Automedia Gives Tips For Learning To Drift

Drifting has become an overwhelmingly popular form of motorsport in recent years. While some enthusiasts still don’t understand the appeal, others are drawn to these displays precision driving at the edge of control. For those who don’t understand it, drifting involves as much precision driving skill and car control as other forms of auto racing. This is much more than just breaking the tires loose, and while many of us have experienced power-on oversteer, or even understeer, few have actually experienced drifting.

In an article written by Mac Demere over at Automedia, the author delves into how to learn to drift. While the unexperienced may dismiss this as simply being able to hang the tail out in a corner, Demere explains there’s much more going on here than that. Drifting is a balance of controlling and predicting what the car’s back end will do, and maintaing focus on direction and speed. Demere offers plenty of of advice, including tips for getting started, like trying out your skills on slick-track go-karts. This offers a safe and legal means for determining whether you either have a natural talent for sliding a four wheeled vehicle with any level of precision or if you can learn that skill at all.

The article explains how to take steps going from slick track karts, to regular karts, and eventually graduating to drifting a vehicle. Learning to drift is not for the faint of heart or the light of wallet. Demere explains that would-be drifters should expect to spend several hundred dollars on multiple sessions in karts before even beginning to practice in a real vehicle. Once graduated to tarmac and steel, be prepared to spend hundreds if not thousands on practice tires, vehicle repairs, and probably fines from the local police for being reckless if you’re not practicing on a track. Demere also advises you can read and watch all the videos you want, but time behind the wheel is the only way to actually learn the technique.