Do you want to learn how to drift? Well, it's not like taking a walk in the park, it's not like Fast & Furious, it takes a lot of practice, but it's not impossible either.
Steps
Part 1 of 7: Before You Begin
Step 1. Place a cone in the center of a safe, people-free paved area
Drive up to the cone and pull the handbrake to try to turn 180 degrees. Practice until you can turn 180 degrees, no more, no less.
Step 2. Learn to counter-steer by pulling the handbrake at a speed of 40-50km / h (a lower speed will not give the car enough angular motion to spin you around the cone) and trying to control the car until it stops
Step 3. Increase the speed in these exercises until you can get things done smoothly
Step 4. Also try to do 180 with the cone again
Part 2 of 7: Drifting with a Rear Drive Car and Manual Shifting
Step 1. Find a rear-wheel drive car that also has a manual gearbox
Ideally you should have a sports car with a weight balance of 50% front and 50% rear with enough power to keep the wheels spinning during drifts.
Step 2. Head to an open area (such as a circuit) that is safe and free from pedestrians, motorcyclists and police
Part 3 of 7: Handbrake Technique
Step 1. Accelerate and shift into a gear away from reverse
Usually the latter is used because it allows the maximum speed variation and is the best to exploit the engine torque.
Step 2. Press the clutch
Step 3. Turn the steering wheel towards the inside of the cruva as if you want to turn normally and at the same time pull the handbrake
Step 4. Release the throttle immediately, release the clutch and steer in the direction of the skid, using the throttle to control the angle of the skid
Step 5. Giving more throttle will make the car spin more and move it away from the center of the corner
Step 6. Less gas will reduce the angle and allow the car to approach the center of the curve
Step 7. You're drifting
Part 4 of 7: Friction Kick Technique
Step 1. Used when you are already drifting to increase the angle or to make the wheels spin again
Step 2. While you are drifting, you may feel that the car is losing the angle and the power is dropping
If this happens, you can kick the clutch to try to get the spinning wheels to speed up again. It is similar to shifting with gas and you are practically trying to "push" the wheels repeatedly.
Step 3. Start a drift
Step 4. When you are still throttling, kick the clutch pedal as fast as you can a few times until your car dribbles again
Step 5. Take your foot off the pedal
Step 6. Continue the drift, and when you feel the car is losing angle or power try kicking the clutch again
Part 5 of 7: Drifting with a Rear Drive Car and Automatic Transmission
Step 1. Find a large area clear of obstacles
Step 2. Accelerate to 30-50km / h (depending on the space you have available)
Step 3. If possible, lock the transmission in a low gear for maximum torque
Step 4. Turn the wheel and flip open
You should feel the back of the car skid if you have performed the maneuver correctly. Use full throttle only to start the skid, to continue the skid you can moderate the throttle.
Part 6 of 7: Preparing to Drift a Front Drive Car
Step 1. Go to a large, unobstructed area
Step 2. Practice using the handbrake a couple of times to overcome the initial fear
Step 3. Place a cone in the center of the area
Step 4. Drive towards the cone (at about 30 / 50km / h))
Step 5. Pull the handbrake and turn towards the cone
As soon as you hear the back of the car pull away, turn in the opposite direction.
Step 6. Repeat this exercise at different speeds until you are in good control of your car
Practice for several weeks or until it feels natural to you. (Do not do this on public roads. It is dangerous for you and others, and you may even be fined)
Step 7. Gradually increase the speed until you find one that you feel comfortable with
Remember, you should never go below that speed unless you are practicing.
Step 8. Increase the difficulty
At the same initial speed, steer in the opposite direction of the curve, and then turn the steering wheel towards the CONE (and not towards the corner, you are not ready yet). As before, when you hear the rear start, counter-steering.
Part 7 of 7: How to Drift a Front Drive Car
Step 1. Approach the corner at a speed you feel comfortable with, preferably in second gear
Step 2. Apply the handbrake while entering a bend, but try not to lock the rear wheels
Step 3. In all of this, you should never have left the throttle, always give at least half throttle for the duration of the drift
Step 4. When you feel the car is understeer and loses corner, pull the brake harder
Step 5. If the car is spinning too much, throttle more and more and release the handbrake occasionally
Step 6. Don't tense up, it has to come naturally
Warnings
- If you are planning to drift with an SUV or pickup, be very careful as those types of vehicles could tip over. You will be able to use them, but you will have to be very experienced.
- Use the brakes when you need to slow down the car a lot to do it faster than with the engine brake alone.
- Always drift at a speed where you are in control, the first few times go less than 60km / h.
- Since severe or uneven tire wear can be a safety hazard, make sure there is enough rubber left on the tires at the end of your drift session. In addition, the tires should be checked by a professional or replaced after each shift.
- Don't go too fast. Recovering from a crush that is about to spin you takes skill and experience.
- Do not drift on public roads. It's illegal. And, while it sounds fun, the game isn't worth the candle. This activity is considered illegal and can lead to jail time, license withdrawal and much more.
- Don't try drifting in a parking lot. You could damage yours and other cars, or even worse.
- Front-wheel drive cars and 4x4s are unable to skid strictly speaking, they mostly drag the rear wheels on the asphalt. This contributes heavily to tire and suspension wear and can cause sudden failures. If you take drifting seriously, get a rear-wheel drive car.
- Learn about local regulations. You can be sued in court, fined or taken to jail for drifting, even if you are not on public roads. Even if it is not expressly mentioned in the highway code, there may be a broader rule under which drifting is made to fall.
