- 3,196
- Philippines
- skygrasper_550--
In line with my previous experience with JP drifters that was discussed in this thread (which was closed, or rather, I had closed sadly due to of incessant and unnecessary off-topic BS 
) I had once again had another, far more amazing experience attained from a Japanese drift lobby.
It was last night when I was looking around GT5 online searching for a drift lobby. I had created my own lobby a few moments before but there weren't much people coming in and staying. So on the lookout again, I couldn't find any good US drift rooms, so I decided to change my search filter to "All". I see a lot of JP drift lobbies and decided to join one. Suzuka East, Comfort:Hard tires only. Perfect. I went in, got in my C5 Corvette, and drifted onto the section start. There were about 3 JP players, and 2 were drifting the whole track. I waited for the host and the other player to close in because I wanted to join in on the tandem. So there I was, finally getting to join the run in the back end of the drift train. First run through the section, was really awesome. Surprisingly smooth. Then, one thing I noticed was when the other players got to the straight. The car in front was a Silvia S13, and the car behind is much faster (forgot what it was) but he hanged back and stayed behind, So, to show my respect, I hung back to my position as well. I was amazed when I saw the lead car do a crazy and long Scandi flick entry towards the first corner and the other player followed suite. I instinctively followed their move, and, to my surprise, I have done an entry that I have never tried before, and nailed it on the first attempt; all tires inside the pavement and I was sliding with them all the way to the start of the drift section. At the same time, I was filled in awe seeing them pull off such an amazing entry in an effortless fashion.
The train continued on, for about more than 10 laps. All of us, and I mean, ALL OF US were very close to each other, especially when it came during every run up the drift section. It was 3 cars going door-to-door EVERY LAP, it was insane. I didn't notice 12 laps had passed because I was "sucked in". Also, every few laps, each of us switched positions. When it was my turn to lead, I got a bit upset because I couldn't pull off the same Scandi flick entry when in the lead; kept dipping some of my tires off-track. To my surprise yet again, the cars behind didn't overtake me, but waited for me to get my composure again and continue on the drift train. Few more laps and I finally got the entry right. But then, I can feel my hands getting worn out. It was a very weird and amazing feeling, because my mind says "Keep going!" but my hands say "No we're tired
" . So I pulled over to the side of the bottom end of the drift section, and so did the lobby host. A few seconds after I parked, the host said "good drift XANO", and I replied "you too, nice tandem" . Seeing such respectable just fills you with awe.
Some moments later, a Malaysian and a Spanish player entered and joined in as I was chilling momentarily on my spot. I was yet surprised again, seeing that the next thing they would do once on-track is join in on the train, without ever saying a word. It was like, these non-JP people knew what they were supposed to do, before stepping in and the moment they stepped inside the lobby. Then the realization hit me: I just stepped inside a shrine. A drifting shrine. A sacred place that demands respect, without ever anyone saying a word and no one having to tell you to do so. I got into some other cars later and had the same amazing experience.
Here are some thing I would like to point out in my experience. First off is the way the players back in the lobby drifted. They were nothing short of super consistent. The lead car was giving ample room for the car behind to maneuver and go door-to-door, and at the same time the chase cars give enough space for the lead car to maneuver and do its job. Every single run around the track, it was always like that. Clean, simple, and quite frankly, beautiful. You go into a random US drift lobby, and the first thing you'd notice when you keep up with the lead car is that the lead car changes pace next run, either going as fast as possible to try and pull away from you (digging the inside and cutting grass, if needed), or doing some crazy angle drifting to try to throw you off.
Secondly, the overall feel and aura of the drift room. In the JP lobby I joined, it amazes me that the host commands such high levels-- sorry, VERY HIGH levels of skill and respect, and the host doesn't even have to say one single word. There were no parked cars on track, and only 1 driver at a given time was afk, but was at the pits. The track was very clean. He lets his drifting skill and attitude do the talking for him. At the same time, it pains me to see US drift lobbies be in such a mess. Trolls park in the middle of the track or drive in the opposite direction to ram at oncoming drifters, and someone in a drift lobby I just joined said "wrong way a:censored:holes" after hitting people because he was drifting the whole track, and everyone else including the host was drifting the section.
Thirdly, it's the way the drifters behave. When I went off-track because of my failed Scandi flick entries at the first corner, the cars behind allowed me to recover and get back by adjusting their pace. Either if I just went wide with all tires still on the pavement, or have my tires dipped into the grass, they adjusted. It was only when I seriously went off-track and slowed down too much, making it safe for the cars behind to go on, that they would go on, which is perfectly understandable. Also, they drift in such a way that they allow you to tandem with them, keeping their pace as steady as possible, keeping the cars behind as close as possible. They're "talking" to you in such a manner that they're saying "Come on, you can do it! Keep up!" and whenever you mess up, you get this certain "Shame on you" feeling because the other drifters are doing their best to hold the drift train and keep the tandem going. They don't drift to be the fastest, or have the most angle, or take the tightest line, or to impress anyone. They just... drift. that's it. No cheap, underhanded antics. They disregard all those "factors" because they know it really has nothing to do with drifting in the first place. They treat drifting as an art form, and value and respect it.
You go into a random US drift lobby, they see you going wide and they take it instantly as an opportunity to pass you, without ever analyzing if it's safe to pass or not and not allowing the lead car to recover. Most of these occurrences end up in the chase car hitting the lead car and saying "mb, you went too wide so I tried to pass you". And to further emphasize my first point, they always feel like they have to best you. Like, it's always a competition. They speak to you in a manner that says "You can't touch this s:censored:, b:censored:!!" "Haha you suck!" and when they can't best you, they get p:censored: off and say "F:censored: you!/Screw you!"
It's a real shame to see such an amazing culture held in high regard be toned down to a ghetto level and abused in another place.
) I had once again had another, far more amazing experience attained from a Japanese drift lobby.It was last night when I was looking around GT5 online searching for a drift lobby. I had created my own lobby a few moments before but there weren't much people coming in and staying. So on the lookout again, I couldn't find any good US drift rooms, so I decided to change my search filter to "All". I see a lot of JP drift lobbies and decided to join one. Suzuka East, Comfort:Hard tires only. Perfect. I went in, got in my C5 Corvette, and drifted onto the section start. There were about 3 JP players, and 2 were drifting the whole track. I waited for the host and the other player to close in because I wanted to join in on the tandem. So there I was, finally getting to join the run in the back end of the drift train. First run through the section, was really awesome. Surprisingly smooth. Then, one thing I noticed was when the other players got to the straight. The car in front was a Silvia S13, and the car behind is much faster (forgot what it was) but he hanged back and stayed behind, So, to show my respect, I hung back to my position as well. I was amazed when I saw the lead car do a crazy and long Scandi flick entry towards the first corner and the other player followed suite. I instinctively followed their move, and, to my surprise, I have done an entry that I have never tried before, and nailed it on the first attempt; all tires inside the pavement and I was sliding with them all the way to the start of the drift section. At the same time, I was filled in awe seeing them pull off such an amazing entry in an effortless fashion.
The train continued on, for about more than 10 laps. All of us, and I mean, ALL OF US were very close to each other, especially when it came during every run up the drift section. It was 3 cars going door-to-door EVERY LAP, it was insane. I didn't notice 12 laps had passed because I was "sucked in". Also, every few laps, each of us switched positions. When it was my turn to lead, I got a bit upset because I couldn't pull off the same Scandi flick entry when in the lead; kept dipping some of my tires off-track. To my surprise yet again, the cars behind didn't overtake me, but waited for me to get my composure again and continue on the drift train. Few more laps and I finally got the entry right. But then, I can feel my hands getting worn out. It was a very weird and amazing feeling, because my mind says "Keep going!" but my hands say "No we're tired
" . So I pulled over to the side of the bottom end of the drift section, and so did the lobby host. A few seconds after I parked, the host said "good drift XANO", and I replied "you too, nice tandem" . Seeing such respectable just fills you with awe.Some moments later, a Malaysian and a Spanish player entered and joined in as I was chilling momentarily on my spot. I was yet surprised again, seeing that the next thing they would do once on-track is join in on the train, without ever saying a word. It was like, these non-JP people knew what they were supposed to do, before stepping in and the moment they stepped inside the lobby. Then the realization hit me: I just stepped inside a shrine. A drifting shrine. A sacred place that demands respect, without ever anyone saying a word and no one having to tell you to do so. I got into some other cars later and had the same amazing experience.
Here are some thing I would like to point out in my experience. First off is the way the players back in the lobby drifted. They were nothing short of super consistent. The lead car was giving ample room for the car behind to maneuver and go door-to-door, and at the same time the chase cars give enough space for the lead car to maneuver and do its job. Every single run around the track, it was always like that. Clean, simple, and quite frankly, beautiful. You go into a random US drift lobby, and the first thing you'd notice when you keep up with the lead car is that the lead car changes pace next run, either going as fast as possible to try and pull away from you (digging the inside and cutting grass, if needed), or doing some crazy angle drifting to try to throw you off.
Secondly, the overall feel and aura of the drift room. In the JP lobby I joined, it amazes me that the host commands such high levels-- sorry, VERY HIGH levels of skill and respect, and the host doesn't even have to say one single word. There were no parked cars on track, and only 1 driver at a given time was afk, but was at the pits. The track was very clean. He lets his drifting skill and attitude do the talking for him. At the same time, it pains me to see US drift lobbies be in such a mess. Trolls park in the middle of the track or drive in the opposite direction to ram at oncoming drifters, and someone in a drift lobby I just joined said "wrong way a:censored:holes" after hitting people because he was drifting the whole track, and everyone else including the host was drifting the section.
Thirdly, it's the way the drifters behave. When I went off-track because of my failed Scandi flick entries at the first corner, the cars behind allowed me to recover and get back by adjusting their pace. Either if I just went wide with all tires still on the pavement, or have my tires dipped into the grass, they adjusted. It was only when I seriously went off-track and slowed down too much, making it safe for the cars behind to go on, that they would go on, which is perfectly understandable. Also, they drift in such a way that they allow you to tandem with them, keeping their pace as steady as possible, keeping the cars behind as close as possible. They're "talking" to you in such a manner that they're saying "Come on, you can do it! Keep up!" and whenever you mess up, you get this certain "Shame on you" feeling because the other drifters are doing their best to hold the drift train and keep the tandem going. They don't drift to be the fastest, or have the most angle, or take the tightest line, or to impress anyone. They just... drift. that's it. No cheap, underhanded antics. They disregard all those "factors" because they know it really has nothing to do with drifting in the first place. They treat drifting as an art form, and value and respect it.
You go into a random US drift lobby, they see you going wide and they take it instantly as an opportunity to pass you, without ever analyzing if it's safe to pass or not and not allowing the lead car to recover. Most of these occurrences end up in the chase car hitting the lead car and saying "mb, you went too wide so I tried to pass you". And to further emphasize my first point, they always feel like they have to best you. Like, it's always a competition. They speak to you in a manner that says "You can't touch this s:censored:, b:censored:!!" "Haha you suck!" and when they can't best you, they get p:censored: off and say "F:censored: you!/Screw you!"
It's a real shame to see such an amazing culture held in high regard be toned down to a ghetto level and abused in another place.
