Grassroots Motorsports Feb 2004 issue

Any and all drift fans here stateside should be picking up this magazine posthaste, as it has probably one of the most pro-drift articles to come out of a non-import centric magazine.

Emblazoned on the cover, along with a picture of Calvin Wan's FD, is the tagline "Is Drifting the Future of Motorsports in the U.S?".

And the small print buzz is "A Complete Look at the Cars, the Technology, and the Personalities Behind the Biggest Automotive Sensation Since the Drive-In."

The article outlines the basics of the sport, including the two most popular car choices; 1984-1987 Toyota Corolla GT-S and 1989-1993 Nissan 240SX (no preoccupation with being JDM here, GRM has never been trendy). They go over the preferred limited slip differential type and proper tire selection, cover the basics of learning to drift, and interview the people involved in setting up the two American drift series; US Drift at Hyperfest and SCCA's Formula Drift series, tire company representatives from Yokohama, and Falken, and driver Calvin Wan.

All in all, it's a very informed and unbiased (even pro-drifting) article from a magazine that's an information mainstay of American club racing.

Plus, in their publisher's opening editorial, he announces the Grassroots Motorsports will be sponsoring the first American single car drift championship hosted by US Drift. It's a nationwide eight event series, with $500 as the first prize. All entrants after the eight events will be invited to come to Las Vegas to compete for $5000 and the national championship. Yokohama Tire, the associate sponsor, has pledged to double that amount if the winning driver is on Yokohamas. BBS Wheels and The Tire Rack are also on board for sponsorship.

There's some other cool stuff in there, too. The feature cars this month are a Datsun 510 with a Buick/Olds/Pontiac/Rover aluminum 215ci V8 swap and a 1977 MGB with a Volvo 2.3L OHV four and custom fiberglass front bumper. They review the updated Honda S2000 (now with 2.2L of displacement so that the powerband isn't astronomically narrow) and go over the history and raceability of the Pontiac Fiero. They compare the Subaru WRX STi to the Lancer Evolution to the Dodge Neon SRT-4, have a how to article on putting Wilwood brakes onto a Civic, review Praxis's new performance airbag suspension, and have updates on their Project 5.0 Mustang and Celica.

For $5, how can you pass it up?

*runs to get it..... realises he has a car... drives to Barnes and Nobles*


:p

great article, great magazine

yeah i copped that last week. The issue before that tells all about the nissan 240sx, for all who care.