Drifting is a technique in which you make the back of a car slide along a curve. It is usually used during racing, although many people often run it for fun. This technique is easier when you have a rear-wheel drive car. To initiate a skid, you must find a way to make the rear wheels lose traction. The most common way to achieve this is through the control technique, in which you must turn the steering wheel of the car to dislodge its weight. There are other tricks that you can use in conjunction with or separately from the control technique (such as a slip with the handbrake on manual cars or a clutch kick on automatic cars). If performed properly and safely, drifting with these techniques can be a very exciting trick that you can pull off with your own car.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Choosing a Car and Practice Site
Step 1. Choose a car with a manual transmission to make skidding easier
Cars with a manual transmission have a clutch pedal and a gear lever that is used to control the engine. Automatic cars take care of this detail for you. While skidding, the added control lets you achieve the correct speed and angle needed to get through a curve.
Tip:
you can still drift with an automatic car using the handbrake technique. Activate the parking brake to make the car turn, but don't be surprised if the technique takes a bit of practice for you to master.
Step 2. Choose a rear-wheel drive car for a more effective skid
When a car is rear-wheel drive, the engine controls only the rear wheels. Other cars have motors responsible for the front wheels or the 4 wheels. The rear wheels are what you need during a skid, so a car with a rear-wheel drive system is much easier to control. When choosing a car, you can check the owner's manual or search the internet to find out what type of system it has.
- Another option is to use a car with 4-wheel drive where the engine controls them all. The best 4-wheel drive cars are the ones with the strongest rear wheels. You will need to test drive the car to determine which wheels grip the road best.
- Front-wheel drive cars are very difficult to drift without a lot of practice. The front wheels control the car to prevent it from sliding. You'll end up understeering, which means the car won't turn as much as you want it to.
Step 3. Ride on worn tires to make it easier to start the skid
Worn tires have less traction, so the car will slide more easily when cornering. The front tires don't matter as much, but using older rear tires will make a difference if the car doesn't skid well. Try to save a set of spare tires to put on your car before practicing. Inexpensive tires (even new ones) can often help with skidding.
Many cars come equipped with automatic steering or stability control systems. Turning these systems off will make it easier to skid if one tire change isn't enough to make a difference. However, it is dangerous to drive without these systems unless you are good at controlling the car
Step 4. Choose a safe place away from traffic to practice the drift
This technique is dangerous and should never be used on highways with heavy traffic, near buildings, or anywhere else where you could collide with something. Ideally, you should look for a race track where you can practice. Otherwise, find a deserted parking lot and place a barrel to drift.
- Search the internet for local race tracks and contact the owners. You may be able to reserve time when you have the track to yourself.
- Driving when the road or track is wet can also make skidding easier. Try going outside after a light rain or a little snow. Be aware that the slippery surface can make skidding even more dangerous than usual.
Method 2 of 4: Run the Control Technique
Step 1. Go into a curve at approximately 48 km (30 miles) per hour
This is the ideal speed to slide through a curve. If you have a manual gear change, you should put the car in second gear and rev the engine until it reaches 3000 RPM. If you go too fast, you can lose control during the skid. If you go slower, you may not be fast enough to get through the curve.
In the drift, speed is not the most important part. Good control is necessary both to destabilize the car and to keep you safe while skidding
Step 2. Turn the steering wheel in the direction of the curve
As soon as you enter the curve, you should start turning towards it. Turn the wheel smoothly and without too much force. This will prepare her for the skid, but you won't be ready to go yet. Keep the car close to the inside of the curve for now.
Keep your hands on the wheel so you are ready to maneuver at all times. In control technique, the steering wheel is responsible for the skidding and positioning of the car
Step 3. Turn the steering wheel to the corner while applying the accelerator
Try to do both simultaneously. Press hard on the gas pedal and turn the steering wheel hard this time. If the move was successful, you will feel the car start to spin as the rear wheels lose traction.
If you have difficulty starting the skid, it may help to use the parking brake or clutch. You can combine the handbrake technique or the clutch kick with the control technique
Step 4. Turn away from the curve to begin turning the curve
You have to be quick to keep control of the car. If you are successful, the car will point where you want to go. Remember to turn the steering wheel hard to straighten the car. Also, keep pressing the gas pedal to accelerate even more.
If you don't apply enough force, the rear of the car will fully bend and cause you to turn
Tip:
be careful not to neglect the accelerator pedal. It's easy to forget to use the accelerator at this point, especially if you're not used to skidding.
Step 5. Straighten the car once you have come through the curve
Release the accelerator to slow down. As the car begins to stabilize again, you should gradually turn the wheel toward the curve. Focus on moving the car where you want to go.
Once the front of the car is in the curve, you can start driving onto the road. As soon as the car stabilizes, you can also press the accelerator to drive away
Method 3 of 4: Use the parking brake to slide an automatic car
Step 1. Approach a curve at about 48 km (30 miles) per hour
This speed may seem too low to you, but it is enough to get around the curve without losing control of the car. Use the gear stick to put the car in second gear. Also, watch the tachymeter on the instrument panel as the car hits 3000 RPM.
Contrary to what you might expect, speed is not the essential part of the drift. Instead of looking for a speed record, you should enter the curve at a reasonable pace that allows you to control the car without turning
Step 2. Roll the wheel to the side as you begin to turn around the curve
If you have room, steer the car to the outside edge of the road, then drift toward the inside of the curve as you approach. This will give you plenty of opportunities to get the car through the curve by turning the steering wheel slightly. Once you reach the curve, you should move the steering wheel in the opposite direction, away from the curve.
Tip:
Skidding is all about timing and timing can be difficult at first. Remember that you are trying to move the car in a gradual arc around a curve and this is not like turning a narrow corner.
Step 3. Activate the parking brake and press the clutch to destabilize the rear wheels
Push the clutch down hard to open the throttle. If you do it too gently, you may not be generating enough power to initiate the glide. At the same time, activate the parking brake so that the rear wheels lose traction. Once you feel the car start to slide, you can focus on getting through the curve.
- With some vehicles, accelerating and turning may be enough to initiate the skid. Many vehicles handle well enough that they also require a sudden hit on the parking brake.
- Oversteer occurs when the car turns more than expected. If the car is in the correct position, oversteer will allow you to slide around the curve.
Step 4. Accelerate as you approach the middle of the curve
Let the car continue to slide. Set the parking brake aside for now, but be prepared to release the clutch as soon as you step on the gas. You need to hit the pedal hard to keep the tires spinning. The extra power will help you get through the curve.
- Keep your foot on the gas. To finish a skid, you don't need a lot of acceleration, but make sure the car doesn't get a chance to slow down.
- If you feel like the car is spinning too far to complete the skid, this usually helps you accelerate more. However, if you spin too much, you could go off track.
Step 5. Turn into the curve once you are halfway there
Maintain speed and trajectory when entering the curve. Once you get to the middle, you need to turn the wheel to point the car in the direction you want to go. Keep it pointed toward the inside of the road ahead. As you veer around the curve, the car will continue to turn slightly until you have a chance to straighten it out.
You're going to be busy trying to balance and steer the car at the same time. Remember to keep your foot on the gas as you drive and watch where you are heading
Step 6. Use the accelerator more if you need the car to turn more
Press the gas pedal to increase acceleration. This will open the throttle, allowing more air to enter the engine. In this way, you will get better traction and you will be able to turn more towards the corner. In general, you should hold down the pedal for about 80% and change it if necessary depending on how you drive the car.
- If necessary, release the accelerator a little so that the car veers further from the center of the curve. Try to keep the car near the middle of the road as the front end begins to move toward the inside of the curve.
- Keep the tabs to the back of the car. If it appears to be spinning too much, release the accelerator pedal a bit to prevent it from spinning further.
Step 7. Hold the gas pedal steady while driving to straighten the car
When you start to exit the curve, you should start turning the wheel in the opposite direction. You should do it slowly to avoid skidding. You may think you need to let go of the gas, but in reality you will only make the skid end too soon. Keep your foot steady until you are able to walk away.
- Your intuition will be to let go of the gas pedal and let the car roll on its own, which is a normal reaction that is easy to forget at the beginning of learning. However, remember that if you've made it this far, the car won't skid if you use the throttle to control it.
- If you're going too fast and you feel the car start to turn, you should quickly apply the brakes a couple of times.
- If you're having a hard time finishing the slide, you probably need more power. Press harder on the accelerator or approach the curve at a higher speed.
Method 4 of 4: Execute a Clutch Kick in a Manual Car
Step 1. Approach the inside edge of a curve at moderate speed
Use the gear stick to put the car in second gear. Step on the gas to get the car up to 48 km (30 miles) per hour and 3000 RPM. When you get to the corner, make sure the car is close to the inside of the track so that you have enough room to slide down it.
Avoid moving too fast, as you will have difficulty skidding. If you find it difficult to control the car in a curve, try approaching it with a little less speed
Step 2. Turn around the curve to start sliding
Turn the wheel in the direction of the curve as you normally would when turning a corner. Keep your foot on the gas pedal, pressing it about 80% of the way to open the gas pedal. As you enter the curve, keep driving in the direction you want to travel.
Tip:
When you start to go around the curve, you can quickly turn the wheel in the opposite direction. This will help you destabilize the rear wheels if you have difficulty initiating a skid with the clutch pedal.
Step 3. Kick the clutch pedal in and out several times to skid
The car will begin to stabilize as the rear wheels gain traction. You must maintain the skid preventing this from happening. Press down hard on the clutch, release it, and repeat the procedure as quickly as you can. You will know this is working when the car continues to turn without slowing down at all.
As you press the clutch, keep your other foot firmly on the accelerator pedal. The car needs the power generated by the open throttle to get through the curve
Step 4. Use the clutch again if you feel the car lose power or stance
If you press the clutch back quickly, you can rev the engine again to get the car going through the curve. As you approach the end of the curve, the car should end in the middle of the road. Make sure the car has enough power to get to that point and finish skidding around the corner. If the car can't get into the correct position, this can help you pump up the clutch.
Similarly, avoid hitting the clutch if you experience understeer, where the car won't turn as much as you want it to. Let it regain some traction as you focus on driving it smoothly through the turn
Step 5. Release the steering wheel and clutch to straighten the car
After going through the curve, you should gradually turn the steering wheel in the opposite direction. The car will be almost pointing to the near side of the road until you can do this. Keep your foot on the gas pedal to make sure the car doesn't spin as you correct its course. Hit the gas to accelerate when you're done.
- If you turn the steering wheel too sharply, the rear of the car will swing back and forth like a pendulum if the wheels don't gain traction.
- If you let go of the accelerator, the car won't have enough power to skid all the way through the curve. You will probably be tempted to pull away to avoid a collision, but remember that you will have more control over the car if you maintain acceleration.
Advice
- Skidding wears out parts of the car more quickly (such as the clutch, brakes, and tires). Also, it can cause rear suspension components to fail on some cars.
- Pedal brakes slow a car faster than parking brakes. You can use the pedal if you need a little extra control.
- Front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive cars cannot skid in the same way as rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive cars. Since skidding causes more damage to these types of cars, you should get a rear-wheel drive car if you plan on doing it frequently.
- It takes skill and experience to recover from a turn, so you should reduce the danger by driving at a reasonable pace. Even a close turn can be difficult to escape once the rear of the car begins to roll back and forth.
- ATVs and pickup trucks can skid, but are more vulnerable to tipping over. At first, you should practice with a normal rear-wheel drive car until you feel comfortable using another vehicle.
Warnings
- Drifting may seem like a fun practice, but you shouldn't do it on public roads. This practice is illegal in many areas and carries jail time, license revocation, among other penalties.
- Skidding is very dangerous, so you should practice in a controlled environment with a car that you are familiar with. You must drive at a reasonable speed and stay away from people and rough terrain.