Round Six Formula Drift at Infineon Raceway

So here we are again. Formula Drift round 6 of 7 happening at Sonoma's Infineon Raceway. The event was initially planned to be in September but pushed forward to coincide with the Indy Racing League event happening the same weekend. No complaints. I get antsy when I don't have things to shoot. Nevertheless, starting shooting practice on Thursday, then top 32 competition on Friday. To be honest, this entire week is pretty much a blur and I don't remember much of what happened. All I know is that I slept in Sunday and it was damn good.

So Thursday competition was open after the IRL finished their practice runs and the Formula Drift drivers could go at it, utilizing turns 4a (starting point) and 7 as the main sections of the track, however there would be no on-track shooting that day. Friday competition was pretty intense. Stuck myself on the shooting island and had 90mph+ runs going by. Hooray for a good breeze or we'd be sitting in a cloud of smoke just like Las Vegas.

Afterwards, hung out with photographer gangsters Steve Demmitt and Allen Chu. They booked a hotel. In the ghettos of Santa Rosa. With a club connected to it. Needless to say they crashed at my place the next night. Right on for Allen not being a bitch and coming out to party. Steve doing stupidness and getting a girl's number but not cocaine. Formula Drift's Ceso for just being sav and staying up for hours on end. Ms. Formula Drift Miki Taka DJ'ing at Horizon and music swap. I loves me some house and trance.

Main competition was Saturday. Unfortunately I was DJ'ing a wedding and did not attend the show. Heard it was a good one. Calvin Wan and Chris Forsberg went at it again. And bashed each other again. The non-qualifying Formula Drift drivers got to do 3 laps of Infineon. Which is pretty damn awesome as every sports network and thousands of fans get to see the madness that is drifting. Ryuji Miki (Apex-i RX7) took third place. Ken the Gush took second which is high five awesome. Extremely damn proud for Stephan Verdier for taking home top honors. This guy has been competing for three years in his STi, balls out every run and takes home his first victory. I would like to pat him on the shoulder. On with the pictures!

Shot with :
Nikon D80 / Nikon D2H (with insaneo sensor dust) (yay corby for cleaning it out)
Sigma 100-300 f4, Tokina 12-24 f4, Nikon 18-70
Camel pack of water which I left in the trunk
Yogurt Soju and korean fried chicken
Demmitt's backpack/laptop contraption

My shooting island for Friday. Again it was 90+ degrees and I forgot my water. I keep doing that. Bunch of Indy Racing photogs were out there mixing it up with us guys.


Kenji Yamanaka
5.6L Titan engine stuffed in an S15
You bet it sounded nutty


Robbie Nishida


Jodin LeJeune
Supercharged 5.6L V8


Ken Gushi


Infineon Raceway of Sonoma California
The 1320 right behind the holding area


Kyle Mohan


Samuel Huuuuuuuubinette


Holding Area
Ross Petty, Calvin Wan, Ryuji Miki, Ryan Tuerck, Rhys Millen and Darren McNamerra


Mike Essa, who needs a bumper?


Rhys Millen


Tony Brakiohapa
Driving instructor at Infineon Raceway


Stephan Verdier


Taka Aono kicks up some dirt


Calvin Wan


Tanner Foust finishing up his run


N1 Concepts J's Racing S2000


Taka Aono and Matt Powers


Battle Scars


JTP


Kyle Mohan


Tanner Foxy Foust


Daijiro My Hair is Cool Yoshihara


Robbie Nishida


DMac


That'll wrap it up for this weekend. Now getting ready for a busy fall season. Oh and DJ'ing at Temple this Thursday (8.27.09) shameless plug I know. Peace.Out.Side.