Rhys Millen captures drift title
Rhys Millen didn't win at last weekend's Irvindale Speedway Formula Drift event last weekend - the fault of a power-steering pump that didn't want to do its share of the work - but the driver still managed to win the series championship. As silly as it may seem to have a season-long battle centered around oversteer, at least it was won in the right manner - with a domestic RWD car powered by a V8. Er, rather, it was won by a car that's built in Australia with an engine that's produced in Canada and a transmission that's assembled in Mexico. Millen's car is still damn sweet, and one can imagine that Pontiac's pleased with the outcome of its involvment in this sport.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
bill 10:25PM (12/18/2005)
Can somebody explain how drifting is judged? I mean, I understand it looks cool, but is looking cool part of the criteria? That would seem kinda hokey to me.
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Pedro 10:25PM (12/18/2005)
its based on style points... you should check out one of the drift shows on G4/TechTV!
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tigger 10:25PM (12/18/2005)
Drifting is mostly judged solely on style. The length of the drift, the cars speed, how far sideways it is, and of course how much smoke is coming off those tires. If there are 2 cars on the track, drivers can gain points by drifting past each other. And that GTO isnt even an extreme car. Its a showroom GTO, gutted with extra welds in the unibody and a rollcage. The engine is the LS2 with a ZO6 intake, headers, and an aftermarket engine management computer. I think they do modify the front end so the wheels can turn further. Compare that too a 600 horsepower Nissan Silvia, with custom turbo set up, V mounted engine radiator and intercooler and tons of other tricks requiring extensive modifications.
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Brandon 10:25PM (12/18/2005)
It won because the Millen family are the best engineers/drivers around. Rhys did his dad proud turning this beat into a drifting monster, and did a hell of a job behind the wheel.
Long live ex-pat Australians.
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Nicholas 10:25PM (12/18/2005)
There's usually 3 components to judging a drift event:
1) How close you actually follow the racing line
2) The speed with which you enter and carry through the corner
3) The angle you can achieve
So in an ideal world, the person who follows the racing line the closest, at the highest speed, and the most extreme angles will win. In the tandem battles (two cars, one leading, one following), overtaking the other car is almost always an automatic win as well.
The judges do have a little leeway too, as it is a matter of presentation and showmanship as well. Someone doing a more showy drift is going to beat someone not pushing as hard.
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Rocket Punch 10:25PM (12/18/2005)
"...Can somebody explain how drifting is judged? I mean, I understand it looks cool, but is looking cool part of the criteria? That would seem kinda hokey to me...."
They are judge by points, like figure skating in olympics....but it is more similar to dog shows where they prance around, and the judges give them points ranging from how "well" they move. IMO, I rather watch cricket or curling; which is much more entertaining and at least they are really competing for something.
Whatever it is, IT IS NOT MOTORSPORT.
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Josh 10:25PM (12/18/2005)
How is a RWD American car the right manner? You must be talking about how drifting started in America....
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Airpolgas 10:25PM (12/18/2005)
So that's how it's judged. No wonder people thought less of it as far as racing goes.
My interest in drifting was fueled by Initial D, and I always thought of it as a race. I always thought, not anymore, that drifting is the art of tackling a corner at a higher speed than the grip of a vehicle's tire would allow.
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Smoove D 10:25PM (12/18/2005)
An AE86 or a 240 winning would've been in the right manner.
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motorhome 10:25PM (12/18/2005)
So how is this juged ? Speed , degree of drift , time of drift ?
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John Butler 10:25PM (12/18/2005)
Congratulations Rhys!
It makes sense that a supremely talented rally driver would excel at the Drift events. I knew Rhys would do very well, but I am extremely excited he did it so soon with Drifting just hitting the U.S. circuits. I thought some of the experienced drivers would hold the titles for a few years.
I've driven with Rhys at Las Vegas International Speedway and he certainly had the C5 Corvette crossed up at high speeds just for showmanship. It was great. Ryhs is used by a lot of car companies to do their stunt driving in commercials. Anyway, congrats!
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John Butler 10:25PM (12/18/2005)
Congratulations Rhys!
It makes sense that a supremely talented rally driver would excel at the Drift events. I knew Rhys would do very well, but I am extremely excited he did it so soon with Drifting just hitting the U.S. circuits. I thought some of the experienced drivers would hold the titles for a few years.
I've driven with Rhys at Las Vegas International Speedway and he certainly had the C5 Corvette crossed up at high speeds just for showmanship. It was great. Ryhs is used by a lot of car companies to do their stunt driving in commercials. Anyway, congrats!
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dvsmotorsport 10:25PM (12/18/2005)
The new GTO is a rebadged Holden Monaro. and Rhys is a from New Zealand.
good on u man good to c a kiwi doing it hard overseas
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