ANIMAL STYLE GP
TWO OF THE USA’S BEST WHEELMEN TOUCH DOWN IN NZ
THREE YEARS ON FROM ITS LAST DRIFT INVITATIONAL, THE TEAM FROM D-CLUB AND C’S GARAGE SHIFTED UP A GEAR FOR 2020’S WILDEST DRIFT PARTY. WITH NONE OTHER THAN A COUPLE OF DRIFT TEAM ANIMAL STYLE’S FOUNDING MEMBERS, A GROUP OF WILD SOUTHERNERS, AND THE CREAM OF THE NORTH ISLAND’S GRASSROOTS SLIDERS, THE FIREWORKS WERE SET TO IGNITE
Truly special drift events, especially those at the grassroots end of the spectrum, rarely come along. These are the days that really crank up the hype volume past 11. They prompt drivers and spectators alike to simply celebrate the mere fact that it’s happening — you know, the ones with the hashtags, the countdown timers, the wistful throwback posts about how damn good the last one was. And that’s only the public hype.
Behind the scenes of an upcoming drift meet, especially one of such lofty proportions, you can put a dollar on the fact that each and every driver will be focusing on bringing something special. Spanners are spun. Last-minute parts anxiously ordered while eyes are kept peeled for the courier. Fresh liveries are applied. Special guests are even teed up to make an appearance, further heightening the sense of occasion.
For the summer of 2020, D-Club, allied with C’s Garage and a band of dedicated helpers, threw what is undoubtedly going to be remembered as one of drift bashes — if not the drift bash — of the year. Last time these collective minds combined, the result was 2017’s Pink Style GP event, with the guests of honour being the Meihan-masters Naoki Nakamura and Miki Takagi, all the way from their Japanese drift homeland.
For 2020, the Hampton Downs Club Circuit played host to another pair of international drivers, Julian Jacobs and Jason Bostrom of Drift Team Animal Style (we met them way back in NZPerformanceCar Issue No. 229). Coming out of North California and sliding onto the scene around 2009, the Animal Style boys, accompanied by a keen team of supporters and better halves, share a remarkably similar trajectory to that of the C’s team.
Style-prioritized drift cars slamming the tarmac in the early days has given way to carefully considered, function-focused set-ups. Aggressive driving is the catch call, influenced no doubt by time spent running walls in Japan. Running as a team is of
Aggressive driving is the catch call, influenced no doubt by time spent running walls in Japan
equal importance to both squads. Subsequently, entrants were encouraged to bring their windscreen banners to the party and run door-to-door with teammates of their own.
For both Julian and Jason, the C’s Garage shop car S13 and the D-Club RPS13 were specially prepped, sporting bespoke Animal Style liveries. The C’s lads brought their A-game, with all three regulars sporting fresh designs down their flanks.
For the first time, the South Island trekked up in force with the Streetmeat, Team Sshhh, 732 Drift, and B-Style boys putting in a mammoth effort to slide on northern soil. The uniquely South Island style was a welcome breath of fresh air — for the most part, a hard-charging bunch with an aversion to ride height.
Speaking of the North, Team Cream showed up with a fivestrong line-up; GOGO!!! represented with a solid trio; as well as everyone’s favourite dining enthusiasts, Team Eat Out, with an eclectic bunch of cars. Filling in the rest of the 45-strong field were hard-charging lone wolves, with everything from D1NZ-spec weapons to street-registered Cefiros. Anticipation permeated the air. Final alignment tweaks were made, tyres fitted up to rims, fluids triple checked, and, as the drivers’ briefing commenced, the sense of occasion was electric.
Easing into it wasn’t on the agenda for most drivers out there. Notable first entries from the scarlet 732 duo — one resulting in a turn-one spin — set the scene for group one, comprised largely of the southern contingent. Confidence built throughout these early sessions, with most guys getting a feeling for Hampton Downs’ fast entry along the pit wall, going progressively deeper with each lap.
How about those Animal Style boys though? Without even a sighting lap, Julian launched his S13 backwards into turn one, giving the assembled throng along the pit wall a taste of what was to develop throughout the course of the day.
Things didn’t fare quite so well for Jason. While adjusting to his first-ever crack behind a wheel on the right-hand side, a handful of very rapidly improving entries put paid to the 180SX’s gearbox.
Without even a sighting lap, Julian launched his S13 backwards into turn one, giving the assembled throng along the pit wall a taste of what was to develop throughout the course of the day
On the plus side, it was an intro to Kiwi drifting camaraderie, with all hands on deck to eventually repair the issue and have the car back on track later in the afternoon.
Some would argue that there’s nothing quite as authentic as the sound of an SR20DET being given absolute death while turning a pair of treads, and, for aficionados of the evergreen Nissan four-pot, the Animal Style GP was akin to aural ecstasy. The flat bark of the many SRs killed any notion of serenity, harking back to simpler days of drifting before the big-power engine-swap craze truly took hold. Not to say things are any less impressive, with big entry after big entry proving grip, a modest power output, and a deft technique on the wheel are ample ingredients for exciting-looking drifting.
The jewel in the crown of the day though, was a judged team drift competition with banter-filled voice-over from Mez, of Wreck ’Em fame.
The C’s boys always come in hot for this stuff, and no exception was made this time, as they barrelled into the corner entry backwards just centimetres apart, with Julian of Animal Style well and truly in the mix. This is the kind of team drift stuff that really ought to be encouraged more in our scene — it’s a proper spectacle, fostering hard driving and trust in your teammates. Taking out the honours, in the end, was the Team Jenkins pairing of Ben Jenkins with its shop S14, and Vincent Pieterse with his S14, assembled from spare parts. Honourable mentions go to the Eat Out lads for an impressive overtake, and the B-Style trio from down south with a wild display of three-car chaos rounding out the podium.
Like we said, there’s something special about these oncein-a-while drifting spectaculars. They strike a blurry line between the absolute casualness of a grassroots test day but stop short of the stress of a full-blown competition day. With guys like Julian and Jason coming across and showcasing their brand of driving, the locals pull out the stops to impress, and progress. For the second time around, the D-Club GP and C’s Garage hype was totally founded. Wry grins gave way to cool beverages at the day’s end, each attendee confident in the knowledge that they have once again been privy to some of the finest sideways shenanigans on Kiwi soil, courtesy of a band of dedicated Kiwis and a couple of American madmen. All we can say is, bring on the next.