Enthralling Methods of Learning to Drift a Car
Drifting is an extremely thrilling activity. It is done by regaining the control after the back of the car slides. It should be done properly and safely to enjoy it thoroughly. Safety should be observed for other people and their property too, and so drifting should be done at a safe location. Here are some tips.
Before Drifting
Choose a Safe Location of Tarmac and Set Up a Cone in its Center: After buying or building a drift car, drive up to the cone and try to do a 180 degree handbrake turn by ripping the handbrake. You should practice this until you achieve a perfect 180 degree angle, neither more or nor less than that.
Learn Counter-steering: Rip the handbrake from a speed of 48-64 km/h (30-40 mph). A speed less than this will lead to an insufficient degree of momentum to take you around the cone. Try to control the car up to a destination, till it stops.
Increase Speed: Increase the speed of all these things till you are comfortable.
Don’t Forget the 180 Cone: Also do the 180 cone.
Rear Wheel Drive and Manual Transmission
Get a Car Having Both Rear Wheel Drive as well as Manual Transmission: Ideally you can get a sports car having as close to a 50-50 ratio as possible and sufficient power to keep the tires spinning.
Look for an Open Area: Ideally an enclosed racetrack should be chosen because it will be free from pedestrians, motorists and police.
Hand Brake Method
Accelerate and Move in a Gear with Space to Rev: Generally second gear is used as it offers the widest variety of speed and is the best for controlling the torque of the engine.
Push the Clutch In.
Flick the Steering Wheel: Now flick the steering wheel to the inner side in such a way as if you were about to turn around it. You should do this while pulling the hand brake at the same time.
Put Pressure on Gas Pedal: Your next step is to put some pressure immediately on the gas pedal, let the clutch out and steer the car in the slide’s direction, with the help of throttle to get a control over the angle of the drift.
Increase Throttle: Increased throttle will give the car increased turn and move it away from the center of the turn.
Less Throttle: If you lessen throttle, you will reduce angle and the car can be moved inside of the turn more comfortably.
Now you are drifting!
Clutch Kick Method
This method is used when you are already moving to raised angle and/or revive wheel spin.
Is the Car Losing its Drift Angle: While drifting, you may feel that the car has started to lose its power and drift angle. If this occurs, you can kick the clutch to try to revive to spinning speed of tires. This is identical to power shifting and you are, in short, making an attempt to ‘chirp’ the tires every now and then.
Enter a drift.
Start Drifting Again: While the power can still be put on, kick the clutch pedal in and out a few times as swiftly as you can till the car starts drifting again.
End with Your Foot off from the Pedal.
Continue the Drift: Go on with the drift and if you feel that the car starts to lose power/angle, again attempt to clutch kick.
Rear Wheel Drive Auto for Drifting
For this too, you should find an open, large area.
Accelerate: Increase the speed up to 32.2-48.3 km/h (20-30 mph) (this will depend on the lot size and space).
Get Maximum Torque: If you can, get the maximum torque by locking the transmission in a low gear.
Turn the Wheel Hard: Floor it by turning the wheel hard. You must feel the rear end sliding around if this is performed properly. Use full throttle only so as to begin the drift. After this, you must use correct throttle control to go on through the corner.
Drifting with a Front Wheel Drive Car
Again find an open, large area.
Pull the Handbrake: Or use the parking brake, to ride it out a time or two to overcome your initial fear.
Set up a Cone in the Middle.
Attain a speed between 20 and 30 mph if you want.
Turn towards the cone while pulling the handbrake. Right after you feel the back end coming around, turn the car in the opposite direction. This is called opposite lock.
Practice the Opposite Lock: Go on repeating the opposite lock at the same speed till you are able to control well. Practice for many weeks regularly till you become thorough. Keep in mind to avoid doing it on roadways, as you may be fined.
Increase Speed: Increase speed slowly till you become proficient at a speed you are comfortable at. Know and remember this speed; you must never drift above this speed unless you have a good practice.
Learn and practice these techniques to enjoy the thrill of drifting.
