Odi signing autographs at the STR Racing booth during SEMA 2015.
words Carlos Cano Estrella | photo Debbie Meda
This Lithuanian may appear as extremely laid back; but get him behind the wheel of the FEAL Suspension S14 and it all goes from mild to wild. We ran into Formula DRIFT Pro Driver Odi Bakchis during his very busy week at SEMA and this is what he shared with us.
E-Drift: Alright, stock vehicle, weekend warrior, what would be your first five mods?
Odi Bakchis: Alright, the first thing I’d modify is the suspension. Put some FEAL coilovers on that bad boy. Steering angle. And a little bit more power. And really good tires, like some NITTO NT-05s. Did I miss one?
ED: You got four.
OB: You know lastly, if everything’s working, if the car is handling good after those four things; I’d probably spend some time on the aesthetics. Like actually make that thing look good with a duraflex body kit and some good paint.
ED: What was the first car you ever drifted?
OB: I’d say the first car I’ve ever really drifted, not only did sideways burnouts, but really actually went to the track and drifted was an S13, which I still own. It happens to be my demo car.
I managed to find an old picture by Larry Chen of the S13 which Odi mentioned. Here he is chasing my AE86 down HTM during a round of Just Drift Top Drift Battle.
ED: So you wouldn’t consider your rally cars your first drift cars?
OB: No, you know, driving sideways in a rally car is very different than modern day drifting on pavement. So I do tend to separate those.
ED: Because of the counter steer, right?
OB: Yeah. If it’s an all wheel drive car you’re not really counter steering much.
ED: Yeah.
OB: And then a lot of people do rally front-wheel drive cars. Technically they’re going sideways but it’s a just like a whole different driving technique.
ED: Like how the car pivots?
OB: Yeah, you try and minimize that angle. It’s very different.
The SR20DET powered S13 took Odi a long way as he and his S14 are now front runners for the championship in the Formula DRIFT Pro and World categories. Thanks to E-Drift staff photographer Paul Lopez for the shot.