Opening weekend review. - U-DrifTalk

MS13 · Member

Opening weekend review.

seducksauce · Veteran Member

Dunno about where everyone was, but I still had a great time :D

As for the complaints, there was one from Friday, but none for Sat or Sun!!! YESSS

down_shift · Veteran Member

Place is way small to attract out of towners. Honestly what did U-Drift do to promote its "Grand Opening"?

Chris what would be smart is for you to post a video of Gary KILLING that place in his LS13 to show nay sayers that the track has potential. Also a good way to plug the "GLRS". Weld a muffler on it for him if you have to.

-- Edited by down_shift on Tuesday 24th of November 2009 08:53:31 PM

seducksauce · Veteran Member

We haven't had our grand opening yet. We haven't done any advertising at all just yet. Once we start actually spreading the word, I'm sure we'll have plenty of business :)

Kraffty240SX · Veteran Member

Agreed . . . word of mouth is already starting to spread fast. Even if the track is a little small, it's still an economical place to learn or fine tune drifting skills. The track has a lot of character and a lot of places to screw up. The dip makes the weight transfer a little screwy after the sweeper. Most people spin before they even get to it. 200,000 sq ft is way better than some parking lot that can get you a ticket or jail time.

And Gary loves our track . . . and he's the professional . . . so I'm sure he knows more than most of us.

seducksauce · Veteran Member

lulz

madnessllama · Member

Great place to learn diffenatly. going back out tommorow for more fun. Gonna try the sweeper at a higher speed. Be there around 3

Kraffty240SX · Veteran Member

Sweet, we'll see you there!

Drifter · Owner

MS13 wrote:

So this past weekend was the opening and the turnout was`nt as good as everyone thought it would be. Just wondering where everyone was at?

Secondly just curious to how how many noise complaints if any for the weekend chris?

Gotta ramp up slowly so that we can handle everyone as we learn what we're doing out here! It's not like there's a manual for how to run a drift park, so we've got to figure it all out on our own. Easier to do with small crowds (which is why we've held off advertising in this first stage).

The Grand Opening should be in mid-December when we're comfortable with larger groups of spectators and more drivers.

We've got the noise complaints handled, though. Just one on Friday, and he didn't even call back. None on Saturday, Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday...and we've had the skidpad going the whole time either with customers or staff drifting.

The course *is* small, which I like for practice and learning purposes, but it's too small to teach pro drifting event tricks (Gary Lang holds 4 levels of drifting classes here at U-Drift, but his 5th level class is held at Huntsville Speedway because it is large enough).

madnessllama · Member

Well yall get to write the manual on how to run a drift park.

down_shift · Veteran Member

Drifter wrote:
Gotta ramp up slowly so that we can handle everyone as we learn what we're doing out here! Thats smart. It's not like there's a manual for how to run a drift park, so we've got to figure it all out on our own. Why not work with the people with experience running events? Much of which can be applied to your business. How many drift events have you been to/observed/worked with? I'm not trying to call you out I just want to get a better idea.

The Grand Opening should be in mid-December when we're comfortable with larger groups of spectators and more drivers. This seems like an excellent opportunity to put on a quality demo for the fan base and potential U-Drift customers.

We've got the noise complaints handled, though. Just one on Friday, and he didn't even call back. None on Saturday, Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday...and we've had the skidpad going the whole time either with customers or staff drifting. How much of this was on a dry surface?

The course *is* small, which I like for practice and learning purposes, but it's too small to teach pro drifting event tricks (Gary Lang holds 4 levels of drifting classes here at U-Drift, but his 5th level class is held at Huntsville Speedway because it is large enough). When will more details on the GLRDS be available?

SPEC Drifter · Member

down_shift wrote:

Drifter wrote:
Gotta ramp up slowly so that we can handle everyone as we learn what we're doing out here! Thats smart. It's not like there's a manual for how to run a drift park, so we've got to figure it all out on our own. Why not work with the people with experience running events? Much of which can be applied to your business. How many drift events have you been to/observed/worked with? I'm not trying to call you out I just want to get a better idea.

The Grand Opening should be in mid-December when we're comfortable with larger groups of spectators and more drivers. This seems like an excellent opportunity to put on a quality demo for the fan base and potential U-Drift customers.

We've got the noise complaints handled, though. Just one on Friday, and he didn't even call back. None on Saturday, Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday...and we've had the skidpad going the whole time either with customers or staff drifting. How much of this was on a dry surface?

The course *is* small, which I like for practice and learning purposes, but it's too small to teach pro drifting event tricks (Gary Lang holds 4 levels of drifting classes here at U-Drift, but his 5th level class is held at Huntsville Speedway because it is large enough). When will more details on the GLRDS be available?

Drifter: This is Gary BTW.

GLRDS will be up and running at www.nmdrift.com and www.needmoremotorsport.com by the end of next week. I have been bombarded with requests for school from many begginers and amateurs wanting instruction on areas from technique to sponsorship writing.

The course is actually quite challenging. I have been working on getting my little FC around the course in the wet, lol, I have way too much tire and no power but nonetheless it almost makes it. I refuse to put smaller tires on it so that it will work.

The point I am trying to make is that you can challenge yourself!! In a totally different way. One that doesnt require all the muscle and flare, the one that requires control and mastery of your car and yourself.

Many of you know I run an LS1 240, this car would eat this course all day in the dry, but you put it on the wet and then its a whole other challenge. One many of you will see throughout your drifting lives.

My statement is challenge yourself and if you kill it then you inevitably learned you are good on the wet stuff.

I am all about the fun, yes your car will get dirty, but you will have fun just like every drift event you go to.

Minusdarkslide · Senior Member

Well said!

Drifter · Owner

down_shift wrote:

Why not work with the people with experience running events? Much of which can be applied to your business. How many drift events have you been to/observed/worked with? I'm not trying to call you out I just want to get a better idea.
This seems like an excellent opportunity to put on a quality demo for the fan base and potential U-Drift customers.

How much of this was on a dry surface?

There's only so much that can be said online, and that's just words. You've got to come experience what's in the offline world firsthand...it takes live video games to the next level when you are in the actual car on the actual course!

I'm just saying: try things out. U-Drift. Barber's. Talladega. Huntsville Speedway. Everywhere legal that you can.

I'm just out here having fun! Drifting. 4x4ing. Go-carting. Video games. I hope that others want the same. Pretty harmless, really.

MS13 · Member

A well deserved +1 for Gary.

TONS-OF-FUN · Veteran Member

Drifter wrote:

down_shift wrote:

Why not work with the people with experience running events? Much of which can be applied to your business. How many drift events have you been to/observed/worked with? I'm not trying to call you out I just want to get a better idea.
This seems like an excellent opportunity to put on a quality demo for the fan base and potential U-Drift customers.

How much of this was on a dry surface?

There's only so much that can be said online, and that's just words. You've got to come experience what's in the offline world firsthand...it takes live video games to the next level when you are in the actual car on the actual course!

I'm just saying: try things out. U-Drift. Barber's. Talladega. Huntsville Speedway. Everywhere legal that you can.

I'm just out here having fun! Drifting. 4x4ing. Go-carting. Video games. I hope that others want the same. Pretty harmless, really.

ummmmm, this guy acually drifts at atlanta events, WELL, and you both makes valid points, lets not turn this thread into a pissing match,

MS13 · Member

Agreed. They both do.

down_shift · Veteran Member

Thanks Joe.

Drifter wrote:

I'm just out here having fun! Drifting. 4x4ing. Go-carting. Video games. I hope that others want the same. Pretty harmless, really.

I was looking at U-Drift specifically as a drift company, but it seems you have a wider business plan in mind. Thats cool, I understand. U-Drift could be an excellent place for new people to cut their teeth. I understand that many newbies interested in making the transition from the sidelines to the drivers seat can get overwhelmed at other venues and that it can seem hard to break into.

If you can get guys interested in drifting enough that they start competing thats great. kudos. I have some strong views regarding drifting but its not my place to knock your business. This is a tough time for any business let alone one thats hobby oriented. Like you said there's nothing wrong with having some fun. Thats the entire point of drifting.

Hopefully in the future you can expand and cater to the already established southern drifting community. Best of luck with the new venture.

Drifter · Owner

down_shift wrote:

Thanks Joe.

Drifter wrote:

I'm just out here having fun! Drifting. 4x4ing. Go-carting. Video games. I hope that others want the same. Pretty harmless, really.

I was looking at U-Drift specifically as a drift company, but it seems you have a wider business plan in mind. Thats cool, I understand. U-Drift could be an excellent place for new people to cut their teeth. I understand that many newbies interested in making the transition from the sidelines to the drivers seat can get overwhelmed at other venues and that it can seem hard to break into.

If you can get guys interested in drifting enough that they start competing thats great. kudos. I have some strong views regarding drifting but its not my place to knock your business. This is a tough time for any business let alone one thats hobby oriented. Like you said there's nothing wrong with having some fun. Thats the entire point of drifting.

Hopefully in the future you can expand and cater to the already established southern drifting community. Best of luck with the new venture.

Thanks for the kind words. It's nice to see pro-level drifters run at U-Drift (e.g. Gary Lang), but to be honest that high level drifting is well-served by existing drift associations and events/venues.

U-Drift is less serious than that. Come on, you make a mistake in a pro-drift event and your weekend is ruined. That adds a level of seriousness to every run.

But where do drivers go to *learn* how to drift? You know the answer: outside of U-Drift they are trespassing in closed parking lots or risking life and property by drifting illegally on the streets.

So to me, U-Drift has a place in the world...a place where people can have fun drifting if they already know how...a place where they can learn if they don't already know how.

We're not cleared for Tandem Events. Not by the City of Moody, not by our insurance. So surely where U-Drift stacks up is at the "fun" and "learning" side of the Bell Curve.

There's just one car out on the skidpad at a time at U-Drift. Very safe. Very conservative. Very fun. Just not a pro-level event sort of place.

But everyone should feel comfortable out there. I'm certainly not trying to tell pro-level drifters to stay away. I'd love...and our spectators would love...and your fellow drifters would love to see you playing out at U-Drift.

I don't believe that it would waste your time. It's a fun little course. It's not like I'm trying to pretend that U-Drift is bigger than it is. You go out, you drift around the course...maybe you knock out some Figure 8's.

Easy, peasy. Fun. Harmless. Cheap. Legal. Insured. Sanctioned and approved and going on inside city limits. It's got potential.

And I'd love to know what you are looking for when you choose your own venues to attend/run. I'm always open to improving U-Drift, too. Always room for that.

Kraffty240SX · Veteran Member

My thoughts exactly Drifter. I bought my 240 with the intention of drifting but ended up setting it up for drag since Alabama International Dragway in Steele, AL was the only place I had easy access to. I refuse to race on public roads for the simple facts of the illegality and the potential of uncontrollable circumstances. Now I do admit that I would slide it getting onto an on-ramp getting onto the interstate or the occassional turn on Hwy 25 (for all you locals), but for the most part . . . I have never had great access to any place where I could have "fun" in my car. Thanks to U-Drift, now I do.

But here's one positive way to think of things no matter your thoughts on the course . . . tell your friends, the forums you frequent, or that random person you meet with the same love of sliding you have deep in your blood, because if we create a demand, courses will start to open all over the place. The more courses we have access to across the US, the less chance there will be for illegal drifting/racing to occur on public streets . . . and we should know, safety first. You can make a mistake at U-Drift and you can keep going, but if you make a mistake on Hwy 25 and tumble down a cliff . . . game over.