USDrift and Swing Set LLC’s 2-for-1 Deal

U.S.Drift Pro/Am Round-2 & Swing Set LLC’s Matsuri Matinee all in one place at (almost) the same time.

One event, two days of drifting, two track layouts, Formula Drift Pro/Am competition combined with the chill craziness of a matsuri? Yes, please!

There was even a drive-in style movie planned but this is the east coast of the U.S. and weather happens. Still, it was an epic event.

Two-day events are always something special, especially when there’s night drifting involved. The rundown usually goes: drifting with friends, hangout/party/meet new friends at night then more drifting with even more friends the next day. This event followed that structure and did not disappoint.

The competition and matsuri drivers were separated by alternating sessions on both days with the track layout differing between the two.

For Swing Set LLC’s Matsuri Matinee sessions, drivers either continued the drift from the first, large banked turn with a long e-brake slide down the straight or exited the banked turn with a single manji to scrub off speed before entering the infield halfway down the back straight.

For the Pro/Am drivers, the first banked turn and part of the second were linked together with a long, single manji down the entirety of the back straight.

Both courses snaked through the infield and both looked like a blast to drive.

The cars were as varied as ever with few sporting anything close to the motor tossed in at the factory. There was the usual assortment of S13’s and S14’s with all the swaps you’d expect.

There was also everything from a 1JZ NA Miata and a Procharged 1UZ S12 to a 2JZ FC RX7 (#blasphemyneversoundedsogood) and a 383 stroker E36 BMW.

Sprinkle in a couple of screaming AE86’s plus a few JZX Chasers and you’ll have an idea of the kind of automotive overload that went down. Those who ventured out of the track early enough on day two would’ve been met with some very intense lawn mower racing action. Sorry, my camera and I couldn’t handle the fierceness of the lawn mower action to get pics.