FONTANA, CA -- After finishing second in the "Title Fight" at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale, CA, Formula Drift's final event of the year, Team Falken's Vaughn Gittin Jr., driver of the Monster Energy/Falken Tire 2011 Ford Mustang, became the Formula D Champion of the 2010 season.
It was the 11th podium finish for Team Falken in seven Formula D races, a season in which the tire company's factory-supported teams dominated all year long. Falken placed first in five of the seven events.
Three Team Falken drivers were in the top five in the final standings. Total points between the top five drivers were close, but Gittin Jr. was clearly the favorite after taking two wins in the six races leading up to the Title Fight. He finished the season with 632 points. Irwindale winner Tanner Foust eventually finished second in the standings at 568.5, and Team Falken Driver Daijiro Yoshihara ended up fourth overall, just one point behind third place Ryan Tuerck. Team Falken Driver Darren McNamara took fifth.
"This was Jr.'s year plain and simple, said Jonathan Bradford, Falken's Drift Team Supervisor. "There is a lot to be said about finishing on the podium six out of seven events this year. It was a pleasure to be involved with a team that left everything on the track and drove with an all-in attitude. We have successfully rewritten the record books and I would like to personally thank the fans that rooted for Falken throughout this unbelievable season."
"Our team's success would not be possible without the support, hard work and dedication of our two fabrication/engineering facilities, Autosport Dynamics (ASD) in Charlotte, NC and SPD Metalworks in Anaheim, CA," added Nick Fousekis, Senior Manager, Consumer Marketing. "I'd also like to thank all of the sponsors, including our newest, Monster Energy, for their faith in Falken's program. Last but certainly not least, we thank the fans of drifting. Without you, the sport would not have grown into that it is today."
The Irwindale event started off well, as Falken's Darren McNamara qualified first, followed by Yoshihara in third. Gittin Jr. was sixth. Both McNamara and Gittin Jr. made it to the Top 4, but McNamara lost a chance to take a podium when he spun out in the battle for third place.
"On behalf of everyone at Falken Tire, we wish to express our best wishes to Vaughn," said Andrew Hoit, Falken Director of Marketing. "This was a great season for Falken, and we entertained close to 500 guests over the weekend at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale. I'd also like to salute the efforts of our other team members: Dai Yoshihara; Darren McNamara; Tyler McQuarrie [who finished 8th in the standings]; and Justin Pawlak [who finished 11th]; as well as our privateers, all of whom, like the factory teams, competed on Falken Azenis RT-615K tires: Fredric Aasbo [13th]; Ross Petty [19th]; "Mad" Mike Whiddett [21st]; James Deane [24th]; and Dean Kearney, who came from Ireland. Their participation successfully enhanced our overall effort, and we'll all join the celebration."
Drifting takes competitive motorsports to the extreme, and has successfully attracted strong crowds, loyal fans and car enthusiasts from all walks of life. Falken quickly realized how popular and demanding this format would become, and since 2003, has been a solid fixture within the sport. The focus is on skill and precision driving, as competitors in specially prepared, high-powered vehicles intentionally execute controlled sideways slides at high speeds through a marked course.
Climb - Pikes Peak Hill Climb with a Monster
Ride on the bumper of a screaming 910hp, Twin-turbo, All-wheel Drive, 150 mph Suzuki SX4 as it races up one of the world's most dangerous hills. An attempt by the "Monster" to break his own record of 10:01:41...
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO (June 29, 2010) -- For the fifth consecutive time, Nobuhiro "Monster" Tajima combined experience, skill and Falken Tires to claim overall victory in the 88th running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.
Although he did not set a new Pikes Peak record, one day before his 60th birthday, Tajima continues to hold the current overall record for reaching the peak, beating hill climb veterans Paul Dallenbach and Rhys Millen in the Unlimited Class. He drove his new 910-hp Monster Sport Suzuki SX4 Hill Climb Special on Falken WildPeak A/T tires, the powerful new line of all-terrain, all-season tires Falken launched this past April.
Following Exhaustive tests in a Japanese wind tunnel facility, Monster's 2010 Pikes Peak race car underwent extensive aerodynamic changes to better adapt to the modified road surface on the race to the clouds, which assumed a smoother tarmac and less gravel than last year. Thinning air ascending the mountain robs most motors of their power by 30 or more percent, but the increase in horsepower over last year's race car helped push the driver forward.
2011 Falken Formula Drift Test
Coming off a dominating 2010 season in which Team Falken driver Vaughn Gittin, Jr.¸ competing in the Monster Energy/Falken Tire 2011 Ford Mustang, became the Formula Drift Champion, the high performance tire manufacturer will be gunning for a repeat performance of last year. Falken's ultimate goal is to have one of its five factory drivers again claiming the top rung of the Formula D ladder, and each team member will have the horsepower to do it. All drivers plan on fielding a new or improved vehicle with more power, which the sport has demanded. The cars will be unveiled this weekend on the streets of Long Beach for the opening event of the 2011 Formula Drift season.
Gittin, Jr., will be aboard a Ford Mustang 5.4-liter, its motor built by Ford Racing and Huffaker Engineering, while Daijiro ("Dai") Yoshihara, who placed fourth in the standings last year, returns in his re-engineered Nissan 240SX (Silvia S13). Finishing fifth in 2010, Darren McNamara also returns this year, running a new Saturn Sky built by Autosport Dynamics in Charlotte, NC, losing the convertible for a hardtop which adds an aggressive stance to the car.
Tyler McQuarrie also recognized the value of a fully enclosed coupe, choosing a new hardtop Nissan 350Z, which allows for a significant change in weight distribution, making the Z a far more competitive vehicle. Finally, Justin Pawlak, returning for his second year with Falken, will again field a Ford Mustang, with an engine built by Ford Racing/Roush-Yates of NASCAR fame.
"Our team has worked hard to develop their new cars and we're pumped and ready," declared Jonathan Bradford, Team Falken's Formula Drift manager.
All members of Team Falken will be using the company's Azenis RT615K, which is DOT-approved and designed with the track competitor in mind. The RT615K is a tire with maximum grip and concentrated contact patch, which increases the driver's ability to fully exploit the capabilities of the engine, brakes and suspension, precisely what each drift competitor needs. Naturally, the RT615K performs equally well on the street during everyday driving.
"Each year, Formula Drift gets bigger, with more participants and more companies who want to be a part of this vital motorsports effort," stated Nick Fousekis, Director of Motorsports and Consumer Marketing for Falken. "We know what it takes to be competitive in this race series and we realize all the other teams will be aiming for us, but we have every intention of repeating our dominance, and continue running at the top. It's great to be back!"
To kick off Falken's comprehensive Formula Drift marketing program, special prizes will be given away at the team's display and activation area inside the paddock. Additional promotional items will be handed out by Falken's new group of Spokesmodels who will be in attendance throughout the two-day event. Guests of Falken will also enjoy the company's highly anticipated hospitality area.
The full complement of Team Falken, including its five factory drivers, along with Falken's display, hospitality rig and the company's factory support, will travel to all seven rounds of the 2010 Formula D Pro Championship.
2011 Falken Porsche GT3 RSR Testing - Sebring, FL
Falken Tire tests their 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR at the 2011 American Le Mans Series Winter Test in Sebring, FL at the historic Sebring Raceway. In a few short weeks this course will host the season opener of the 2011 American Le Mans Series with a grueling 12 hour endurance race.
Team Falken Tire, along with team manager Derrick Walker and drivers Bryan Sellers and Wolf Henzler hope to improve on their performance from last year with new slick compounds and a newly managed team.
Derrick Walker's background includes open-wheel racing such as Formula One and Indy Car.
1080p 2009 Formula Drift Finale
Taking advantage of the new 1080p video resolution on YouTube! Check out the 2009 Formula Drift Finale in Irwindale, CA in beautiful 1920x1080 24p high definition goodness!
Look forward to more coverage of the Falken Tire Formula Drift, and American Le Mans, team in 2010!
MONSTER DRIFT: Road America
http://www.facebook.com/MonsterEnergy
Vaughn Gittin Jr's Traveling Smoke Show makes a stop in Elkhart Lake , Wisconsin. Jr spins some rubber and makes new fans during a vintage racing weekend at Road America's 4 mile road course.
Formula D Seattle "Breaking Point" (clean version)
NOT MY VIDEO. Video made by Josh Herron.
The fifth stop in the 2009 Formula D season at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Washington.
Congrats to the podium finishers:
First place - Chris Forsberg
Second place - Eric O'Sullivan
Third place - Tyler McQuarrie
Music: Mannie Fresh - Real Big
myspace.com/manniefresh
Shot/Color/Edit by Joshua Herron
joshuaherron.com
formulad.com
FORMULA DRIFT FIRST EVER SEMI TRUCK DRIFTING EXHIBITION
http://www.fastrucks.com/
http://www.hubinetteracing.com/shr/
Pro racer and stunt driver, Mike Ryan, was invited to round 6 of the Formula Drift Championship to put on a drift demonstration in his famous Freightliner Cascadia Pikes Peak Edition race truck.
Ride along as Mike and Sam Hubinette get some last minute testing in the week before the event at Irwindale Speedway. Watch as Sam in his competition Dodge Challenger and Mike in his Big Rig do drift donuts around each other! You'll also meet a very special kid named William Klopper who is battling cancer and goes for a ride in the big truck! Sam Hubinette was granting a wish to William's friend Patrick by inviting them out to the track for ride alongs.
The trip to Las Vegas was a success for Mike to claim the first public demonstration of a Semi Truck drifting at an official drift event.
Mike Ryan proves yet again that SIZE MATTERS!
Shot by:
Jason Lewis
Justin Jones and Bob-O Films
Behind the Smoke Ep 27: Irwindale Final Fight - Daijiro Yoshihara Formula Drift 2011 Season
Formula Drift's 2011 boils down to the final event in Irwindale. Dai enters this event leading Justin "JTP" Pawlak by only 19 points. With JTP breathing down his neck and even a chance for Chris Forsberg, Darren McNamara and Matt Powers to take the champion depending on the outcome of this final event, how will Dai do? He only crashes his S13 on Thursday one day before the event... Behind the Smoke gives a look into the real life of professional Formula Drift driver, Daijiro Yoshihara. GTChannel's cameras will follow Dai throughout the 2011 FD season both on and off the track giving current and new drifting fans an exclusive look into what it's really like to compete in the top drifting series of N.America. Behind the Smoke is produced by GTChannel in association with Discount Tire/America's Tire and supported by Falken Tire and GoPro.
Matt Powers' LS7 Powered Formula D S14 on the dyno
Matt Powers' LS7 Powered Formula D S14 on the Dyno. Check out our sneak peek of the build on MotoIQ.com here: http://www.motoiq.com/magazine_articles/articletype/articleview/articleid/1877/a-preview-of-matt-powers-formula-d-2011-rebuild.aspx
Motorcycle vs. Car Drift Battle
A stretched 05 Kawasaki ZX10 piloted by Nick "Apex" Brocha vs. a Corvette-Powered RX7 driven by Jim Guthrie in a high speed drifting battle.
Download Hi-Res Desktop Images: http://iconmotosports.net/2011/01/high-plains-drifters-desktops/
Nick's Icon Gear:
Variant Salvo HiViz Helmet
Overlord Prime Hero Jacket
Overlord Prime Pants
Overlord Gloves
Patrol Boots
Jim's Icon Gear:
Alliance Reflective Helmet
29'r Gloves
Cameras:
Canon 5D
Canon 7D
Panasonic GH1
GoPro Hero HD
RC:
Traxxas Rustler VXL Brushless w/ 11.1v LiPo Battery
Behind the Smoke Ep 28: Irwindale Season Finale - Daijiro Yoshihara Formula Drift 2011 Season
Formula Drift 2011 comes to an end at Irwindale with Dai going in leading the championship by a small margin. Bad memories from last year still haunt Dai as he goes into the top 32 battle. With the 5 top ranked drivers still having a chance at the championship, any error can be critical. Will Dai be able to capture the title in front of the record smashing Irwindale crowd? See why this event will remain in the books as one of the best drifting events in history. Behind the Smoke gives a look into the real life of professional Formula Drift driver, Daijiro Yoshihara. GTChannel's cameras will follow Dai throughout the 2011 FD season both on and off the track giving current and new drifting fans an exclusive look into what it's really like to compete in the top drifting series of N.America. Behind the Smoke is produced by GTChannel in association with Discount Tire/America's Tire and supported by Falken Tire and GoPro.
Formula Drift 2011
The closest battle for the Formula Drift championship in history, the final round could not have been more exciting. Top drivers fought through hours of tension against season rivals and even their own teammates. Falken Driver Tyler McQuarrie took home first place in the final round but Dijiro Yoshihara finished strong just beating out Justin Pawlak to take home the 2011 Formula D championship! I had a great time covering a few rounds of the 2011 season, and look forward to covering more next year!
Song: Adele vs. Skrillex - Set Fire To Everybody
Paul Walker Visits Famous Nissan Skyline GT-R Tuner Mine's in Japan
GTChannel was there when actor Paul Walker visited Mine's Motorsports in Japan. Tarzan Yamada was there to give ride alongs in the GT-R but ended up...
http://gtchannel.com for more Mine's GT-R videos.
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マインズ
GTーR
マインズ３５
マインズ３４
峠
ホットバージョン
ベスモ
ベストモータリング
新倉
2010 Formula Drift Champion Vaughn Gittin Jr. with his 2011 Ford Mustang
Vaughn Gittin Jr. has had a fabulous Drift season. This video was shot at the final round of the 2010 Formula Drift in Irwindale, California. Vaughn shares some basic factors that helped him and his Monster 2011 Ford Mustang throughout the 2010 Drifting season.
JDM Allstars - HD Drifting film
Filmed & Edited by Al Clark - www.trackdayfilms.com
FIRST SONG NOW AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD!
https://soundcloud.com/al_clark/on-slide-row
MUSIC:
Al Clark Drift intro (soundcloud.com/al_clark/on-slide-row)
Lee Major & A Clay - DJ Means Dangerous Jag
Dizzee Rascal - Bonkers (Doorly Remix)
Chic - Goodtimes (Jaguar Skills Rusko Refix)
Lethel Bizzle - Pow TC - Where's My Money (Caspa Remix) High Rankin - No Money For Guns (Jaguar Skills VIP)
Al Clark 'Piano Song' (not available).
Event Description:
The biggest, loudest closest drift event in Europe returns on exceptional form with one of the best show-drift tracks designed. With 70mph entries, huge sweeping corners, jumps (yes - jumps), and walls to scrape - this was always going to be a lot of fun.
In the end, it turned into one of the best top 32's ever seen, and the standard of driving was gobsmacking. The event was comparable in atmosphere and skill to the RedBull world championship finals with Formula D last year - a testament to how hard JDM have worked on this event, and also how much the skill level has improved yet again within Europe.
Thanks to everyone for the really kind comments!
