Formula Drift Round One: Long Beach – Friday

This is the best time of the year.  Forget about the flowers blooming, and the warming weather; it’s racing season.  Series all over the globe are kicking off, and right here in Southern California, one of the most exciting is now in full swing.  Formula Drift is like no other professional exhibition of speed you will ever witness.  The noise, the smells, the action, and the people.  My senses are overwhelmed as I take it all in, and I am happy.   I have been anxiously awaiting this day since attending the finale at Irwindale last fall.

Here are some of my favorite photos from Friday action.

Ken Gushi is one of my favorite drivers both in Formula Drift and up at Pikes Peak.  Here he waits for his turn during the second run of Qualifying.

2012 Formula Drift Champion Daigo Saito.  I don’t think anyone in FD makes smoke like Saito.

Toshiki Yoshioka brought out a brand new Subaru BR-Z this year.  Toshi King is another fellow Pikes Peak competitor.  And he’s really good at that, too.

Through the tire smoke and haze, Justin Pawlak gives the wall a kiss.

Mr. Keezer taking a break between qualifying runs.

Fredric Aasbo in late afternoon practice.

Dai Yoshihara does an interview with the Formula Drift video crew in front of the car he drove to the championship in 2011.

The sun begins to set on the first day of the new Formula Drift season.

When Tyler McQaurrie pops an engine, his crew gets a cooler full of beer as an apology.  Not bad.

More photos and cool stuff tomorrow…ok, I sleep now.

Check out the gallery below:

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