Anyone going to Formula D this weekend?

[QuietChaos]

It's that time of year again where pro drifters frolick just outside our backyard. Anyone going? It was an annual fixture for me, but I won't be going this year since all my friends have no passports..

Lots of interesting cars on the grid this year, sad to have to miss it.

[canadianjoker]

i was down there with a media pass. got a bunch of photos. need sleep then the editing will commence.

[QuietChaos]

Nice, can't wait to see what you came up with.

[DreadedFist]

Man, I really gotta get my passport. It's kinda BS, I've been travelling all over the united states for my whole life, and now I need a passport? Come on :\

[A18]

I went down on Saturday. The event was pretty good although I disagreed with a lot of the judging. I was pretty disappointed when I heard Ian hadn't made top 32, I was really hoping he would make top 8 to be honest.

On a side rant, I got pulled over on the way home about 10 mins from the raceway. The cop was travelling in the OPPOSITE direction, does a U-Turn, and pulls behind the SUV behind me that I was holding up. Since our cars only have kilometers on the speedo, I figured if I go a bit slower than traffic I should be fine. The minivan I was following was going about 15 kms faster than me, and pulled away. A second group of cars caught up to me, so I figured one of them was going to get the ticket, probably the SUV behind me that had caught up. I was doing about 100 kmph in a 60mph zone (96 km = 60mph). The cop, officer T. Burress of Snohomish County, "gave me a break" and only wrote me a ticket for going 10mph over the limit. Complete bull sh*t profiling. I'm calling the Snohomish police department first thing tomorrow when they open to file a complaint. I will no longer be driving my skyline, or any other RHD vehicle in the states anymore because of this.

[dah_hunter]

Hmm. I have never had an issue in the US.. Im down there weekly in RHD cars... Skyline or Evo.. road tripped to Vegas/LA 3 times,

Will be driving in RHD to New york in a couple weeks.. no issues expected..

[A18]

Hmm. I have never had an issue in the US.. Im down there weekly in RHD cars... Skyline or Evo.. road tripped to Vegas/LA 3 times,

Will be driving in RHD to New york in a couple weeks.. no issues expected..

This was the first time its been an issue for me, but I've only taken my car down 4 times before this. I dunno if I just got the one jerk or what, but I was the slowest vehicle yet I still got pulled over. He came right to the drivers side, which is something very few people do, even in Canada where RHD is more common, instead of going to the passenger side which most people do. This leads me to believe he had something against RHD cars.

On a positive note, I got to meet Chris Forsberg again this year, as well as a bunch of other drivers. Forsberg is a super nice guy and it seems like he always has time for his fans. I love how the drivers at Formula D are all super friendly and down to earth. Did anyone else spy Matt Powers rocking out with the crowd?

[RSi]

All the drivers were nice. That was an INCREDIBLE event. I feel sad for everyone that missed it....

[RSi]

And A18 - I think I passed you on the way back.... I was in the black corvette convertible... I thought you were going slow for some reason

[QuietChaos]

Damn..I really missed out. When I went a few years ago, I spent a few minutes talking with Ken Gushi, who was a super nice guy. And I remember last year Joon Maeng literally spent half the day just answering questions and talking to people. Lot of cool drivers there. Also got Rhys Millen's autograph last year, I'd like to go next year and see if I can chat with Vaughn Gittin Jr, who is an amazing driver.

[QuietChaos]

And A18 - I think I passed you on the way back.... I was in the black corvette convertible... I thought you were going slow for some reason

Hey, did you leave from Abbotsford? I saw a couple C6 Vettes heading towards the border in the morning when I was going to work.

[RSi]

Nah I went through the truck crossing.

[Gaelen]

I had a great time, got royally cooked and was completely drained of all energy by the time I got home. I'll fire up my pictures later.

On a side rant, I got pulled over on the way home about 10 mins from the raceway. The cop was travelling in the OPPOSITE direction, does a U-Turn, and pulls behind the SUV behind me that I was holding up. Since our cars only have kilometers on the speedo, I figured if I go a bit slower than traffic I should be fine. The minivan I was following was going about 15 kms faster than me, and pulled away. A second group of cars caught up to me, so I figured one of them was going to get the ticket, probably the SUV behind me that had caught up. I was doing about 100 kmph in a 60mph zone (96 km = 60mph). The cop, officer T. Burress of Snohomish County, "gave me a break" and only wrote me a ticket for going 10mph over the limit. Complete bull sh*t profiling. I'm calling the Snohomish police department first thing tomorrow when they open to file a complaint. I will no longer be driving my skyline, or any other RHD vehicle in the states anymore because of this.

You're seriously going to stop driving your car to the states because one cop was a ****?.... what about all the canadian cops that are dicks? Are you going to stop driving your car in canada when one of them gives you a ticket for doing the speed limit? seriously man, if that's the case you may as well give up now. I can promise you, there are LOTS of asshole cops out there.

It has nothing to do with the US, I've driven plenty of my RHD cars down and only ever had an issue with a headlight being out because she was really bored.

[Dragon Humper]

I think if you pleaded your case, if you were indeed going SLOWER than the rest of the cars, stood your ground (like KNOWING that 60mp/h is exactly 96km/h) and was POLITE, you could have gotten out of it.

I've gotten out of about 4 tickets in the last 10 years by knowing you were in the right and being politely sure of yourself. I have only one speeding ticket in 10 years, and I speed (10 to 15 over) EVERYWHERE. Always have, always will.


Some US Troopers do have quite the GOD complex though, you might not have stood a chance.




Jon.

[A18]

Gaelen - I've yet to have any trouble with cops in Canada, and I've had my car for over 3 years. In that time I've put on about 35 000 km and never once had a cop cause me any problems. I'd rather just get a ride with a friend next time I go to the states and save any hassles. I'm not saying all cops down there are going to profile, but I'd rather just avoid the whole situation.

Dragon Humper - I was extremely polite when I was pulled over, answering everything with "yes sir" or "no sir". I assumed that since he was "only writing me for doing 10 over" that I must have missed a speed limit sign, and that I was in a 40 or 50 zone and not a 60 zone. That would have meant that everyone else was going even quicker, but I didn't want to cause any problems since I was by myself and about 2.5 - 3 hours from home.

I just got off the phone with his sergeant after filing a complaint. Since I can't contest the ticket (I work full time and don't have time to drive there, back, wait in the border line up, and go to court) I'm pretty much forced to pay the ticket.