EverythingDrift: When did you first get into drifting and how did you find out about it? And who or what inspires your drifting style?
Mickie Frial: I first got into drifting around 1998-2000. My cousin Tom always had Option Mags and Hyper Rev laying around and at the time my dad owned the 240SX that I now drive. My cousin would always ask my dad to sell him the 240 once he got the money. Cool Fact of the day – my dad bought my car new off the lot in 1990 and I’ve kind of been in love with it ever since. I remember seeing pictures in Option of 180sx’s and I was like “You can do that with my dad’s car? Cool!” I inherited the car in 2000 and promptly proceeded to crash it up a curb during a massive understeer. I told my dad someone cut me off and I swerved to avoid a big accident. I dont think he believed me but that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
There aren’t a lot of people that inspire my drifting style, but if I had to pick I’d say Taniguchi and Koguchi from 2001-2004 era. Their cars were basically badass street cars. Nowadays most pro drift cars look like freeway billboards.
I think I’m more inspired by music more than anything. I’m going to see Megadeth and MachineHead in July and I’m super psyched on that.
eDRIFT: What Driver do you feel best represents what drifting truly is?
Mickie: I really think the guys that risked a lot to make it in the drifting world today deserve a big mention here: Chris Forsberg in his Silver Z. JTP with the green, then lighter green, then tan, then blue, then back to green FC, RIP. Matt Powers. Those are just some of the guys who I think not only represent drifting in the US, but are largely responsible for the current progression of the sport. Personally though, I think the guys who still have a shit eating grin every time they get out of the car also deserve mention: Dave Westfall, Ryan Bell, Jason Aquino, Pfeiffer, Jiinkz, Flybert, Forrest Wang, Essa, Quoc Ly, Ryan Litteral, Taka and Hiro. Those guys motivate the hell out of me. I think Charlie Ongsingco and event organizers like him deserve a part here too…..drifting needs people like him around to keep progressing.
eDRIFT: With All Star Bash right around the corner. Who would be the one driver you would love to drift with if you could pick one.
Mickie: Probably Koguchi. I’d love to drive with him to see how bad he’d make me look. I’d want him to drive my car and to tell me how poorly set up it is. He’d then do a few laps on Streets of Willow and make me look like an idiot. I can picture it so clearly.
eDRIFT: How did you get involved with the charity event Thunder on the lot? And what do you look for in the future of this event.
Mickie: I got a phone call one day from Ron Emard, the Founderof the event. He said that my name got dropped by Clint Kiang, who owns a local shop called Bestway. He told me that he’d heard about drifting and he thought it would fit right in with the event. The first year was pretty disorganized but surprisingly awesome. This year’s event just passed and it was seriously one of the funnest driving weekends ever. Everyone looked like they had a blast, there were a ton of spectators that got their minds blown, and it was all for a good cause.
I think for the future, I’m just hoping that each year we help raise more and more money for the kids. All the benifits go towards 13 local Kid’s Charities and last year we raised $250,000. I’d like that number to be $500,000 in the next few years, that’d make me happy.
eDRIFT: What car is your ultimate drift car if you can build anything you want? Anything?
Mickie: How about a LHD R32 GTS-T 4 door. I’d love to drive a skyrine but I hate driving RHD.
eDRIFT: And what does drifting truly mean to you?
Mickie: I think drifting is the easiest way for me to have fun. I’ve noticed the more serious I take drifting, the less fun I have. I’ve tried to take long extended breaks from driving, but I can’t. There’s something I’m addicted to, a feeling I can’t really describe. I just know that once I realize it’s time to go drive, I get a huge smile on my face, and that makes everything totally worth it.
Oh yeah Such a cool guy.