DRIFT 101 Pointers for Your First Drift
Your first time drifting will be a very strange experience, especially if you’ve been doing road racing or autocross. Think about it, you’re flinging a car sideways on purpose for the entire course and you’re not battling for fastest time or getting to the line first.
It’s all an art in oversteer. While that makes drifting rather different from road racing, your car setup will actually not be far off from attacking a track day. Here are some pointers for your first drift.
Bring a Truck
While some cars will be able to haul all the tires they need to the track for drifting, it’s more advisable to ask your truck friend for a hand and bring lots of tires and wheels with him. Some places will have guys who will change tires for cheap but not everywhere will. Check ahead before venturing out without some tires mounted on wheels.
Bring Tools
Stuff will break or, at the very least, you’re going to be changing tires a lot. So, get an electric impact and sockets, jack, jack stands, wheel chock, some wrenches, air tank, and zip ties.
Set Up Your Car for Autocross
Yep, that sounds weird since you’re sliding your car, but at the same time you want the front end to have grip as you steer in the direction you want to go. Don’t over-lower the car if you have coil-overs, but do lower it for better handling. Start with 28-32 psi hot all around and adjust the pressures after you drift a couple of times. However, if you’re using a very low powered car, expect to use up to 50 psi or more since they need lots of help staying sideways.
Suspension Settings
Finally, start with 3 to 4 degrees of negative camber in the front, about 1/8th to 1/4-inch total toe out, and about 7-degrees positive caster in the front.
The rear should be roughly zero camber and zero to 1/8th-inch total toe in. If you feel that your car isn’t “loose” enough, don’t change it by adjusting toe and use your suspension instead. Use stiffer spring rates, stiffen the rear shock, or stiffen the roll bar if you have an adjustable roll bar.