MustangOne
07-08-2010, 10:48 AM
http://www.themustangnews.com/content/wp-content/themes/arras-theme/library/timthumb.php?src=http://www.themustangnews.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/vgjr2.jpg&w=630&h=250&zc=1
As Vaughn Gittin Jr. heads to Monroe, WA this weekend for Formula Drift Round 4, he is currently leading the point standings. Vaughn took a few minutes to talk about his love for cars and what drew him to drifting.
What drew you to Formula Drifting?
“My whole life I’ve loved cars. My father got me a go-kart when I was four and I used to love when he did burnouts and doughnuts and just seeing the smoke in the air and all of that. I loved it.
“When I was 18, I got a rear wheel drive car and used to go in the back of parking lots and slide and fly around doing doughnuts. Then I saw this sport of drifting that was not just flying around, it was serious, enter and turn sideways over 100 miles an hour and I said, ‘I want to do that.’ From that point on it started as a hobby and I chased it and turned it into a career.”
Was the racing part of it ever in the picture for you?
“I like racing, I like to drive cars fast. I raced motorcross so I’ve always been competitive. Granted it’s not racing, but the only reason it’s not racing is because you’re not going against the clock. Speed is the biggest factor in drifting, speed and angle. People look at our cars and think they’re loose but they’re actually very biting, grippy cars that are purpose-built for drifting. A 750 horsepower, 2500 pound 2011 Mustang is what I drive.
“The aspect of racing is there even though it’s not a race. You’re going fast; you’re going out there going as hard as you can. It’s a very big mental game and there’s a lot of car set-up, talking with your crew chief, your engineers, so the variables are there. There’s just no [checkered] flag.”
Full Interview: http://www.themustangnews.com/content/2010/07/mustang-drift-king-vaughn-gittin-jr-talks/
As Vaughn Gittin Jr. heads to Monroe, WA this weekend for Formula Drift Round 4, he is currently leading the point standings. Vaughn took a few minutes to talk about his love for cars and what drew him to drifting.
What drew you to Formula Drifting?
“My whole life I’ve loved cars. My father got me a go-kart when I was four and I used to love when he did burnouts and doughnuts and just seeing the smoke in the air and all of that. I loved it.
“When I was 18, I got a rear wheel drive car and used to go in the back of parking lots and slide and fly around doing doughnuts. Then I saw this sport of drifting that was not just flying around, it was serious, enter and turn sideways over 100 miles an hour and I said, ‘I want to do that.’ From that point on it started as a hobby and I chased it and turned it into a career.”
Was the racing part of it ever in the picture for you?
“I like racing, I like to drive cars fast. I raced motorcross so I’ve always been competitive. Granted it’s not racing, but the only reason it’s not racing is because you’re not going against the clock. Speed is the biggest factor in drifting, speed and angle. People look at our cars and think they’re loose but they’re actually very biting, grippy cars that are purpose-built for drifting. A 750 horsepower, 2500 pound 2011 Mustang is what I drive.
“The aspect of racing is there even though it’s not a race. You’re going fast; you’re going out there going as hard as you can. It’s a very big mental game and there’s a lot of car set-up, talking with your crew chief, your engineers, so the variables are there. There’s just no [checkered] flag.”
Full Interview: http://www.themustangnews.com/content/2010/07/mustang-drift-king-vaughn-gittin-jr-talks/