Billowing smoke, screeching tires, racing hearts, screaming fans. The engine revs and you find yourself grasping your seat in nervous excitement. It all means one thing – it’s time to drift!
Drifting is a fast-paced motorsport attracting growing attention over the past decade. Its objective? Driving a car sideways down a track at high speed. Rubber is burned and adrenalin is pumped at organized events all over the country. Some who do it say it is the most challenging car-driving competition there is.
Drifting originated in Japan in the 1970s. By the 1990s, it had reached the United States, but it wasn’t until the new century that drifting began to gather momentum as a legal and regulated, professional sport.
Army National Guard Soldier and Gainesville, Florida, Police Officer CPT Ryan Quinn is using his gift for the drift to promote both his Christian faith and the Army National Guard.
“The driving itself is probably the most challenging thing that you could ever do in a car,” said CPT Quinn, assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 124th Infantry Regiment, Florida Army National Guard. “It’s an adrenalin rush. In essence, it’s a [controlled] roller-coaster ride.”
CPT Quinn originally started with the sport when he was in high school. Back then, he volunteered at drifting events as part of the pit crew. But after graduating high school, he left the then-still-developing sport behind to pursue other goals.
“I left drifting in order to focus on college and always planned to return to it when I had established a career,” he said.
In 2013, CPT Quinn took the motor sport up again with renewed enthusiasm. The captain had recently attained his master’s degree and felt he was at a good place in his career. He purchased a Scion FR-S with a 502 horsepower LS3 engine, specifically outfitted for drifting, and named it D4J (Drifting for Jesus).
Today, CPT Quinn competes at Pro-Am (professional-amateur) drifting events and said that he has given serious consideration to going professional.
“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.
Line involves taking the correct line, or path, around the course. The line is pre-determined by the judges at each individual track. This means the line has the potential to change from one competition to the next. Angle has to do with the angle of the turned wheels of the car. That is: how the angle of the front wheels, in comparison to the angle of the car, relates to the rear wheels and their angle to the car. Style includes such aspects as the amount of smoke created, proximity to the track wall and crowd reaction.
Competitors are only judged at the portions of a track that allow for both optimal visibility by the judges and safe drifting space for the drivers.
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.”
Although CPT K. Quinn plays a critical role in the success of Slide United, she is quick to shine the spotlight back on her husband.
“Drifting is open to male and female [drivers],” she said, “But I really like to support [Ryan’s] passion for the sport and not get into driving myself. He’s basically awesome.”
The Quinns regularly encourage others to get involved in formula drifting. They said they see it as a way to share their dream with those they care about.
“I recommend drifting because it’s in a controlled environment,” CPT K. Quinn said. “It’s a blast. You’re taking chances, but in an environment where you have safety and security. A five-point harness, a fire-resistant suit – everything is there in case of an emergency and it’s legal.”
For those who are interested in drifting, but are not ready to drive, the Quinns said there are other ways to experience the sport. Many tracks will allow drivers to offer ride-alongs to passengers during competitions.
“Having people ride in the car with me at events and seeing those people experience [drifting] for the first time – that for me is a better payoff than winning a competition,” reflected CPT R. Quinn.
1SG Brent Ludlow serves in the 124th Infantry Regiment. CPT. R. Quinn offered his friend a chance to ride along. 1SG Ludlow and his son took advantage of the opportunity.
“I thought he was a little crazy at first,” 1SG Ludlow said of CPT R. Quinn. “Once I did the ride-along, I still thought he was crazy, but it was awesome.”
1SG Ludlow went on to describe his first drifting experience. “I was a little nervous because you pull up to the starting line and you’re waiting for the cars in front of you to go. You’re hearing the sounds. And even though you’ve seen it before, now you’re in the car getting to experience it. But once we took off, it was nothing but smiles and screaming, and just a great time.”
While he and his son had an exciting ride, 1SG Ludlow said for now they will remain only fans of the captain and his driving. There is no drifting on their own in the near future.
“I’m actually really proud of him,” 1SG Ludlow said. “I know that he’s getting close to being on the professional circuit.”
While it’s true that CPT R. Quinn’s competitive record puts him in the running for a professional license and full-time drifting career, according to him and his wife, he has chosen not to go pro just yet. He is prioritizing his commitment to the Army National Guard.
“I plan on staying at the professional amateur level for at least the next two years,” he said.
“The Army National Guard has invested heavily in our family,” noted CPT K. Quinn. “We’re very grateful.”
Both of the Quinns earned their post-secondary degrees in Finance from National Guard educational funding programs. CPT K. Quinn has a master’s in education and CPT R. Quinn has a master’s in business, both earned from the University of Florida.
According to CPT R. Quinn, drifting is much like the Florida Army National Guard in its shared sense of community. He said he enjoys the camaraderie of the drifting culture even more than the actual driving.
Perhaps this similarity is what drives the Quinns to share the Army National Guard culture with their drifting fans in the same way that they share their love for drifting with their Army National Guard Family. The Quinns routinely take time to promote their passion for the Army National Guard at their sporting events.
The couple can often be found at the track wearing Army National Guard shirts or hats. Time in the pits is often used to chat with fans about the Army National Guard and the opportunities it offers to Soldiers. CPT R. Quinn recalled introducing two young fans to the Army National Guard who later joined based on their preliminary connection with the captain.
The Quinns said they plan to continue to enjoy the dual benefits from their Florida Army National Guard experience and their passion for the sport of drifting. They are ready to continue to test their skills and push their limits, both as Soldiers and as a powerful drifting team.
By Staff Writer Matthew Liptak
Photos Courtesy of CPT Ryan Quinn
