Street Driven Tour x Southrnfresh: Slidin' Down South
Every time we return to Atlanta (which has been a lot this year), we’re reminded that it’s got some of the strongest roots for import/sport-compact enthusiasm in the nation. From the consistently sold-out crowds of Formula Drift at Road Atlanta each year, to the fierce competition we saw at Global Time Attack’s season-opener this spring, to the turnout of last year’s Street Driven Tour event at Atlanta Motor Speedway – simply put, ATL ain’t nuthin’ to fuss with.
Just Peachy
Holding true to form, the reception Street Driven Tour met at this year’s stop in the Big Peach did not disappoint. In its third national event of four for 2016 (after a Northeast stop at Virginia Int’l Raceway, and a Midwest stop at Gateway Motorsports Park in St. Louis), Street Driven Tour returned to Atlanta Motorsports Park to bring its signature blend of bash-style drifting and automotive debauchery to Southwest drifters and fans.
Formula Drift Stars
Headlining each Street Driven Tour event are the Formula Drift pros who blast demo runs and swap paint with local drifters all day, and give ride-alongs to fans who purchase tickets. Atlanta’s headliners this time around were Matt Powers, driving Chris Forsberg’s VK56-powered Infiniti sedan...
...Geoff Stoneback, in his LS-powered S14 Nissan 240SX retired competition car...
...Dirk Stratton, in his #driftvette C6 Chevrolet Corvette...
...and Kelsey Rowlings, in her (yes, her) Ford 5.0L-powered Nissan S14 240SX.
Local Talents
Equally impressive in its own right was the local talent, led by Tommy Van Cleef, in the white/red/orange JZA70 Toyota Supra...
...Christopher Miller, in his Lexus SC...
...Matthew Pollock, in his S14 Nissan 240SX...
...Jordan Painter (blue Nissan 350Z) and others from the Wild Running crew...
...Top Garage’s Chris Ward (blurple FD Mazda RX-7) and Vincent Moore (blurple S13 Nissan 240SX)...
...the KoruWorks guys (including Erin Sanford in the Global Time Attack S13 240SX)...
...and lots more.
Murphy's Law
Mishaps were few and far between in the sectioned-off parking lot that is the Atlanta Motor Speedway drift paddock, but it seems Murphy’s Law can strike even when there’s nothing to hit. Ask Jordan Painter: a rear wheel spacer exploded on his Wild Running Nissan 350Z mid-drift and nearly flipped it end-over-end. Thankfully, both Jordan and his Z were fine after some R&R (rest and repairs).
Southrnfresh Culture
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Southeastern show-culture authorities Southrnfresh and local vendors handled the show portion of the event, bringing hundreds of modified rides and owners to the center stage, situated between the drift paddock and pit garages. Slammed and stanced, restored or rusted, JDM, domestic and Euro — whatever you’re into, Southrnfresh and the vendors brought a little bit of everything.
Some of our favs included those from NYUS...
...Stature...
...Slammed Enuff...
...Bangers...
...and Dynasty.
Hard Park
After all had just about had enough, the end of the day saw the start of yet another installment of Street Driven Tour’s “Drift Mini Games.” First up was the Hard Park challenge, in which competitors drift toward a wall of boxes, seeing who can come to rest the closest.
There were several close calls.
But in the end, Vincent Moore was given the victory, parking his Top Garage 240 a scant 4.5 inches from the wall.
Drift Soccer
Next up, Drift Soccer. In the previous round at St. Louis’s Gateway Motorsports Park, Geoff Stoneback cemented his name in Street Driven Tour record books by scoring first-ever repeat goals. No such luck here.
After numerous attempts by close to a dozen competitors, not a single goal was scored.
It's Cool
This would’ve been the perfect time for another rubber-roasting Tire Massacre burnout contest, but looming thundershowers finally let loose on the grounds and rained out the remaining 30 minutes of scheduled festivities. It was an unexpected but welcomed cool close to the day, which Street Driven Tour co-founder and Atlanta local Jayke Milton and his brother Cooper enjoyed by standing proud at the end of another successful event. (Sorry guys... we had to run this pic).
Street Driven Tour travels to the Southwest and combines forces with StanceWars Elite and Supras Invade Las Vegas (SILV) for their fourth and final round for 2016 at Nevada’s Las Vegas Motor Speedway on September 24th. To learn more and join in on the drifting festivities, visit www.streetdriventour.com.
There's a whole lot more to be seen from Atlanta's Street Driven Tour in the gallery below.
