I have been asked this question dozens of times since I started Drift Idiot in 2012. I really had no idea how to answer it then, and only recently would I consider myself at least minimally qualified enough to give a respectable answer. The message I continually receive usually looks something like this:“Hi Sam! I love your series and I eat, sleep, and dream about drifting just like you.
It’s all I want to do, and I am ready to do whatever it takes to become a professional drifter/professional drift filmmaker. Do you have any advice?”First, you are all probably aware that I am not a professional drifter, nor am I a pro-am drifter, nor am I even financially “breaking even” on my drifting projects. However, I have spent a decent amount of time working with the best drivers in the world, and although I haven’t been involved in the sport nearly as long as many other drivers, filmmakers, and photographers, I have given as much of my energy as possible to better myself as a filmmaker, driver, and to promote the sport any way I can. I m a car lover. I want to be a drifter, but I’m from India and here I don’t have any source by which I can do what i want and my problem is the society and how to convince my parents for letting me to do what I want. I m a experienced driver I start riding at the age of 11 and at the age of mid 12 I started driving a car. But now I m at the age of 17 and thinking that these all my passion my desires and my dreams are uselessBecause I’m not getting any kind of support, but I want to be a drifter because cars are like my life, like my best friends.
And I want to show the world my talent and want to highlight my name Bunny. And Sir ken block my greatest Inspiration and Love you team hoonigans. It’s a hobby. Leave it at that. 99% of the pros aren’t making money at it, so why not work your ass off at a job that can provide both a comfortable living for yourself + significant others, as well as building a cool looking car?Not to mention, if you think you’re going pro/pro-am, try driving a few exhibition/open events and get plenty of experience before you decide to waste a bunch of money on a chassis, cage, LS/2JZ/whatever, suspension mods, and other stuff that your driving skill is nowhere near equipped to handle. Too many dreamers jump straight into overbuilt cars, use power as a crutch, and end up sucking big time.Just my opinion, but it is much more fun to be at non-competitive events with friends and have a stylishly cool looking car (and a life outside of cars, too) than wasting everything you earn on an ugly looking heap that is “competitive”, with more costs involved as a result of travel and constantly replacing parts.TL;DR: Find balance between work and hobbies.
If you think you’re going to go pro/pro-am and plan on winning anything, you’d better be REALLY good and have driven at least a few events/for a few years.Love your videos Sam, keep up the great work. As someone who has spent many evenings discussing, with their significant other, what it means to follow a career path that is ‘safe’ versus one that makes you happy I have to say that this post hit me right in the feels. I remember meeting you, albeit briefly, at Road Atlanta back in 2013, was it? I was quite floored by how ‘normal’ you were; And I don’t mean that as a negative, either. You went from making a couple of funny drifting videos, to the videos getting picked up by Jalopnik, to a bit of a small icon within the drifting scene- And that’s pretty damn amazing.
It just goes to show you that anyone who is passionate enough about something, and is willing to make the necessary sacrifices, really can break away from the 9-5 grind and find some measure of happiness is a world that is ruled by consumerism and employer-monopolized time. Keep on keeping on, Idiot, and as always Suck less. Long time ago the best advice I ever got about going Pro Racing from a Pro racer was this. “Do Heroin, in the end it’s cheaper and less destructive”. And you know what, he was right. I’ve run thru relationships, friends, sponsors, money and my health.
I raced, taught for some of the best schools, coached and team managed I ended up walking away when I put more friends than I cared too into the ground.Stay in school, get a job and do this as a Hobby, the cost’s of racing are far to high to do it for a living.
Job DescriptionProfessional NASCAR drivers strive to win races while making split-second decisions at speeds over 200 MPH. Drivers must be in top physical condition and have quick reflexes. Today's drivers are slim with toned muscles.In addition to driving race cars, drivers make public appearances to promote their sponsors, team and NASCAR. They must be available to answer questions from fans and sign autographs. Drivers are not just skilled in racing at high speeds, they are also entertainers who please their audiences with their personalities.
Education RequirementsThe path to becoming a NASCAR driver is long and arduous. Many drivers start off at a very early age racing go-karts, then they move up to full-size cars.You must enroll in a racing school, such as the course offered by the Sports Car Club of America, and earn a competition license to enter races. Aspiring drivers participate in as many races as they can afford to gain experience and recognition.Drivers must have a thorough understanding of every system in a car and how they work.
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Attending an automotive training school, such as the NASCAR Technical Institute, is the best way to get this technical knowledge. While all racing teams have sophisticated technology and equipment, they still rely on feedback from the drivers to tell them how the car is performing.A college degree is not required, but it's good to have one in case the racing career doesn't work out. About the AuthorJames Woodruff has been a management consultant to more than 1,000 small businesses. As a senior management consultant and owner, he used his technical expertise to conduct an analysis of a company's operational, financial and business management issues. James has been writing business and finance related topics for work.chron, bizfluent.com, smallbusiness.chron.com and e-commerce websites since 2007.
He graduated from Georgia Tech with a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering and received an MBA from Columbia University.