Top Drift RD.1

Top Drift RD.1 was a great event. I've been attending most Just Drift sanctioned events for the past year (since I moved here) and this is by far one of the highest levels of Pro-Am driving i've seen in these events. 

Take Alex Heilbrunn for example.

Coming from Peru as a Pro, he really shocked me, seeing as he took first, and brought a lot of Just Drift Veterans down along the way. If he's not set to be a future FD Rookie of the Year then I really have no clue what good drifting is.

Run, after run, he threw down gallons of smoke and left Falken rubber all over The Balcony. Hell, some of the FD drivers i've seen testing up here cannot even come close to what Heilbrunn is throwing down, but competition and testing is always a different situation. 

The other driver that impressed me, Spike Chen ran both smoothly and consistently, sliding all the way up to the second spot on the podium.

Spike, obvious Pebble Beach and Hot Import Nights award winner, drove well all day, supercharger whining all over track and mostly at other drivers doors.

Next, someone who I thought could have easily podiumed...

Dan Burkett. He had a really strong showing, putting down runs to rival Heilbrunn, but fell short of the coveted podium. 

Such is drifting, but I can see him standing on those steps next round.

I mean, there are few drivers that can pilot an FC3S that well, and the name Justin Pawlak comes to mind.

Which finally brings me to Danny Giraldo. 

Truly channeling the Fujiwara Zone, he triple OMT'd Alex Heilbrunn, in a good ol' Corolla, which was rumored to be carrying tofu...

And he didn't spill a single drop of his water. In all seriousness, Giraldo impressed me with such an old chassis. While the AE86 may be one of the long standing obelisks of drifting, it takes serious skill to be competitive in one. Especially against a professionally built 1JZ S13.

I still remember last years Round One, and while still incredible, was really out shone but this one. Drifting is progressing at a blistering pace, garnering fans every event. Pro-Am may still be small fish compared to the massive machine that is now Formula Drift, but it is still by far worth watching. The fan involvement, atmosphere and potential nestled by the hardworking guys at JD, really made this round more Fun for spectators than Long Beach.

Thanks Paul for allowing me Media Access to the event and a shoutout to Jason Kim for destroying in a borrowed and stock looking S13.

Until next time guys, thanks for reading.

- Chris Rosales