We’ve all seen drifting in the movies; Fast and Furious seems to have made its millions off this nifty driving stunt, but here at Propshaft Repair HQ, we shiver at the thought of your poor cars and the damage drifting is doing to them. First of all, make sure that if you’re going to give this a go, you MUST be on private land – it’s dangerous and illegal to try this on public roads!
Instead of killing your tires and wearing down your steering and driveshafts with messy drifts time after time, we’ve put together a couple of handy tips for perfect drifting (NOTE: Drift responsibly guys, and always check your tire tread).
Safety First
First and foremost, your safety and the safety of those around you is paramount. Don’t attempt drifting in your local housing estate or in the middle of the main street. Not only is it very illegal, you can cause harm to people and property (not to mention yourself) if you lose control of the drift. Head to a safe area, such as your own private property or a racing track, when you want to work on your drifting technique.
First Stage of Drifting
Accelerate toward the bend in the track and shift into second gear; this allows you to access the engine’s torque easily during your shift, giving you a greater range in acceleration and control over your car. As you approach the bend, push in the clutch.
Second Stage of Drifting
Quickly turn the steering wheel into the bend. This is how you direct the car and help set up the direction of your drift. Whilst you’ve turned your wheel, hit the handbrake to start your drift.
Third Stage of Drifting
When you start to drift, immediately hit the accelerator and slowly ease up off the clutch to get the speed you want. Steer into the slide and use the accelerator to direct your drift around the bend.
The more you accelerate around the bend, the more your car will turn and move away from the centre of the bend. If you want a tighter drift, however, the less you accelerate, the less you’ll drift and the closer your car will naturally move towards the centre of the bend.
When you want to use stunts, it’s always important to take care of your car and your safety. We weren’t kidding in our last post when we said we see some right states; knowing how to perform stunts properly can greatly help save your car from any damages. If you’ve found that you’ve damaged your car through stunts or for any other reasons, don’t hesitate to contact us today on 01524 382262. You can also follow us on Facebook for the latest in propshaft repairs!
