How to Drift an AWD, Manual Subaru and Look Good While Doing It

Hello, I am Jack Buys, me and the boys have been terrorizing gravel roads in our hometown since before we could legally drive. I thought I would share some pointers on how to successfully drift an AWD, manual Subaru, and how to look good while doing it. What’s so fun about driving and turning normal? Want to impress that little white tank top sitting in the middle by you? Follow along closely to these steps, first we will start by explaining the basics of drifting, then move onto the more complicated AWD drifting. So, buckle up, rev your engines, rip that E brake like it owes you something, and hold on for tight for this presentation.

1. Vacant gravel road

2. AWD, manual Subaru

3. Pit Vipers

4. Killer sound system

Drifting in an AWD is much different than your standard RWD (rear-wheel drive) drift. In an AWD vehicle one tire in the front and the rear of the vehicle spin at all times. The use of the Emergency brake is needed in this form of drifting to "break the tires loose." When you break the tires loose, the coefficient of friction is greatly reduced which causes the vehicle to slide. When the vehicle starts to drift an act is needed to reduce the chance of going off the road, that is known as counter steering. Counter steering is referring to the position of the steering wheel during the drifting maneuver, which is turned in the opposite direction to that of the bend. As the famous Doc Hudson once said, "turn right to go left."

Although these two different forms of drifting seem similar, they are actually very different concepts. It is easier to drift in an RWD vehicle versus an AWD vehicle. in an RWD vehicle, generally, only one wheel spins in the rear, therefore all that is needed to drift is to give the vehicle a little bit of gas in order to break the tires loose to start the slide into the turn. Whereas in an AWD vehicle instead of giving the vehicle some gas to break the tires loose, the user relies on the E brake (Emergency brake) to initiate the slide into the turn.

Now that all the science behind the drift is out of the way, it's time to get behind that wheel. The first thing to check is to make sure the E brake works. One way to check that is to place the vehicle on a slight incline, put the vehicle in neutral, once the vehicle starts rolling, pull the E brake if the vehicle stops or locks up the rear tires the E brake works as it should, the last thing to check on the vehicle is the radio, without cool drifting music, the operator cannot achieve the perfect drift, some great drifting songs are: "Tokyo Drift" By Teriyaki Boys or any song from the Fast and Furious franchise. Now since the vehicle inspection and checklist are done, it's time to make the driver's appearance look more appropriate for the perfect drift scene. First things first proper eyewear, no matter what time of day it is always put on the Pit Vipers, it'll make the driver look experienced and sophisticated.

Next, start about a half-mile away from the turn, with this much space, the driver is able to reach the appropriate speed of 60 MPH, its easier to slow down than speed up, and in third gear. Always make sure the gravel road is not busy during the time of the drift. The key to a perfect drift is to picture the perfect drift. For warning- there is no second-guessing or hesitating, let the car eat and rip that E brake.

Now its time to enter the turn, the appropriate speed to enter the turn is 40 MPH, so slow down to 40 MPH, with the clutch in, slip the transmission into first, whether it likes it or not. With the clutch in, start turning the vehicle towards the turn and rip that ol drift lever (E brake) until the vehicle starts sliding, apply some counter steering until proper road alignment is met. Once the vehicle is perpendicular to the road the operator started on, and before the vehicle slips into the ditch release the E brake, mat the gas petal, and dump that clutch. These actions will give power to the tires again and will cause the vehicle to start heading straight. Easy enough right? *I am not liable for any damages that may happen*