Let’s go ahead and start this like any other blog post or recipe you find online, with a little bit of backstory. Marissa is my best friend. Marissa is also what I would lovingly refer to as “car obsessed.” My best friend likes to drift. She runs the timing tower at the local drag strip as well as the websites for both the track and drifting group. Her cars all have names, stories, and a special place in her garage and heart. She even drove across the country to get Blooper, her drift car. I believe “car obsessed” is a fitting title for all of this.
I, on the other hand, am not “car obsessed.” I know nothing about engines, makes, or models. I couldn’t tell you if the pretty red car in front of us was the Mustang or the Corvette. I can tell you, however, that I love Marissa and Marissa loves cars. So, when my best friend told me that she might not make it out to West Virginia for her first Out Motorsports event because she had no lead/backup vehicle, we couldn’t have that. Thus started the epic journey of getting Blooper across half the country, again.
When you’re leading a road trip with a drift car behind you, bear in mind that it likely rides like shit and the driver is probably actively suffering from it. It may have a welded differential, sketchy windshield wipers, and failing air conditioning. You must lead well to keep both you and your driver bestie safe.
Your driver does not trust being near big rigs? Pass them quickly and scooch out of the way. This allows your driver to swiftly pass the semi. We have all seen Final Destination! Is it raining? Keep an eye on the windshield wipers. If your driver appears like she’s going to fly away with the flapping, slow down. She can’t see you, and the windshield stickers are not helping visibility.
Speed limits are not just a suggestion. Your driver looks like trouble. She is in a very loud car covered in stickers with fancy wheels. There is a neon “pull me over” sign hanging above this car. Keep your eyes open for any police or state troopers. Do not go too far over the speed limit and watch out for all construction zones.
Drivers love taking pictures of their cars. Drivers also love videos of their cars. “Rollers” are taking photos or video of someone’s moving vehicle from your moving vehicle. This works best when your lead car has a passenger – don’t mess with your phone while you’re driving! (Editor here: seriously, don’t try to get rollers of another car while you’re driving.)
Have your passenger(s) roll the window down and keep their phone inside the vehicle while taking photos or videos. You don’t need to hang out of your vehicle for these, save that for the professionals with professional safety equipment. Hit the capture button as fast and as many times as you can. You’ll toss out a lot of pictures, but you’ll catch some really good ones too.
If there’s a tunnel, get a video! There’s nothing like the lights of a tunnel flashing over someone’s car as you hear the echo of their exhaust. It was a special moment for both of us. I can’t tell you what kind of engine is in her car, but it sounded awesome.
Does your driver’s car not have air conditioning, or does it fail in the middle of driving through construction traffic? Put a cold drink in their hand the moment they exit the vehicle. Guide them to park in the shade to cool off the interior. Keep your driver indoors in air conditioning and make sure they eat a good lunch.
Once you are at the Out Motorsports event, your driver may adopt another driver (don’t worry, this is normal, and they probably won’t try to take them home. Probably.) Have cold drinks ready to deploy the moment they are off the track and out of their vehicle. Hydration is key in these events. If your driver has a preferred Gatorade flavor, make sure to stock your cooler with that flavor, it’s a nice gesture!
You will spend most of your time watching your driver and others compete. It’s time to make some new friends and memories. Everyone is hot – offer water! The sun is pretty scorching – bring sunscreen! Offer it to the drivers who are working on the track! Bugs can get nasty in the tree line and the grass – bring bug spray and offer it out to the spotters. Everyone needs a “track mom or dad.” It’s a great way to make new friends and meet new people.
If you are not a car person, don’t worry about it! The drivers love talking about their cars, even if you are clueless. I practiced responding with head nods and asking leading questions. The phrase “Oh” can be utilized in every situation. A sad story about a last-minute break, respond with a sad “oh.” An epic story of a win, queue up an excited “OH!” They never get to geek out like this. A new person, who doesn’t like cars, actively listening to them infodump?! It’s amazing watching someone’s face light up as an enthusiastic listener nods along.
I may not know quite what these drivers are talking about, but I had so much fun just listening to them explain it to me. I did learn that if anyone said something about my driver’s lack of turning ability, I could just respond with “She has a welded diff.” This always got me an “OH!” in return, usually followed by a “That makes so much sense now!”
What does this mean? Well, I understand it but not enough to explain to you. (Editor here: basically, the wheels are always forced to spin at the same speed. Great for drifting but bad for turning, because the wheels want to spin at different speeds when not going straight. This leads to tires not gripping the road, making turning extra hard.)
No, seriously, just have fun. I am a feminine-presenting bisexual woman who is not into cars, and I have never been to a more welcoming and fun event in my life. Every single person I talked to that weekend was kind and energetic. You could feel the happiness radiating off of everyone. I had an absolute blast adopting a lone driver, Ian, and his Corolla during the event.
I rode in a track car for the first time, too! I hopped in with Lexie, who was running their adorable marshmallow-shaped Mazda named Jet Puffed. They spent the entire time explaining everything about the event and course. I asked a ton of questions, and they gave thought-out and simple answers while driving as fast as possible! I even got comfortable enough to get into Marissa’s own drift car, Blooper. I’d only ever watched her drive at drift events before, but it was a magical experience to finally ride along.
Something else magical was the hotel lobby after the event. Car jewelry and blonde wigs were broken out near the bar. My driver even earned herself a new nickname: Lesbian Drift Jesus. Go to the lobby after the event each night and have fun!
So how do we close this guide out? Well, from this not-car-person to you: Go to the event. The drive is worth it.
