There’s a good reason I get so geeked up about grass roots drifting, and in particular the Sonoma Drift series here at Race Sonoma, in the San Francisco Bay area of California. All the people involved, including the drivers, event organizers and the hundreds of fans that come to each event, give this series everything they’ve got every time they come out. There’s a deeper passion here for drifting, and for the scene in general. Only forty slots are available each Wednesday during the Sonoma Drift season, and every week there is a wait list usually at least a dozen cars deep. That’s commitment. Then, twice a year, there’s a big blowout: Summer Jam and Winter Jam.
There are a few smaller events in the points series but these are the two big shows of the year.
The guys who show up here have something to prove, and an eye towards doing this professionally. And with only sixteen cars making the show, there’s a dozen or more guys going home with their tail firmly tucked between their legs. Even with the broken hearts, there is no quit. These competitors will be back as soon as the Wednesday night program fires back up in the spring, doing their best to improve their skills and try again next summer.
Here are some of my favorites from Sonoma Drift Winter Jam.

















Here’s the rest of the gallery:
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