Soldier Field
I had been interested in drifting for years so I jumped at the chance to see it live in Chicago. It was an unusually cold June day, but I was still out, armed with a camcorder and a digital camera, eager to see some cars. The biggest draw for me was being able to see cars that were shipped in from Japan just to compete.
The Signal R34 Skyline GT-R was probably the most famous of the group of JDM cars. The color-changing Nissan is currently one of the most well-known GT-Rs on the planet and usually pumps out over 700 horses. Another Japan-only car that could be seen sliding across the parking-lot was the JIC Nissan Silvia. The S15 is hands-down one of the best looking designs to come from Nissan in the 90's. That car never made it American show rooms but cues can often be seen on modified cars such as this red S13 240SX and this very-slick, black S14 240SX. There was even an R34 Skyline GT there but it was mostly just a prop for Need For Speed Underground. I'd have to say the best looking Nissan at the event was the KURE S15 Silvia. I didn't see that car move at all unfortunately.
Nissans are very popular in drifting so there were also some wackier ones in the bunch. There was a Sears Nissan 350Z roadster with a V8 under the hood. There was another Nissan there with a V8, but this time it was a blue supercharged S13 240SX coupe that also needed a hole in it's hood to fit that monster. Those two still have nothing on the 240/TA. Let's hope nobody else gets the idea to put a Pontiac Firebird front on a Nissan 240SX.
The Signal GT-R wasn't the only star in attendance though. There were actually three cars from The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift at this event. The black Nissan 350Z driven by D.K. was there next to the green, RB26DETT powered Ford Mustang. The other car from the movie was a yellow Acura (or Honda) NSX with the Veilside Fortune Kit. You can see the yellow NSX in some of the garage scenes in the movie, but I've never seen it budge (in person or film).
The domestic cars at the event surprised me the most. The most amazing drifting of the day was done by the Falken Ford Mustang and the Taisan Dodge Viper. Samuel Hubinette (the crazy Swede) dominated in Round 3 and was the points winner with the Mopar Dodge Viper SRT-10. I really liked the Puma Dodge Viper Competition Coupe that was tucked away at the event. Maybe it was the Spider-Man paint scheme that won me over. Pontiac and Red Bull must have a big partnership going because there was a Red Bull Pontiac GTO, a race-ready Red Bull Solstice, and another Red Bull Solstice just for display.
It was all plenty of fun (minus the unseasonal cold). I feel bad for all of the tires that had to give up their lives for this event, but it was worth it.
Other Notable cars:
- Yellow AEM Nissan 350Z
- Falken Infiniti G35
- AEM Honda S2000
- Orange Toyota Celica (eye kandy)
- Carbon Fiber Mitsubishi Lance Evolution
- White Nissan Altima with 20 inch wheels
- Formula Drift 2006 Compilation
- Signal R34 Skyline GT-R
- Nissan 350Z vs. Ford Mustang
- Toyota Supra vs. Dodge Viper
