| Drifting is a relatively new motorsport born on the | | | | you can't help but notice it's popularity. |
| mountain roads of Japan known as "touges." While the | | | | "Being at the heart of a new and rapidly evolving sport, |
| actual technique has been relatively common in certain | | | | we noticed that the parts needed to create cars |
| forms of racing, for example American dirt track | | | | capable of performing well in drifting events are to be |
| racers drift through curves in the track, to feature it as | | | | found primarily in Japan. While it did catch us by |
| a sport in and of itself stems from the late 1980s in | | | | surprise at first, we thought special wheels and tires |
| Japan and the late 1990s in the rest of the world. | | | | were pretty much the same the world over, we have |
| A car is drifting when its rear slip angle is greater than | | | | learned that the special equipment needed to drift is |
| its front slip angle, with front wheels pointing opposite | | | | often available only in Japan; ADVAN racing wheels, |
| to the turn while the driver remains in control. In drifting, | | | | for example, were one of our biggest sellers for the |
| the accelerator, and occasionally the brakes, including | | | | 2007 holiday season. |
| the hand brake are the controlling factors for steering. | | | | "So when we sat down to try and decide what to do |
| Drifting competitions are judged based on line, angle, | | | | to begin the Year of the Rat, drifting was a big part of |
| speed, and show factor. Top levels of competition | | | | our discussion. Because of the explosion, worldwide, of |
| have evolved into a professional sport in Japan, | | | | drifting we have had to establish ways to store and |
| Malaysia, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland and | | | | ship car parts within our warehouse/shipping system. |
| the U. K. Recently, in the United States, formula D | | | | The establishment of these modifications within the |
| racing is catching fire. A recent motion picture, Fast | | | | Rinkya system allows us to reduce our surcharges for |
| and Furious, Tokyo Drift, has romanticized the "drift" | | | | the shipping rates on these items, on 4 Rims with Tires, |
| culture in Japan and introduced the sport/hobby to the | | | | from $80 to $20. On 4 Rims without Tires, $80, to $10. |
| rest of the world in a big way. | | | | On 4 Suspension systems, from $30, to $10; and on |
| "The movie was a bit silly," says Rinkya CEO and | | | | intercoolers, the surcharge has been eliminated. |
| Tokyo resident, Heather Russell. "Drift racers don't | | | | "So to all you drifters, worldwide, a little belated holiday |
| race on the streets of Tokyo. However, being in Japan | | | | present. Happy Year of the Rat. |