Formula Drift at Summit Point

[jde]

Spent the last several days at Summit Point working at the Formula Drift event. Regardless of the judged aspect of drifting, watching guys with way too much power and phenominal car control is pretty darn entertaining.

http://jdellis.smugmug.com/photos/159094529-S.jpg

http://jdellis.smugmug.com/photos/159094562-S.jpg
350Z with an Infiniti V8 shoehorned into it.

http://jdellis.smugmug.com/photos/159094161-S.jpg
I thought Mid-'90's DTM Mercedes C-Class when I saw this Altezza.

http://jdellis.smugmug.com/photos/159094101-S.jpg

http://jdellis.smugmug.com/photos/159093979-S.jpg

http://jdellis.smugmug.com/photos/159094067-S.jpg

http://jdellis.smugmug.com/photos/159093939-S.jpg

http://jdellis.smugmug.com/photos/159093569-S.jpg

http://jdellis.smugmug.com/photos/159092677-S.jpg

http://jdellis.smugmug.com/photos/159092651-S.jpg

More pics: http://jdellis.smugmug.com/gallery/2946300

-jde

[Davis Silver Sti]

Proof here that JD is going to turn into a drifter!!! heh

Thanks for the pics

[jde]

Proof here that JD is going to turn into a drifter!!! heh

I was just bummed I didn't get to meet Nick Hogan. :P

As much as I enjoy racing in the rain, I think I could hold my own drifting with some practice. :lol:

-jde

[brummy]

Was that on the Jefferson Circuit or the main one? If it was the main one, I bet turn 5 was a blast. Looks like fun either way.

[jde]

Was that on the Jefferson Circuit or the main one? If it was the main one, I bet turn 5 was a blast. Looks like fun either way.

It was on the Shenandoah Circuit, which looks like an awesome HPDE course. I'm not sure if the FD course was run counter race or not. It was a cool layout they had, that the drivers loved. Started with ~2000' straight into a right 90, short straight into another right 90 that started climbing. Quick squirt climbing into a tight left hairpin. More climbing into a similar right hairpin.

DC Region SCCA were running their 12 hour race on the main course at the same time. It wasn't overly intriguing for me, though. Out of 45-50 cars, over half were Spec Miatas.

The first few pics were of the last corner that was a connector to bypass the clone of the Nordschleife's Karussel.

-jde

[brummy]

Go figure it was the only one I didn't mention, hahaha. We were thinking about going to that 12 hours race again, but we were afraid it would be all Miatas again.

[axemansean]

Did you actually come to the 12 hrs paddock? Probably not, yes there were a bunch of Miatas but there were a heck of a lot of other cool cars. Of the 44 entrants, 17 were SM or SSM.

I tried to check out the drift cars, they wouldn't let me in... I knew the gate guy but the trigger happy security guard had other ideas.

Pictures from the other end... http://swvrscca.org/photos/12hrs/index.htm

I urge all of you to come out and watch next year, the 12 hrs at the Point is one of the best endurance races out there.

[brummy]

Hell yeah, the 12 hours race is awesome.

I didn't look through all your pics, but was this one there again?
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a53/brummy167/BMWM3041.jpg

The last time I went, that thing tore up. Then there were some old Nascar trucks or some shit that couldn't make it through the entire race. They were hella fast down the straight though.

[axemansean]

No they weren't there, if I am not mistaken thats the Milner PTG BMW I know they were really fast in 2005 when I was there, but they ran into some mechanical issues.

The 944 in the pictures was insanely fast, did a 1:20 but then blew up.

[brummy]

That is fast. Ok, so I just got done looking through all the pics......how the hell did that Miata end up upside down!?

[axemansean]

That is fast. Ok, so I just got done looking through all the pics......how the hell did that Miata end up upside down!?

It was a 1g CRX actually.

From what I understand, the tires gave and he went wide in 10 and once you hit the gravel at the right angle you'll end up on your roof. I've actually witnessed it a bunch of times, its very easy to get things horribly wrong in 10.

The team I was crewing for had a fuel stop around the same time so I didn't get to take too many pictures of the incident as I was manning the dump cans.

[jde]

Did you actually come to the 12 hrs paddock? Probably not, yes there were a bunch of Miatas but there were a heck of a lot of other cool cars. Of the 44 entrants, 17 were SM or SSM.

I was pretty much still "on call' during the FD event, so I didn't have a chance to wander the main course like I'd hoped.

I watched the pace lap and first few laps from the complex of corners behind the track office. I think there's a few pics mixed in with my FD pics at smugmug.

I apologize for being overzealous in assessing the swarm of SM's, but I expected a little more diversity (although I can appreciate an SM being a dead-reliable enduro car).

I liked seeing the Merc 190's out there. I had a lot of great battles with Mark Alexander at Mid-Ohio when he ran a 190 in ITS. :D

You must've picked the wrong time to sneak past the guards. :( I ran into Lee Grimes from KONI who was crewing for somebody, but can't remember if it was Fri or Sat.

-jde

[axemansean]

You must've picked the wrong time to sneak past the guards. :( I ran into Lee Grimes from KONI who was crewing for somebody, but can't remember if it was Fri or Sat.
-jde

We tried Sat morning, Lee told us the stories from when he was at the other paddock helping the Mustang guy. Lee was actually one of the crew chiefs for the team I was crewing for.

Small world ay. :)

[brummy]

Speaking of cars upside down at Summit Point...... This happened literally right in front of me a year or so ago:
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a53/brummy167/FordPinto695.jpg