Drifting Safety Tips

Tech mumbo-jumbo... not Gizmodo.

Moderators: charlie, darkducati

User avatar
djdorifto
Clam Salesman
Posts: 647
Joined: Wed Apr 21, 2004 2:14 am
Location: Melbourne, Fl (ex-southern californian)

Drifting Safety Tips

Post by djdorifto »

#1: Don't ever try anything remotely resembling car control on a trafficked road. Scout your locations before you start screwing around on them. The best driving times are between 2 and 5 am, on a weekday (not Friday).
#2: Drive your road at least ONCE before you start practicing.
Keep an eye out for obstructions, road conditions, wildlife, etc.
#3: Drive with the windows down, listen for other cars.
#4: Buy a rollbar, and a helmet.
#5: I really recommend getting some AutoX/track experience before practicing on your own.
You'll save the money you spent in new car parts/medical bills/god knows what.
#6: Don't practice if theres alot of dirt, sand, or debris on the road.
#7: Know how fast and how much you can push your car.
#8: Try and get some overall good suspension and L.S.D. Its not a must but its good to have.
#9: Check your Tire Air and Pressure.
#10: Don't drift when your mad or upset in any way.
#11: If your trying to impress friends at night. Don't do it. You might get over confident and some thing might happen.
#12: If you can try to do drifting on a track course.
Its expensive but it will be less expensive if you ever get caught by the cops.
#13: If possible go practice with someone else (If your just learning go with someone experienced).
#14: If drifting around blind curves it would help to have someone signal you (or alert you via a two-way radio) if anything comes up around the corner that could interfere with the drift.
#15: If your not feeling it don't try it.
#16: Safety FOERST. No matter how bad you want to go out and practice always take into consideration road conditions, weather, etc...
#17: Always be in the right frame of mind and never lose focus.
#18: Keep your car properly maintained. Don't skimp out on things like alignments, tires changes, fluid changes, etc.
You're car HAS to be in perfect shape.
#19: Check the conditions of all four tires EACH TIME before you go out.
Check for tread wear, small rips, tire pressure, nails, etc.
#20: Bring a cell phone and tell someone where you're going.
#21: If you have bright foglights(70w+) use them instead of your headlights.
You can see other headlight beams ahead on blindcorners better.
#22: Respect the road - you'll lose it when you least expect it... the best drivers in the world lose it, so can you.
Even monkeys fall from trees.
#23: Recognize the difference between driving and drifting/racing.
Drive safely on normal roads and dont attract attention to yourself - save it for the drift/race session.
#24: Never go out when something is wrong with your car. Pay attention for weird noises, sounds, smells, etc.
#25: Always let faster drivers pass...
#26: Don't harass other drivers on the road. You don't own the road, so keep in mind that residents/travelers may hold you up on the road. If you cause them grief, they're more likely to complain to the police. Besides, its not cool if you can't feel safe driving to your own home, so think of others.
#27: Road flares come in handy.
#28: NEVER slam on the brakes when ur car starts to get sideways. Some beginners who arent used to RWD driving/drifting can panic when getting sideways for the FOERST time and try to stop the car with the brakes...
it's the worst thing you can do.
#29: Don't crash into stuff when you are going really really fast.
#30: Keep your eyes open and BOTH hands on the steering wheel at all times.
#31: Start out at slower speeds. Become comfortable with these speed and then start going faster.
If you mess up at lower speed your more likely to be ok.
#32: Find a big flat dirt area or large open parking lot if possible.
It this will help you get used to how your car will react when in over steer and how to control it.
#33: Have money in the bank for in case you do blow a strut, bend a wheel, or damage your car.
Be prepared to spend money on repairing your car.


If anyone has any thing to add to this post it up! safety is a key issue for everyone to think about when going out drifting. So have fun and be safe!
Image
jo
Not Really Past the Hazing
Posts: 1246
Joined: Wed Apr 07, 2004 6:09 pm

Post by jo »

Another thing to keep in mind...

Try and always carry a AAA card [god forbid you need to be towed out of a ditch], 2 way walkie talkies [talkabouts] for people who are at either end of the location to tell you what's up, a tow rope, maybe a FOERST aid kit...

always be prepared for something, just in case... better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it!
User avatar
djdorifto
Clam Salesman
Posts: 647
Joined: Wed Apr 21, 2004 2:14 am
Location: Melbourne, Fl (ex-southern californian)

Post by djdorifto »

oh yeah, forgot about that, good post.

Umm, i copy and pasted this from another forums i use to vist and we had a sticky of this in the drifting section, I posted like 5 tips ohwell this was like 3 years ago lol.

Also something good to have would be a aftermarket seat, i'd go for Recaros, Sparco, or my FAV. Brides seats and a good harness, cause a key thing for the driver to have would be to be comfortable and not tossing everywhere in the car. Drift Safe!
Image
User avatar
aburazaru
Get Some
Posts: 928
Joined: Thu Jun 10, 2004 11:37 am
Location: Awesometown, Gnarville county!

Post by aburazaru »

i gotta tell you that you guys pretty much got it covered. here are a couple things i learned in passed "experiences"...(wrecks)

1. never go drifting alone. it's always good to have someone to help you pull your car off of the guard rail and back to the shop.
2. the most important thing to know about drifting is to fully understand the consiquences. you WILL eventually crash. with practice comes skill, with skill comes balls, with balls comes crash. its just how it happens. ask any pro driver and i'll bet you he or she has lost a car or two in touge(mountain road)
Image
User avatar
andysapp
I need to go outside
Posts: 28825
Joined: Wed Apr 07, 2004 5:07 pm
Location: KILL 'EM ALL.

Post by andysapp »

[quote="ChunkeyMunkey1580"]with practice comes skill, with skill comes balls, with balls comes crash. its just how it happens.[quote]
I don't think I could have said that better myself!
User avatar
aburazaru
Get Some
Posts: 928
Joined: Thu Jun 10, 2004 11:37 am
Location: Awesometown, Gnarville county!

Post by aburazaru »

thank you sir.
Image
BrokeAssHachi
Imitation Crab Meat
Posts: 459
Joined: Thu Jul 29, 2004 11:24 am
Location: waipahu, hawaii
Contact:

Post by BrokeAssHachi »

echo... echo... :lol:


(dj - not no more =D)
Image
s14unimog
Fresh Meat
Posts: 83
Joined: Thu Oct 13, 2005 10:34 pm
Location: ATHENS...where your dreams come true!

Post by s14unimog »

best advice ever....

10: Don't drift when your mad or upset in any way.
slide to side world wide
SHIFTlock_life
KA-T 96 S14
shai
Ripe Meat
Posts: 128
Joined: Sun Oct 02, 2005 9:10 pm
Location: Atlanta

Post by shai »

andysapp wrote:
ChunkeyMunkey1580 wrote:with practice comes skill, with skill comes balls, with balls comes crash. its just how it happens.
I don't think I could have said that better myself!
I would like to add that with crash comes character!
Someone free sky
User avatar
POOPscandal
Taco Bar Extraordinaire
Posts: 4360
Joined: Tue Dec 07, 2004 12:59 am
Location: !black emperor

Post by POOPscandal »

yeah, replacing pitman arms(steering stuff for the unknowing), breaking rims, smashing airdams, and fucking up alignments is real fun.

*speaking from experience*




eh, but at least i can drift pretty decently now. gotta pay your dues i guess. taka has. 8)
Superb Tough Highest Performer Driven to Lifestyles Unimaginable
Image
:domo: :domo: :domo:PHOTOBLARG! :domo: :domo: :domo:NEW EXCITING BLARG! :domo: :domo: :domo:
"thanks man, I didn't do it, but I'm a fan of apple penis" - <3 internet
pipe921

Point

Post by pipe921 »

oh yeah, forgot about that, good post.
Okay, ya i can see your point.
User avatar
andysapp
I need to go outside
Posts: 28825
Joined: Wed Apr 07, 2004 5:07 pm
Location: KILL 'EM ALL.

Post by andysapp »

Oh... that you're going to get banned? Good.
User avatar
down_shift
Muscle Milk
Posts: 11882
Joined: Sat May 29, 2004 1:38 am
Location: Beverly Hills

Post by down_shift »

He's all over the place.
::::: understeer is definitely a crime - Colin McRae
User avatar
andysapp
I need to go outside
Posts: 28825
Joined: Wed Apr 07, 2004 5:07 pm
Location: KILL 'EM ALL.

Post by andysapp »

Not anymore!
:D
User avatar
down_shift
Muscle Milk
Posts: 11882
Joined: Sat May 29, 2004 1:38 am
Location: Beverly Hills

Post by down_shift »

When did we get a tech forum anyways? I forgot we had one.
::::: understeer is definitely a crime - Colin McRae
Post Reply