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Originally Posted by mav1178
Popularity, maybe, but a lot of that is grassroots. Drifting competitions have always been sort of "made for TV", even looking back at Option Videos in Japan 15-20 years ago.
D1GP was founded and promoted by all the various magazine/videos that Dai Inada owned. No coincidence that Keiichi Tsuchiya also hosts several videos with his other two co-judges.
I do know that me having being involved in drifting in the states since 2001, the popularity these days is a combination of several different factors, but the biggest part is the grassroots support and feeder series that keep it relevant.
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Maybe valid points, but without TV interest it would sill be a cult event. I am basing my opinions on being involved in TV sports productions since 1976. Remember Barrel Jumping?
Quote:
Originally Posted by mav1178
Every car maker needs exposure in youth markets. The older your demographic, the worse it gets in the long run...
Not going to dissect the details but every car maker that races is doing it for advertisement first, and "betterment of the sport" second.
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Not necessarily true. GM have a factory team? I don't know. I do know that when I think Ford or GM, I think NASCAR.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mav1178
Why can't it just be about beating your opponent on specific criteria that is determined by 3rd party judges? I have said all along that drifting is a tremendous show of driving skill, but it is more art than racing.
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Drift is to racing what Figure Skating is to Speed Skating. Both require a great amount of skill, but one is racing and one is art.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mav1178
In any case, it's not something going away. Not with a well-managed staff and series direction.
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It will return to cult status when TV tires of it.