Hey guys, My first thread and post on here! I'm fresh to the drifting scene but not new to the car scene. Just picked up a S14A to use to learn to drift in and take around some tracks as much as possible (Combe and Llandow Hill are my closest i think) Can someone point me in the right direction of somewhere i can learn to drift that's safe and easy? I've seen that place in Birmingham but it looks more like a banger-racing track with the solid high walls. Not somewhere i want go for my first time, i need run off....New car and new driving style.... Anything on an air-field or similar in the SouthWest or South Wales? Also, tyres. Whats the easiest/cheapest new or part-worn sizes and where is the best places to get them from? My car currently has cheapo 18 inch halfords rims that will do for now but i'm looking at getting a couple of sets of wheels but want to make sure i get a sizes that i can get cheap tyres for! Thanks in advance for any help
Thank you, found them. That is PERFECT! EDIT: Looks like reading through the comments on their facebook that it might not be a go this year Typical is its so close to me... Anymore local?
Dakota Drift at Smeatharpe, or Pembrey in South Wales. If you are learning from scratch then your best bet is to go to Dakota Drift as they have a beginners area and some good instructors there. Either that or take a trip up to Santa Pod DWYB. SW-PC is pretty oversubscribed at the moment,
Smeatharpe is a good event, and if your on the beginners track you will get loads of seat time, the guys up there a super friendly as well and will just jump in the car with you to give you pointers, next one is 22nd of march I think. but if your car is reliable enough to make it there and back (unlike mine) then santa-pod is well worth the trip. I did it in December and got to learn so much more there due to the bigger practice areas and the beginner friendly main track.
Awesome, Thanks for all the great information so far! You've been a big help. I get the feeling that drifting is like trails riding in the BMX scene (my main love) as in people have their own spots and tight nit groups of friends that they do it with. The don't really like outsiders coming in or getting in on their action. Guess i'll have to start going to some days around the country and prove myself and my car! Yes i heard, i found the Facebook group and gave them a message last night. Whoever messaged me straight back sounded like a nice guy but he informed me that its way to overcrowded so they have decided to just keep it to themselves. Real shame as its 30 minutes down the road and the next closest place is over two hours away. I think i do know a couple of them so hopefully i'll be able to link up with them and maybe get in on the action in the future. Smeatharpe is Dakota Raceway right? If so then its just a little bit out of my reach, West Yorkshire is around 3 and a half to 4 hours away from me. Just too far i'm afraid shame as the 22nd of march works for me as a date.... Due to SW-PC at the moment this is my next closest, two hours away. I can deal with this. Anyone know what there setup is like and what the next dates are? I hope, and it should be very reliable. Its a pretty basic SR20DET running only about 230-250BHP at the moment. Very well looked after. To be honest my car is fully road-legal but i also have a trailer + van setup, never know if you might bin it I've also got a Group 4 Mk2 Escort that i could be temped to do some skidding in! Santa Pod is 2 and a half hours away from me, i think i can JUST about deal with that drive now-and-again. Its not going to be something i could do regular but maybe every couple of months i could make the trip. I imagine that considering its at Santa Pod its probably the most expensive of the lot? Anyone got any information on if Castle Combe holds any sort of Drift Days? What about Llandow track in South Wales too? Cheers everyone, so informative so far. Hopefully i meet some of you soon!
I think SXOC had a drift day at Llandow last year but they are rare. Smeatharpe is not in Yorkshire. The organisers do run an event in Yorkshire as well though. Look in the events section of this forum, then look up the events on YouTube to see what they are like.
Thought so! Sorry you are correct, it seems that the event organisers registered address for 'straightliners' is in West Yorkshire but the track you are talking about is actually only an hour and 20mins away from me in Devon. Thank you!
Where are you? Fill that bit in on your profile and it'll display under your name... I'm one of the organisers of Smeatharpe. It's Near Honiton. And the most South Westerly event run in the UK. We run it under Straightliners as they run drag racing on the same days but Trevor leaves it to us to organise, plan and run our end with him keeping an eye on it overall. We have a large play pen at the far end of the run way so not right by all the spectators. This allows you to make your mistakes without being under the scrutiny of all the non drifting spectators. We have experienced tutors on hand who can give you pointers on where you're going wrong and can jump in and help you out. I've tutored a few people who are regulars now and have progressed onto the big track. Join the facebook page for info and dates. http://www.facebook.com/groups/455053331192428/ http://www.facebook.com/dakotaracewaysouthwest
Thanks, i've filled that in. I'm located in central Bristol. Your track is the closest to me so i'm keen to book in for the first one of this year. Do you have all the dates yet? I 'liked' the second link you provided but i couldn't get the first link to work. It kept taking me to the "this page cannot be found" facebook message.... No doubt i'll be seeing you at the first drift event this year
Cool. The second page you liked is the new one. Straightliners run lots of events so they're trying to streamline how it all works. We have all 4 dates for this year. I don't know what they are. Martin "Monkey Magic" is the other/main organiser on the drift side and he just lets me know when we've got to do something I'll let him know about this thread so he can give a decent answer.. Your other option is Pembrey. That's where I learnt. There are no learning facilities there. You've just got to crack on and go on track so maybe do a day with us then up to Pembrey. Great guys up there. Excellent track. Most of the other SW guys go there too. It is our closest regular venue.
Dakota Drift then Pembrey is a good plan! The organisers at Pembrey Gav and Gordon are normally happy to jump in and give tips/tuition but as they are running a drift school up there now too the situation may have changed or they may be too busy to do it. Definitely Dakota first though as you need to know the basics to do the track bit! Have a good chat to the other people there too. It takes longer to learn drifting than you would think as well so be patient. :-)
I cannot thank everyone enough for your contributions to this thread! Good knowledge and i'm now real happy as i know i've got 2-3 venues that i can safely learn to drift at within a couple of hours. Ones that are good for a beginner. Hopefully you'll see me around if so come say hello if you do, my name is scott! If anyone is into track days then i'm going to be at Llandow Circuit tomorrow
********** 2014 DAKOTA DRIFT DATES ********** List of all Dakota drift events for 2014. Wroughton is a new venue near Swindon and not confirmed yet but I'll add the date as I will be needing help from the locals on that one if it happens. We also have 2 dates for Kirkbride in Cumbria, one in spring another in autumn but I can't find them so will update it when I get them. All the drift tracks are run under similar rules, check the files section on here there are a list of rules or I advertise the events on driftworks which also has the rules. All events are beginner friendly with tutors available if needed. SMEATHARPE AIRFIELD: (all dates are on Saturdays) Drag and drift event. 4 cars on main track with advanced drivers allowed to train/twin. Our team competition events have proved popular with drivers and spectators alike so come and join in the fun, twinning is the most fun you can have drifting. Beginner playpen perfect for learning to drift with free tuition!! 22nd March 2rd August 11th October 15th November ISLE OF MAN - JURBY AIRFIELD Drag and Drift weekender Drag and drift event. This event is held the weekend after the MANX GP so if your planning on going over to watch bring your drift car! This year we should have a similar setup to Smeatharpe (I hope) with a main track and playpen (same area as last year). Will be needing the help of the manx drifters again on this one 30/31st August WROUGHTON AIRFIELD (near Swindon) Unconfirmed event atm but any locals wanting to help out with it will be needed. 7th September KIRKBRIDE AIRFIELD (Weekend event near Carlisle, north Cumbria) Drag and drift event. Drift track shared with sprinters doing timed laps. Just the one track here no playpen but beginners welcome. April 12/13th October 4/5th
i live within a mile off wroughton airfeild and have drifted on it before the new owners am willing to help out and drive if this comes off then i maintain 7 drift cars locally and know more so please make it happen
Cheers Joe not been on here for ages. As said above Smeatharpe is a good first step in a playpen with free tutoring. I'm waiting on Straightlliners to change their web stuff including the way payment is done before I advertise the next events. You'll have to be keen and quick to get a place, it gets full up quick as we only have 4 events a year there tommahawk - Not heard anymore on Wroughton yet but there's been interest for it, I will chase Straightliners up about it and see if there's any news on it. If it goes ahead we will need some locals to help out with setup, marshaling etc.
I am definitely down for wroughton!! How do we get registered with you guys and how can we book?? Never heard of drifting there before, always seemed like an ideal place, miles away from alot of houses and not far from the motorway!
