Because People Like to Drift: All Star Bash 2016
All Star Bash (ASB) has become a household name among drift fans, particularly in California and the Southwest. But what is this annual drift-a-bration, who runs the thing and how can you get involved? The good news: It’s all just as simple as you might think.
The Five W's
WHO: Just Drift, LLC
As Southern California’s premier instructional drifting organization and Formula Drift pro-am licensee (a la their Top Drift competition series), these guys have served the Southern California drifting community for over 14 years.
WHAT: Weekend drifting fun for all!
A full weekend of open-to-all (qualifying machines), bash-style drifting, taking place basically from sunup to sundown. Camping is encouraged, pit-parties are in no short supply (after the drifting, of course) and attendees include everyone from advanced pros, to beginners, to fans.
WHERE: California’s Willow Springs International Raceway
Home throughout the summer season to Top Drift competition rounds and JustDrift instruction. ASB drifting takes place on the Horse Thief Mile circuit, as well as the normally-not-for-drifting Streets of Willow road course.
WHEN: October 15-16, 2016 (2017 TBD)
After a full season of drifting instruction and pro-am competition, usually at the close of the professional drifting season as well, and just before the industry scramble of the SEMA Show.
WHY: Because people like to drift!
ASB isn’t a judged event (aside from certain challenges like “Team Drift,” which didn’t happen this year), there are very little rules aside from safety precautions, and the schedule is for the most part open to all. No foam pits, musical acts, or car shows—just drifting, and lots of it.
The Result
Drifters came from all parts of California and as far away as Seattle, Las Vegas and Arizona, in a wide range of machines including tons of potent S13 and S14 Nissan 240SXs with V8, turbo-four and -six engines; Nissan 350Z and 370Zs; Mazda RX-7s (including that one FD with a huge twin-turbo V8!), Ford Mustangs, Toyota Supras and vintage Celicas, BMWs, a RWD-converted Subaru WRX STI, Kevin Armijo and his Tacoma truck, and lots more.
Pros Justin Pawlak and Forrest Wang laid down some of the smokiest, fastest, closest runs of the weekend, and in a unique personal challenge, also some of the slowest. There’s something about seeing brake-dragging, slow-speed, supremely smokey drifts and tandems around the HTM course that have stuck in our memory ever since.
FD Pro 2’s Rad Dan brought out his competition Supra for ride-alongs and solo blasts that stole the show whenever they went down.
Nitto Tire’s Matt Powers led tandem runs and drift trains all weekend long.
Top Drift champ Adam Knapik and runner-up Jason Kim blasted impressive runs consistently enough to remind everyone why they’re at the top of the pro-am game.
And tons of amateur and enthusiast drifters joined forces in constant bouts of tandem and multi-car drifts that perfectly embody what ASB is all about.
Pics or It Didn’t Happen
ASB was once again the drift-bash blast we needed to tide us over until the season sparks up again next year.
