockey? If so I do too. You could compare being chased down the ice as you struggle to get the puck to the other end to being chased round a corner by another car around a corner sideways at 120 no more than a few feet away from each other. Vehicular violence! (apart from at the end of it, they don't pull their helmets off and beat the **** out of each other) :thumbsup:


LOL I played ice hockey for years... so yes, i know what its like LOL

I meant "figure skating"... not just plain skating ;)

[JayR]

Well put, Boxer!

[rwhite692]

I just don't see any lasting appeal to it unless you are about 8-9 years old. I think it could be called a sport in the same way that monster truck racing could be called a sport. "Big, stupid fun" is more like it, and there's nothing wrong with big stupid fun.

I think if this sport/activity really had any legs to it, in terms of being taken seriously as a motorsport, then there wouldn't be a bunch of people (and car people, at that) debating wether or not it has any merit.

Will it stand the test of time? IMHO....Nope. I give it about another year.

I did enjoy watching the guy drift that Charger around the traffic circle in the Dukes of Hazzard movie tho. That was enough drifting entertainment to last me ~5 yrs.

[Boxer]

I just don't see any lasting appeal to it unless you are about 8-9 years old. I think it could be called a sport in the same way that monster truck racing could be called a sport. "Big, stupid fun" is more like it, and there's nothing wrong with big stupid fun.

I think if this sport/activity really had any legs to it, in terms of being taken seriously as a motorsport, then there wouldn't be a bunch of people (and car people, at that) debating wether or not it has any merit.

Will it stand the test of time? IMHO....Nope. I give it about another year.

I did enjoy watching the guy drift that Charger around the traffic circle in the Dukes of Hazzard movie tho. That was enough drifting entertainment to last me ~5 yrs.


Big stupid fun is great! Hence the word FUN :) you wouldn't have to ask me twice if I wanted to drive a Monster Truck. I've been trying to line that up as a story for my magazine for a while. :thumbsup:

ps: The guy driving the Charger in the Dukes movie was Rhys Millen, US D1 driver (and son if Rod Millen... Who just happens to be drifting now too). I didn't see them getting Dale Earnhart Junior to do the driving for that one... Maybe he was just too busy filming Jeans commercials :unibrow:

[rwhite692]

Big stupid fun is great! Hence the word FUN :) you wouldn't have to ask me twice if I wanted to drive a Monster Truck. I've been trying to line that up as a story for my magazine for a while. :thumbsup:

ps: The guy driving the Charger in the Dukes movie was Rhys Millen, US D1 driver (and son if Rod Millen... Who just happens to be drifting now too). I didn't see them getting Dale Earnhart Junior to do the driving for that one... Maybe he was just too busy filming Jeans commercials :unibrow:

Yep Boxer I watched the DVD extras...thanks I couldn't remember the guy's name. Sounds like we are in total agreement.

[zbugger]

I actually like drifting. It seems like a good challenge to keep the car sliding and not hit the wall. The closer you get, the better. The more sideways, the better. Now doing it in the rain, well, that's another story altogether. :yes:

[Boxer]

I actually like drifting. It seems like a good challenge to keep the car sliding and not hit the wall. The closer you get, the better. The more sideways, the better. Now doing it in the rain, well, that's another story altogether. :yes:


Exactly... Seems like a lot of hard cores think they're drifters before even having a go at it, then when they hit the track... they hit the wall. Great for entertainment value. :willy:

[DriftNasty]

http://www.shift-lock.net/oilcover/D1usvsjp.wmv

Hear is a little vid for those of you who may have never seen drifting. I think that this a great sport and for those who said it doesn't take skill I would like to see you take your car around the big oval at Irwindale speedway sideways at 100+mph staying within inchs of the competitor infront of you. If any of you are in the western washington area and I will let you know the next time we will be having a local drift event or practice and I will invite you out to see what you think of the "SPORT". :D

Don't mean to ruffle any feathers but don't knock something until you try it....
And if you try drifting I am sure you will love it.

IMO the most fun you can have in a car hands down
bow down to the drift :hail:

[gchandler]

I voted yes, and I am a big fan of drifting. In fact I started a website dedicated to it: www.driftlive.com

I was first exposed to drifting while I worked at Hotrods to Hell and we were comissioned to build a 1969 camaro to drift on the Formula D circuit. My view from the outside was that drifting mirrored the import honda sceane with nothing but posers. Soon I found that this could not be further from the truth. In fact I am putting together a 1990 5.0 mustang to go out and give some local drift events a stab.

For those who have not given it a second glance I recommend you give it a second look.

As I type this it reminds me of when I told all my friends to by AAPL stock. They all though I was crazy. That was back in october of 2003.

If you are involved at all with the performance aftermarket, especially mustangs, I would pay attention to what is happening with the drift sceane as it is growing rapidly and the hottest growth platform right now is the Ford mustang.

Well that is my $.02

[Boxer]

Good stuff man. The Camaro is a great car and Ryan is a really cool guy. Looking forward to heading out to AZ to see him.

[bobo]

its one of those things where both sides can make a good point and arguments or opinions to back them up. i my self have seen one or two parts of those races but my A.D.D. kicks in and i change the channel. from what i have seen it takes alot of hand and eye cordination to get the car to swing for that long. i would think of it as more of a sport if the end result was determined by who crossed the line first more times than everybody else and not by judged points .and thats what i have to say about that.

[Blown353]

Ah, drifting. While certainly not the fastest way around the track it's probably the most cool-looking way to go around it and a very good way to burn off a set of tires. :P

It definately takes skill and IMO is *way* more fun to do yourself than to watch someone else do it. A friend of mine has a very large open flat pasture on his 320 acre ranch and we have several "beater" mini-trucks (RWD w/stick of course) which we have fun with out there. It may redneck drifting (cow-pies and all) but it's drifting nonetheless. :rofl:

I've also been known to make quickie stops in the vacant and wide-open fairground parking lot on the way home from work for similar antics, especially if it's been raining.

I haven't made up my mind if I would consider it a "sport" or not. It's damn good fun (no doubt about that!) and many of the participants are quite talented and I'm sure are having a blast with it.

[Damn True]

I'm sure it isn't easy (but then neither is figure skating), I'm sure it's fun (but so is a perfect golf shot) but it, like golf and figure skating is not a sport.

[zbugger]

I voted yes, and I am a big fan of drifting. In fact I started a website dedicated to it: www.driftlive.com

I was first exposed to drifting while I worked at Hotrods to Hell and we were comissioned to build a 1969 camaro to drift on the Formula D circuit. My view from the outside was that drifting mirrored the import honda sceane with nothing but posers. Soon I found that this could not be further from the truth. In fact I am putting together a 1990 5.0 mustang to go out and give some local drift events a stab.

For those who have not given it a second glance I recommend you give it a second look.

As I type this it reminds me of when I told all my friends to by AAPL stock. They all though I was crazy. That was back in october of 2003.

If you are involved at all with the performance aftermarket, especially mustangs, I would pay attention to what is happening with the drift sceane as it is growing rapidly and the hottest growth platform right now is the Ford mustang.

Well that is my $.02
Geoff, aren't your buddies in the latest issue of Hot Rod magazine? Sure looks like them. Also, I think it's the only '69 Camaro in Formula D. Well, that's what the article made it seem like.

I can't help but like drifting. I made the mistake of doing it in downtown San Francisco after getting pissed off at a cab for cutting me off. Between the tire rub on the fenderwell, and the fact that the car looked like a drag car at the time, it was really fun. And now I have to hold back from e-brake turning into every damn parking spot...... :fluffy:

[Boxer]

I'm sure it isn't easy (but then neither is figure skating), I'm sure it's fun (but so is a perfect golf shot) but it, like golf and figure skating is not a sport.

OMG!!! you're totally right. There's not even one mention of the word sport on the US Figure Skating Assocation's website http://www.usfsa.org/


Who cares :rofl:

[gchandler]

Yeah Brendan and Ryan, the owner and the driver.

So far the camaro is the only car built before 1984 competing.

[1970cuda]

if it is a sport it is one of the better smelling ones? nothing like to smell of burning tires in the morning

[Dezduster]

My problem with drifting is the judging is subjective to peoples natural biassing. Now put accelerometers in the cars race an equal length track once inside once outside use average time and use accelerometers info to get real data on how sideways for duration,pitch + speed. Now you have a clear cut winner,not I like jap (insert your favorite here) cars best,specially the yellow ones and he is my favorite crap. Now you have a sport not just a competition. If it can be judged equaly its a sport otherwise its popularity competition!!
Do they have skills oh yeah. I can say I have drifted as far as anyone but most dont have 6 mile long dry lakes around them. When it raines the mud is 1/2" deep and you can drift your junk from one end to the other constant pitch. Fast sometimes slow most but it is far more fun to DO than watch.

[Boxer]

I just had to shoot back to Australia to take care of some things. Luckily my friend has no licence and said I could borrow his car. I'm taking it to a skid pan day on Sunday, so I'll try getting some footage.

http://www.initialdrift.com.au/gallery/albums/upload/cars_idas15/normal_AMRS_2590.jpg

[3SuperSports]

It's entertaining, but not a "sport". To me there's no clear winner or loser, much like many of the events in the Olympics. They take skill, sure, but if a group of judges has to declare a winner, not a sport!

[jeff s]

It's awesome car control!
HUbinette and Millen are both accomplished national caliber racers in the Rally world. I've ridden shotgun around a drift course with pro-driver, those guys are good and I say its a sport. Beats the hell out of hitting a ball with a stick. or other adults playing child's games.

[J2SpeedandCustom]

I didn't read every post so sorry if this has already be said.
I view it more as a competition than a sport. Just like a sport you compete and a winner is "choosen" not "decided".

I agree with Jeff the guys that do it are excellent drivers with alot of talent! And every guy loves a 100mph burnout for 1000'... :hail:

[Beast2831]

I said yes. I think it is a sport however, I think it is a stupid one. I have watched it once and that was enough for me. I think most will agree that it is a sport, but will also state that most do not like it. Just my two cents!

[Hdesign]

I really don't understand what the goal of Drifting is? My understanding is that it's like this analogy:

Drifting is to competitive autosports what figure skating is to competitive ice sports in the Olympics. Is it less about speed and more about technique?

It looks like fun to me anyway.

[deuce_454]

of course an event where people meet to test their skills and be judged on them is a sport.. its like horse-jumping or millitary (or whatever it is called when they ride a horse sideways) and judges award points.. just there are alot more horses involved in drifting...

There are many many sports where the winner is declared by a panel of judges rather than who finishes first.. is boxing not a sport?? what about aerobatics ??? i would rather watch boxing than swimming or speedskating.. yet the two latter have the winner declared by who finishes first and not points.. so just because you hate imports, ricers or whatever you call it.. and some kid with neon lights under his acura watches it, or perhaps you just find it a stupid waste of perfectly good rubber.. that doesnt mean its not a sport..

as for hitting a ball with a stick.. now there is somthing i have a hard time relating to.. :unibrow: (ill get flamed for this.. i just know it)

[Diognes56]

Out of curiosity I went to the RSR Drift Festival at the Rt66 Raceway in Joliet a couple of years back. After watching the RSR team go around the course 4 deep, all close enough to each other and close enough to the walls that there is no margin of error, I have to say yes it is a sport. I agree what many of you are saying about the judging being subjective, but that aside I still have to say it is a sport. I will probably go to another event someday to see particular cars/drivers, but it is not something I would go to far out of my way to go see otherwise. If I had the money, it would be fun to try though.

David

[XcYZ]

I'm trying to think of some of the events out there that are judged... already mentioned was figure skating, then there's diving, boxing, all gymnastics, the NBA's slam dunk contest, American Idol... and, of course, freestyle Motocross.

If you're into drifting, that's fine with me. I have no problem with it. It obviously takes skill and dedication to excel at it.

[RussMS]

I'm trying to think of some of the events out there that are judged... already mentioned was figure skating, then there's diving, boxing, all gymnastics, the NBA's slam dunk contest, American Idol... and, of course, freestyle Motocross.

The one that keeps coming to mind as most subjective is car shows. The Year One category winners and Year One cup somehow excluded the Bob Johnson's G-Force 'Cuda and Bill Howell's' GTO.

Taking nothing away from the SN65 taking second place, I love that car too, but I still dont think these cars shouldv'e went unrecognized.

my 2 cents anyway

[Bill Howell]

Thanks Russ, but my car was not a Top Three car at that event. I would go as far as saying that it was not a Top Ten car. I did win my class there, but honestly, Mike Holleman's car should have won. I got there late, and ran around the track several times, so I am not real sure how I got enough votes to win...lol
The more important event that happened that day was Dennis Gage doing a feature for his show on the goat.
You are right about Bob's car, it truely was robbed at that event. However, he had the last laugh when at the next Year One event that Chip Foose judged the cars, the Cuda won. Plus at Columbus he did eventually beat the 67 Chevelle. On top of that, the Cuda was not a trailer queen on the Power Tour. More important than a car show trophy is the fact we drive our junk.

Thanks though, I will go right now and wipe the dusk off the goat for you....lol

[Bill Howell]

Someone sent me this link tonight. Sport or no sport, I gotta say there is talent to do this stuff. Until the ones that discount it can show me this is child's play and not a sport, I will keep thinking maybe it is. :yes:
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/226832/drifting_skills/

[tyoneal]

To All:

It's a Sport.

It's not a lot different than Aerobatic's, except it's 2 dimintional instead of 3 dimentional.

I've been told Automobile Racing Drivers are not Athletes because they sit in a car all through the race. I say to this BS.

I would rather watch cars, hear cars and smells cars than just about any, "Sport" I can think of.

Golf is called a sport. Tennis is called a sport. Fishing is called a sport. I think all of these are boring as hell, but they are still considered sports.

Just because a winner is judged in part subjectively, doesn't have a darn thing to do with whether or not it is a sport.

Football is called a sport, however all of the penaltie called are subjective in nature. Same with Baseball, Hockey and just about anything else where a judge has to make a decision. These often have a dramatic role in who wins.

I think this takes place even in Auto Racing.

From a different perspective:

Maybe Auto Racing is not a Sport because of the subjective nature of any calls made by an official.

Many people find Auto Racing boring because all the cars do is go around and around. They don't think the drivers are even athletes because all they do is drive for a few hours. They say, it's the car doing all the work not the drivers.

I think this whole thing is silly. If you like it, Good! If you don't like it, Good! If it bores you, big deal don't watch it.

Is it a Sport? Certainly.

All Sports are competitions with subjective decisions interjected into them. Winners and Losers are based on measures of performance and subjective calls.

Disputes?

tyoneal

[Bill Howell]

I gotta agree with that! Just because we may not like drifting does not make it any less a sport. Like Ty, I would much rather hear, smell tire smoke that chase a white ball all over a field. :thumbsup:
(maybe that is why I hate golf, I chase the ball all over the field, rather than continually head directly toward the flag. It usually only takes me 14 holes to have a par score. :lol: )

[sikryd]

I like drifting when it is applied to Rally Racing. I think its super cool when a rally car is comming into a hairpin, slides the rear end out and gets around the hairpin super fast. Drifting through a corner that is tight is usualy quicker than not sliding the rear end out. As far as just plain drifting as a sport, I'd go to watch; The women that is. Gotta love those import girls!!!!!!

[Derek69SS]

Golf is called a sport. Tennis is called a sport. Fishing is called a sport. I think all of these are boring as hell, but they are still considered sports.

Just because a winner is judged in part subjectively, doesn't have a darn thing to do with whether or not it is a sport.

Football is called a sport, however all of the penaltie called are subjective in nature. Same with Baseball, Hockey and just about anything else where a judge has to make a decision. These often have a dramatic role in who wins.
NONE of those are SPORTS - they are GAMES (except fishing, that is an ACTIVITY)

Racing is the only sport.

Fancy driving is not a sport.

:_paranoid

[69rs]

Someone sent me this link tonight. Sport or no sport, I gotta say there is talent to do this stuff. Until the ones that discount it can show me this is child's play and not a sport, I will keep thinking maybe it is. :yes:
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/226832/drifting_skills/
That's just a video of my wife trying to parallel park!
If it can't kill you, it's not a sport.

[jjarky]

To each his own. But it definitely benefits the tire companys.

[novanutcase]

I think its all really just semantics at this point! Is it a "sport"? Who cares! Is it fun to watch? For me? Not really. Kind of boring although the drivers are VERY talented so if you watch it with that in mind then I can see how the entertainment value comes into play. Would it be fun to do? ABSOLUTELY! So, in my book, the argument to whether it is a sport or not is moot! Is it fun? That is what is important!

[modmachR]

Like it or not they get paid to do it, and sponsors through alot of $ at it.
So is it a sport yes is it something I'd go out of my way to see NO. :D

[SteveMcqueenRules]

"Auto racing, bull fighting, and mountain climbing are the only real sports ... all others are games." -Ernest Hemingway

[[email protected]]

While I don't consider it a "sport" per say, I enjoy watching it. Im really glad Tokyo Drift didn't put a huge black cloud over the scene, which I was expecting.

[deuce_454]

it depends on a definition... but if it requires talent, and a winner can be declared id say its a sport.. figureskating is also considered a sport, its even in the olympics.. and unlike drifting it cant kill you, its atleast very unlikely to do so..

[novanutcase]

it depends on a definition... but if it requires talent, and a winner can be declared id say its a sport.. figureskating is also considered a sport, its even in the olympics.. and unlike drifting it cant kill you, its atleast very unlikely to do so..

2 words.......Tonya Harding!!!!!:lol:

[Bowtieracing]

I think drifting is as sport as anything "sport on cars" . Actually i dont see any sport on "motorsport" if you ask me.

[tyoneal]

Check out this Drifting.

Reminds me of a Rodeo Clown messing with a 3500 pound Bull.

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/305093/craziest_drift_ever/

What a Dumbass........

Dummies are fun to watch sometimes.

Ty

[surreyboy]

the north american "drifting" is boring, the stuff they did on the streets of japan years ago is something to be seen.

[ChevyThunder]

Alex Phiffer who is one of the "sports" big names and was a driving consultant on Fast and Furious Tokyo Drift . He was one of my techs on my race car from 2000-2002.... I am happy to see these events take off because Alex is doing really well and I am hoping he is making lots of green and having fun . I do appreciate the car control and technique it takes to drive like that. Alex was also a pretty good road racer too . However.. all those guys are amatures compared to Walter Rohr in the Ruf GTR Yellow bird doing it at the Nurburgring at triple digit speeds about 15 years ago ... if you ever see the DVD Ruf Facination ... check it out . I too am reluctant to call it a sport.. it is more like an X-Game :)

[asaenz]

You know what they say everyone has an opinion.

I don't think it is a sport like auto racing. I do think it is fun to watch. I think it is more like style, technique, and flash. You can definitely notice the better drifters from the not so good ones. The v-6, v-8, and esp V-10 viper are very impressive to watch. Plus it is fun to watch them thrash their rides up.

If anyone has never seen a live event Road Atlanta hosts Formula D and it is awesome you can get very close to the track plus no fence barrier to block the view. It is also great for amateur photographers. These are my pixel manipulated photos from the spectator side of the barrier.

[DaxMan]

Drifting arguably started with Touge runs. Keiichi Tsuchia-san explained it as a way to keep the revs up [on their torque deprived] cars to stay in their power bands. Fine. Drifting, as I see it, is the result of trying to package "some form of" Touge for commercial mass consumption. Unfortunately, someone decided to package the events for small tracks and parking lots rather than build sanctioned Touge runs. Ok, so you can't just mount cameras all over the mountain side and it's hard to sell seats in ditches, so I guess it couldn't be helped. Touge is defenitly a sport and an art, but drifting just forgot what it was supposed to be about. It started as a means to find the fastest way around the course with what they had. The point is moot now that the rides are making big power, they'd be faster with grip driving. Now it's just about showboating and sponsorships. Sure it's fun and sure it's fun to watch, but is it really RACING?

[skatinjay27]

lol i wonder why someone searched this thread... and then decided to vote on it? lol

[conekiller13]

Back from the dead................the smoke is rising.

[Josh69]

Wow, back from the dead, but since I voted before realizing it's age....

Drifting is like Ballet. Neither is really very sporting IMHO....but entertainment, sure. Then again, my ex was in ballet, and she could do things that would make a snake blush....so maybe there is something to it! :captain:

[Vegas69]

It's one of those deals where it's a ton of fun to participate but not much fun to watch. I say sport. Kinda like golf without the beer. :rofl:

[andrewmp6]

To me its not a sport none of auto racing is judged your racing the clock or other cars.Drifting is from the usa think of the old moon shiners flying down dirt roads you slide in the turns same thing with rally.And anyone dumb one to try it on the streets should be shot they are risking there lifes and others as well.

[COYBILT]

Drifting: the sport of crashing your car if you dont know WTF your doing. Other wise it is fun to do a little of it here and there. I wouldn't call it a sport by any means. I would only use drifting as a means to hang a turn at last resort.

[final cut]

Drifting: It has a sanctioning body, TV time, sponsors, and paid "pro" drivers, it is a sport. It's not my style, I'm not going to build a drift car, and don't watch much of it on TV, but thats why we live in this country, we have choices! I would be just as eager to spend a day at the track in a pro drifter as I would in a top fuel car.

All sports have a winner, either by points scored, timed events, or judging, some people have a problem with the judging aspect. As far as the judging goes, how many of you are building cars for Columbus? And until last year how is that winner determined? A small group of people throwing forth their opinions to pick a winner-judging

[WSSix]

lol ok good. I thought I was the only one to vote on this and then realize how old the thread is. I don't consider any form of driving a sport nor do I consider the drivers athletes. Are they athletic, yes. Does it take skill and talent, yes. I fairly strict on what I call a sport. I think it must be a game or event where the person's body is used as the means to win ie running the bases, running for a pass or a touchdown, skating on a ring. I just don't consider driving a car to be the same thing. I certainly don't mean to say that racing and the drivers are somehow below "traditional athletes". They are just on a different plane. It's neither better nor worse, just different. Does it really matter if any of this is a sport or not?

[mp4659]

I would just like to reiterate that the drivers are most definately talented. my friend is an "amateur" competitor and after going for a ride with him I was so impressed. here is a video of him-not the best example of his driving but all i could find. keep in mind he's an amateur, and sitting shotgun you realize just how insane those corner entry speeds are. as for it being called a sport or not, its just one of those things I could care less about...as long as people recognize the talent involved

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcDtprYGYTk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqNM66OEBfM&feature=channel_page