why so much power is needed?

deadcluch

deadcluch

Member
In my humble experience, i have always been able to have fun and make good drifts with powers arouns 170~200hp. I found stock engines e36 m3 have much more tha n enought power to drift very easily even on fast tracks. So i was wondering why everyone seems to be aiming to huge powers... in many championship nowadays you will find cars with 500to1100 hp.. seems madness to me.. huge money for what?
 
Its personal preference. Alot of people seem to 'think' they need more than X amount of HP to drift, its common to hear around here, "Oh thats not got enought power to drift." or "Im selling my BMW/MX5 and buying a S14." etc.
 
doesnt matter if you understand it or not, if people want eleventy squillion horsepower thats their choice.
 
deadcluch said:
i have always been able to have fun and make good drifts with powers arouns 170~200hp. I found stock engines e36 m3 have much more tha n enought power to drift very easily even on fast tracks. in many championship nowadays you will find cars with 500to1100 hp.. seems madness to me.. huge money for what?
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Try and keep up with a Formula D car or something with your 170-200bhp and see how you get on.

Also, I'm confused, the way you talk on your previous threads, you're new to drifting, and the video you posted up on this thread, seems to say your first drift day was like, a couple of weeks ago?

http://www.driftworks.com/forum/drifting-video-pictures/227919-323ti-test-drift.html

And no offense, but the drifting in that video wasn't that great even for the power you have, so I'm a bit confused why you're starting this thread giving it the big guns?
 
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There's no need to be rude ruishy1, first i have been polite to you, than please dothe same with me. Secondly, i have never said to be that great driver, i just had a real question (no flame intended), and since this is a famous forum..
About me: i started drifting in 2010, under the instructions of Emanuele Festival (x3 italian champion), and since then i attended may drift courses-events, and various courses (ice, speed..). I never entered competitions but i hold a c.s.a.i. licence.
The video i posted show the first laps of forst drift i did on dry surface, with new car (i used to drive a 180sx nissan), with stock coilovers, seats, ratio, only welded diff. I definetly agree this is not a good drift video, but i do dont believe that power was the problem. Problem was me (not used to the new car and new track, and not that skilled as a driver), coilovers (very boat like), tyres (205..),maybe diff (maybe the 316 one would be better?). But
1) at the end of the day i was able to drive much better
2) i tried friends m3 (280hp), and z3m, and it felt like drinking a cup of tea, no clutch kicking needed, no handbrake, no hard flicks.. still we are very away from the 500+ power levels i mentioned
3) a friend of mine was driving the exac. Same car (323ti compact), fully prepared but with stock engine (so 170hp) and he was able to make perfectdrifrts effortless. Also a friend (very talented) is able to drift in an amazing way on mx5. I'll post both videos soon.
So with all that in mind, the question is:
Why would a GOOD driver, with good coilovers, need such huge powers? I amnot referring to 200/300 hp, that is still understandable, to give the clutch some rest.. but 500to1100hp???
Stavros, i assume what you say is correct (about formula d cars), but could you please explain me the reason?
 
With the right driver, a car with a lot more grip and a lot more power could be drifting that track in your video at twice the speed and 10 times the smoke, that's why.

Same as a car with less grip and less power could also drift the track in your video, but slower.

Try and keep up with a good driver in a powerful drift car with lots of grip, and you will see the big big difference.

But I do agree, 99% of people, even in most competitions barring the highest level stuff, can't make use of the power they have. People with 4-5 times the power holding me up in a 100bhp MX5 when drifting is common, and I'm not all that good in my opinion.

Driver skill is 80% of drifting. And power, no matter how much, won't help you if you haven't got the skill.

BUT if you are at a level when ALL the drivers have the same serious levels of skill, power (and the grip to match) will be a big advantage.
 
Stavros said:
With the right driver, a car with a lot more grip and a lot more power could be drifting that track in your video at twice the speed and 10 times the smoke, that's why.

Same as a car with less grip and less power could also drift the track in your video, but slower.

BUT if you are at a level when ALL the drivers have the same serious levels of skill, power (and the grip to match) will be a big advantage.
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That is what i wanted to know, thanks. In fact i was thinking "just use small tyres and big pressure and you'll drift with small hp". I was not considering the speed.
 
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