A year ago I attended my first drift event as a media person. I’ve never done media before nor witnessed drifting in-person. Despite the sweltering heat underneath the summer sun, I was hooked with the rowdy engine noises, the burnt rubber smell, and the stylized cars drifting through each corner. Be sure to check out last year’s coverage here.

This year around, I figured there would be another drift event being hosted at IMI Motorsports Complex in Dacono, Colorado. It was too late to obtain media credentials but I didn’t want to let that stop me. I was sitting on a mental seesaw – teetering between “do I go?” or “do I stay home?”. What ultimately made me decide was looking forward to Kaizen Auto Lab and Drift Factory’s Jay Roger’s red S13 hatch (spoiler alert: he didn’t bring it). The night before the event, I bought my spectator ticket, packed my camera bag, and filled up the Civic with gas.

The next day, I arrived at IMI. I showed my digital ticket to the organizers at IMI and received my wrist band. I parked and immediately scoured the pits to find some cool cars.

Tucked in the very back corner was the Yankiizoku crew, this year’s host of the drift matsuri. In their purple team color, we have their Toyota Cressida (MX83), Toyota Corolla (AE86) hatch, and Nissan 240SX (S13) coupe.

Besides the Yankiizoku crew was this extravagant Mazda RX-7 (FC) owned by Andrew Crutcher or @spookyandy (IG).

Here you can see the RE-Amemiya side mirrors, custom hood, and yellow LED headlights & pink fangs sticking out from the BN Sports front bumper.

This widebody FC features custom modifications by Andy like the spoiler winglets and the rear hatch. As for the wheels, he’s running wide Work Meister VS-KF’s.

From the Yankiizoku crew was this Toyota Corolla on mismatched bronze wheels. I thought it was cool how the dirtbikers from the other side – the dirtier side (no pun intended) – of IMI Motorsports came over to look at the drift cars. One of them was singing the famous “Tokyo Drift (Fast and Furious)” song by Teriyaki Boyz as they browsed around the Corolla.

The 4 cylinder monster powering this Corolla was a BEAMS engine from a Toyota Altezza.

On the intake side, we can see the filter covering the individual throttle bodies (or ITBs). ITBs are synonymous with any Toyota 4-cylinder engine inside a Corolla’s engine bay. Whether it’s the older 4AGE or 3SGE, you’re bound to see ITBs mated on the intake side.

On the exhaust side, we can see the equal length header that leads to the exhaust piping going to the rear of the car.

One of my favorite cars in attendance at the Yankiizoku Drift Matsuri was this simple-looking Nissan 240SX zenki (S14). With the black paint, it looks unassuming but looking closely at the kit, I was able to find out it’s a bodykit (or rather style) that came out exclusively on the Nissan Silvia Nismo 270R. According to Collecting Cars, there were only 30 Nismo 270R’s in the world (Collecting Cars).

A few pieces I wanted to highlight was the Thrash Racing bucket seat and…

… the front mismatched Work Emotion XT7 wheels mounted onto the wheel hub/spindle which also supports the Nissan 300SX (Z32) calipers.

This BMW 3-Series looked really good with the ISB style body kit in dark blue and on the bronze Kansei KNP wheels.

Lil’ pitbull trying to stay cool in the pits…

Although this isn’t a drift car, I like taking pictures of cool tow rigs like this older Ford F-150. This picture alone just screams “‘Murica” to me.

Something I noticed is that there has to be at least one ZC/ZN chassis at these drift events. Another thing to note is how stylish these cars are with the addition of proper wheel choices in their drift spares.

Here’s a glimpse of the SSR Vienna Schnitt wheels on the Subaru BRZ (ZC6).

As mentioned in the intro, I hoped to see Jay Roger’s new S13. Last year, he came out with his Vertex-kitted R32. This time around, he brought out his newly-acquired Nissan Silvia (S15). Still, I was pleasantly surprised because bro just has exquisite taste in his S-chassis’.

As clean as it looks outside, it’s also clean on the inside. Nothing crazy on the interior besides the Nardi steering wheel and the gold/yellow shift knob.

Although this isn’t a complete S15, this S13.5 hatch (or S13 hatchback chassis with S15 front clip) was a proper setup for drifiting. Aesthetic wise, the car is running a Rocket Bunny widebody kit, 326Power wing, and Cosmis Wheels in what looks like a square setup.

Following the S15 theme, the interior dashboard is fitted with a carbon fiber LHD S15 dashboard.

As I was walking the lot, I met Daniel (on the right) as he pulled up in his Lexus LS430 (UCF30). It’s not often that I see big-body, yachts in Colorado like these so to see a clean one felt like seeing a double rainbow, to be honest. Daniel’s kept it clean in the last few years he’s owned it. He’s even sourced the lip kit online, got it paint-matched by the homie, and installed it.

If y’all grew up in the early 2000’s this view might look familiar to one of your favorite racing games growing up. Instead of the green Nissan 350Z, or Fairlady, if you’re overseas (Z33), and the gold-faced Volk Racing GT-C, here we have a silver Infiniti G35 on silver-faced Volk Racing GT-C’s. If you didn’t get that reference, I got you.

As for the rear wheels, they’re mismatched with Work Emotion CR Kai’s in GT Silver…

Once I got a gist of what was in the pits, it was time to head to the sidelines of the racetrack where other spectators were situated – because y’know, no media pass vibes… All’s good though because Jay and his S15 were about to hop on track. Man that thing looks good with the Brilliant Blue paint and chrome Work Meister S1’s.

Here’s the S13.5 before it made a pit stop in the pits…

Plume of smoke from the rear tires as the driver of this S13.5 shreds through turn 5!

Eventually the driver started to tandem drift, or drift alongside/side-by-side, this 4th generation Ford Mustang (SN95) with a Innovative Auto livery…

Peep that angle though…

Stock body S14 just look so good – especially if it’s a zenki model.

Jay warming up before going crazier with his clean S15…

There were 2 drone pilots who came by also. They were grabbing shots of all the action happening on the track.

Here’s Jay going down the straight before turn 1…

Preload, flick, and counter-steer into turn 1.

(If you cringed reading that, my bad. I have no clue how to drift in real life. I am in the process of copping a racing sim steering wheel in the near future though!)

Sending it!

Here’s a Nissan 240SX hatch (S13) with an RB engine swap. After hearing a JZ and RB, I can’t really decide on which sounds better. What do y’all prefer?

Infiniti G35 with slammed ride height going into turn 1…

I eventually moved to a spot where I was last time, except behind the fence. Didn’t realize how much safer it is to be in this spot. I’m surprised there wasn’t more people posted up here when you get this view.

Mazda Miata powering through turn 1…

As the afternoon crept through, more groups of cars came out to join the action. Here’s 3 different iterations of the BMW E46 chassis: coupe transformed into a ute, wagon, and sedan.

Sliding in together are the Corolla and the Cressida from the Yankiizoku crew.

Behind the duo, the green Miata follows behind to make it a 3-car tandem.

A few runs later, the Cressida leads and the Corolla follows.

Three Nissan hatches with 6-cylinders rip into turn 1.

The pink Nissan 240SX is JZ-powered and is driven by one of the few ladies out there at IMI Motorsports. Gotta love the inclusivity haha. Right behind them the black S14 slides effortlessly through turn 1 and into the hairpin…

No words here, just vibes…

This is my favorite section of the track if you couldn’t tell.

Can you tell I like picturing this car? By the way, if you know the owner of this car, let me know on Instagram!

RB-powered S13 hatch powering through turn 1…

From what I recall, this thing had forced induction underneath the hood.

It looked really good and moved quick around the corners.

Swinging in style, babyyyyy.

There were a couple of domestics like this C6 ‘Vette in a Trackside livery.

One last run with the S15 leading and the RX-7 (FC) trailing before they switched positions…

One last couple of tandems I got before calling it a day at the Yankiizoku Drift Matsuri…

The vibes were overall great. Female drivers were asking their homegirls to “grab [their] helmet and get [their] ass in [their] car”. The kids were staying cool riding their e-bikes around the pits. Passengers were hyping up their drivers, including the spectators on the sidelines. Despite how hot it was, it didn’t stop anyone from having a good time. What’s next on my bucket list is getting a ride in one of these cars to experience drifting as a passenger.

Being able to come out to these drift events is pretty dope. It’s about 30 minutes away from me and the drive isn’t that bad. My hope is to keep coming back and provide action shots for the drivers that come out in their whips. Shoot, I even managed to catch a glimpse of this fully kitted Nissan 240SX (S14) kouki passing by.

Another random catch was this racecar on the back of a trailer.