How to Drift
Whether it’s an action movie or a video game, cars that drift are always a highlight of speed and excitement. Most people are used to seeing vehicles move forward or backward, but almost never see cars move sideways with grace and precision. Drifting takes a lot of practice to perfect and to do safely; here are ways to help you get started with drifting.
Drift Cars
A good drift always starts with a good car. In the hands of an expert drifter, any car can enter, sustain, and end a drift. If you’re starting out drifting, though, it helps to have a vehicle that can best execute a drift sequence:
Manual transmission. Vehicles with automatic transmission are designed to keep the car in line, while drifting purposely keeps the car out of line. While it’s possible to drift a car with automatic transmission, it’s still easier to drift a car with manual transmission.
Sports cars. Any car can be forced into a drift, but sports cars are lightweight and have the right combination of speed and turn accuracy to execute a drift. Japanese sports cars are usually the preferred vehicles for drifting, although you can still make drifting turns with American or European sports cars.
Drift configurations. Wheels, intercoolers, and suspension systems can all be customized and configured to maximize momentum and torque, which are the two most important things in drifting. You can customize your drifting vehicle on your own, or you can take it to a customization garage to be configured for drifting.
Executing a Drift
While you can drift with a car with front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive (RWD) is the preferred vehicle for drifting, because it puts the steered wheels closer to the corner. The layout of RWD provides increased forward momentum and maximizes torque. Here’s how you can execute a drift on a car with RWD:
Rev up the car to second gear, and accelerate a quarter of the way through the gear cycle.
Kick the clutch, and maneuver the car inside the turn. While making the turn, pull halfway on the emergency brake. Make sure the tires don’t lock up, or you’ll end up skidding sideways into a full stop.
As you pull on the brake, push the gas pedal, and let go of the clutch.
The throttle will control the angle and speed of your drift. The more gas you feed to the engine, the more you turn. The less you push into the throttle, you can take a wider, sweeping move along the curve, depending on how much momentum you have.
To sustain the drift, feather the clutch to keep the steered wheels spinning. Make sure not to floor or step on the clutch; remember, your goal is to drift along the curve, not to create donuts on the road.
Safety Precautions
Drifting is an enjoyable activity, but is illegal on roads and in traffic. Drift on open spaces and circuits designed for drifting. Whatever you do, do not attempt to drift in a carpark or a parking lot.
Forward momentum and acceleration are useful for drifts, but do not go too fast and enter a drift. You may end up crashing the car or worse, turning your car over.
Make sure your tires are in good condition. It’s best to drift with new tires, to ensure that the treads can still grip the road. Do not attempt to drift with slick or worn tires.
Drifting is all about momentum, torque, and control. With these tips to help you execute drifts, you can take a clean, fancy-looking curve at auto exhibitions.