Drifting Since 2006 Taught Me That You Win Because You're Having Fun

Instead, I've learned to apply that lesson in other areas. I try to learn something new from every person I talk to. Even if it's just a short interaction, I will do my best to notice something worth applying in my own life. I figured that the more time I spend around someone who's an amazing person, the more chances I have to improve. It just so happens that with my love for fast cars and motorsports, I spent a lot of time around professional drivers ever since I was still in college.

Keep Drifting Fun

I was happy to reconnect with two of the pros I worked with in the past this year, Adam Frank and Nicolo Rosso. Both of them have taught me a great deal of things, and not just about driving. I am also thankful to have attended multiple drift events with Tobias Welti from Speed Industries since 2019. Even though we met several years before that, it wasn't until a race at Anneau du Rhin that we learned more about each other, sharing our addiction to fast cars (especially ones built in Japan).

During our recent discussion for this interview, one of the things he said left a strong impression on me. It's something I recognized but in a different form. I have many "Keep Drifting Fun" T-shirts at home, but I might just make one with Tobias's note: " You win because you're having fun." And I'm pretty sure that applies to other areas in life, not just drifting. I've discussed two of his drift builds before today: the Toyota Chaser JZX100 and the Nissan PS13.

But today, I'll dive deeper into his story of a man who has drifted in the "Holy Land" (that's Japan for us drift enthusiasts), imported dozens of cool cars from that place, organized hundreds of track days, and been part of professional drifting for slightly longer than I have. First, I wanted to know what triggered his interest in drifting, and the answer wasn't quite what I expected.

"Back in the '80s, my dad had just washed the garage floor, which was still soapy. I was playing with my RC car and had fun sliding it around, but I had no idea that moment would take me this far. Fast forward a few years, I test-drove a Celica GT-Four but couldn't afford it, so I bought a four-door Subaru Impreza instead. Winter nights were the best, as I would take it out in the snow up our local touge road, and you can imagine what came next."

I only had 137 horsepower

"A few more cars, and years later, I bought my first Toyota Corolla AE86." While I was at home binge-watching Drift Tengoku DVDs, Tobias was one step ahead as he embarked on his first trip to Japan. Seeing a D1GP event live at Ebisu must have had a profound impact on him, so it wasn't long until he took his HachiRoku to a drift event back in Europe.

"It was amazing seeing all the OGs drifting at Ebisu Minami. It's much steeper than you'd think, and it was raining cats and dogs that weekend. As we were standing under the grandstands in the pits, I couldn't believe how loud and fast the cars were. It was intense and years away from what we had seen in Europe. In 2009, I went to Germany for the IDS (International Drift Series) at Hockenheimring."

"The event took place in the parking lot next to the main straight. The 86 only had about 137 hp, but it weighed 1,984 lbs (900 kg), so I pushed it as hard as possible." European drivers mostly competed in BMW E30s and E36s back then, with only a few people outside the UK using Japanese spec cars. But that didn't deter Tobias from pursuing his dream.

In time, he moved on to a turbocharged car (the Nissan PS13), then finally back into a Toyota (the JZX100). I've only ever witnessed a drift car build process from the sidelines, so I wanted to know his key focus points. "For many years, I firmly believed that handling and ergonomics are more important than power in drifting."

It was my first race this year

"I will always focus more on suspension and having a decent setup instead of going for more HP. The car won't help you if you can't drive it. Toyota's build quality is better for me, and you can still buy a new JZ engine from the factory, which is a huge plus. I still plan on finishing my AE86 project one day soon, too!" I have seen Tobias attending many professional drift events in Europe during his career.

I tried to play a small role in helping him out as a spotter during his most recent one: the Iron Drift King challenge in Ferropolis, Germany. I've already shared my take on that event in a previous story, but I wanted to see where he stands on the whole thing. "IDK was one of the craziest events I've ever driven, but not the most successful one for me. It was my first and only race this year (family comes first!), and I rewatched my runs the other day. I realized there were three important points you needed to dial in; then, the rest would have worked itself out."

"The venue was impressive; I've never seen anything like it before. I had a cool battle against Stavros Grillis (who went on to take P2). When I was leading, and he was chasing, he got so close to my car that he left subtle paint marks on my door. My best run was still the bye run, as I didn't have as much pressure on my shoulders for it. I like how the organization tries new things, not using the same old formula. The tire rule was great (only two types allowed), the no-qualifying and double-elimination systems were awesome, and the driver-organizer communication was very good."

"The only less enjoyable thing was the long program; driving all day took a toll on all of us, so maybe that's something they could consider adjusting next year." I enjoyed seeing Tobias going all out in his Chaser at the Nurburgring Drift Cup last year, so I knew how it sounds and handles. But there's one thing I hadn't seen it do before.

More flexibility and more power coming up!

With the intense battles, high speeds, and pressure, few cars were sparred crashing at the IDK (or in any other drift series, for that matter). Tobias only had a small contact with the outer wall, which shattered his taillight and bent the trunk. I would've had a small heart attack at that point, but all his years of attending the Drift Matsuri in Japan have made him stronger.

He just pulled back into the pit area, asked me to get on the brakes, and readjusted the rear panels using brute (but calculated) force. I was excited to be part of the process, and it only took him less than an hour to fix it all. When I asked him about the plans to upgrade the JZX100 for 2025, his answer made me relive that moment.

"The body panels are off right now; we have to straighten the rear end for our event at Anneau du Rhin in October. I'll switch to a carbon-kevlar mix for that car part to give it more flexibility. The next target is to lighten it by about 220 lbs (100 kg). That's a tall order, considering we're at 2,866 lbs (1,300 kg) right now. Weight distribution is next on the list; the radiators are going in the back, and I'm finally installing a fuel cell. (having been running the stock fuel tank still). I'm aiming for more power with a new 1.5JZ setup with a bigger turbo to get 700 horsepower, and we'll see the torque figures."

Meanwhile, Tobias will also be busy organizing his Speed Industries Track Days and the After Work Drift events near his hometown of Zurich. It's no wonder time is a valuable resource, especially when you're busy on so many fronts. In a future story, I'll return with a few of his insights on the JDM Import Business and Track Day management.