It looks like Drift Emporium is near completion of their new G35 drifting project. After watching Braille Auto unveil a G35 vert at HIN Orlando it looks like Calvin Wan and his Falken Infiniti G35 were years ahead of the trend. Drift Emporium participated in NOPI Drift this season and backed Kenji Yaminaka as a driver for the circuit until it was discontinued. We are not sure what plans they have for the new drift machine but we hope to see it in Formula D or somewhere soon!
Drift Mania took on Downsview Park again with an amazing turnout in Toronto. Many drivers from the defunct NOPI circuit headed across the border in hopes they could make it back to the USA later to drive in the gorgeous city of Toronto. One of them was even our fellow blogger Dennis Mertzanis in his blue S14. Jeremy Glover did an amazing job with action shots and documentation of the Toronto weekend so go check out the gallery here!
Don’t miss the Drift Mania Gallery from Toronto by clicking here!
Well we just got an e-mail about the “NOPI Nationals” taking place now under the moniker Motorsporst Nationals? We really have no idea what is going on with this Atlanta based camp these days nor does anyone else seem to? We are guessing since the venue has shifted to a Convention Center that Drifting will no longer be a part of the program which means we can stop talking about this awesome event before it starts.
On the site they even bothered to say this:
“Wow, you guys sure know how to blog! The rumor mill in this industry is unbelievable! Anyway, after a long hard week of negotiations, we are moving the Nationals to the beautiful facilities at GICC by the Atlanta Airport. “
Yet it was on NOPI.com’s very own website that we based this information off of (NOPI Drift is No More). This is what NOPI put on their site and sent out as an official press release through their agency. Confusion, we think so!?
Here is the link we have received this information:
http://www.motorsportnationals.com/
We have confirmed with as many sources as we can that this is an official announcement. NOPI Nationals will cease to exist and same with NOPI Englishtown. For those who have attended events of the series this year it shouldn’t really come as a shock.
July 16, 2008 It is with great regret that NOPI Motorsports, LLC has suspended operations for the summer and fall 2008. This will include NOPI Drag Racing Series, NOPI Drift Series and the NOPI NATIONALS Motorsports Supershow. The company is undergoing an organizational restructuring in light of severe adverse affects of a disappointing spring season. The economy and unfavorable weather resulted in underperformance of all spring events. Michael Meyers, president of NOPI Motorsports, reports that NOPI Motorsports is working with its clients and sponsors to minimize the uncertainty going forward. This is a reflection of the economic times in which we currently live. The countrywide economic and industry downturn has caused a slowdown and tightening of belts. This affects everyone and companies, at all levels, and NOPI Motorsports is no different.We understand the position this puts everyone in and we hope you can find in your heart to work with us through this terrible time. All of you are our friends and we have felt for many years that we were all a big family.
NOPI Motorsports hates this more than anyone as the many years of hard work, tradition and an industry we helped to shape would come to this.
Please watch nopi.com for future announcements.
NOPI Drift fired all their judges last year (Wes Hamichi, Jacob Leveton, and Ernie Fimxer) in what seemed to unfold as the worst move of the 2008 season for them. The 08 season without them present launched with controversy in Miami and resulted in some reorganization off the bat. Apparently Formula D admired the talents of Ernie Fixmer a little more than the NOPI camp and has hired him as the new judge for Formula D! Ernie had this to say!
“I am very excited and honored to have been chosen to fulfill this responsibility as a Formula DRIFT judge, and hope that my contributions will help the development of this motorsport, not only in the United States, but internationally,” said Ernie Fixmer, Formula DRIFT judge. “I believe that my experience will help guide my input so that we, as a collective panel of judges, continue to make fair and unbiased decisions.”
We will see former D1 driver Ernie Fixmer in action on the stand in Las Vegas.
Jesse Poole at Theory Communication just sent out a PR release informing everyone that the Utah Drift event and the Denver drag event have been canceled. No make up/replacement events have been assigned.
Here is what the PR had to say.
This unfortunate turn of events has placed a major financial burden on NOPI Motorsports, which already faces an extremely challenging economy. With fuel costs at a record high, people are watching all of their extracurricular activities, and taking a chance at attending an event that would possibly be affected by weather plays a negative roll. “We have been running top notch events for years now,” said Michael Meyers, President of NOPI Motorsports. “I have never been faced with anything like this. We are having incredible support from racers and fans this year, in fact some of the best action we’ve ever seen has taken place here in 2008. There was no way to forecast any of this. We are working through all of it to see how we can make these events up. I apologize for the inconvenience this has caused to everyone. This is a major setback for NOPI Motorsports and new territory for all of us.”
Makeup events have not been announced for the two cancelled events located in Colorado and Utah. The NOPI Motorsports staff is working on the possibility of makeup rounds, as well as determining points towards the 2008 championships. Each of these issues will be addressed here shortly.
The next NOPI event will take place at the New England Dragway on August 2nd and 3rd. Please stay tuned for future news and events from NOPI Motorsports for the 2008 season. If you have any questions, you may contact Jesse Poole at Theory Communication and Design at jpoole@theoryconcept.com or 954.428.1800.
What a great event out in the midwest. It was way to hot as the temperature lingered in the high 90′s but everyone made it out alive. Check out the Wrecked Magazine gallery by By Clicking here!
WHAT an event! The 2007 champion came back with a victory as Bill Sherman reigned supreme for the weekend. Dennis Mertzanis was the new face on top…..a former Atlanta local and now a current resident of Phily! He took charge of the event this weekend. Congrats to everyone!
1st- Bill Sherman
2nd- Aaron Losey
3rd- Dennis Mertzanis
16.Brian Wilkerson (Nissan 240sx S13)
15.Dennis M. (Nissan 240sx S14)
14. Matt Waldin (Nissan 240sx S14)
13. John Wagner (Nissan 240sx S13)
12. Stewart L. (Nissan 240sx S14)
11. Aaron Losey (Nissan 240sx S13)
10. Nate Brasz (Nissan 240sx S13) currently 1st in points
9. Nick Thomas (Nissan 240sx)
8.Kenji Yaminaka (Nissan 204sx S15)
7. Gary Lang (Nissan 240sx S13)
6.Sammy Tiger (Nissan 240sx S13)
5. James Robinson (Honda Element)
4. Jeremy Lowe (Mazda Rx-7)
3. Forest Wang (Nissan 240sx S14)
2. Justin Pawlak (Mazda Rx-7)
1. Bill Sherman (Nissan 350z)
