The Rock - 02-02-08

Gary57 · Post by **Gary57** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 8:38 am

What a beautiful site, would love to see that many sx's in the same place.

Vlade · Post by **Vlade** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 9:17 am

Yeah that was spectacular...

Soo Mr what did you think of the venue? Worthy of NDS?

Oooh my SX still looks clean in that last pic... yeah what a waist of effort.

jap spec · Post by **jap spec** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 11:28 am

venue was cool... sent it on to the CT guys... they keen to hold it in Joburg... got them to contact the guys at the track.. Personally i think its nice as a beginners track to practice at low speeds... thing is that, that if you a beginner, the last place you wanna prcatice is next to a concrete wall.. saw that some guys met the wall that day.... I think if we want to hold an event thats getting closer to what the guys are doing over seas, then we have to start to look at tracks with run-off... switches, and high speeds... i thinks it the nly way we going to go forward in SA.. The tight stuff is great for practice and for crowds that dont know any better... but for us to all get better and mprove our game.... gotta try reach the next level.. that what i recon, but maybe i see it differently.. what you recon?

Stephen Swanepoel · Post by **Stephen Swanepoel** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 12:14 pm

I have something to say.

I agree with you Q.
but there are only a hand full of really good drifters in this country (no offence to anyone drifting)

BUT

you have to ask your self the question: Is there enough depth in Drift S.A.
I dont think so,
Less advanced tracks to begin with, will ensure the growth of the sport.
eg. At Wesbank I was not prepared to try drift my car.
Last night however the pup was sideways for the first time @ The Rock Why?
we need to Spin before we Drift.

Yes Circuits are the next step. But wait for me to hone my skills first.

Stephen Swanepoel · Post by **Stephen Swanepoel** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 12:18 pm

Ohh and when you come up agian I need sum tutoring.

Vince · Post by **Vince** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 12:34 pm

I agree with you regarding the layout, which is perfect for lower speed drifting but your lines are limited, but with a few cones and you can create a few interisting lines and yes you are right that wall is hard, I know.

There is no other place to really drift and I find the owner very accomadating and supportive towards us.

I believe that the rock is the new home of drifting in JHB and I hope to oneday see the capetown boys up here contending

jap spec · Post by **jap spec** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 1:02 pm

As i said, its definantly the place to learn, or to start learning.. the centre section is more than big enough to start playing around and getting the skills down.... I just believe that if we going to start hosting events, they need to be of a high standard.. at least the National ones... for local stuff, get the begginers there, but for the National stuff... get the local heros down there and give the starting guys something to look forward to

Vlade · Post by **Vlade** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 7:28 am

Yeah we actually need a track or such up here, problem is tracks don't want to participate in drifting as they see it harmfull to the track and they don't classify it as a form of motor sport (That is Zwartkops raceway) anyway... I don't know if anyone approached Kyalami yet.

Hotstuff · Post by **Hotstuff** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 7:43 am

Vlade wrote:Yeah we actually need a track or such up here, problem is tracks don't want to participate in drifting as they see it harmfull to the track and they don't classify it as a form of motor sport (That is Zwartkops raceway) anyway... I don't know if anyone approached Kyalami yet.

Funny u should mention that Vlade, I sent off emails to MSA yesterday w.r.t getting our club registered with them, esp. seeing that so many of our members are into the whole drift scene. I'm sure once I've finalised what the details and requirements are, we might stand a better chance of getting "track time" at the likes of Kyalami, Zwartkops, etc...

If the good people at Killarney are letting the drifters use the track, then I'm sure with a bit of persuasion and persistence we can get something sorted here in Jozi.

Also, being affiliated to MSA would look good on the clubs record, as we are also promoting more car clubs to race in a controlled environment and not on the streets (everyone knows how strongly I feel about this).

Will keep you guys upto speed with what MSA has to say.

veecee · Post by **veecee** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 7:54 am

do you know how strongly a lot of people feel about the shortcomings of MSA???

i'm with both stephen and quinsley on this one. the rock is fantastic to learn. even total beginners can start learning the basics in the middle of the track, and they will eventually advance to the outside turns next to the wall.

also the focus of the drift thing during the week is a "drift school". for instance, this past wednesday, a double circle of cones was set out. one with a smaller diameter, and the other with a larger diameter, and there was a cone in the middle of concrete patch.

so the idea was that the guys could start with donuts in the middle around the single cone, then move to larger drift circles, and then to even larger drift circles.

next week we might do something different. this all lends itself very nicely to teaching the basics...

but there comes a time when the game needs to be improved, and this is where other tracks (circuits) come in. at the final wesbank competition last year i spoke to the owner/driver of one of the M3 CSL's (not otto). he mentioned that he drifts at kyalamai with the BMW club days and that they have no problems with it. but then again, the whole club has then pitched in to have the track for a day.

he spoke of 160km/h sideways at the bottom of the mineshaft. if its true - that would be awesome to see!

Hotstuff · Post by **Hotstuff** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 8:12 am

I see your point DK VC, and I agree that the Rock is a good place to learn... You and I where there on Wednesday night and had a jol...

I am just merely trying to keep our options open in terms of availibilty of tracks and other practice spots. Also it's about awareness of the clubs as well. Think of how good the marketing aspect of it can be... Let's say there's an event at Kayalami and they ask us to do a parade lap. That would be so good for the club and the promotion thereof.

The "drift school" run by Florin and Co, is an awesome idea. Even though I'm setting up my car for track day events, I still head a lekka time throwing my car (and I'm sure you enjoyed throwing my car around too) around those cones. Watchin Florin drift that R33 effortlessly around the track is an inspiring experience. Imagine seeing that R33 going sideways around Zwartkops, or even better imagine seeing some of our SX club members going around the track... On national TV nogal...

As for the shortcomings of MSA, I have no idea what happened in the past... Lets see what they say in response to the email I sent. If they are not willing to meet us halfway, then we move on without them.

Eventhough I am not as passionate about drifting as you are, I do feel that it's an excellent form of motorsport that requires lots of skill and fitness (I remember Vince huffing and puffing as he got out of his car once he did that figure 8 ). If MSA doesn't wanna get with the times and keep up with international standards of motorsport, the it's their loss...

CHAREL · Post by **CHAREL** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 10:25 am

Stephen Swanepoel wrote:I have something to say.

I agree with you Q.
but there are only a hand full of really good drifters in this country (no offence to anyone drifting)

BUT

you have to ask your self the question: Is there enough depth in Drift S.A.
I dont think so,
Less advanced tracks to begin with, will ensure the growth of the sport.
eg. At Wesbank I was not prepared to try drift my car.
Last night however the pup was sideways for the first time @ The Rock Why?
we need to Spin before we Drift.

Yes Circuits are the next step. But wait for me to hone my skills first.

Hey buddy!
I'm so glad you came arround on WED an took your car out for the first time!(been waiting a long time for this to happen)
You realy did'nt do bad, its just someting to get used to, and practice makes perfect!!

Im glad that there is going to be another S14 (aka: camry driver) with me out there on the track.

Who is all going to Sat-9/2/2008 show @ The Rock?
We drifters need to do some demo there arround a stage.

Regarding the track layouts you guys talk about, I spoke to FLO last night and he has some nice ideas for the next couple of sesions, so it wont get boring, and everyone will be able to learn someting, even us guy's doing it for some time now, wo going to go through as much difrent techniques as possible!
Its going to be great!!!!!!

Stephen Swanepoel · Post by **Stephen Swanepoel** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 5:25 pm

Thanks Charel,
It was lots of fun.
hope I can do better next time.