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While speed may offer its own adrenaline rush, drifting elevates it another notch, adding finesse, precision, and style to the equation. It's a primal urge to break traction and get sideways in a seductive dance of controlled chaos. It's a tailor made venue for the LS engine – a symphony of power and torque, capable not only of blistering straightaway runs but also unparalleled tire shredding and lateral locomotion. LS Fest West showcases some of the leading maestros of momentum demonstrating their sideways mojo, transforming the asphalt into a slip-sliding playground of pure automotive bliss.
With only 16 spots available in LS Fest West’s Sunday Shred drift competition, the 32 drivers that made it to Saturday’s practice session and competition must be in top form. We’ve got some Saturday drift action for you and some info on a couple of the competitors hoping to advance in the bracket and take home some of the prizes Holley has lined up for those on the podium.
Anthony “Chowder” Howard is a Vegas local competing in his first LS Fest drift event. He didn’t have a sidewise, V8-powered tire-shredder in mind when he purchased his 1985 318i about six years ago. He’d planned on a mild restomod, but Andy Hately’s V8 E30 inspired him to complete an LS swap three years ago and he’s been drifting it ever since. There’s an LQ9 6.0L under the hood that runs on a Terminator X Max ECU and sends power through the stock BMW transmission and differential.
Cody Breitenstein brought his 1992 240SX from Hawthorne, California, marking the third time he’s made the trip to LS Fest West, and the second time as a competitor. He’s owned the car for about six years, and it didn’t take him long to jump into drifting. It’s powered by an LQ4 6.0L with ported heads from Texas Speed and puts its power to the differential though a G-Force GRS four-speed dog-box transmission. After about five years of drifting, he’s got about 10-11 drift events on his calendar this year.
Cody and the rest of the top 32 drift contenders will be giving it his all with hopes that there will be some prize money replenishing the tire budget. Make sure you’re around on Sunday evening to see if your favorite drive advances through the bracket and comes out on top at LS Fest West.
