What I Learned My First Year Drifting

It’s been a kick ass year of finally taking my car out to events and learning how to drive. Let me go over what I learned for those looking to start drifting.

Start on Sim

Although not a prerequisite, sim racing is overall a very powerful tool to get started.

Firstly, it’s relatively cheap compared to actual drifting (where you maintain a car, buy tires, event fees, etc) a sim will set you back as little as $200 if you buy used online.

A sim will never feel like the real deal, but it will give you fundamental muscle memory and an idea of how the car reacts in certain situations. This will make your first real event a lot more enjoyable and productive.

Dial in Your Car

A very crucial step is making sure your car is equipped with the proper set up. Though you should’ve dive too deep starting out, you for sure need the basics. If you have a welded diff, coilovers, and an appropriately sized tire, you are well on your way for a fun time at the track.

Also ensure your car is functioning well. An improperly adjusted TPS made my first few events very difficult.

So make sure you have a basic setup and make sure your car works. Do your research and try things out until you find success.

Manage Variables

Speaking of finding success, make sure you take notes of any changes you make and how it affected your driving. You want to have a relatively consistent car so that you can progress your driving.

Slowly make upgrades and changes as events progress. But in all honesty, the best upgrade you can make is to your driving. Focus on how you drive, rather than components to make your car “better”.

Socialize

If you have questions, talk to people. We all start somewhere and sometimes looking through old forums or videos doesn’t help. Ask for a ride along and study how good drivers drive.

DRIVE!

While you can rant all day about what to do to your car and driving techniques, you will only get better by driving. Aim to learn something and/or try something new every event. Critique yourself and make adjustments. More importantly, have fun doing it. If driving doesn’t put a smile on your face, you are doing it wrong.

see ya out there!

-S