Hiro Sumida: I have been an avid fan of rallying, especially the World Rally Championship (WRC). And I have been watching every single WRC rounds since 1993. That’s where my original interest in drifting came from. A little bit after that, I found the drifting article featuring Drift King Tsuchiya and Max Orido in their AE86 and that’s when I really wanted to try drifting myself. Still, my future dream is to compete at Rally de Corse.
ED: When did you first start drifting?
HS: I was able to practice real drifting for the first time when Drift Day was held by Drift Association in 2001. Before then there was no place to practice drifting legally, so I spent about 10 years competing in SCCA Solo2 to hone my car control skills. Both Taka, Yoshie, and I used to travel to many different states to compete in Solo2.
HS: After reading so many magazines, comics, and watching videos on drifting, I was itching to get started in drifting. It’s a long time ago when Drift Day started, but I’ve been hooked on drifting even till now.
HS: I’ve competed in Solo2 in several different cars, but my first drift car was my AE86 hatch. The color of this car changed from red => brown => crème => blue, then it was totaled at one demo event.
HS: Yes, I drove that hachi on the streets through the mid phase of its crème era. But then the hachi was more modified for competition and was retired from the streets after I got a trailer and a truck.
ED: Did you ever convert it to a track only car?
HS: Yes, that hachi became my first track only car. Basically the biggest reason was that the exhaust was way too loud to be able to get away from cops.
ED: How many different drift cars have you had and how many do you now have?
HS: After the hachi became my drift car, I built a new drift car with the Toyota Chaser Tourer-V. I’ve always wanted to drift with a big four-door sedan and luckily I was able to purchase this new drift car from a local dealer. This car is now known as the famous (?) zombie Chaser.
ED: If money is a problem, what’s a good, cheap, drift car you’d recommend for somebody who wants to learn to drift and keep that car for amateur competitions?
HS: I would recommend the Nissan 240sx in S13 body since that would be the cheapest car to start drifting. Later model S13 might be better since the dual overhead cam engine is more powerful. Overall the 240sx are good because there are so many drift specific parts available. I would also recommend the AE86, but I know this car gets pretty expensive in a long run. Remember, the first thing you should get for your drift car is not nice wheels or suspensions, but an aftermarket mechanical L.S.D.
ED: If money is not a problem, what car would you recommend?
HS: Pretty much any car you want. It would be easier if it’s a rear wheel drive or 4 wheel drive, so that it won’t be too hard to modify to make it a drift car. You want to have fun drifting, so it’s best when you are in a car that you really like.
ED: When did you become a PRO drift competitor?
HS: I became a “pro” drifter somewhere in the year 2004. This is the year when Formula D started and when many of us crossed the line from being an amateur drifter to a “pro” drifter. Also, this is the year when I began getting some sponsorships from Falken Tire, OS Giken, Hiro’s Auto, U.S. Earth, and Techno Square. The word “pro” is in a quote since . . . . well, I’ll explain later.
ED: I’ve spent some time hanging with some of the pro competitors. Being a pro seems to consume their lives. Does that seem to be true for you? Does it now consume your life?
HS:Being a “pro” drifter definitely consumes our lives. It takes lots of time and money to prepare your own car for competitions. Finding sponsors for tires and necessary parts are also necessary to pursue the “pro” drifter life. You really have to spend your full time and all of your money to just keep drifting. I am a “pro” drifter, but many of us “pros” do not make enough money just from drifting. However, since the drifting schedule is getting denser every season, it is getting more and more difficult to keep another job for additional income. So, it’s a catch-22 situation.
HS: It more like a commitment, because from March to October you are on the road traveling to competitions, demos, shows, and there is not much time to do anything else.
HS: Yeah, she definitely complains a lot ! But at the same time she is very supportive, so it’s not so bad.
ED: I heard a rumor that you and Taka had to give up your full-time regular jobs to be competitive pro drivers. Is that true?
HS: Yes, this is true. I used to be a CAD designer for printed circuit board (PCB) at a Japanese design firm after graduating with a mechanical engineering degree. After working there for about three years, I had to quit at the beginning of 2005 because my drifting schedule was getting way too busy. Taka is a doctor who is a graduate from a chiropractic school, but for the same reason, he had to quit his office to pursue the “pro” drifter life. I think a lot of us “pros” are in the same situation and it’s extremely tough since most of us do not make much money drifting . . . . . . yet.
HS: I wouldn’t say impossible, but it’s going to be very difficult unless you already have a well established own personal business.
ED: Is all your income drift driving related or do you also do something on the side like repair vehicles or sell Beanie Babies on the Internet?
HS: My income is not only from drift driving related, but mostly from events involving drifting.
ED: HS: Who are you Hiro? What motivates you to be in the sport?
HS: I am a “pro” drifter who loves to burn tires and kiss walls. The biggest motivation for me to keep drifting is so that I can keep improving my skills to be a better driver.
HS: It is awesome to be able to travel cross country to drift at many different venues, especially with the crazy Team Falken Tire.
ED: What do you NOT like about being a pro driver?
HS: Not being able to know what would happen the following year or the future.
ED: For those who have yet to start drifting, how often should a person practice to become good at drifting?
HS: The more practice you can get won’t hurt you, so I’d hit up all the practice events that you can get to. But the most important key to improve drifting is to always be with someone who is better than you and learn from him or her. Never be satisfied with your own skill level. There is always someone who is better than you.
ED: How many tires per month should they plan on burning up?
HS: This would depend on how many events and the type of surface at the practice venues. I would recommend to have at least two sets of rear tires when you go to a practice event. Make sure you have enough tires left for you to get home safely.
ED: And do you think there is SOME natural talent with drifting or can most anybody learn to do it well?
HS: I think anybody can learn to drift and have fun at it. But when it comes to high speed competition events where people are entering the turns over 100mph, then maybe some extra natural talent is beneficial.
ED: One last question: I guess that there’s about 10 different organizations putting on drift competition series events this year. Some of those organizations are trying to steal the pro drivers from Formula D. What are your thoughts?
HS: I do hear about different competition series rising this year, but my focus has been with Formula D and D1GP in the past, and it is still the same. It is not easy to start a drifting series because it is a judged sport unlike any other motorsports. Without proper judges, the definition of a good drift will not be understood and there would not be much point to compete in such series.
ED: Any thing you’d like to add, say or advice you’d like to give?
HS: Keep it off the streets and just have fun ! Hope to see you guys at some events !!!