We managed to capture Odi Bakchis at Adam’s last week during last week’s Monster Drift event at Adam’s Motorsports Park. Some great shot provided by our on the spot photographer Dustin Thompson. For the full gallery click here…
Tag Archives: ken gushi
Ken Gushi’s New Ride for 2012
So its official now Ken Gushi will be piloting the Scion Racing/GReddy Performance FRS in Formula D this year. We cant wait to see all the potential this car has. Long Beach can’t get here any faster. So enjoy this picture from Ken’s Facebook page. And feel free to tell us what you thoughts are on the build.
Throwback Thursday – 2005 Clipping Point: Ken Gushi
Name: Kenshiro Gushi
Home: San Gabriel, CA
Team: Team Toyo/Ford Racing/Gushi Auto
Nationality: Japanese
Date Of Birth: September 19 1986
Marital Status: Single
Vehicle: 2005 Ford Mustang GT
Tell us about yourself…
I’m Ken Gushi, I’m 18, and a professional drifter for Toyo Tires, Ford, and Gushi Auto. I was born in Japan. I can’t remember whether English or Japanese was a first language, I suck at both. I use more English on a daily basis, but we only use Japanese in the house.
EverythingDrift.com: How did you get into drifting?
Ken Gushi: Before I started drifting, knew what it was. “thought it was just a couple kids in japan sliding their cars around” – at that time, I was 8 or 9ish – I was always into skylines, supras, wangan racing, 800 HP cars. Drifting was boring, sliding your car around a turn, anyone can do that.
Then when I was 12 or 13, saw initial D for the first time, also had seen a lot of real drifting on option video. My friend was like “you should watch this, it’s pretty cool.” He told me that it was about a corolla that beats everyone.There’s a black GTR in ID, and right when I started watching Initial D, we saw the corolla beat the skyline, and we were thinking “WHAT? That’s not real. There’s no corolla that can beat a skyline.” So that’s when I started to realize what drifting was, maybe it wasn’t as easy as I thought. I got started at this dry lake. My friend took us to this one dry lake in El Mirage, it’s about halfway to Vegas (from LA) near Barstow. He rode motorcycles, so he knew about a lot of offroad trails. We took my dad’s 86 Corolla out there, the same corolla that was in the anime series, and he was showing me how to drift around the bushes. I didn’t know he knew how to drift, but apparently he knew how to drift in Japan right before we moved out here. So he taught me how to do basic car control, sliding around the bush. We setup a couple of cones and made a little track, to see who could drift around it the best. A couple of his employees started getting into it, so they all bought employees. At one point there’s a picture of my dad’s shop that’s all corollas. Our customers, all the employees, there wasn’t a single car in the shop that wasn’t a corolla.
Formula Drift Driver Profiles – Yas Marina Circuit(Video)
Formula DRIFT Announces Official Driver List for Inaugural Formula DRIFT UAE Invitational Competition
Long Beach, Calif. January 19, 2011 Formula DRIFT has announced the official entry list for the Inaugural Formula Drift UAE Invitational Competition at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on February 25, 2011.
A diverse selection of the top drivers from around the globe will showcase world-class drifting to the Middle East. The official roster of drivers include: past Scandinavian champion, Fredric Aasbo, 2009 Formula DRIFT champion, Chris Forsberg, 2-time Formula DRIFT champion and 3-time X-Games Gold Medalist Tanner Foust, top ranking driver, Ryan Tuerck, past New Zealand champion and Formula DRIFT USA & Asia competitor, Mike Whiddett, Formula DRIFT veteran Daijiro Yoshihara and Formula Drift regulars Ken Gushi, and Michael Essa along with Tony Brakohiapa as the alternate driver.
Formula DRIFT is dedicated to providing the best drifting action to fans everywhere, said Jim Liaw, president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. We are proud to showcase the best drivers from around the world to an international audience in Abu Dhabi at what is probably the most spectacular racing facility in the world.
In addition, the event will be streaming live via the DriftStream on www.formuladrift.com. Fans will be able to catch all of the exciting action from the comfort of their own home. The live stream will air on February 25, 2011. For broadcast times visit the Formula DRIFT website .
For those that are interested in attending the live event, online tickets will go on-sale soon and can be purchased through this link – Event Tickets Tickets can also be purchased through the Yas Marina Call Centre at: 800-YAS-(927) or international number at +971 (0) 2 446 0384, which is open 7 days a week from 9 AM – 6 PM, local time. Tickets can be purchased directly at the Yas Marina Circuit at the East and West Entrance Gate Welcome Centre, Yas Hotel, and Ferrari World Abu Dhabi Yas Marina Circuit Kiosk. In addition, tickets may also be purchased at select Virgin Megastores within the UAE beginning January 25, 2011.
As the premier professional drifting championship in the world, Formula DRIFT has helped modernize and globalize drifting, bringing it to places like Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Panama, Mexico and now, the United Arab Emirates. For more information visit: www.formuladrift.com
Hankook Tire Expands Formula Drift Lineup, Adds Celebrity to Time Attack Arsenal
LAS VEGAS, Nov. 3, 2010 – After celebrating a stellar Formula Drift season that included podium finishes in five of the seven Drift events for Hankook driver Tanner Foust, Hankook is announcing ongoing participation in Formula Drift with an expanded driver lineup. Additionally, Hankook adds star power to its Redline Time Attack driver line-up, signing on Paul Walker of The Fast the Furious fame.
Hankook also is exploring a partnership with Oakley for motorsports apparel items.
In 2011, Hankook will be an official tire sponsor for Formula Drift and once again sponsor Team Papadakis Racing and Tanner Foust, the 2010 championship runner-up, as well as Conrad Grunewald, who competed in the Hankook-sponsored Chevrolet Camaro for Conrad Grunewald Racing.
New for next year, the brand will expand its motorsports stable to include Scion Racing with driver Ken Gushi and Chris Forsberg Racing with driver Chris Forsberg. Hankook also will sponsor Rhys Millen Racing by supporting owner/driver Rhys Millen in Formula Drift, Rally Cross Competition and his quest to break the world record at the prestigious Pikes Peak Hill Climb.
All drivers will compete on Hankook’s Ventus R-S3 performance race tires, one of the premier tires in Formula Drift competition. Hankook has applied its latest motorsports technology to these tires, improving dry-grip performance by 30 percent; further enhancing the tire’s handling capabilities.
“We chose each of our new drivers judiciously based on their past records and potential performance,” said Paul Jho, motorsports marketing manager, Hankook Tire America Corp. “We are confident they will prove to be a valuable addition to our team and will contribute to Hankook’s growing success in motorsports.”
For Redline Time Attack, Hankook adds celebrity driver Paul Walker of The Fast and the Furious movie fame to its roster. Walker will be competing in a BMW M3. In addition, he will have Hankook’s support when he competes next month in the 25 Hour Thunderhill Endurance Race by NASA.
Walker will race on Hankook’s proven Ventus Z214 DOT R Compound tires. The Ventus Z214 DOT R offers a symmetric tread design and utilizes a smooth tread surface with two longitudinal tread grooves for outstanding performance on the circuit in both dry and damp conditions.
“Each year drifting and time attack continue to grow and gain popularity in the U.S. and influence the marketplace,” said Bill Bainbridge, Hankook Tire America Corp. director, brand communications. “Hankook will continue to be a motorsports leader, using our advanced technology to ensure the continued development of cutting-edge products like the Ventus R-S3 and Ventus Z214 to meet the demands of enthusiast consumers.”