Several things:

1)Thanks to all of you for making this event special. There were some logistical problems we had with the track that will be resolved for next time. Some of these led to too many drivers, not enough seat time, and some other things. We're all glad that you managed to have a good time despite some of the shortcomings, and we hope to be back and be better for Round 2. I'm sorry that I couldn't make it, but I was out in Chicago at the RS-R drift festival fighting with guys like Ken Gushi, Dai Yoshihara, Tony Schulz, etc. I'll try to be there next time, but there's only a certain amount of me to go around.

2) Part of the reason that DOW/DOF is so inexpensive is that we are not the only event going on. Englishtown is a large racing facility that has many venues -- drag, parking lot, motox, etc. They even have a small airport. That particular facility has a unique insurance policy because of all of the activity that they have going on regularly. In addition, their liability coverage limits are most likely quite high due to the nature of the stuff they have going on (MX, for example). Those drivers usually get 6-10 runs and have to spend most of their time waiting around. The pavement surface is absolutely miserable, and we regularly have to dodge potholes, craters, ruts, loose spots, and other maladies just to get a course. On top of that, the NJ State police have total control over the event. If they don't like something, we have to stop and fix whatever it is before we can continue. No third gear drifting there, folks.

3) We live in a litigous society. It sucks. If you don't like it, move, because it's never going to get better. In a country where you can sue McDonalds for spilling coffee on yourself and win, you can expect something like motorsports to be both highly difficult and highly expensive to insure.

The liability insurance that we purchase is for just that -- to protect us from liability. It also affords payment to people in the case that people are injured, hurt, killed, or to protect/prevent against other damages to participants, spectators, passerby, the facility, etc. Despite the fact that you do sign a waiver indicating that you acnkowledge the risks of your participation in these racing activities, it does not prevent you from suing. The insurance is there to not only protect us from such a suit, but to afford us legal counsel and for the insurance company to fight for us in the case that someone does file suit. Our insurance premiums have quadrupled in the last year, and insurance is rapidly becoming almost as expensive as renting the facility, if not more.

Unfortunately, this is not Japan, nor will it ever be, and this insurance problem will not go away soon. In fact, street drift, drifting "exhibitions", the D1GP, and other factors are all combining to make the insurance problem worse. This is why we at DG are trying to establish standards for participation, preparation, operations, and etc. -- so that we can prove to the insurance companies that we know what we are doing and to (hopefully) get us some cheaper rates. Cheaper insurance rates means events are cheaper for you.

The final problem is that we are recycling facilities. Most of the tracks that we are using are very small and do not have much runoff. In some cases the runoff area is actually the driving area from another direction. Because of this it makes it difficult to have many cars on the track at once, if at all. We are trying to also get you more consistent track time, with less waiting in between runs. The ultimate goal would be for everyone to just be hot lapping, but that is not easy.

Remember, we are still learning as much as you are. As you progress and become better and more skilled drifters, so to will we become better and more skilled at hosting these events. Once there is an established base of participants, we can begin to divide groups into skill levels so that the "newbies" are not spinning and taking track time away from the more advanced people. But when you have 50 participants, all of whom have had approximately the same experience at events, it's difficult to say who is a "beginner" and who is "advanced."

If everything works well for 2005, there will be a large number of events in Florida all by itself, not to mention the rest of the East Coast. Kyle, myself, and the other DG staff are working on putting a great 2005 season together, so please stay tuned. We promise some fun things will happen.

Thanks again everyone. I hope to see you soon!