D1 Professional Drift

[itsthepham]

February 28, 2004 D1 Grand Prix USA

Drifting, the dazzling sport-compact car craze that ignited the motorsports world in 2003, is back for an historic encore. The professional D1 Grand Prix cars and drivers that put drifting middle America’s radar screens will, for the first time, start their season on U.S. soil in a battle for full series points.

Sport Compact Car declared "America's love affair with drifting is on” after last year’s D1 Grand Prix show. The stage for Feb. 28’s high-octane spectacle is again Irwindale Speedway near Los Angeles. Unlike last summer's inaugural D1 Grand Prix event, the February contest is a full-stakes opener for the wildly popular seven-contest series. Rain or shine, more than two dozen of Japan’s top drivers – many piloting cars American enthusiasts could only enjoy in video games -- are expected to duel each other -- and a handful of American drifting aces.

Though the technique of drifting has been in serious racers’ bag of tricks for decades, attacking curves has been raised to an art form by practitioners of the current craze, which can be traced to Japan.

The D1 Grand Prix star lineup drew about 10,000 fans last time around, and with twice the number of machines battling, a standing-room-only turnout is expected to experience what SportsCar magazine crowed was akin to watching “the last lap of the best road race you ever saw repeated over and over again."

About the Inaugural US D1 Grand Prix Event

The D1 Grand Prix USA, held August 31, 2003, shattered all attendance records at Irwindale Speedway and firmly established drifting as the hottest new motorsport in North America. Irwindale's previous track attendance record of 8,700 was easily surpassed as a sold-out crowd of approximately 10,000 witnessed their first-ever D1 Grand Prix competition. The D1 Grand Prix debut at Irwindale also eclipsed attendance at previous drifting meets in either the U.S. or Japan.

The August invitational featured 16 of the top professional D1 teams from Japan and eight American drivers who had qualified at the D1 Driver's Search held earlier in the year. The event had all thrills and suspense of a native D1, but didn't count in the 2003 Grand Prix points race.

In addition to the drifting competition, a car show was staged with about 250 participants vying for more than 52 awards and $2,000 in cash and prizes. There were also more than 100 automotive aftermarket manufacturers and retailers exhibiting. Entertainment included an R/C car drift show and motorcycle stunt demonstrations. The open-access pit area provided enthusiasts an up-close look at the cars and drivers. A couple of drivers autograph sessions gave hard-core drifting fans a chance to meet their heroes and get a photo or souvenir signed. Beautiful umbrella girls decorated the landscape everywhere one turned.

The spectacle on the track -- and the reaction in the stands -- was wild right up to the moment the smoke finally cleared late in the evening. At the awards ceremony, many of the Japanese drivers were visibly moved by the ecstatic, roaring American fans.

Judging from the feedback of the fans, the industry participants and the media, the inaugural D1 Grand Prix undoubtedly was one of the most thrilling motorsports events of 2003.

I hope that everyone could make this event if they can. Im gonna be there for sure. BTW...did anyone go to the D1GP on August 28, 2003?