On April 24th, we held "DRIFT DANCE," a drift event to enjoy with friends. Unlike typical drift meetings, this is a borderless event open to everyone, with no restrictions on machines or tires. Even those who attended solo were able to join impromptu teams on-site, bringing the total to 14 teams participating.
The competition involved teams of three competing in performance runs, with scoring determined by four judges from sponsoring manufacturers, each awarding up to 10 points for a maximum possible score. While it was great to see everyone taking the competition seriously, it was the smiles of the participants enjoying their driving that left the biggest impression. During the qualifying intervals, the judges even took to the track themselves to perform and energize the venue.
In the finals, where 8 teams advanced, legendary teams VIP Rengo and Kasuja Works tied for the top spot, but after a sudden-death round, the VIP Rengo team led by Socho Baba emerged as the first-ever champions.
The next DRIFT DANCE is scheduled for July. We look forward to your participation, so please be sure to invite your friends and join us.
Event Sponsors (in no particular order)
Weld/Overdose https://www.weld-jp.com/
RC926 https://rc926.com/
Topline https://rctopline.com/
G Force http://www.gforce-hobby.jp/
KO PROPO https://www.kopropo.co.jp/
RC Magazine https://www.yaesu-net.co.jp/rc-magazine/
WRAPUP NEXT https://wrapup-next.jp/
ACUVANCE http://acuvance.co.jp/index2.html
ADDICTION https://addiction-rc-design.jp/
We requested cooperation from various manufacturers for judges and the MC, and we ended up with a powerhouse lineup of judges beyond our expectations. However, the judging criteria were not severe, but rather a 10-point scale based on the overall atmosphere of the run.
Weld's Bozu-san served as MC, and was involved not just in the proceedings but also in creating the event's atmosphere. Yokomo's Ucchi also did a great job as a facilitator.
A super analog system where scorecards were raised after every run. Of course, the rankings were determined accurately, but this laid-back aspect might be the secret to the fun. Participants didn't seem obsessed with rankings or points, but rather seemed to enjoy the driving itself.
We received many donated prizes from the cooperating manufacturers. The raffle was a big hit with many people.
We were able to set aside plenty of practice time during the event intervals. Even though they were 3-person teams, having time to focus on group run practice was valuable, and I believe they were able to get some very intensive practice in. Since there were impromptu teams formed on the day, I hope they also felt the joy of driving in sync with each other.
Result
Winner: VIP Rengo
Runner-up: Kasuja Works
3rd Place: Ohno Kanagukai
