Matt Waldin Wins DMCC Round 3 in the Tuner Icons/Mishimoto 350z and Now Leads the Points Chase
West Chester, PA (PRWEB) – Round 3 of the Drift Mania Canadian Drift Series was an adventure as always for the Drift Brigade team, but ends on a high note as Matt Waldin takes first place and now leads the series in overall points.
Mishimoto has joined as an additional title sponsor and has stepped up in a big way to support the team for the remainder of the season. So after adding tons of Mishimoto parts and logos to Matt’s 350z and Damien’s 240sx, the Drift Brigade team set course for Canadian soil early on July 24th. The long trip landed an exhausted team in Saint Croix, 30 minutes outside of Quebec City. The residents of this quiet French Canadian city did not know what they were in for.
Saturday’s practice started out dreary and rainy, but cleared up by the end of the day. The Drift Brigade team helped set up the course for the event and this course was certainly unique. Dealing with the limitations of the track the judges created a course that started with a long sweeping bank, followed by a manji, leading into a full 360 degree carousel and finishing out with another bank. Including a 360 degree tun in a drift course is highly unusual, but made for a great show and a very technical course.
After adjusting the BC Suspensions to handle the bumpy track, the Tuner Icons/Mishimoto 350z and 240sx were ready for battle on Sunday. Unfortunately the weather was not well suited for drifting. The torrential rain and high speed winds made the driving conditions almost unbearable, but the drifting must go on. The soggy track and obserdly cold July weather, did not deter the die hard Canadian fans. Coming from hours away, bundled up in blankets, ponchos, rain boots, and umbrellas, these relentless fans did not let the bitter weather stop them from cheering on their favorite drivers.
Qualifying would end with Matt in 5th place and Damien in 9th. In an effort to try and complete the competition while it was still drizzling instead of down pouring, the judges moved the tandem battles along quickly. In the first round Matt would face JF Chaisson and easily move into the top 8. Damien had a slightly harder time overtaking the number 8 qualifier, but wins after a One More Time. Next up, Matt overtook David Briggs and moves into the top 4. Damien would face Maxime Truchon and after an awe-inspiring pass, also moved on to the top 4. This would put 3 Mishimoto drivers (Waldin, Bagley, and Girard) in the top four. As seems to always happen too soon in the bracket, Matt and Damien would go head to head. Damien did not go quietly, but Matt moved on to the final round to face 2007 and 2008 DMCC champ and fellow Mishimoto driver, Fred Girard. In the battle for third, Damien would suffer a loss to Claude Poirier.
Waldin lined up to face the double champion Fred Girard and the crowd was on their feet. Waldin would lead first leaving a large gap that Girard just could not close. Despite the rain, Waldin put serious pressure on Girard and would ultimately claim the first place trophy. A soaking wet crowd of dedicated drift fans cheered American Matt Waldin on as he accepted his prize in the pouring rain. Taking first place at this event moved Waldin into first place in the overall points standings overtaking previous points leader Pat Cyr. After a long rainy weekend, the Drift Brigade team would go home happy with a first place, fourth place, the lead position in points, and hopes for a double podium in Toronto.
Matt Waldin’s 350z is running Mishimoto radiator, oil cooler, and hose kit. Damien Bagley’s 240sx is equipped with Mishimoto raditor, intercooler, oil cooler, and hose kit.
Drift Brigade is sponsored by Tuner Icons, Mishimoto, Import Intelligence, SPL Parts, Competition Clutch, NGK Spark Plugs, BC Racing suspension, Elite Imports International Inc./Elite JDM