What’s up gang, Merry Christmas and Happy New Years.
So you got that shiny new drifter for Christmas and you’re tired of going in circles in your kitchen. You’re ready to get that drift machine out on a track and go door to door with a local club. Good for you! I’m sure your local club would love to have you, but before you show up and drop that car on the track there are some guidelines that need to be observed. Just like with any organization there are rules, some written and some unwritten. Tracks and clubs usually outline some rules of the road so be sure and observe those, you don’t want to run astray on your first day. If you are unsure it is always a good idea to ask.
Respect for the track and respect for your fellow drivers. There is likely a fair amount of time put into building the track, especially if it is scaled out, The object is not to go fast and pass everyone else. A light bump into someone will probably be tolerated but if you become a frequent offender you might be labeled as careless. Don’t be the guy who is smashing into everything because you can’t seem to lift off of the throttle. Such drivers are frowned upon and you may even be asked to pull your car off the track. So if you have zero control of your car you might want to spend some time at home getting a feel for it before you go out and expose your driving to others.
Speaking of other drivers, your local club is likely to be populated with new drivers and veterans alike. Some of these guys might have hundreds or even thousands of dollars tied up in their rigs so you always want to be respectful of other drivers and their equipment. Not everyone is driving a 299 RTR. Always remember this is a drift track, not a race track. Observe the driving line and don’t disrupt the flow of traffic if you can help it at all. If you spin, wait for traffic to clear before pulling back into the driving line.
A couple notes about that new car. Drift clubs meet and drive on several different surfaces; usually carpet or polished concrete of some kind. These surfaces require a specialized tire. Just like it real life one tire will not work for all tracks, for instance concrete usually requires a softer tire than carpet. Tire preference ultimately comes down to driver preference but sometimes there are house rules for a spec tire (everyone must run the same). If you are not sure, again always better to ask here. (communication is key) I know for my local club an important rule is you do not run your scuffed concrete tires on the carpet. This extra friction creates premature wear (or can even snag and damage it) on the carpet so keep a nice smooth “carpet only” set on hand for those occasions.
It is a family affair. I know some of you out there are parents and love nothing more than watching your kid taking the wheel and get his or her feet wet at the controls. This is a great and wonderful thing. The survival of our hobby requires that we pass the torch on to younger generations. As a courtesy make sure to clear this with the meet organizer. If the meet is a test and tune it isn’t likely to be a big deal. But if it is controlled practice see if they will open a novice driver session so most of the paint swapping is between newbies.
Bring your own equipment. Heading out to your first drift meet requires more than just your car and radio. Unless the meet is at an actual RC track there will likely not be seating and pit area. Make sure you have enough batteries charged before hand if the venue is remote or does not have power available to re-charge. My car is usually loaded with a folding table and chair, toolbox, batteries and charger, extra tires and any spares I may need to change out on the day. Don’t be that guy who squats other peoples seating because you didn’t bring your own. I usually have all of this stuff together the day before a meet so I don’t have to remember to pack anything on the day; it’s just ready to be loaded. Be prepared!
Well that’s all the tips I have for now gang, if I left anything out feel free to share them below.
Have fun, and keep drifting.
-Evol
