Author: FormulaD

Kyle Mohan and Nexen Tire Partner for 2010 Formula Drift Season

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March 8, 2010 (Signal Hill, Calif.) — Kyle Mohan is proud to announce that his team will have a new identity and a new look for the 2010 season. Mohan will partner with Formula Drift’s newest tire sponsor, Nexen Tire, and will compete in the No.99 Nexen Tire / Mazdatrix Mazda RX-8 in the Formula Drift Pro Championship.

Mohan, also known for the rotary engines that he builds at Mazdatrix that power drift, race, and street cars around the country, has emerged as a leading Mazda driver in Formula Drift since he first competed in a Mazda RX-7 FC3S in 2006.

Coming off of a breakout 2008 season, where he finished a career-best fourth at the Streets of Long Beach and qualified 10th at the Red Bull Drifting World Championship, Mohan debuted a brand-new Mazda RX-8 at the beginning of the 2009 season. After a full season of development, that RX-8 has been developed extensively in the off season, and will be arriving at the Streets of Long Beach with more power, more noise – and a new tires, courtesy of Nexen Tire USA.

“This is really great news for my team, and for all of the sponsors and partners that have supported us over the past four seasons,” said Mohan. “Adding Nexen Tire as our title sponsor will help us elevate our program and give us what we need to continue to compete in Formula Drift. We have already tested their tires and were very impressed with the grip and wear that we got out of them, so I am really looking forward to getting back on track this season.”

Nexen Tire is new to Formula Drift, but has competed in Ireland’s ProDrift championship, and have become large supporters of grassroots drifting in the United States.

“We are very excited to become a part of Kyle’s Formula Drift program,” said Michael Meeiem, Motorsports Marketing Rep. for Nexen Tire USA. “We have had our eye on becoming involved in Formula Drift for a while, and as long as we’ve been talking about it we have had our eye on Kyle. His performances at the end of 2010, and the fact that he and his small team have competed in their RX-8 at such a high level led us to select KMR to be our flagship team.”

The new-look Nexen Tire / Mazdatrix Mazda RX-8 will debut at round 1 at the Streets of Long Beach on April 8-9.

Jeff Jones FD3S Formula DRIFT Car Build

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Formula DRIFT driver Jeff Jones posted on Drifting.com about his new vehicle for the season. Check it out.

Formula D 2010 season is just around the corner and I have been given the opportunity to once again rejoin my fellow rotary enthusiasts. Not long ago I decided to leave my always-favored FC3S for a 240 SX to use in competition for Formula D. This was not an ordinary SR-powered S13 but one with a 1JZ transplant. The 2009 season was an exhilarating and a new experience for me but it was time to “Go Big”…

This year has already shows better promise as Rotary Works has offered to build my team, Jeff Jones Racing, a monster drift machine to compete in for the 2010 season. We have chosen the FD3S chassis to build up and make custom to our needs. It wasn’t enough to leave the factory 13BREW engine in it to build on so we opted for the maximum cool factor… a Turbo charged 20B engine that we expect will make over 500+ WHP and deliver when put to challenge. Only days into our build, Rene Franco, engineer and fabricator of Rotary Works and founder of RMS (Rene’s Motorsports), began designing a tube-chassis style front end from scratch nonetheless.

The purpose of this thread is to share my personal experience in building a car capable of competing against factory-backed cars in the world of pro drifting that is Formula D. This is all possible with the help of my sponsors which include Rotary Works, CX Racing, EBC brakes, Clutch Net, Comp Turbo, K&N, to name a few. With all that being said I have decided to share some pictures of progress and will continue to do so until Rd.1 in Long Beach where I hope to meet some of my supporters and fans.

I will be putting out a official press release soon of all my 2010 sponsors.

(It always begins with a car on a trailer making its way to a tuner garage)

Read more and see photos HERE

Formula DRIFT Announces Tony Angelo as Technical Manager

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Formula DRIFT Announces Tony Angelo as Technical Manager

Long Beach, Calif. –March 3, 2010 – Formula DRIFT has announced that Tony Angelo will add to his current role and responsibility as a Formula DRIFT judge by also serving as new Technical Manager. The position focuses primarily on competition vehicle compliance and enforcement of Formula DRIFT technical regulations as stated in the Formula DRIFT rulebook.

“Creating a Series that has staff that understands drift cars, how they are built and perform is paramount to our growth and success, so having Tony Angelo on as the Technical Manager is a great step for us,” said Ryan Sage, executive vice-president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “Tony has essentially committed to making this a full-time endeavor and he is ready to tackle issues and items that come up at a moment’s notice. Having personally worked with Tony at other capacities has opened my eyes to his ability to be non-bias and objective, which is absolutely necessary for us.”

The Technical Manager position entails many responsibilities with a focus on compliance and eligibility of vehicles according to the rulebook and specific items including recording and maintaining a detailed technical record of each vehicle, assigning Formula DRIFT VID numbers, consulting with Formula DRIFT administrative officials and the Formula DRIFT Chief Steward on rulebook development and modification, and administering mid-season technical inspections. Angelo has also been instrumental in helping to bring new developments to the current rulebook.

“Tony Angelo has been involved with safety and technical inspections of drift cars on many performance levels since 2003,” said Jim Liaw president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “His experience as a driver, builder, and judge makes him qualified to take over this new role. His technical knowledge of the current competition chassis and drifting rules since 2003 as well as his ability to be articulate will help level the playing field across all drive train platforms.”

Additionally, the Technical Manager will be responsible for working with teams to resolve any questions/issues regarding different builds, technical inspections, and writing any technical bulletins. Tony will still serve as one of the three main judges for the 2010 Formula DRIFT Championship season.

Sitting Shotgun: Jarod DeAnda The Interview

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1K DRIFT interview the voice of Formula DRIFT, Jarod DeAnda. Check it out.

So here at 1K DRIFT we are going for something a little bit different in our interview type deals. Jarod requested to have a traditional interview taken and it was a good move. We all know Jarod from Formula D, Drift Alliance and just about a million other things in the drifting world are linked to him. So here it is, the FIRST exclusive 1K DRIFT interview. With Jarod DeAnda.

1K: Introduce yourself..(just let everyone know who you are in a nut shell)

I’m Jarod DeAnda the man you hear at Formula Drift events in the US of A, Singapore and Malaysia plus a couple DMCC events, soon to be XDC and even X Games Winter (snowmobiling) and Summer (Rally Car Racing) I’m even the voice of “Big J” in Need for Speed Pro Street, take a listen…

1K: When did you fall into the hands of drifting?

I’ve been banging away in the automotive industry before The Fast &The Furious came out, street racing in San Diego, that’s a thing of the past and I made my hobby of this culture into an occupation… I grew an affinity for drifting here in the states when I attended RS-R Drift festival/ Drift Showoff at Irwindale in 2003 or so before the 1st D1GP at Irwindale. I was psyched because at that time the market was stagnant and here’s something that EVERYBODY was into…

1K:How did you become such a big part of Formula D?

Ryan and Jim are old friends and when they had the foresight to start Formula Drift because there’s a NEED for professional drifting in the U.S. because there’s an amazing drivers pool of talent they asked me if I would be interested in MC’ing the events… Here we are at the start of our 7th season of Formula Drift and I couldn’t be happier and more proud of Ryan and Jim and the whole Formula Drift family, that includes sponsors, of course drivers, crews, mechanics and of course the FANS young and old, haters and congratulaters!

1K: What was it like being brought into that world?

Like I said I’ve been in this car game since I was 17 and I was off street racing (don’t try this at home!) and worked all aspects of the industry, behind the counter at a shop, on the streets, magazines, selling, marketing at the end of the day, I’m a fan of all young, new and relevant!

1K: How has drifting changed, in America per say, the last 5 years?

Drifting in America has changed obviously the caliber of vehicle, meaning not only chassis changing from Corollas and S13’s to 350Z’s, Scions and Genesis’ but technology like the bumper bash bars, suspension and powerplants…. Also the professionalism of the drivers, the crews and the presentation…

I don’t like the haters on forums and websites that just want to see some slammed cars on a sick offset wheel, of course that looks better but there’s a time and a place and these “pilots” have to make money doing what they love or they can’t do what they love for much longer as a career…
So things might change and be different but at the end of the day it’s progression it happens in all sports, motorsports and anywhere technoolgy lives and breathes

1K: How has Formula D changed since you were introduced to it up until this 2010 season?

Formula DRIFT is the BEST International Drifting sanctioning body in the world, all eyes slide onto FD….
Formula DRIFT’s office are a revolving door, Ryan and Jim listen to any and all inquiries, questions and concerns and have partnered with people and companies that progress the sport not just line pockets with money for the quick money making fad.

1K: Where do you see Formula D headed in the next few years as far as growth, and expansion, I.E. the over seas series?

Formula DRIFT is getting bigger and badder and I can tell you that seeing the progression of Formula DRIFT ASEAN aka Singaporean and Malaysian drivers, it shows you that theres a lot of talent out there and events will get better and better just as it has all over the world inside and outside of Formula Drift. I didn’t attend the Thailand FD event but I saw a lot of the drivers at Malaysia and their killing it even on the innagural year…

1K: What are your goals in part of drifting?

My goal is to do my part, like i say “Actions speak louder than words, I put an exclamation POINT on them!!!!”

1K: What will the future see of Jarod DeAnda?

More events, more blogging, more beer, more good times around the world, more living a blessed life with my family and friends!!!
Drifting, rallying, X Games but it all started thanks to Formula DRIFT and Ryan and Jim in believing in me…

1K: Where do you see drifting headed in the near years to come?

Loopty loops and jumps, just kidding!
Progression= gnarlier cars and just sicker driving…
I see the medium, meaning images, videos and public awareness getting larger and better….
We have some of the best filmers, photographers and media behind the K-Rails at our events…
Linhbergh, Will Roegge, Joshua “Hobo” Herron, Ross Fairfield, Mark/Florida Racing, Jose Martinez, Antonio, even MiGroh Michael Groh, and so many more that i cant recall right now, but there are all soo good! sorry if I forgot somebody!

1K: What are your final thoughts on drifting today, and how you feel about that?

I can’t wait for the season to begin and continue to grow and grow!!!
I love Formula Drift, getting the crowd to do waves, cheer, stomp their feet and MAKE SIGNS….
We need more signs and raging fans!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last words……..SEND IIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There you go. Jarod DeAnda. The man. Voice of Formula D. Breaking down barriers and building up hype and excitement everywhere he goes. Expect more from Jarod on 1K. Follow Jarod on his blog here, http://www.jaroddeanda.com/blog/. Look out for more exclusive features like this only at 1K DRIFT.

Check out the entire interview HERE