Usually when I head over to one of Driving Sports's Eastern Creek Twilight drifts, it's to take photos, meet people, do interviews and cover the event. Last Friday was a little different however and a nice change may I add. Getting behind the wheel at Twilight drift night is definitely a more involving way to experience one of these events.
Meeting up with Jerry Yam of HOT4s, Jason Gynn of Zoom Magazine, we headed up to the Creek. For these guys it was their their first Twilight drift night. We later were met by our very own beloved editor Tom who had toiled away all day to have a half cage installed into his 180Sx.
We had a blast of night sliding to ourhearts content on the watered down skid-pan. Having been to a number of these meetings before, I can definitely say that it's becoming more and more popular.
A couple of interviews and a stack more photos over the fold and through Jason's Dribble
I had the pleasure of hosting Jason from Zoom Magazine in my passenger seat, here we're getting ready to roll out into the pan.
Jerry wanted to climb into the action so flogged himself a helmet from somewhere
This here is Reaper's S14... Now SR20 powered but I could swear there was a rotary in it somewhere!
Sure it's safe, but doesn't mean that you don't get some shunts and bumps. When I first spotted this I thought the license plate was a wicked sticker!
Tom eventually made it, it was our first time sliding together
This is Shantell in her Hachi, we were having a blast out on the pan, a few close calls, and plenty of laughs all around
The last run of the night I was joined by John who randomly asked if he could jump into my car... Yeah why not?
Thanks to Liam Quirk and his girlfriend Ellie from Street Commodores who shot some photos and to Jason for all the driving photography found on his blog Jason's Dribble. I had thevery greatest pleasure of taking Ellie out for a passenger run, I don't think I've ever sang 99 red balloons so hard in my life!
I also got to spend a bit of time with Lenny Lee, a funky friend of mine, Singaporean Circuit racer and drifter, I managed to squeeze an interview out of him as well!
STAFFROOM
Name: My parents named me Leonard Lee YK but keep calling me son, for some reason. My nickname on all forums is karbonphyber and friends call me Lenny!
Day job: I'm a software developer and developing software is my specialty! It allows me to create funky calculators which calculate stuff for the 180SX like rim tuck! No other calculator comes close!
How did you get into teaching?
It all started when a friend of mine, Josh, referred me to a thread created by Lee from Driving Sports, looking for people who met the three criteria which were:
1. Competed in drifting and at least qualified top 16
2. Communicates knowledge to others clearly and easily
3. Is reliable and well presented
Of which I satisfy two! Everyone understands Singaporean English don't they?
What’s the best part of your job?
I feel there are many ‘best parts’ like having the opportunity to be in the environment where real race mechanics are present, learning more about cars from them and meeting new faces. As the top of my list though, it’s the opportunity to bring someone new to drifting from being a zero to a hero, seeing them enjoy their new found skill and actually executing drift manoeuvres smoothly. The smile that you get from them is priceless and that's what I feel is the best part of being an instructor.
What’s your motto in life?
People who know me might start shouting ‘safety first’. But the way I try to live my life is ‘Don't try, Don't know!’.
In ‘Don't Try, Don't know!’ I started working DIY on the car for small projects, as opposed to relying on paying a mechanic and then not learning anything in the process. After starting a few small projects like spray painting, fabricating camera mounts, I had graduated on to the larger projects like changing turbos, clutches, swaybars and recently a 5-stud conversion with the help of the Driving Sports crew who taught me that being forceful helps at times. Now I have a whole load of DIYs which will soon make their way back on to TunedForDrift.com! But for now let’s stick to ‘safety first!’.
What do you wish to say to all those looking to enrol into school?
A good firm grasp of theory - whether it be circuit driving or even drifting - will bring you far beyond anyone who's just chucking a car around some corners.
Learn things the right way and you'll always have your knowledge to fall back on, in new scenarios. I'm always keen to meet new people and help them out with drifting, so drop me an email to say hi and I'll see you at a Driving Sports event!
Stay Tuned for more action when FF&R goes on the ground or future events!
Thanks to Liam Quirk and his Misses Ellie Thorley from Street Commodores for sending over some photos, Jerry Yam from HOT4s for his constant hilarities, Jason Gynn from Zoom Magazine for the drifting photogrpahy, Driving Sports for a great night
