2006 Motorsports Challenge Japan - Riceboys

In Japan there's a 15-round drift series that travels all around the country called Motorsports Challenge (MSC). It's divided into three single-run classes and has one triple-run class. The format is different compared to D1 and Formula D because at MSC the drivers never run against each other tandem style. Qualifications and finals are all single-runs. The judges choose the winner based on the execution of a run-the last one standing wins. The triple-runs are the highlight of the event. Yes, not tandem but triple-runs-a mnage trios of drifting (Usually you have to pay extra for that sort of action - JN). The three-car team that can drift in "sync" with more speed, angle and flare wins. It's quite refreshing to see three cars trying to drift together. It's a different kind of drifting for sure.

This round of the MSC took place at Nikko, about a four-hour drive north of Tokyo. It's surrounded by mountains and set in the middle of a bunch of rice patties. They make so much rice in this area that the track gives the winners bags of the stuff as prizes. To make the grain worshiped by the Japanese, you need rain. Lots of it. And June-when this event was held-is not such a good time to hold track events since it's the rainy season over here. The day started out pretty cloudy and I was worried that if it rained again we would only see cars sliding into the mud and Nads would take me off the job once and for all because my recent assignments have been rained out a lot (You're like the Bad Luck Schleprock of Japan - JN). Luckily it stayed dry most of the day and I was able to keep my job (For this month at least - JN).

Since I am a Best Motoring and Hot Version video producer I'm completely spoiled. I'm used to only seeing the likes of Kazama, Orido, Taniguchi, and of course Keiichi "Drift King " Tsuchiya take cars sideways with ease and grace. It's like eating prime rib everyday. But when the beginner class followed by the middle class came out, I was surprisingly impressed with the skills these amateurs had. Ok, sure they weren't NOB Taniguchi in his HKS Aristo but when the expert class came out with engines roaring and smoking tires, I was completely convinced that drifting is still alive and kicking in Japan-even in the boonies of Nikko in the middle of these rice patties. These guys wouldn't know The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift from a John Deere tractor commercial but they've been drifting the touges of their hometowns forever. These guys don't care if drifting is the fastest growing US motorsport since drag racing. They don't give a flying fat ass if Ford, Dodge and Pontiac are contemplating putting more bucks into drifting next year. They don't care if some US magazine sent a J-guy to cover their event. It's plain and simple. Their friends, brothers and sisters drift. They eat, sleep, and poo drifting. That's just what they do.

By Kyosyu Mizohata

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