| Americans are always so behind when it comes to | | | | Speedway, and consequently is now hosted yearly |
| the hottest trends, music and fashion are great | | | | by D1 Grand Prix. Other motor sports companies |
| examples, but motor sports are no exception. Drifting | | | | have followed suit by offering their own drifting |
| is the hottest new car exhibition sport on the | | | | competitions throughout America, such as Nopi |
| market, right? It just became popular in 2006 when | | | | Motorsports, but D1 Grand Prix is still the biggest, and |
| "The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift" came out, | | | | the place that drifters yearn to get to. |
| right? | | | | Drifting has become so huge in the United States |
| For the majority of Americans, these are true | | | | that would-be drifters can set up lessons with a |
| statements, but in reality they are very far from the | | | | trainer, similar to dance or music lessons. Drift clubs all |
| truth. Drifting began in Japan in 1970 as a racing | | | | over the country are rapidly gaining popularity with a |
| technique in the All Japan Touring Car Championship | | | | wide array of drivers, from the younger generation |
| and by 1977 was a huge favorite among Japanese | | | | that is looking to show off, to the older generations |
| race crowds. The problem remained that it was still | | | | that are looking to find a new sport, not is fairly easy |
| only considered a racing technique. Almost sixteen | | | | to break in to. |
| years after Kunimitsu Takahashi, the father of | | | | Possibly the biggest surprise of all is female drifters! |
| drifting, invented this unique racing skill, it was | | | | In fact, Formula Drift currently has a Drifting Pretty |
| considered popular enough for Japanese race track | | | | Program, that is solely designed for women looking |
| owners to allow drifting competitions. Even though | | | | to learn all of the ins and outs of drifting. While this |
| Japan held its first drifting competitions starting in the | | | | program is limited in scope, because of its location, |
| mid 80s, American was still several years behind. | | | | knock off programs around the country are springing |
| The first official professional drifting competition in | | | | up, and by 2008 are expected to be big business. |
| the U.S. was held in August of 1993, at Irwindale | | | | |