Last month I went to the Dakota Raceway Drag 'n' Drift at Smeatharpe in Devon.
Smeatharpe used to be an RAF airfield and the events are run at each end of one of the disused runways. Two different types of event are run at the same time; drag racing and drifting.
Smeatharpe used to be an RAF airfield and the events are run at each end of one of the disused runways. Two different types of event are run at the same time; drag racing and drifting.
For the uninitiated drag racing involves 2 cars, bikes or any other vehicles racing against each other over a 1/4 mile strip.
Wikipedia defines drifting as:
'Drifting is a driving technique where the driver intentionally oversteers, causing loss of traction in the rear wheels or all tires, while maintaining control from entry to exit of a corner. A car is drifting when the rear slip angle is greater than the front slip angle, to such an extent that often the front wheels are pointing in the opposite direction to the turn (e.g. car is turning left, wheels are pointed right or vice-versa, also known as opposite lock or counter-steering)'.
'Drifting is a driving technique where the driver intentionally oversteers, causing loss of traction in the rear wheels or all tires, while maintaining control from entry to exit of a corner. A car is drifting when the rear slip angle is greater than the front slip angle, to such an extent that often the front wheels are pointing in the opposite direction to the turn (e.g. car is turning left, wheels are pointed right or vice-versa, also known as opposite lock or counter-steering)'.
The first thing that you experience is the stench of burning rubber from the drifting end - I think the tyres must have a different rubber compound as the smell is quite sweet rather than the usual burning rubber pong.
I started at the drifting end where a Nissan 200SX S13 (180SX in Japan and 240SX in North America) and a Nissan Skyline R33 GTS were blasting through the cones:
Next out were a Nissan 200SX S14 and a BMW 3 series estate. The cars do a few laps then make way for the next cars and so it goes on - non-stop revving and burning rubber!
Another Nissan 200SX S14 with a Nissan Stagea in the background:
Nissan 200SX S13's are very popular for drifting in the UK (which is probably the reason that I can't find an unmodified one for sale anywhere...)
The official photographer was the only person allowed this close:
Apologies for the quality of the movie below; it was filmed on my Olympus 590 which doesn't have great quality video but it does have a zoom lens.
A great mix of cars queuing for the drifting - Nissans, BMWs and a sole Mazda MX5:
Between the drifting and the drag end is the maintenance area where the cars are prepped and adjusted between racing. I couldn't help drooling over this lush S13:
When I reached the drag end 2 bikers were warming their tyres prior to racing:
Whilst watching the bikes a guy began chatting to me and told me that his wife was about to make her second run in her racing mini:
Team briefing:
Back to the drifting end, and in the maintenance area was this ultra rare Nissan Stagea being tweaked for its next drifting session:
BMW versus Nissan - this is what drifting should look like!
I've still to find out what the pole thingy is called and what the significance of whacking is
A rather battered looking Mazda RX7 (Series 4) with a Nissan 200SX S14 in the background:
Highly modified Nissan 200SX S14:
Highly modified Nissan 200SX S13:
A last visit to the drag strip to see what's up next -
Split-screen VW van
A Ginetta and a well modded Ford Zephyr
The Ginetta made short work of the Honda Accord (not well matched me thinks):
And finally back to the drifting end to have a look behind the scenes. Burning rubber all day, well, burns a lot of rubber. Drifting tyres get thoroughly shredded:
So this guy is here to keep the drivers supplied with fresh tyres. I'm guessing drifting requires some deep pockets....
If you're interested in motorsport and are looking for something a bit different I can highly recommend Dakota Drag n Drift. It costs £10 as a spectator and £50 to race. If you do visit, be aware that even though the racing areas are safely cordoned off, the maintenance area is very near the entrance lane leading to the car park, so keep your eyes open for vehicles coming and going. There are, however, plenty of marshals keeping an eye on proceedings.
As I'm writing this the last race of the year has just about finished (unfortunately I couldn't attend today) but the links below should be useful if you plan to visit in the future:
Please leave a comment if you've raced at Dakota Raceway or anywhere else!
Catch you later!
