It’s hard to believe that it’s been six months since I first set off with the HELIX team for Formula Drift in Long Beach. This season was nothing short of insane, and although I am not coming back to cover FD next year (sorry folks), I am walking away from this experience with plenty of fond memories and great friends.
Thanks to everyone who supported Shifted, Illantic, and myself throughout the season – from our sponsors to fans and readers. It was great meeting a lot of you in person on the road, I had no idea that my work and this humble little site had such a far reach.
Last weekend in Irwindale I decided to try my hand at making a video for the event. To be honest, I spent most of the time drinking with my friends watched a lot of drifting without a camera in my hand. Either way, here is what I came up with. Hope you like it!
AG
Tags: Andrew Goodman, BC Racing, drift, Formula Drift, helix drift, HELIX Drinks, Irwindale, matt field, Matt Waldin, mishimoto, toyota speedway, vaughn gitten jr
Posted in Andrew Goodman |
My good friend Marc bought an M5 recently and asked me to shoot some photos. I had been so crazy since springtime with drifting stuff we sadly didn’t get around to meeting up until last week, but it was worth the wait. Our friend Ben joined us as well with his extremely clean 335i.
Marc’s M5 makes quite possibly the best noise any BMW has ever made.
I spent most of my day hanging out of Jim’s Miata.
Tags: 355i, BMW, m5
Posted in Andrew Goodman |
9:26 AM Sunday morning. One of the team’s mechanics is pounding on my door looking for his backpack and bottle of Johnnie Walker that luckily the police did not confiscate the night before. Stumbling to the front of the room, I run into a concierge cart that mysteriously found it’s way to our hotel room. I reroute to the bathroom and stub my toe on a cooler that is overflowing with PBR and other forms of liquid shame.
We take a few minutes to recollect on the events that took place in the 24 hours prior that resulted in two citations and a hospital visit, but we quickly realize it was a lost cause and just chalk it up to “this is drifting.”
From what I understand, there are a number of Canadians that have photo documentation of what happened off the track. If you one of those Canadians, and you are reading this, e-mail me at AG@illantic.com and I will post up the photos of the madness.
Until then, here are photos from what was, surprisingly enough, the least chaotic portion of our weekend.
There was a serious lack of wind this weekend at Wall Speedway in NJ, the drivers reported having a hard time seeing through the lingering clouds of tire smoke.
Matt Field drove like a rock star yesterday, he put up a great fight after hitting the wall in qualifying.
Matt Waldin in the HELIX Drinks 350Z put up a good fight in his rematch with Otto Graven from Round 3 in Palm Beach, but in the end Otto came out on top.
Due to outrageous flight prices and a busy July schedule, I will not by flying out with the team for Round 5 in Seattle, but we will be firing on all cylinders in Vegas. If you come out for Round 6 in August, be sure to stay an extra night and celebrate my birthday with us!
AG
Tags: 350Z, Chris Forsberg, drift, Formula Drift, helix, HELIX Drinks, matt field, Matt Waldin, nissan, the guantlet
Posted in Andrew Goodman |
Last weekend I rolled down to Palm Beach with the HELIX Drift team for the third round of Formula Drift. Between drunken go-karting, trying to wrestle alligators, getting evacuated from our hotel, chasing stuffed sharks, and drinking at Swampgrass Willy’s, we managed to find some time to go drifting. Sadly, Matt got knocked out of the top 32 after he drove into Otto Graven’s door entering into the first clip. Go hard or go home. We are ready for NJ, it’s our home track and ShiftedFrame and Illantic will be out in full force to represent!
I also want to give a shout out and a BIG thanks to Secret Entourage and ADV.1 wheels for your hospitality this weekend. Had a great time meeting all of you!
Tags: 350Z, Camaro, drift, Falken, Formula Drift, helix drift, HELIX Drinks, Mustang, nissan
Posted in Andrew Goodman |
Watch Dan Cyr’s coverage of the HELIX Energy drinks team down in ATL. What a wild weekend it was!
CYRIOUS PRODUCTIONS – HELIX ENERGY DRINK: ATL from Cyrious Productions on Vimeo.
Tags: Dan Cyr, Formula Drift, helix drift, HELIX Drinks, Matt Waldin
Posted in Andrew Goodman |
Here are some pics and a sweeeeet documentary video by Dan Cyr of Drift Posse highlighting their trip down to FD Atlanta. All in all it was a good weekend, Matt Waldin in the HELIX Drift 350Z qualified 16th and made it to the top 16 round of competition. Plenty of chaos went on off the track as well, these guys seem to leave a trail of fire and chaos wherever they go. Good times as always.
Fire
Smoke
Getting dirty
It’s a lifestyle
And Dan’s video documentary:
CYRIOUS PRODUCTIONS – Road To Formula Drift from Cyrious Productions on Vimeo.
Tags: drift, Drift Posse, FD, Formula Drift, helix drift, HELIX Drinks, Matt Waldin, mishimoto, Pat Cyr
Posted in Andrew Goodman |
Honestly, if I even wrote about half of the things that happened to us in Long Beach last weekend, I don’t think any of you would believe me. Let’s just put it this way: I’ve been home for 5 days and I’m just now recovered enough to put a post together.
I went out with Matt Waldin and his HELIX Drinks 350Z to kick off the start of Matt’s first full Formula Drift season. Matt has already shown the world he is capable of becoming a serious contender, and with the help of HELIX he’ll now be at every FD event.
He definitely did not leave his new sponsors unhappy. They were thoroughly impressed with his performance, qualifying 13th overall and making it into the top 16. Pictured above is Charles Ng spinning in the top 32 round, advancing Matt to the big show.
In the top 16 Waldin went up against Matt Powers in his V8 S14
It was a close tandem, but Powers came up on top. Waldin officially finished 14th for the day, a personal best in both qualifying and final position. Not a bad way to kick off 2011.
Walker Wilkerson was impressive this weekend, if he makes it out to Atlanta it’ll be interesting to see how he fares with attempting a 4th gear entry in that thing.
And unfortunately all good things have to come to an end at some point. When all was said and done we packed up the rig and got cleaned up so we could go out on the town with some good friends after a great first showing.
Next up: Dirty South. Atlanta time.
Tags: 350Z, drift, forumla drift, helix, helix drift, HELIX Drinks, long beach, Matt Waldin, rad
Posted in Andrew Goodman |
This is an incredible video of a Philly local who owns and restores old motorcycles. He’s a run-of-the-mill blue collar guy.. old school, hard working, and passionate about his bikes. He has a lot to say about our generation, and sadly most of it is true. Check it out for yourself and let us know what you think.
Handmade Portraits: Liberty Vintage Motorcycles from Etsy on Vimeo.
Tags: Motorcycles, Philly, video, Vintage
Posted in Andrew Goodman, Editorial |
I was stoked to see this video posted over on Death Machines that I had to share it.
Nick D’Alessio 2010 from Jersey Streets on Vimeo.
Although he may not be a big name in drifting, Nick D’Alessio is one of the most important east coast grassroots guys. When he’s not drifting in his kick-ass S13, NIck is running his business, Elite JDM. Nick provides a one-stop-shop for everything from JDM wheels, engine swaps, RHD conversions, and the like. The first time I stepped foot in his warehouse of awesomeness it was like Christmas morning when I was 7 all over again. If you’re looking for JDM anything, Nick is the man to call.
Looking forward to sliding around with you at E-town this summer and cooking up more burgers at the shop!
AG
Tags: drift, Elite JDM, Nick D'Alessio, S13
Posted in Andrew Goodman |
“Go drifting or go to Hell!”
Club Loose has released their 2011 schedule and it’s huge. They’ve expanded to Beaverun and NJMP, not to mention a very exciting Canadian field trip to St. Eustache. Check it out below.
Can’t wait for East Coast Bash!
Links:
http://fuckyouimdrifting.com
http://clubloose.com
Tags: Club Loose, drift, east coast bash
Posted in Andrew Goodman |