“I’ve done what’s called the Formula Drift Pro-Am series,” he said. “They have a Pro-Am series in the different circuits around the United States. It’s basically the minor league element of the sport.”
CPT Quinn’s Pro-Am career has an impressive track record. Last year, he competed in the Formula Drift Southeast Drift Union Pro-Am series. He placed third in the second and third rounds, and then went on to place fifth overall in the series.
Even on the minor league level, the stakes in drifting are high and the competition is intense. The sport requires heightened focus and extreme hand-eye coordination. A drift is basically a controlled skid. The car moves sideways at speeds of up to 60mph. Drivers control their vehicle’s momentum using rear drive and a hand brake or clutch to propel the vehicle around a set course.
To the outsider, drifting may look like a crazy car race accidentally gone all wrong. But in actuality, drifting is a highly nuanced sport. Drivers are judged on their ability to create a precision drift. Judging criteria includes line, angle and style.
Formula Drift is the official professional drifting organization in the United States. At a Formula Drift contest, drifters each have two chances to qualify for the final competition. At the final event, pairs of cars compete in tandem. Thirty-two cars participate in all, drifting down the track two at a time.
With many competitive sports, peak performance requires teamwork. This is true of CPT Quinn and his team. While CPT Quinn is the most visible part of his team, his wife CPT Kimberly Quinn, also of the Florida Army National Guard, works behind the scenes as a key member of the pit crew. Together, the duo competes under the team name that they dubbed Slide United Motorsports.
“While he drives, I [watch] the tires and organize things,” CPT K. Quinn said. “Depending on the track, the required tire pressure may change. Depending on how long the track is, the rear tires may only last three rotations [around the track]. I make sure I’m aware of how the tires are riding and that we ensure safety. It’s an awesome sport, but you have to be calculated to minimize risk. The way that I describe it is that it’s like dancing on tires.”
