There will be no wading in slowly from the shallow end of the pool.  There will be no gentle stroll through the park on the way to a quiet picnic.  And there will definitely be no rest for the weary; those who found themselves scrambling until the last moment, and even beyond, before taking to the streets in Long Beach for the eleventh season of the most exciting automotive series on the calendar.  Most Exciting is only a subjective term until you see it in person for the first time.  Then you’re hooked and you can’t help but be glued to it.  It captures your attention in the first few moments and lets go only several hours after you’ve left the venue.  You know that what you’ve just seen is a completely special event.

Insanely fast cars, each making its own glorious mechanical noise, fly past you at an irresponsibly fast rate of speed while pitching themselves sideways, just inches away from each other, the walls, and perhaps even the edge of practical reason.   In simple terms…It’s insanity reign supreme.  It is rage and speed and smoke, and the deafening scream of horsepower…and it is good.  Sensory overload in the best possible way.

Go.  Go now, my dear friends.  Find your way to this: the pinnacle of tire shredding awesomeness on four wheels.  Go as soon as you can.  You will be happy.

Here are some of my favorite photos from the opening round of the 2014 Formula Drift Championship: Streets of Long Beach.

 

Friday Action:

Beautifully prepared BMW e30, driven by Andy Hateley. Andy would not make the top 32 this weekend.
Beautifully prepared BMW e30, driven by Andy Hateley. Andy would not make the top 32 this weekend.
Justin Pawlak making his way through the hairpin.
Justin Pawlak making his way through the hairpin.
Longtime SCCA corner work Bil Baldwin has a new position on the opposite wall from his normally familiar location.
Longtime SCCA corner work Bil Baldwin has a new position on the opposite wall from his normally familiar location.
Chelsea DeNofa gets it close to the wall.
Chelsea DeNofa gets it close to the wall.
Vaughn Gittin Jr. gets it close.
Vaughn Gittin Jr. gets it close.
Sometimes the cars leave parts behind.
Sometimes the cars leave parts behind.
Staged and ready to roll off the Long Beach starting line.
Staged and ready to roll off the Long Beach starting line.
Warming the tires on the starting line leaves copious amounts of smoke.
Warming the tires on the starting line leaves copious amounts of smoke.
Darren Macnamara flings his car into turn nine.
Darren McNamara flings his car into turn nine.
2013 Champion Michael Essa makes his way through the pit area.
2013 Champion Michael Essa makes his way through the pit area.
Hankook Tire model, Erica Nagashima, makes a photographers job very easy.
Hankook Tire model, Erica Nagashima, makes a photographer’s job very easy.
Fredric Aasbo in line for Friday evening practice.
Fredric Aasbo in line for Friday evening practice.
Luke Crowell makes sure the starting area stays running smoothly.
Luke Crowell makes sure the starting area stays running smoothly.
Ryan Tuerck gets his steely eyed focus face on before his evening practice runs.
Ryan Tuerck gets his steely eyed focus face on before his evening practice runs.
Daigo Saito leads Vaughn Gittin Jr. through the turn 10 complex during Friday evening practice.
Daigo Saito leads Vaughn Gittin Jr. through the turn 10 complex during Friday evening practice.
Conrad Grunwald gets a little air under his front tire, showing how much grip there is in slip driving.
Conrad Grunwald gets a little air under his front tire, showing how much grip there is in slip driving.
Friday evening practice has Fredric Aasbo and Daigo Saito going head to head.
Friday evening practice has Fredric Aasbo and Daigo Saito going head to head.

Saturday Action:

Kyle Mohan has the wall help him disassemble his wheel going into turn 10. Despite the crash, Mohan would prevail in the round of 32, repair the car and come back for the round of 16.
Kyle Mohan has the wall help him disassemble his wheel going into turn 10. Despite the crash, Mohan would prevail in the round of 32, repair the car and come back for the round of 16.
Kyle Mohan lets the crowd know he's OK after his spectacular crash in turn 10.
Kyle Mohan lets the crowd know he’s OK after his spectacular crash in turn 10.
Speedhunters Larry Chen and his always present 400mm. Larry is the official photographer for Formula Drift and is always in touch with the goings-on via radio.
Speedhunters Larry Chen and his always present 400mm. Larry is the official photographer for Formula Drift and is always in touch with the goings-on via radio.
Aasbo leads Landrivelle through the chute between turns 9 and 10 in the round of 32.
Aasbo leads Landrivelle through the chute between turns 9 and 10 in the round of 32.
Forsberg leads Dai Yoshihara into turn 10 during the Top 32 battles.
Forsberg leads Dai Yoshihara into turn 10 during the Top 32 battles.
The voice of Formula Drift, Jarod DeAnda. "Send it!"
The voice of Formula Drift, Jarod DeAnda. “Send it!”
Dai Yoshihara raises funds to help the recovery effort in Japan.
Dai Yoshihara raises funds to help the recovery effort in Japan.
2013 Formula Drift Chmpion, Michael Essa
2013 Formula Drift Champion, Michael Essa
Pawlak led Tuerck in the round of 16.
Pawlak led Tuerck in the round of 16.
Forsberg leads McNamara in the round of 8.
Forsberg leads McNamara in the round of 8.
Final Battle between Forsberg and Moen.
Final Battle between Forsberg and Moen.
Your podium: 1. Chris Forsberg 2. Kenny Moen 3. Michael Essa
Your podium: 1. Chris Forsberg 2. Kenny Moen 3. Michael Essa
Your podium press conference.
Your podium press conference.
...and the sun sets on round 1 of the 2014 Formula Drift season.
…and the sun sets on round 1 of the 2014 Formula Drift season.
Top 32 Bracket
Top 32 Bracket

So there it is, kids.  We’ll have more stories from Long Beach, including a quick chat with Matt Field, and the issues he encountered, as well as a “people watching” post, and finally a full photo gallery of all the action. Stay tuned.