Drifting Around The Airport, or How We Spent Our Sunday

A couple of weeks ago we went to the Circuit Spirit drifting event. Let us be the first to tell you that it was amazing.

It all started at our local Supercar Sunday where we overheard of a drift event happening that same day. Only $5 to see a bunch of cars getting thrown sideways, count us in? It was all going down at the Camarillo airport and since this would be the last Circuit Spirit held there we had to make the journey.

Drift Headquarters: The Camarillo Airport

When we first got there we already caught ourselves ogling a few drift cars in the parking lot, a prismatic wide-body Subaru BRZ being one of them 🤤. If this was any sign of what was to come then it was going to be a good day. After taking a quick shuttle to the airstrip, we signed our livelihood’s away at the registration desk and ran like little kids to see the lineup of cars. On our way there, however, we were stopped in our tracks by a loud noise overhead.

These planes were landing just past the track all day long. What a sight.

A few more steps and we laid eyes on these two.

Ohh my...

Equiped with a pink gymnast ring so you can HODL for dear life mid-drift.

Always remember... safety first

A few casual admirers.

These two were a sight to behold. If you were to lookup “drift car” in the dictionary these two beauties would be front and center. Each of them plastered head to toe in various racing stickers, some from sponsors, some bearing the car's Instagram handle, and others from previous drift events. Most of the cars that day were also bearing a few battle scars from previous events. These color schemes really popped in the sunlight. Absolutely gorgeous. We couldn't wait to see what they could do on the track.

After speaking with some of the attendees and other drivers we learned that these two beauties were registered for the intermediate division which would be drifting a bit later in the day. Up first was the amateur drifting class so we headed closer to the track for a proper view of the action.

But First a Few Last Minute Adjustments...

Calling all drifters to the starting line

A subtle reminder of Japan in the form of an AE86.

Drifting is very raw and visceral. Smoking tires and burbling engines waiting to unleash. Honestly, some of these cars should come with complimentary earplugs, while others are more felt than heard. Ohh and you remember those battle scars we mentioned earlier? It's not hard to see why. Only a handful of the cars started that day with all their pieces intact. After only a few runs, some were already sporting some new "weight reduction". One car notably left its entire front bumper on the track. That's the way it should be though. All these cars are really just a constant work in progress, a project car if you will, getting better and better with each meet.

Check out that first bump ✊🏻.

'Round and 'round they go.

Overall this was a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Each and every driver that we came across was really welcoming and happy to tell us what's under their hood, or the size of their tires. We'll definitely be back and possibly even in a car of our own 😉.