So there was a post over by the boys at Speedhunters which got me thinking about what MY list would look like.
Here is my TOP 10 list of most influential drift cars/people, but here is the CRITERIA:
CRITERIA + NOTES:
- Influential TO ME. Not to you, ME, and me only. My personal opinion, you are more than welcome to make your own.
- Top 10 off the top of the dome, this is not an end all list, but just what I came up with at the current moment.
- Influential in regards to drifting specifically.
- Influential meaning EARLY influences, whether it be before I got into drifting, or during the early stages when I got into it.
- Has no bearing on what is currently influential. Again, EARLY influences.
- I’m aware that I am overlooking certain cars and people, but for sake of making it a neat and quick 10 I did it this way.
- I came in the game in the year 2002 when I bought my first 240sx (which was actually relative “late” by my standards).
- “Top 10 Cars” and “Top 10 INFLUENTIAL Cars” means something different to me. These are top in influence only, not in how much HP it makes, what specs it has, etc.
And without further ado…
1. Yoshinori Koguchi: I’m obviously biased to the 180sx, but ever since I stood behind that concrete wall at Drift Showoff in 2003 and saw Koguchi coming INCHES to the wall (and media having to take a step back in fear), I was never the same. Obviously his later versions of the chassis are dope as hell, but if you’re talking INFLUENCE, then the red 180sx shown to the left is king. In addition, anyone whose ever watched a video of drifting has had to have seen the black 180sx with the Blitz wheels. Oh man, I’d still kill for a Hotroad 180sx front bumper.
2. Mitsuru Haraguchi: Forget No One Better (N.O.B), you should call this dude N.O.L (No One Lower)! Haraguchi’s 326Power x BN Sports FC is insane in every category. It looks like a caricature and looks undriveable, but he somehow was able to pull it all off. He’d just whip this thing, super aggressive driving style, crazy angle, super early intiation, super hardcore. He’s since been driving different cars for Formula D and such, but it really isn’t the same. I want to see him back in a FC, furreal.
3. Signal Auto Drifter X (Komatsu): Just like Koguchi’s 180sx at Drift Showoff, I also got a chance to first see the capabilities of Signal Auto and their car “Drifter X.” Back around that time, Signal Auto was SUPER involved in the USA drift scene, and their cars were always fan favorites. I think I read a comment that this was “the only time a S13.5 was cool,” and although I’m at risk to hurt some feelings, I sorta agree.
4. Sexy Knights 180sx: This picture is older than the internet, and is the supreme reason why one of my dream wheels has been the Panasport G7-C5C2’s. The owner of the car is also a funny guy (Sexy Knights are pretty wild dudes), from what I’ve seen in interviews.
5. Sexy Knights Onevia: Most people will say that S13 coupes are best with a Silvia front end, and while I’d agree, I’m always a big fan when someone can pull of a clean onevia (”One”80sx front end + Sil”via” chassis, i.e S13 coupe with pop up headlights). Like the Sexy Knights 180sx, this picture is also older than dirt, and one of my most favorite onevias of all time. The Sexy Knights team also has a super sick red 86 for all you Trueno lovers out there.
6. Pink GodziRa: Their mascot is a pink dinosaur with a green bow who appears nervous mostly with uneasy hands…wait, what? Started in 2002 as a semi joke, a group of local Socal 240sx enthusiasts came up with a drift team called Pink GodziRa (consisting of Aaron, Lindsay, Brian “BH” Harte, Janet, Danny, and AD). I can easily say that without ever meeting this group of people, I would: a) probably have quit drifting by now out of frustration, b) have a crappy 240sx with sunk wheels and poor taste, c) be short of some good friends, and d) still be a noob. Besides myself, I’d say easily that the internet segment of 240sx owners have been greatly influenced by Pink GodziRa, as they have typically been at the forefront of USA drift trends and styling (by using the influences they have from their Japanese drift heroes). Anyone who says otherwise is just a hater.
7. Benson Hsu aka Sileightymania: If you live in the USA, are into drifting, and don’t know the significance of the word “sileightymania,” then that helps me to determine when you got in the game. Not that if you don’t know that’s a bad thing, but Benson (before his family man days) was quite the 240sx internet celebrity. No disrespect either by using the word “was,” since he himself can tell you that he pulled back from the game. At risk of sounding like a fanboy, he was one of the reasons I bought a 240 (back in 2002), and I’m sure the same for many others. But back then I didn’t know him, and now I do, so I can tell embarrassing info like that with no shame (okay, just a little). Either way, his Sileighty was something I always followed back in the day, and its amazing he’s still on the same chassis (now he’s back to pop ups though, and its red with soon to come big lipped SSR Professor SP1’s). 180sxmania continues (minus baggy knakis and some super huge yellow windbreaker lol)!
8. Slide Squad: At around the same time as Mr. Hsu was big thangs poppin, Dave Scholz and Mark Hutchinson also had an internet following with the team Slide Squad that they formed. Another Socal crew just like Pink GodziRa, Slide Squad was all about just having FUN with their cars, plain and simple. I think Mark’s Silvia was one of the first Silvias I had ever seen, and Dave’s camo painted EF was hard to not like (way before this tacky rattle can craze). Wu Tang Clan’s “Can It Be All So Simple Then” comes to mind, and during this time period, I loved all things 240, and it was just pure, innocent love for the hobby. Read the link at the bottom to a Super Street article on them. I wish more owners had that carefree mentality and just had FUN, since people are way too serious these days when it comes to cars (less hate for 08).
9. Society Mike: While some of the Socal folks were making waves out here, Mike Craig (aka Ziptied.com founder) had a site called DJ Elektrique, which if I remember correctly was for his DJ hobby as well as his 240 hobby. The only thing was that he was in the armed forces stationed in Japan, which meant one thing: easy access to parts. His S13 Silvia is still probably one of my favorites, and if the picture doesn’t illustrate why, you better get your eyes checked. This was also the time in which I wanted R33 GTR wheels SO badly (but don’t forget you need spacers to make them work kids!). He later changed chassis and built a sick S14 as well, but I still preferred his S13.
10. “Panda Scheme” AE86: Oh man, this is where imma have to get a little LAME with it. At risk of ridicule, I can proudly say that yes, I loved watching Initial D when it first dropped. I also loved watching “Drift Bible” with Keiichi Tsuchiya. Keep in mind this was all a very long time ago (early 2000’s), and again, when innocence was bliss. I loved the 86 Corolla for its simplicity, its lines, its capabilities, and its general “cool” appeal. I don’t care what you say, Initial D was entertaining, and definitely a reason I initially (no pun intended) got into the world of drifting.
So that’s my list of 10, and some people I gotta show respect to, since they shaped me in the game. If you agreed and it brought up some feelings of nostalgia, I’m glad I could help. If not, then maybe you got a few history lessons and maybe picked up some new heroes you could look up to.
So with all that being said, here’s how my car currently sits, and as mentioned before, all the influences above (along with many others not mentioned) have contributed to the current result. While like many other modified cars, its never done, but I’ve taken my time with it and had a lot of great people help me along the way. There are some things I’d like to change (if money was no object), but its finally at a point where I’m satisfied. Now my only goal is enjoying it out on the track, money willing.
Photo and link credits:
1. Koguchi 180sx
2. Haraguchi FC
3. Signal Auto Drifter X
4. Sexy Knights 180sx
5. Sexy Knights Onevia
6. Pink Godzira
7. Sileightymania
8. Slide Squad
9. Society Mike
10. Panda Scheme AE86
11. Photo by Allen Chu