Before I go any further, I think I should bring to your attention my most recent Drift Posse video:

This video covers the Drift Mania Canadian Championships Round 4 at Montmagny, Quebec; and what a round it was!! Tensions were pretty high in the Drift Posse camp for this round as just a week before at XDC New Jersey, Pat Cyr’s car had chewed up a diff. With a replacement diff on order from California and just a week until DMCC, Pat had no choice but to dig into the big old box of Corolla parts for his old welded stock differential, and that was mounted into the car. Needless to say, with a much weaker differential everybody was pretty nervous about when/if this diff would give out.

Brad Carlton’s weekend came with its own set of problems, as his car was suffering a mysterious lack of power issue that remained unsolved throughout the entire weekend.

With all of this in the backs of the minds of the Drift Posse drivers, they were still able to make a good account of themselves. Brad was able to qualify to make it into the Top 16 battle against Kevin Grenier. Grenier, who seems to always have an edge at this track was definitely on fire against Brad, and was able to close the deal against the severely underpowered 240SX, but Brad’s ruthless style was still evident throughout the battle!

Though Brad had put up a valiant fight, it was now up to Pat to hold things down for the Drift Posse team! Pat’s first battle was against Grenier’s teammate in Dominic Desrosiers with his V8 powered R33 Skyline. Pat was able to put Desrosiers down without much trouble, but he didn’t go down without putting on a good show for the crowd, warming them up for the intense battles that were to unfold!

The next driver in Pat’s sights was none other than Kevin Grenier himself! Having been stacked into the same side of the ladder, Pat was now in a position to take immediate revenge on Grenier for taking out fellow Drift Posse driver Brad Carlton. Grenier wouldn’t go down without a fight however, taking Pat to a One More Time battle before losing the closely fought tandem battle.

With the trusty little hachiroku still moving right along, Pat had none other than 2009 Series Champ Matt Waldin to go against. Unfortunately Pat would have to take the loss on this one, with an error in strategy causing him to drop behind Waldin in his following tandem lap.

This did however still leave Pat in contention for the 3rd place spot on the podium, and the man standing between him and his goal was David Briggs, fellow Ontario drifter. After a tight battle, Pat was declared the winner and earned his spot onto the podium once again, albeit in the 3rd place spot!

On top of this event we’ve also been keeping pretty busy locally, with having done a demo gig just before DMCC at Delaware Speedway, and then judging CSCS just afterwards (which reminds me, big props to Drift Posse pro-am driver Francisco Becerra for making it to the top 8 at CSCS)! Another week later and we were invited to attend the Mosport Grand Prix by Sasha Anis from SG Motorsports, who is driving in the Castrol Touring Car Series in the Castrol Hyundai Genesis. This event was epic in and of itself, with filming being a pretty stressful experience when you’ve got 4 kms of track to cover, and only 30 minutes to do it. I think I got some neat footage though, so be sure to look out for that video in the near future!

I digress, we’re now in preperations for what will likely be the most exciting event of the DMCC season, Round 5 at St. Eustache. The Drift Posse boys are pumped and ready to put on one hell of a show for all the Montreal fans!

::Dan

By the way, if you’re in the area over the next couple evenings, you should not be finding yourself anywhere other than JRP’s Two night Midnight Madness Sale starting Friday August 13th. Go find what you wanna buy at http://www.jrponline.com/!!

BUILT NOT BOUGHT.

THAT IS ALL.

:: Dan

Round 3 of the Drift Mania Canadian Championships was held at ICAR Motorsports Complex at Mirabel Airport, and it was the first time ever for the series to hold a round at this venue. We had heard rumours and speculations before the event, but really didn’t know what to expect going into it. As the rigs all pulled in to the track in the morning the usual lineup formed at the opening gate and we were subjected to sitting and waiting to get let in to the venue. This time was different from usual, however, because just beside us was a small hill, and just over the hill was the race track. So, in all my little boy-ish giddyness I hopped out of the truck and up the hill to get a look. To be honest with you, it was actually a really radical Hollywood moment that would’ve best been captured with a crazy camera crane rig, but I somehow was too dumbfounded to lift up my camera and take a picture…

In front of me was one of the smoothest, nicest laid out race tracks that I’ve yet had the privilege to attend. Paved entirely with concrete, and with no grass or dirt to be seen, it was really something to behold, akin to going to a mythical F1 track or something. I felt more than any other place before that I was at a track that was made for fast paced racing, and that was exactly what I was about to see.

As we made our way into the pit area, things began getting underway, and it wasn’t long before the event was in full swing. The first day started off with ProAm practice, so we were able to get a chance to get stuff unpacked and get our pits in order. Shortly after ProAm practice ended it was time to get to work, with the Pro drivers all eagerly lining up to tackle what looked to be a difficult new course.

The course consisted of what was technically two turns (three, if you count the double apex corner at the end). Basically the cars would rip through the gears off the starting line, and initiate at full speed into the first corner, which was a nice little left hander with not a lot of room for error. The important part for the judges (as far as I know) was for the cars to be going as fast as possible through that particular clip, while staying on line/on track (which a lot of drivers found difficult throughout the weekend). This first corner probably saw the most havoc all weekend, with guys throwing themselves into the tirewall on several different occasions, splashing nasty tire water on unsuspecting photographers who stood on the other side of the wall. The next corner was a big double apex right hander, where the tandem got really tight on more than a couple occasions, but walls were far enough away that danger in a literal sense was fairly easily escapable.

As I mentioned before, the track is paved smooth with concrete, and I think smooth is almost an understatement in this situation. As opposed to the kind of car hopping that one would see at previous rounds at Downsview Airport in Toronto, this track had the cars practically gliding over the track, and apparently being really nice on the tires as well. Along with this smoothness, however, came the lack of grade changes or banked curves which everybody oh-so-loves to see, and which also makes for some pretty spectacular film. Still, though difficult the drivers were able to put on a damn good show and keep the crowds happy.

As for the Drift Posse boys, it was an interesting weekend to say the least, with car malfunctions preventing both Brad Carlton and Peter Chrisikopoulos from making the Top 16 battles. Pat Cyr, however, was on a tear all weekend, and proved it by winding up at the top of the podium at the end of the day.

With a 2nd place qualifying lap, Pat had confidence going into his battle with Damien Bagley in the Top 16. With his lead lap, Pat was able to gain a 2-car distance from Bagley right from the beginning, holding that distance throughout the course. Pat’s following lap went perfectly to plan, as he stayed nice and tight to Bagley and clinched the win.

Next up in the Great 8 was Dave Briggs, fellow Ontario drifter and the winner of XDC Round 1. Dave was looking good all weekend, and it made for an extremely exciting battle. Distance would again be the deciding factor however, as Pat gained a nice lead on his leading lap and made sure to get in nice and close on his following lap, gaining victory in the eyes of the judges. It was beginning to become clear that Pat was turning into “Mr. Consistency”, as his line was spot on for every single run in competition.

Feeling awful satisified with himself having taken out an S15, and then an S14, it was about time for Pat to try picking on someone his own size. The Top 4 battle saw Pat matched up against AE86 driver Greig Basdeo, who just recently switched his F20 powerplant over to turbo for a little extra punch. Needless to say, extra punch is what Greig got. With a great showing in practice, Greig was able to work his way up the ranks to the Final 4, and I think everyone was pretty pumped to see some AE86 carnage. It was a close battle, but Pat’s iron-like consistency proved to be the determining factor in this one. In the following lap Pat was able to stay nice and close. As Basdeo rounded the second corner on his way to the third clipping point he went really badly off line and was almost passed by Pat, but Pat stayed in behind totally sideways to leave no doubt in the judge’s minds who was running the proper line.

In the finals it would end up being a matchup that many are expecting to see again a few more times this year. Marc Landreville had a pretty rollercoaster-like weekend, with his engine blowing up on the practice day, he was unable to find himself replacement parts in time for the next day. Being a nice guy has its benefits however, as Marc was able to convince one of his friends (who also happened to be competing in the Pro Am comp) to let him use a beautiful Green S14 instead of the broken pink monster. Clearly being in a different vehicle is no obstacle to a top notch driver like Landreville, and he was able to make his way up the opposite side of the ladder to meet with Pat at the top. Like all of the battles that had gone before, Pat’s high speed and consistency that could challenge the will of  a chess playing robot wowed the fans and judges. There was no doubt in anybody’s mind who was the winner, and in the end it had all gone down without a single “One More Time” battle.

So, although there were some mishaps for the Drift Posse team, it was indeed an overall success in the end, and the whole team is pumped for next round at Montmagny!! It should be really exciting this year, with a little surprise!! Mind you before that we’ll be attending XDC at Englishtown in the next couple weeks, so keep your eyes and ears peeled on DriftPosse.com for more coverage!!

>> Dan Cyr

-Dan

With Peter Chrisikopoulos’ car still in sick bay, Drift Posse was again represented by Pat Cyr and Brad Carlton throughout the weekend.  Both drivers were looking hot in practice, and of course were able to get in some stellar tandem runs with each other as well as other drivers.

Brad vs. Mats Baribeau

Pat vs. Brad

Race day arrived, and the early morning was met with cloudiness and some scattered showers. It made for some grip issues with most of the drivers, but they persevered through the rain until the sun came out just before qualifying runs. Pat qualified in 5th place, placing himself against Maxime Truchon in Top 16.  Brad wound up with a 7th place qualification, placing himself against Greig Basdeo in Top 16.

Brad’s first battle against Greig Basdeo was a tough one, with Greig really starting to get the hang of his F20 powered Toyota Corolla AE86, he was able to give Brad a good run for his money; however Brad was able clinch the victory after going to a One More Time battle, proving that the Drift Posse’s strategy of vicious speed and tight tandem is beginning to pay off.

Brad vs. Greig Basdeo

Pat met with Maxime Truchon in the Top 16. Things went fairly well for Pat, as he laid down a blazing lead lap that left Truchon behind in the judges eyes to give Pat the go ahead into the Great 8.

Brad’s next battle would pit him against Matt Waldin, who would prove again that he wasn’t the DMCC Champion last year for no reason. Brad put up a valiant effort, pasting himself on Waldin’s door for the most part of his follow lap, but was unable to eke out a victory in the judge’s eyes, and so his weekend was over in the Great 8.

Brad vs. Matt Waldin

Pat next matched up against Bob Patinka in the Great 8. This battle went pretty much exactly to plan for Pat, as he laid down a stellar leading lap against the V8-powered 240 of Patinka. Pat was then able to stick like glue in the following lap against Patinka, forcing Patinka to spin wildly in the middle section, which would give Pat the nod into the Top 4 battle!

Pat vs. Bob Patinka

Though given the stereotype of politeness and friendliness, nobody ever said that Canadians weren’t a vengeful type of folk, and Pat decided to prove this point in his Top 4 battle against the American, Matt Waldin, who was able to take out Brad earlier that day.  With Waldin leading first, Pat was able to really have some fun right off the bat, practically knocking on Matt’s door throughout the entire lap, and made sure to leave an impression on the judges by sliding right into prime view of Matt’s side mirror in the final corner, possibly making for one of the most exciting battles throughout the weekend. Surely thinking about nothing more than Corolla headlights, Matt was subsequently left in the dust by Pat’s lead lap, maintaining a couple cars’ distance by the final corner, giving the judges no choice but to send Pat through to the Final Battle!

Pat vs. Matt Waldin

Climbing the opposite way up the ladder was Marc Landreville, who ended up against Pat in the finals, and it was definitely a good one! Though Marc proved to be consistent in his following lap against Pat, he was ultimately taken out by Pat’s vicious line and of course tight tandem in the following lap, making sure to once again put himself right on Landreville’s door in the last corner, leaving the judges no choice but to declare Pat Cyr as the winner of Drift Mania Round 2 at Autodrome Montmagny!!

Pat vs. Marc Landreville

Pat would like to thank his sponsors: Kumho Tire, Bully Clutch, Vibrant Performance, Visual Sugar Media And Design, U2Ndyno, Stingray Auto, Davis Custom Autobody, and Apple Autoglass Mississauga

Brad would like to thank his sponsors: Bully Clutch, HSD Suspension, JRP, and Visual Sugar Media and Design.

Thanks to JAGImaging for the pictures!

Victory!

Keep posted for the next drift day!

-Dan

-Dan

-Dan

But before we go any further, I should mention that we’ve got a new logo up and running finally! I gotta say, I’m really stoked about this one. Past logos were too simple, or downright hard to print, but now I think we’ve gotten a handle on the situation! And now,  here it is, the official unveiling!!! Check it out:

I think we’ve definitely got a winner here! Stock up now on your t-shirts, with more gear to come in the near future!!

And now for some slightly more important news, Drift Mania Canadian Championships Round One is now behind us and in the books. Excitement was oozing from every moment of action at this event, and it was a hell of a weekend for the Drift Posse boys!  The weekend started with a bang, with Drift Posse’s newest member Peter Chrisikopoulos meeting with the wall in practice on Saturday. Peter is confident, however, that he and the car will be more than ready to really tear some faces off at Montmagny for DMCC Round 2. Pat Cyr and Brad Carlton continued throughout the practice day with some good practice runs, even managing to get in a couple tandem runs with each other to really pump up the fans.

Picture by JAGImaging / Hosted by Burn-Out.ca

Sunday went by just as smoothly, once again. Practice went by with no problems of any sort, and both Pat and Brad were looking ready to make their respective ways to the top of the podium. This was confirmed when both drivers battled for the top qualifying spot, in the end with Brad qualifying in first, and Pat right behind qualifying second, which put them on opposite brackets for the competition. Pat’s day would be cut short in the Great 8 battle against Dave Briggs, due to a throttle cable malfunction mid-run that prevented Pat from being able to continue. Brad would not let his teammate’s loss go unavenged, however, taking a win over Dave Briggs in the battle for 3rd place, making his way up to the podium for the first time. With all this being said, I’m really a lot better at expressing the weekend’s events in video format. So here it is, I present to you the latest Drift Posse video! Enjoy!

-Dan