Well we’re back and better than ever for 2012! As you can see our website’s nice and snazzy and the posts are rolling out.\r\n\r\nBeing big supporters of the grassroots drift movement, we love to head out to little private track days and cover the awesome cars that arrive. With Drift Empire’s latest day on last Monday, I was very keen to head out for a bit and see the guys, take some photos and check out some cars.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nGetting to Meremere dragstrip, the guys had already started drifting. Shown here is a JZX90 Chaser and two Hachi’s.  As there isn’t many spectators, all of the guys standing around watching are also drivers.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nOne car that I adore is Ben’s ‘Zombie’ S13. Currently sitting on VS-XX Work wheels, it’s an awesome looking car and I admire that he’s kept the two tone job. Not to mention the car is just plain awesome anyway.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAfter chatting to Ben (owner of S13 above) about this 180sx, it seems to be Justin Rood’s old car. Still looking clean, they decided to put Ben’s tri spoke Advans on the rear for some drift sessions. As Rory – current owner of the car- is new to drifting, he was making some effort and getting the car going well towards the end of the day.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nIt’s nice to be able to walk around a pit bay and spot stickers. This one was on the ‘Drift Noob’ R32 Skyline – more on that car later on.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nEnough of the pit bay for now. Scott was out to kill his RB20 that day. With the car even stickered up to tell everyone of his goal, he just wanted death. Funnily enough the RB20 lived up to its name and didn’t die. Built like a tank.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nTony’s little AE85/6 is a crazy little car, always coming into the first corner with huge lock and angle, putting the 4AGE through hell.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAfter putting in some awesome runs, Dean seemed to be going great in his JZX100 Chaser.. Sadly the car ended up hitting the armco in the worst spot – the joining section. Chuck a few cable ties and some tape on the car and she’s back out drifting.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nSelf proclaimed Drift Noob’s had this R32 out hitting up some sideways angle throughout. As you can see they enjoy their stickers!\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAs I’m sure you all know, I have a pretty big soft spot for anything AE85/6 related, and this is no different. I’m just going to let the photos talk:\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nLongchamp’s on the back, Mesh on the front. Love.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWaiting to go out onto the track was ‘D1 OGRE’, a Cefiro with a nifty paint job. As NZ drift culture was built on Early <1990’s Nissan’s, it’s no surprise to see Cefiro’s out at grassroot days.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAnd damn could this Cefiro go. After what seemed like a slight bit of frustration, the driver decided to kill the tyres very quickly.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nPopping away for a few minutes, I took a few shots of Tony’s AE85. You can see our previous feature of the car here.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nHe certainty knows how to move the car as well. For a little car that’s putting out around 130kw, he surely knows how to bring out the cars angle and use it to its full potential.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nJZX90’s are something we usually see parked up at the local JZXnz club meets, not sideways through Meremere. With a fair amount of power coming out through the pre VVTI 1JZ, he was able to smoke up the tyres simply. Quite amazed how much lock and angle he managed to get coming through the bend.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWith all of the boys watching, this Hachi lit up it’s tyres no sweat. These Drift Empire guys seem to enjoy their clean Hachi’s a lot – so do we, funnily enough.\r\n\r\nCheers to all of the crew for the day!\r\n\r\n-Chris\r\n\r\n