Drift Bible. Race or Drift?

What line are you going to take?  What angle will you run? Just chat.



Run the wall or race line in clips. The inclip eliminates the big entry and favours speed over everything else.

In this article, I'll outline some differences then I'll specifically look at FormulaD and it's lines where the chase car has it real easy.

RED CAR + RED LINE = Beginner.   Likely the racing line.
GREEN CAR + GREEN LINE = Intermediate to Advanced. good for Trains.
BLUE CAR + BLUE LINE = Pro. Good for Comp Battles.

Even though newcomers watch drifting on TV, somehow when they get the RC car in their hands, their competitive mind says, "I must be faster" and that means running a race line.

Without an advisor at the track, the race line becomes common. 

As "racing" favours the speed component of drift, angles come down and IN clips become the norm. finding the fastest way around the track returns to the minimal lap time at the expense of drift time.

7 RED cars in this image.

Style gets left out and the "spectacular big angle drift" disappears in favour of shallow speed.

If there are barriers on the track. expect impacts as margin is low.

10 GREEN cars in this image This green line represents a middle of the road line that eliminates danger from in or out clips.

Endless lapping will result.

12 Blue cars in this image

running a longer corner line allows more side by side and more spectacular on the wall image.

The difference is your choice on a practice session, but in a comp the line will be chosen for you.

The TRACK part 1.

Sometimes the track lends itself to flow, but sometimes it may entice a difficult line. this is especially true when a short straight prevents "linking" corners. 

In this case. there would be frequent cashes by beginners as they would go too wide or too narrow.

As your level increases. "Manji"-ing the straight not only lowers the risk from high speed , but gives you a great opportunity for switching positions.  

Pro Battles will start in a straight then sharply initiate at large angle before running a wall.  Running a wall at zero margin shows the skill of holding large angle and increases time to show proximity.

Remember these are all different styles, but when you practice. do you practice to just go around... or do you practice to be "like a pro"

Evaluate who is at the track, and see if people want to practice a "Pro Line" for just ten minutes.

then you can go back to "intermediate" practice  or make people aware that beginners are on track.

Be fair and play the same way.

Now The Track... part II  

This track line allows people to cut a straight line from corner 1 to 2.

Changing the length of the corner, forces a close margin in line. , the "Race line" is almost eliminated.

 Making a 5cm (2 inch) change to a Track can make a huge difference to flow and increase the side by side proximity by default.

But reducing width also means beginners will find it tough and crash more frequently. 

Change the track or just talk. Communication will easily change what's expected.

In clips are not all bad, but use them on open track corners, where the corner can safely be cut.

The formula D Long beach track last corner is a hairpin, but the inclip is 5 meters from the wall, why because people are going to cut it.  

FORMULA D

So this is an a-typical Formula D drift line. What you find is a lot of straight lines. Even though this track would not be used because it's simply too small. But... Formula D would be something like this.

So the Lead car runs a wide line trying to hit the qualifying out lines and not go one wheel off and not hit the wall and still be fluid and flowing etc. ie Super difficult.

BUT. the chase car can use less power, run shallower angle and cut the in clips , transition early and by the end they are usually overtaking across the line... every time. 

That's because the chase line is simple and easy and the focus in proximity over all else.

I like the Formula D track called "the WALL" event because the length of the out clip shows that the cars can run the same line for a long time. But when one car is rewarded for proximity while running a visibly lesser angle, I really disagree with that reward.

Lead guy must always do you best at super high risk!

Chase guy... just do something less exciting.

I know smoke gets in the way... but add a third car and there is no line for that car to follow.

More food for thought. 

Remember... All three lines on the same track cause issues.


To get people on a similar line. 

Put some stars or different colours on the track.

Add some angle markers

Add some in clip markers

Add some out clip markers.

get people talking about "THE LINE" all the time.

Play with the track width and see the difference it could make.

At that final corner .... without smoke in RC, where will you be?

Chasing and emulating? or trying to Overtake?