Beginning Drifting

Think drifting looks cool? Then you've got to do it from behind the wheel. Performed with precision, drifting makes you feel like a driving demigod. Passengers will disagree: They'll swear you're Zeus.

Sideways
Forty-something female riders (and some males) squeal like preteens. And it's especially rewarding when the knowledgeable heap praise. Travis Pastrana, motocross ace and rally racer, loved my specialty: hands-free drifting while simultaneously adjusting the air conditioner. "Simply nuts" is the ultimate compliment.


I've drifted everything up to and including a Porsche 911 and a Freightliner straight truck that weighed some 14 tons. Just to make it interesting, I replaced the 911's stock narrow front/wide rear tire combination with the same size tires all the way around.


Drifting can be more rewarding than turning a fast lap on a racetrack. Few non-racers appreciate the demands of a smooth, precise, quick lap. However, everyone genuflects to those who can slide sideways and bring it back under control.


Learning to drift can be expensive, dangerous, and illegal. Burning up a pair of tires in a single practice session is common. I had access to rear-drive beaters with more power than grip, little-traveled rural gravel roads, and high-rock-content asphalt roads that went icy-slick when it rained. All are helpful during the learning process, unless you hit something. Or a cop sees you. Finding practice locations that are both legal and safe is extremely difficult. And law enforcement will term the activity "reckless." (It's not helpful to tell the officer "Reckless, hell, the car was doing exactly what I wanted it to do.")