Today we are very happy to bring you and little Q&A session with 2012 Just Drift Top Drift Champion Luke Pakula.
Everything Drift: When did you first get into drifting and how did you find out about it? And what was your first Drift car?
Luke: I have been around a car scene since I was 15 (early 2000). So naturally I came across drifting once it first started catching people’s attention in the early 2004 on the streets of Chicago, where I grew up. In 2006 I moved out to California for a temporary get away. Shortly after the move I went to check out a local drift event, run by an organization called Just Drift.
Not even 2 weeks later after the event I went out and bought my first RWD car. 1989 Nissan 240sx hatchback, it was a bucket with only one intention in mind, drifting!
eDrift: Looking back on this year’s competition what was one moment that stuck out for you as one of you favorite.
Luke: The moment I found most favorite this year, is also the same moment that stressed me out the most. It was after finishing 2nd in Top Drift Round 3, when I realized that I actually have a shot at the championship. Coming back into a Pro-Am Series this year to compete felt like a blessing already after taking a 2 year break.
eDrift: Now that you have obtained your Formula D license for 2013 will you be pursuing a full time formula D program? And what track on the formula D schedule do you see as one you really want to drive and why.
Luke: As of this moment, we are committed to doing 4 Formula D events, Long Beach, Washington, Las Vegas and Irwindale. We are in the process of building relations with sponsors that could potentially help us with the journey around the country to attend the East Coast Formula D events.
As for my favorite Formula D track would be, I’d have to say Irwindale just for the fact of the amount of people that goes to see it live.
eDrift: As a driver what other driver if any do you look up to and if could compete against any driver who would that be.
Luke: Michael Essa has always been my idle for the fact that I have built a relationship on a personal level with him. He has helped me with a lot of suspension setting on my car, counter weighting, fabrication and blue printing my overall set up. I have closely followed his career progress in the Pro Series with his Mazda FC, been there when he was building his first and second BMW build. I’m always checking up on his new upgrades and changes.
As for competing against certain drivers I would have to say all because each and everyone of them has a unique style of which I can learn from. Many of the Formula D drivers I have had the privilege of driving with every year at our local All Star Bash presented by Just Drift. From Matt Powers, to Matt Fields, Ryan Kado, Michael Essa, Justin Pawlak, Taka Aono, John Russakoff, Hori Sumida and many more.
eDrift: If Money was no object and you could build any car to compete in what would it be?
Luke: When it comes to drift cars, I have never really had a dream car. I’m all about function so if it works well then it will do just fine. I am currently building an S14 for the 2013 season because I do believe that its platform is very solid for all around drifting which has already been proven by many. I guess if money was not an issue, I would step it up to a 350Z platform due to its shape and overall better suspension lay out over an S chassis.
eDrift: So besides drifting, what other hobbies or interests do you pursue?
Luke: Now that’s funny, because if you were to ask me in 2005, then my answer would be working on cars. But since I chose my career to be fixing cars, I guess it no longer was a hobby. So then I would say building race cars would be more of a hobby to me, which would be a little different from the daily routine. But lately I’ve been spending more time under my race car that I have been at work, so can we still call it a hobby when my whole life revolves around it? I guess my current hobby is sleeping because that seems to be the thing that I do occasionally.
eDrift: And in conclusion congratulations on your Top Drift Championship and we wish you the very best of luck in the future.
Luke: Thank You so much! It has truly been a blessing to make it this far. First and foremost I would like to thank my wife Rachel for full support in the cause and all her help in any way she could. To all my friends who supported me on and off the track and putting up with my grumpy attitude. My family for constantly seeking updates in my progress from overseas. My followers from Poland. Just Drift Staff for doing a sensational job by making the events happen. All the media for being out there and capturing all the moments on photos and videos. HWYAUTO for full shop access and tire connection. FineLine Tuning Crew for constant car maintenance. ChrisTune for making the tuning reliable. GSR Autosport for suspension set ups. STANCE USA for awesome coilovers. Slide Assassins, 626 Drift, All the Top Drift Series Sponsors. Definitely more thanks to others that I forgot to mention. But last thanks must go to Carlos Cano Estrella who has saved me at Top Drift Round 4 by lending me a brand new set of front tires, the night before the competition.
Please check us out and follow our progress at www.Facebook.com/LukePakulaMotorsports
Special thanks to Rachel Pakula for providing some of the images.