Attempting to Drift my CRX
The Thrill of Drifting: A R32 Rivalry and AC Dreams
As I sat behind the wheel of my R32, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and trepidation. My brain went to counter steer, a habit formed from years of drifting experience with all-wheel drive cars like this one. But as soon as I hit the gas, I knew I had to rethink that strategy. The R32's rear wheels were too loose, and I needed to find a new way to induce drift.
I remembered learning how to drift for the first time in an all-wheel drive car, and it was like relearning everything. But this experience was different. The R32's power delivery was smooth and linear, making it easy to induce understeer. All I had to do was rotate the wheels and point and shoot - it was almost too easy. I felt a sense of exhilaration as I drifted around the track, the car responding eagerly to my inputs.
But despite its handling quirks, I loved driving this car. The Honda tone was unmistakable, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia for the classic R32s of old. My dad's sedan was also an R32, and I had always been fascinated by these cars. They were like street-legal drift machines, with the added bonus of being solid and reliable.
One of my favorite things about this car is its rear-wheel drive layout. Unlike the all-wheel drive cars I'm used to drifting, this one requires a different mindset. You have to feel the weight transfer and use the rear wheels to carve through corners. It's a subtle difference, but it makes for a more nuanced driving experience.
As I continued to explore the R32's capabilities, I realized that its biggest limitation was also its greatest strength. The car didn't rev as high as some of its contemporaries, like the R34. In fact, it topped out at around 8,000 rpm - not far from the 9,000 rpm mark of my trusty old Mustang.
But despite this, I felt a sense of excitement whenever I floored it. The six-speed transmission was perfect for this car, and the power delivery was smooth and linear. It's like having the best of both worlds: the handling of a front-wheel drive car, combined with the added stability of rear-wheel drive.
Of course, there were some caveats to driving this car. One of the biggest challenges was getting it started - I had to use the handbrake to initiate drifting, which felt a bit old-school compared to my more modern Mustang. But overall, I loved every minute of driving this R32.
As I looked around at the track, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the opportunity to drive such an amazing car. The sun was shining, and the air was filled with the sound of roaring engines - it was going to be a great day. And as I pulled over to prepare for my next lap, I couldn't wait to get back behind the wheel.
But before I could even start my next session, I had to stop and inspect the car's AC system. Unfortunately, it wasn't working - and I needed to figure out why. It was a good excuse to take a break from driving and focus on getting the compressor or dryer sorted. After all, there's nothing worse than being stuck in Florida heat without air conditioning.
As I waited for my new power setup to arrive, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. This car had been a thrill to drive, and I was eager to see what it could do with a little bit more power. And as I headed over to Clutch Kickers' second event of the day - where I would be joining Engine Mike for a session of drifting and testing - I couldn't wait to put my new car through its paces.
The E36 Round Two: A New Challenge
As I walked onto the track, I could feel the excitement building. My R32 was ready to go, and I was eager to see how it would perform. But before we even started driving, Engine Mike had some good news - his E36's engine was finally refreshed and ready to go.
We spent a few minutes doing a health check on both cars, making sure everything was running smoothly and safely. And then, with a nod from the track officials, we were off. The first thing I noticed as I floored it was how much more traction this car had compared to my Mustang. The E36's rear wheels were still quite loose, but they responded eagerly to my inputs - almost too eagerly.
As I carved through the corners, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the handling of this car. It was like nothing I'd ever experienced before. And as we stopped for our first break, Engine Mike turned to me with a grin on his face - "You know, it's all about feeling the weight transfer," he said.
I smiled back, knowing exactly what he meant. The E36 was a true drift master, and I was honored to be driving it. And as we pulled over for our next session, I couldn't help but feel grateful for this amazing opportunity - and for the chance to drive such incredible cars.