We last interviewed Kenshiro(Ken) Gushi 4 years ago when EverythingDrift.com first launched on the drift scene. Since the site was initially launched, we have interviewed many drifters and haven’t revisited with Ken…. until now. We caught up with Ken while at the Formula Drift Ditch Day at Mountain High to get re-acquainted. As well, we wanted to get some info for his fans and the Scion family out there. Ken was gracious enough to allow us to probe the Scion’s 2008 issues. A look into his future and where his dad went, as well as the Scion community which he now calls family.
EverythingDrift:Mr. Ken Gushi. Last time we interviewed you was 4 years ago. You were the very first interview on Everything Drift.com.
Ken Gushi: Wow! Feels good to be back huh? A lot has changed, right?
ED: 4 years and lots of changes. So are there any significant changes to the RS*R Scion tC for 2009?
KG: Well before we move on about the changes, I want to talk about the problems we had for 2008. One of the major issues we had was reliability. Actually, in all aspects, not just the car, but as the driver myself. I wasn’t getting any sufficient practice. Most of the time, they were working on the car so we couldn’t set up a testing date. It was kind of like; we would fix the car before the event. Try and test it out at the event, and we’d test it out only to find out there are more issues. That happened to us pretty much throughout the entire season last year.
What we actually wanted to do for this year, for 2009 Formula Drift, is to completely tear down the car and look for areas in which we can improve upon. One area that we found that was pretty faulty or unreliable was the electrical. Going from the ECU to the wiring, we had a lot of problems with our electrical system. So we tore down the electrical system and we are going to have Motech do the wiring for us. It wasn’t just the electrical we were having an issue with. Mechanically as well, sometimes the motor would cut out because of the ECU having problems. So because the ECU was having problems it would kind of relate to different areas, in which the car would just take a shit. So that’s one of the main things that we are focusing on as of right now, before the season for 2009 starts.
What’s different about the car besides the electrical, we added a little bit more reinforcement to the front end of the car. What we found out last year was, well especially since we didn’t have sufficient testing for the suspension system and what not, but we found the car to be on the softer flexible side. I think it’ll be a good idea for us to stiffen up the chassis a little bit and work from there. Like I said before, we didn’t have any testing time for our suspension. So we also want to focus on our suspension set up, test out different spring rates, tire pressures and, added to that we have a lot more horsepower now. It should be good. I think if we could solve the reliability issues it should be a good year for us. Considering that a lot of drivers this year
are hoping on to new cars. Of course they are going to have a hard time adjusting and setting up the cars the first year. It happens to a lot of us. I don’t know what they call it the first year curse or whatever. But I hope that is what it is, so that we can actually move up and hopefully take the championship. That’s our focus right now. Build a reliable car and wipe out our competition.
ED: We wish you the best on that one definitely. The Scion community is a very close knit one. What has your impression been from interacting with them?
KG:You know, going from one manufacturer to another, I noticed that Scion is very involved in their owners. They like to make their owners feel like they are part of a family. From what I have witnessed and experienced through being in a Scion family, is that. Like you said, they try to keep the community very tightly knit. They even provide Scion owners with a website called ScionOwners.com where owners can interact with each other. I’m also on the site as well under Ken Gushi. Just watching the way Scion interacts with their owners is just extraordinary. Scion never produced a car that is rear wheel drive. They don’t have any car that can actually compete in the drifting series besides our car, because our car is heavily modified. Even at that they like to make their owners feel like they are part of something. I think that’s what’s interesting about Scion. I don’t see many manufacturers out there providing this kind of service to their owners. Props to them for that!
ED: How different is the Scion from the big powered heavy Mustang you drove over the past few years?
KG:You know, drifting itself, the concept is the same. So you can apply that same concept in different cars. The biggest differences are very obvious: the weight and the torque. I started in a similar car as the tC, I started in a Nissan S13 240 SX. So the way I drive the Scion tC is kind of the same way I drove my Nissan. It’s very similar in the way it transitions, and the horsepower is at about the same place. The only difference is that the Scion has a long wheel base. So it makes drifting very stable. But through transition it can be a little bit slow or sluggish. So that’s also another thing we are focusing on this year along with the suspension testing. Compared to the big heavy Mustang, it’s lacking in torque, but because it’s so much lighter in weight, that can be compensated. Transitions are much faster than a Mustang. When I was driving the Mustang transitions were very, very slow. I can pretty much have second thoughts while driving because the way the car moves was very relaxed. With the Scion tC, it’s a bit more aggressive. I think what the audience likes in drifting is the aggressive style that each driver carries.
ED: Who do you see as being a rising star in Formula Drift currently?
KG: You know that’s a hard question because a lot of the guys out there, a lot of them have been out there for awhile. But just within the recent 2 years, all of them have improved. I think now if the Japanese drivers come from D1 and try to compete against us; a lot of the American Formula Drift drivers stand a chance. I can say with confidence that we won’t know who will win. I think it’s everybody’s game now. One particular person who actually caught my eye was Kyle Mohan. He’s been in the drifting industry for a long time. For the past 4-5 years he’s been really quiet. Just recently he’s been up there. People like him, he’s one to watch. (Chceck out last weeks Clipping Point with Kyle Mohan for more on him here.)
ED: What are your long term goals?
KG:You know my long term goals… it’s always been Rally racing or some type of road racing, but primarily rally racing. I’ve been raised by my dad, always watching rally videos. That’s kind of why we started drifting in the first place. Drifting was a cheaper alternative to Rally. I mean the concept is a little bit different, but the way we apply our driving styles is similar. I’ve done a few Rally events in the past few years. I’ve done Rim of The World, Romada Express and Pike’s Peak. But one thing I can tell you is that Rally can be very, very expensive. And if you don’t have the support, the sufficient support, even with tires you have to be paying everything out of your own pocket. My dad has actually been paying for me. You know with out the financial backing, Rally is one of the tougher sports to do. But like I said my long term goal is to become a Rally driver.
ED: It’s been 4 years. So any significant changes since the last time we did the interview, besides the car changes and EverythingDrift changes?
KG: I don’t know you tell me. Have I matured? (Laughs) When we last did the interview I was 18 years old.
The way I see team work is a lot different now. 4 years ago I was just kind of driving for a team. As to now where now I’m driving with a team. I see that the success comes through the team work. Everybody doing their part makes the team competitive and that’s what matters the most I think. It’s not just a driver, it’s not just a mechanic, and it’s not just the sponsor. It’s every one of us combined together as a team that’ll take us to the top. With that said of course Toyo been behind me, supporting me for 4 years now. Going into our 5th year already, so major thanks to them. And they have always been behind me, supporting me, no matter what my results were. My results last year wasn’t so great. But they are still willing to support me along with Scion Racing, RSR, Pioneer, all my sponsors as well as Rogue Status. My second year with them. So with the help of all those sponsors and teams, that’s what’s going to drive us to the top.
ED: Last we saw your dad was 3 years ago drifting. Does he have any intentions to come back?
KG:You know my dad is probably not going to come back into drifting. I think where he is now; he’s been out of it for so long. I don’t think he’ll be able to find any sponsors and I’m sure he’s not willing to pay out of his pocket anymore. He saw how hard that was when he used to pay for everything for me when I was driving under our own company Gushi Auto. With that said I think from now on, he’s going to do small Rally events here and there, and just for fun. I would like for him to come out and do more, but it is what it is.
ED: Thank you for the interview Ken, as always it’s a pleasure and good to re-catch up. Anything else you want to add?
KG:Major thanks to RSR of course, my main team right there. Scion Racing of course. What they do with myself, Tanner and the owners. It’s amazing work that they do. I think they are the only ones out there that I see that are doing something so significant involving the fans, the owners, the drivers. So major thanks to Scion Racing. Toyo of course. They have been behind me for 5 years now. XM radio it’s there 2 year. Pioneer, Enios Oil, Rogue Status, I’m always decked out with their clothes. Sparco, major thanks to them for supporting me for so many years.