Rumors/Gossip

Well after we announced last week that Forrest Wang will be piloting a Lexus SC430 for Formula Drift 2010 many readers came forward sending us notes that APEXi has one in their possession  for Ryuji Miki. In fact, they happen to have a Pebble Beach Edition Lexus SC430 and quite truthfully I have no idea what the difference is from a stock one. Lexus….in case your listening can you please stop sending golf course parking jockeys to our series and give somebody a Lexus IS-F or maybe just shoot for a LF-A. If news like this keeps coming out in the off season it is going to be a mighty interesting 2010 in Formula Drift, that is for sure.

Posted in Formula D, Rumors/Gossip | 5 Comments »

We have put some loose confirmation to these rumors about Forrest Wang driving a Lexus SC430 for next season like the one pictured above. I’ve had some people who have visited the shop and told me a Lexus SC430 is sitting in the shop without an engine along with what looked like a Toyota Tundra V8 sitting next to it. Still trying to place some actual photos of it and a progress note on the car but I would assume if the engine is out and getting ready to go already a Long Beach deadline should be no problem. Forrest Wang also attended the 1 year Adams Kart Track event and was looking top notch in his 240sx so be afraid Formula Drift, very afraid.

Posted in Formula D, Rumors/Gossip | 9 Comments »

A quiet buzz has been going around about the 2010 Redbull World Championship. We have heard that the championship will be leaving the Ports of Long Beach (Insert Sigh of Relief) and heading east for 2010. I found this map randomly on Google and it our information tells us that the event will be in one of the colored states in this map. Where would people like to see the event take place on the east coast?

Posted in Formula D, Rumors/Gossip | 37 Comments »

Even though we announced that Calvin Wan has got the can from Falken Tires and his S15 it looks like he has been sliding around still without worries. His blog mentioned him taking some cars out to Thunderhill for a great time including this Infiniti G37 pictured above. The car looks good sideways and with him putting in some track time during this off season it makes me wonder if we have seen the last of Calvin Wan? I’ve heard some rumors that he might be coming out to campaign himself. Only time will tell I guess.

Read more: http://www.calvinwan.com/?p=717

Posted in Calvin Wan, Grassroots, Rumors/Gossip | 17 Comments »

According to the Drift Emporium website they will be adding two new teammates to the team for 2010. They have reported in their news section that they have picked up Michihiro Takatori and Forrest Wang. No details yet that  I can find on what they will be driving yet but I cannot wait to see some heavy hitters on the Drift Emporium program for 2010. Thanks for the tip Byron Hill.

Source: http://www.driftemporium.com/news_updates.htm

Posted in Formula D, Rumors/Gossip | 4 Comments »

This is something interested I discovered with some pro drifters this week and while having the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS for a test drive we noted one huge problem for drifting. The steering angle in the car is horrible and super limited by the front frame rails. I would say stock the car has some of the worst steering angle from the factory I have seen in some time. Since no modification is allowed I will be curious to see how the Conrad Grunewald team combats that issue? What are your thoughts on how they could get this car sliding into action? Perhaps a huge widebody kit and spacing out the wheels? It will be an interesting setup to see at Streets of Long Beach.

Posted in Formula D, Rumors/Gossip | 8 Comments »

The rumor mill has been ablaze since coming off SEMA that Calvin Wan is no longer a Team Falken driver for 2010. From what we have heard is that Falken is going to an even slimmer team for next season just running the four official Team Falken cars. Calvin Wan did account for Team Falken’s first victory back in 2005 at Sonoma but recently he has struggled to keep his S15 in one piece at events such as Long Beach where he smashed Turn 10 battling Ryan Tuerck.

This leaves them with a strong chance of picking up a championship in my eyes for next season with Darren McNamara, Tyler McQuarrie, Vaughn Gittin Jr., and Daijiro Yoshihara all in the mix.

Posted in Calvin Wan, Daijiro Yoshihara, Darren McNamara, Formula D, Rumors/Gossip, Tyler McQuarrie, Vaughn Gittin Jr. | 8 Comments »

The Big 3 your thinking of are already sliding around in drifting but this is the new Big 3, the energy drink three. The biggest buzz at the 2009 SEMA show is the entry of the second largest energy drink into drifting. While they have no driver they have been taking lots of meetings. I would love to see them come on board next year with a team/driver and really bring the excitement level up in drift.

They need to join Redbull and Rockstar out in the drifting field for 2010. If they market and activate in drift like they do in power sports they will dominate the sport in no time. I met some staff on the Gumball 3000 and they were just great people. Now we just have to sit around and wait to see if it gets leaked to who will be driving for them in 2010.

Posted in Formula D, Rumors/Gossip, SEMA | 23 Comments »

Well this is a plaque I found today sitting in front of the GTR so I guess that answers that question. Yes, it’s a drift car and yes Robbie Nishida will be driving it.

Posted in Formula D, Rumors/Gossip, SEMA | 7 Comments »

I didn’t see this car on the SEMA show floor today but I’ve seen some pictures floating around of it. While this could be a time attack or drift machine from Hankook we sure hope it’s a drift car. I’ve heard rumors of a big announcement at the Hankook Motorsports press conference and this must be it.

Assuming this is a drift car we know that Conrad won’t be in it since he has the 2010 Camaro and I doubt it will be driven by Tanner Foust since he is locked up with Scion. So that really leaves Eric O’Sullivan, Ryuji Miki, and Robbie Nishida. A few sponsor logos on the car push me to believe either Robbie Nishida or Eric O’Sullivan in the car for some reason. Hopefully we can find out by the end of the week!

Posted in Formula D, Rumors/Gossip, SEMA, Spy Shots | 13 Comments »