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| Ok, here is where there was a big gap in my story. We were scheduled to practice and qualify that afternoon for the main event that night. Outside the main grandstands there was a huge car lifestyle event going on that I never got to see but I understand it was huge and the drivers all got mobbed and stuff by enthusiastic fans. In the meanwhile the Z was running fine but during our last practice, it blew a head gasket and we had to scramble to try and fix it. We did not have anywhere near enough time but we gave it a shot. Dai became a spectator and we ended up watching the show from the pit lane. Being hard competitors, this sort of thing is hard to take. Especially when we struggled so hard to make it there. Of course I was super busy during this all so no pictures for me to share. After the local guys made their passes, the Formula D guys took to the track and blew the crowd’s mind. Here Tanner and Chris show how it’s done! |
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| Excuse my photography but I was not really planning to take most of our pictures. My luggage was full of tools and spare parts so I only packed a wide angle zoom so here you go, my crappy action shots. Tanner and Chris again. If you want to see real coverage, you can check out wreckedmagazine.com and speedhunters.com |
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| The two Mikes, Mad Mike and Essa. The crowd had been pretty pumped by the local guys since they really had little exposure to drifting before. The best locals were like good drift day people. When the Formula D guys took to the track with 110 mph speeds, high angles, tandem inches apart, smoke and noise, the locals were blown away. They got on their feet and never once sat down for the rest of the event. Formula D guys are great ambassadors. |
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| Tanner and Ken Gushi |
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| Chris and Tanner again. |
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| Chris and Tanner had a fierce battle. |
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| Mad Mike and Tony B. |
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| Frederic Aasbo and Mad Mike. |
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| Abu Dhabi is in the middle of a desolate desert. The sand is fine and silty and causes a brown haze in the air which is always present. The silt is everywhere and settles on everything. Here is an example of silt. That’s why there are always people cleaning everything. The brown air is yucky and you always feel like you have powder on your skin. |
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| More Tanner and Chris. |
