Internet Know-It-All - Part I

Okay, here it is. This is the Blog I found titled "How to Drift a Car-Part I" on the first page of a recent Drifting search. For some reason this kid (I would post his name, but it's nowhere in site) has enough traffic to make him an authority on Drifting... Please, click over, read a little (it won't take much) and click back for my rant. http://www.notelay.com/articles/how_to/how_to_drift_a_car/

Okay, just because you got to the 25th level of Need for Speed Underground, does not mean you have any clue on how to Drift. How do I know this guy is full of crap? Let me break it down for you...

"For every successful drifting first you must tune-up your care properly." Yes, please, read it a couple of times. That's' right, all you need to Drift is a tune-up--for your "care." Yup, some plugs, wires, an oil change... isn't Pep Boys sponsoring the D1GP this year? Either way, I think that instead of "teaching" How to Drift, this Blogger should take a few classes on copy editing.

Hey, maybe I am being too harsh... He goes on to explain that (I think this is what he means by a tune-up) Drifters need: "300hp minimum horsepower." Does he understand that "hp" means horsepower, and therefore he doesn't need to repeat it? You know what, I won't even bag on his grammar any more. The fact is that YOU DO NOT NEED 300hp. Yes, it would be nice. Yes, it is roughly the entry level power that would be a good idea for higher level competition. But to state you have to have 300hp to Drift is just stupid. If you want to learn Drifting it is better to start out with less power. You can learn in a 240 with a KA24DE and 5-speed--that's about 140hp. All you need is enough horsepower to break your rear wheels loose and keep them spinning. This makes the 300hp statement that much more idiotic. You have to consider the power-to-weight ratio here. A heavier car will require more power, a lighter car less power.

Okay, the next item on the list is "Strong and good working tires." WTF?! Dump truck tires are strong, and they work great--does this mean they are good for Drifting? What size tires? How about traction ratings? Speed ratings? People like to think that because you are sliding a car sideways that you need, hard tires that slip across the asphalt. No! Although there is a reduction of traction in Drifting, there is NOT a loss of traction--absolute loss of traction=loss of control, even in Drifting. Drifters still need tires that grip.

Next on the "How to Drift a Car - Part I" Blog it is stated that for Drifting you need... "Powerful suspension." Again, allow me to reiterate--WTF?! What is "powerful suspension?" Oh, I know, air bags or hydraulics! I mean those suspension systems lift vehicles off the ground--that must be it! Right?

Suspension is the single most important part of a Drift car. What Drifters need is performance suspension that is fully adjustable for damping, ride height, camber, caster, and toe. This will help allow the car to be set up with the proper corner balance, suspension stiffness, and traction to give the car more of a tendency to oversteer while allowing the driver to maintain control. Uh, and this is just the tip of the iceberg, there is an entire chapter in my book on car setup--but this moron thinks he can sum it up in a couple of sentences...

Okay, I think you get the idea. Please note, the italic, bold phrases in quotes above ARE NOT FROM MY BLOG! I don't want any confusion on this point. There is more crap on that Blog, but I just can't stomach another word. Oh, and it goes on to part II and III!? I will rip those apart in future posts...

What's really priceless is the comments section where some 13-year-old states he knows how to Drift. The other people who posted comments called him out, as well as the Blog author on his B.S., but this kid is exactly why I am doing what I am here. People assume to much and the Internet allows them to post it as fact. Let's start calling these people out--what do you say?

Until next time, don't try to bullshit a bullshitter...