Customer Reviews

How to Drift: The Art of Oversteer (S-A Design)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is actually a decent book. It goes into the technical side of it along with the skill levels required for each different type of drift. Most of the information in this book will be realized with practice anyway. I do believe you could obtain the same skill level without tearing up as many tires :op.

The major techniques are covered fairly well in this book, as well as a brief history of drifting. The guided rebuild of the 240sx is pretty handy also.

How to Drift

This book was interesting as it covered a topic that isn't quite recognized or accepted by a lot of gearheads and motorsports, although it has been steadily growing in the US especially from the publicity with WRC and Rally drivers like Ken Block and Travis Pastrana doing ghymkana stuff with their AWD cars.

Almost half the book is devoted to a Nissan 240SX build, taking a beat up car and turning it into a drifting car. The first half of the book covers the history of driving, and different levels of initiating and controlling drifts. The entry-level stuff involves using the e-brake or a clutch kick, while an intermediate level involves the use of heavy-throttle or downshifting and heavy-throttle to induce oversteer. I have had great results with just applying throttle after the turn-in in a RWD car on snow, it is the easiest way to induce oversteer. It also helps if your car has some chassis mods that reduce understeer, like anti-roll bars, which can help promote oversteer during fast turn-in. The pro-level techniques taught include the Scandinavian flick or "Feint". Another method taught is the Choku Dori , which requires exceptional skill to maintain a drift in a straight line.

Controlling exercises are provided, and a discussion on limited slip differentials was also found in the text. The one concept that I disagree with was how the author claimed that front-wheel drive cars aren't suited for drifting or how they can do it, but it isn't easy or pretty. I disagree because with the proper chassis setup, a FWD car is probably the best drifting car there is mainly because you can induce oversteer by suddenly lifting the throttle while turning in, then apply throttle while correcting to force your way back. Drifting with AWD is also do-able and you do not need copious amounts of power like the author suggests. Drifting with RWD is obviously the easiest.

Overall: 4/5 stars, some good techniques covered for those interested in learning about drifting, but over half the book is devoted to a Nissan 240SX build-up.

The book has detailed descriptions on drifting and the theory behind it, as well as dedicated chapters on working on your drifting car. All in all a very well put together book.

Not worth buying if you are trying to drift. Does give some information but no unique advice that can't easily be found elsewhere. It also says that the ae86 corolla has independent rear suspension, which is wrong.

I bought this for my son. He is interested in anything regarding Driving, racing and cars in general. I asked him how he liked this item and he said that "it was great". So, based on that, I would say if you have an older teenager or person in your life who is into cars, etc., this would be a good gift. And if for yourself, I can only tell you that my 17 year old son thought it was GREAT.