Mustang Tips: Want to Drift an Automatic? Watch This.
How to drift an automatic without using cafeteria trays.
Once an obscure underground motorsport unique to Asia, drifting has evolved rapidly and now stands at the forefront of extreme motorsports. The cars that professionals use are exclusively manual transmission vehicles. The fine inputs that a manual allows are critical to the precise maneuvers of pro drifting, but what if you just want to go lay down some rubber and put a smile on your face? Can an automatic Mustang do the job?
All About Momentum
Yes. Yes, you can drift in an automatic transmission car. YouTuber Chelsea DeNofa demonstrates the proper technique in his video, appropriately titled HOW TO DRIFT AN AUTOMATIC CAR. No Clutch, No Problem. LETS SHRED IT!
DeNofa does a great job of laying out the reason for his choice of components. By mounting medium-wear performance tires and upgraded brake pads, the amateur drifter tweaks the track manners of his Mustang test car for optimal drift performance.
Breaking it Loose
The next step is to get sideways. DeNofa begins the on-track portion of the video by demonstrating a burnout, which might actually be simpler in an automatic transmission-equipped car. After a smokey burnout, it’s on to the tarmac for doughnuts, where our driver demonstrates how to use throttle to break the back end lose.
Even though some of what he demonstrates might seem simple to veteran drivers, the video does a great job of explaining the basics of how to adjust the car’s degree of turn-in using the throttle. He also describes the all important technique of counter-steering, which allows a driver to control the car’s rear end to keep from going out of control.
Lastly, our host goes over techniques to initiate a drift. Probably the most fun maneuver that Chelsea demonstrates is the infamous “Scandinavian flick,” which involves loading one side of the car’s suspension and then flicking it back to swing the rear end loose. You can use also handbrake turns to achieve a drift, and DeNofa handily demonstrates how to do one of those too.
For those who own an automatic but want to experience the adrenaline rush of drifting a car, this video is a great place to start. DeNofa is an approachable host who understands what he’s doing and explains it in a way that’s easy to follow.
Drift on over to the forums for more!
