You may not have started the drama, but you are directly involved with it regardless of whether or like it or not.

If Matt did, in fact, offer direct compensation for you to not participate in the event, then you should talk to ME, either in person, on the phone, or via email, and I will deal with him. That was not my intention, it was not my suggestion, nor would I have ever done so myself. If it is the case, I will have to have a serious little chat with our dear friend, because that is not the way DG does business. We TALK about doing crazy shit like that, but we never actually do it, and the talk never leaves staff circles. It's just our way of blowing off steam.

 

A few things for all of you to note:

1) There was an organization that tried to do things like this in the past. Their name was US Drift. Maybe you've heard of them. Maybe you notice how they don't run events anymore? It's because they saw the cash cow and decided to haphazardly throw some drift events together. After a full season of horrible events that were terribly mismanaged and given miserable reviews, US Drift announced they were doing a HUGE NATION WIDE COMPETITION SERIES WITH BIG PRIZES. Well, when everyone who hated these guys for running poo-poo events decided not to participate, the sponsors all freaked, US Drift started cancelling events, sponsors pulled out, and US Drift is now no-longer.

If you don't see a similar path being developed here, you are walking around blind. You guys are involved in a movement that is putting the cart before the horse. You are helping to build a stadium for teams that do not exist and do not have the skill, the flash, or the entertainment value to fill said stadium, and you will end up with a half constructed shanty which does no one any good.

2) Insurance companies are involved in a crack-down regarding drifting. They finally realize that they don't fully understand what it is or what it is about, and several organizations have had their insurance *PULLED*. Tony is one of those people that is definitely on the road to having his insurance pulled, and I feel that he is utilizing the track's insurance. I would really hate to see Hialeah Speedway, in its 50th year, lose its insurance because some total inconsiderate prick who basically said "Tampa Sucks, Orlando Sucks, everything but Miami Sucks!" wants to have some kids slide around so he can pocket some cash. He made several thousand dollars on that first "exhinonsense", and DG walked away with almost nothing and a burned up demo car.

If you take the time to read my letter about Tony AGAIN you will notice that I clearly state it behooves event promoters and organizers to choose venues that are as safe as possible. It is our duty (DGTrials, Drift Association, whomever) to remove all of the danger factors from you, the drivers, so that we can have safe and fun events. NO KNOWLEDGE IS IMPARTED BY IMPACT. If you think you learn something from crashing, you are obviously destined to drive in demolition derby, and Hialeah Speedway has plenty of those you can get involved in without Tony's assistance.

Tony is the type of guy who is going to get drifting in the United States SHUT DOWN because he is putting profit and entertainment ahead of development of the sport. Drifting is in an extremely precarious position right now, and if certain people keep giving this attitude problem instead of actually opening eyes and looking at the big picture -- the sport as a whole and where it is heading -- then you should get out of drifting right now, because you're not doing anything to further it, and, if anything, you are helping to kill it.

Having a sponsor helps your car. It might even help your pocketbook. It does nothing for drifting. Do not confuse a sponsor's eagerness to help you out and his or her generosity as their interest in drifting or promotion of the sport. No matter what they say, they are still your sponsor, and expect to receive a return on their investment, whether it is immediately or down the road. I'm not saying that all sponsors are spineless and soul-less and that they don't care, but there are plenty out there that are doing what they do solely because they think there are big dollar signs in that pot at the end of the drifting rainbow.

The rainbow is about to be cut. I suggest that you help tackle the guys with the scissors, for your own good.

 

Eric,

How can you say that D1 is garbage and is only designed to sell videos. I read your manefesto and I highly dis agree with the majority of you ranting.

 

Thank you. My point is that I never complained about not being able to. I accepted it, but some people couldn't accept the fact that I didn't want to. Things are blowing over now, though.

 

May I ask what you disagree with? (Other than what you already stated about D1.) Safety issues? Etc? I personally think Erik has much logic and way more experience with putting on events than anyone else in this area.

 

d1 is just designed to sell videos, it is a pure spectator sport.

point blank. you cant argue that its not either.

 

+1

 

Because I know people who are very close to SunPros (the production company for the D1 events and the Option Videos). The events are reaching the point where they are downright scripted. Some of the people that crashed at the D1 event in Irwindale did so because they were supposed to. A lot of it is just purely to create drama. It's becoming a lot like the WWF.

I did not say it was garbage in terms of the quality of the competitors -- these guys are extremely highly skilled drifters and also excel in other arenas of motorsport. They are generally pretty good guys too. I've spent time personall with Chunky Bai and Kuroi and Mad K, and know people who hang out with Nomuken.

However, it is garbage in terms of what it does to promote and further the sport. D1 is becoming a disjoint entity from the rest of drifting. Watch an actual D1 Option video, and you'll see how they try to create all this artificial drama. It's totally a ploy to sell videos.

Drift Tengoku is almost a separate entity, despite being sold and managed by SunPros. However if you compare the tone and the quality of the two productions, DT has a MUCH lighter and happier and more down-to-earth feel to it. Then go look at footage from stuff like Battle Magazine events or other local/small drift events. They're exactly how DG and Drift Association and the other "down to earth" groups run things. They're not concerned with sponsors or spectators or making money.

There are two sides to drifting. You can be a show, or you can be a drifting event. Tony and his cronies are trying to run a drifting show with kids who don't have the skill or preparation to play at that level, and it's going to get someone ELSE'S car destroyed, get someone hurt, or worse, killed. They use the guise of holding a "practice day" or "clinic" to cover the fact that they're just trying to build participation numbers for their competitions.

Come to Tampa, have a good time, we'll get something going in Miami real soon.

 

Way to go Eric, I'm gaining lots of respect for you quickly, maybe I didnt see the big picture before as much as I should have. bravo

 

I lived in Orlando for a bit over 4 years...I just moved back to tampa bay about a year ago....will move back to orlando when somebody starts paying me $50k or so for every year I live there.