Ok, literally just walked out of the FD press conference (which was crowded with all kinds of folks including the DA guys, mustang doug, the bubba drift guys, ect.) and here's my quick rundown of the 06 news (picked up the press release CD but don't have time to put it all up right now).

Judges (only 3 this year)
Alex Pfeiffer
Andy Yen
Ken Takahashi

Advisory Committee (don't know the whole deal, but they'll have something to do with working/communicating with all the teams/drivers
Rhys Millen
Moto
Henry Chum (?)

Updated Rulebook
news on that to come, gonna try to track one down before the day is over

Licensing Series
This licensing/feeder series is a definate, but not too much is known at this time. It will however give more people a chance to enter, and these dates will most likely occur before the real formula D event in each city.

Schedule
The tentative 2006 Schedule is this:
-April 2: Streets of Long Beach - Long Beach, CA
-May 13: Road Atlanta - Braselton, GA
-June 11: Soldier Field - Chicago, IL
-July 9: Infineon Raceway - Sonoma, CA
-August 20: Evergreen Raceway - Seattle, WA
-September 9: Wall Speedway - Wall, NJ
-October 21: Irwindale - Irwindale, CA

thats pretty much all the major stuff but i'll post anything else that i find out later

I'm really interested to hear more about the licensing series. I'm curious who will have to get licensed... or if say - seeded drivers from the overall point standings from this season will exempt them from having to go through the motions and just get one.

I'm actually glad it's tentatively 7 races. 6 was difficult enough... although 3 trips to California is... how do you say... expensive.

April 2nd? SHEEAT... I have to get working. The car, the sponsors, the ... um... everything.

Keep us posted killa!

I do like that there are going to be to VERY experienced drifters as judges.
I think that's a good idea.

Haha! I was right. Streets of Long Beach.

They need more Southeast events. I can make it to RA but Cali is a tad far.

That feeder series will be interesting.

Why is there so much cool stuff in CA? California Rally Series, Formula D, San Diego, Humboldt County, etc...

Oh, and the Governator.

I almost wonder if the licensing series will be just like it was this year... 50 drivers competing for 12 spots - and if you nab one of the 12... you're licensed. ??? I really want to hear more.

I called Seattle!


That town has turned into a hot bed for the industry. They bailed on Houston, damn it! The memories

That you did sir!!! I bet that race'll be big! I can't wait for Long Beach.
Holy sheeeeat... I'm going to have to try and transport my car back and forth to the west coast FIVE times (including D1 next month)?!?!?

OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOOOOMG.
I have to find a ride for this season. There is NO way in hell.

Yeah you need a transport of some type. Thats a lot of drive time to put in by yourself.

I say leave the BMW out there and just fly out for events.

Alright heres a little tidbit from Alex Pfeiffer

Yes, I'm going to be one of the judges now and I'm going to be pushing for more traditional style of drifting rather then the americanized version that fd has started to turn into.

The rules are out but not sure if there on the web site yet.
Couple main changes,
engines are still open,
uprights/hubs must be oem,
subframes must be oem,
suspension pick up points can be moved up to 2 inch on pre 90 cars and 1 inch after 90.
all lights must be working, including head, blinkers, hassards, reverse, so forth and they much work from oem switches in oem locations.
oem windshield,
all windows must be there,
both seats and seat belts,

Thats just a quick run down but the rules are now out.

Brian with US Drift was looking into doing something like this with the lisences.. You would get a certain amount of points for each event that you were in and how well you did. You could apply that to the next event and after you completed the series with all these numbers you were elegible for a License.. It was more complicated than this.. But I can't remember..

Forgive my awesome spelling today.. I'm to lazy to fix it..

So I guess Alex and Andy (Yen) aren't going to be driving? Unless they'll have a quick replacement judge for when they go out to drive.
?

Pretty sure Alex is totally sitting out. +1 for better judges drifters > magazine editors.

Man... Alex for the win! He was really concerned that the sport was evolving away from traditional drifting... so the fact that he's stepping down for a bit as a driver to be a judge is farking righteous.

I'm going to be pushing for more traditional style of drifting rather then the americanized version that fd has started to turn into.

Anyone know specifically what he's talking about. What elements are "americanized"? How is american drifting different from japan?

I know the "passing" issue has become a big controversy.

In Japan, the following car running goal (while running tandem) is to mimic the lead cars moves, while staying as close as possible... hopefully closing in to put pressure on the lead car. He is only to pass when the lead car makes a mistake large enough to allow the pass.

Here in the states... passing has sort of become an "instant" win... so the chase cars will hold shallow angle to keep speed up, and increase the opportunity for them to basically "snake" the pass from the lead car. They basically set themselves to steal the win with a pass... despite the fact that it disregards the goal to mimic the lead car.

This is especially hairy with underpowered cars, because they have to come into turns like turn #1 in Houston, Chicago, and Sonoma very wide, to keep their speed up to hit the FOERST clipping point, and continue the rest of the course with sufficient speed (and keep the car in the powerband). SO if the chase car comes in with shallow angle... "setting themselves up" for the pass... they'll take it easily against an underpowered car. Did they make a pass? Yes. Did they win? Not according to the "traditional style" of drifting.

I know this became more and more of an issue as the season went on... so I'm stoked to hear that Alex will be judging - because he was always someone who voiced his concern about the matter.

I think since Americans are so used to traditional motorsports, where if you get passed - you lose... whereas in drifting, it may not be the case.