Originally posted by agemomai
we all know that drifting isnt about crashing, but i think it is a part of the sport that cannot be ignored, because it does happen, as it does in every motorsport (rally, drag, even formula 1). obviously not on purpose, and should not be just shrugged off, but i think thats a factor you have to accept with any motorsport. though i do agree, it does sound like a lot of accidents from one event..
eri[c/k], thanks.
james, i know exactly what you are trying to say. when i crashed into a guardrail 2 days before dday 1, i wasnt angry, i just accepted it because i realized there would be risks in the first place...i felt like i knew how to not make those kinds of mistakes again.
at first i almost felt proud that i was one of the people who had the balls to be out there and go for it, but looking back i see now that was very, very.. stupid. if i had known my own limits and didnt make such stupid mistakes my car wouldnt be halfway totaled right now, and id have spent good money elsewhere making the car better instead of just, back to normal.
at the same time, i feel like a better driver now than i ever have been, and i know the accident helped. i know it was not the actual crash or impact that did it, but its kind of like negative reinforcement, so you KNOW those same mistakes will yield major consequences.
so basically, im sorry to see the pinkness damaged, but im glad to hear youre getting better. see you at dday2.
Mike, I agree with you on many levels (it's Mike, right?). But I still don't think novice drifters should have been *given* the chance to hit a wall. That in itself was the first huge mistake made. Just to have the event there like it was held. Like I said before and like Erik has said, it's not the drivers who really made the mistake, it's the people who put on the event by giving them a chance to hit a wall.
Your situation was completely different. You weren't drifting at a legal, sanctioned event. You took the risk of street drifting. No sanctioned *clinic* which should cater to beginners should even have a wall in such close proximity to hit and then after multiple drivers hit it multiple times, nothing being said or done to prevent it from happening so many times was just ridiculous. Unlike the street, this was supposed to at least be a little safe.
Thank you for actually being one to read through Erik's replies and letter thoroughly. It's pretty informative.