Drifting

Affordable dashboard drift-o-meter

May 17, 2007 As motorsport evolves, so too do the technologies needed to measure it. Talk just became much cheaper in the world of drifting thanks to this device which will really put some numbers around who did what and when. The US$750 DriftBox is a GPS and accelerometer based performance meter that accurately measures not only your car's forward and lateral acceleration G-forces, but your instant and maximum drift angles as well. With real figures suddenly the ultimate arbiter, you're gonna have to get way more sideways to impress people. Read More

CHILDSPLAY

Digital and Powerslide versions rejuvenate Scalextric

By Mike Hanlon

October 11, 2006 In the early fifties, Scalex gave the world the slot car phenomenon and for the next quarter century, a Scalextric slot car set was part of every adolescent’s dreams. Then came the remote control craze and a plethora of other indoor activities and the brand dropped in popularity. Now there’s a new range of Scalextric using digital technologies that are starting to rejuvenate the indoor action sport and you can change lanes, overtake or block your opponents and brake into corners for a much more realistic experience. Up to four cars can now move into the inner or outer lanes at the touch of a button on the hand throttles to take them past their track rivals. There’s also a completely new variation on the Scalextric based around the latest racing craze of Drifting. Like Drifting, the new GBP75 Scalextric Powerslide racing set demands the ultimate in car control and requires drivers to maintain and manoeuvre controlled slides at high speeds. The cars are fitted with 'guideblade' systems which allow them to spin 360 degrees and travel in both directions around the figure-of-eight track. Oh to be a kid again! Read More

AUTOMOTIVE

FPV builds a concept car for Drifting

By Mike Hanlon

March 3, 2006 Motor racing has always been about speed. For the last 100 years, Motorsport has been about racing from point A to Point B, and subsequently, once racing circuits were built, from point A to Point A. Now there’s a new form of Motorsport evolving and when Australian Ford subsidiary Ford Performance Vehicles developed an “unofficial” concept car specifically for the new sport, we decided it was time to sit up and take notice. The sport is known as “drifting” and if you haven’t heard of it, no doubt you soon will – whatsmore, unlike all prior forms of Motorsport, it isn’t about speed. If motor racing is the equivalent of the 100 metre freestyle in the pool at the Olympics, think of drifting as synchronised diving. Originating in Japan and popularised by computer games in the US, drifting combines extreme driving skill with flair and artistry as drivers negotiate complex courses or routines in a controlled slide. Combining both solo qualifying runs with head-to-head competition, each event is judged on execution and style rather than speed, and is akin to skateboarding and freestyle motocross competition. So what makes an ideal concept car for Drifting? Ford’s DRIF6 features a lightweight chassis, racing cockpit and uprated version of its critically-acclaimed intercooled and turbo charged 4.0-litre in-line six cylinder producing more than 380kW of power and 700Nm of torque. Read More