Teesside Autodrome was once known as the UK’s drift land or the best drift track in the UK by a number of drifters throughout the country. Unfortunately back in 2008, this was stopped, no thanks to the South Bank noise crusaders. This left the North skidless apart from the yearly JDM AllStars round at Newcastle/Sunderland. It meant that for any drifting at all we had to travel at least 3 and a half to 4 hours to get to Santa Pod for DWYB (And 3 hours for Mallory). So we are really happy to see Teesside back on the drifting radar!
(Sorry for low quality, The camera wasn’t as described!)
Below I’ve written up a short report on the track, the layout and some pictures!
Due to the date change (From 28th to 31st December), most of the drivers could not make it due to work and other plans. But this didn’t have any effect on the drifting! Cars such as Jason Clarks RX7 and John “Shin Shredding” Glaister’s PS13 arrived and put on a good show for us on the track, and the spectators on the banks!
The track offers a pretty decent speed entry into the 3rd gear South Bank right hander which in the wet is extremely slippy on the inside. The 2 consecutive hairpins offer a nice smooth transition and then a longer couple of bends leading off them back onto the main straight where you are once again picking up speed and usually changing back up to 3rd gear. Pretty nice for what is a full time go kart circuit!
Was nearly 3 years worth the wait? Yes! It would have been nicer without it though.
For many drivers, it was a first time ever drifting this circuit, including the shin shredder who I thought had driven this many times but had actually only ever driven on the smaller West circuit! But this didn’t stop them all from trying their best and ripping up the track!
As seen at most drift days, Some drivers have bumps and some slide off the track into the tyre walls. We had one 14a and a 323i E36 into the tyre wall coming off the first bend and the 323 again into the tyre wall after the final bend as well as Mark Littlefair giving his S13’s front left wheel a bit of a knock on the edge of the circuit!
But has anybody seen a purple PS13 use a photographer as a clipping point? Because if you were at Teesside you will have seen John rub my jeans (didn’t touch my leg itself) on the 2nd hairpin as I turned round to run as he got closer rather than further away (Yes Mr. Blackett, cars can come towards you when they spin when you’re on the inside taking a shot!). John kept going to then knock over the yellow tyre’s behind me and end up facing the wrong way laughing!
Despite the number of attendee’s being low, and a few of the cars having a come together with the tyre walls and a lot of snow on the edges of the circuit, the day in my opinion was an overall success and to many of us, felt like “The good ol’ days”!
There is yet another drift day running tomorrow and a number of weekday’s ran throughout 2011, as well as the BDC running one of their championship rounds in the Summer!
2011 is set to welcome the drifting back, let’s just hope the South Bank sound crusaders are a little less annoying this time round!
Keep an eye out in the Events Section for following dates and times for the Teesside Autodrome drift practice days! The next drift day is running on the 7th February 2011.
Monday 3rd January saw the second drift day. Unfortunately there was only 4 drivers turned up all day. Hope to see more at the next one at the beginning of February! (Date released soon!)
Callum.
Really can’t wait for the BDC up here in the North East not only once but twice this year and then of course the JDM Allstars series which is gonna be awesome. Hopefully we won’t have any near misses with cars and camera crews this year.
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by James Harland, Driftworks LTD. Driftworks LTD said: Mr Craddy nearly has his legs removed by a PS13 at Teesside! https://fb.me/SPIQ7ikN […]
LOVE Teesside…deffo worth the 5hr drive to get there….
that video is awsome i love the tune and the editing its just a shame it is a poor quality
The white BMW drivers proper flick entry was sweet, none of that arse dragging wand rubbish. Good driving.
Thanks guys. iamben – Go on my vimeo channel itself. There are some from on board the E30 🙂
=D
Great!
What’s the name of the song? 🙂
Am I right in saying that drifting has returned to Middlesbrough??
oooo ! i need dates ! i would love to watch this !