International AllStars @ Formula Drift - Atlanta
May 8-9, 2009

Words by: Jordan Riegelhaupt & Tony Nguyen

Pictures by: Tony Nguyen & David Nguyen

On May 9th and 10th 2009 Formula Drift made its annual stop at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia. With the nation’s top drifters sliding around the track, a car show sponsored by JTuned Auto Gallery and sponsors’ booths such as Mazda, Exeddy, Falken, BF Goodrich, Cooper Tires, Flynn’s Detail Products and more it was surely an event that no one should have missed. International AllStars was there representing strong and covering the event from all angles.



What exactly is Formula Drift?

“Entering its sixth year, Formula Drift is recognized as the North American professional drifting championship series. As the first official series in North America, Formula DRIFT has taken competitive motor sports to the extreme attracting fans and car enthusiasts from all walks of life. This high-skilled, high-powered motor sport where drivers intentionally maneuver their cars into well executed, controlled sideways slides at high speeds through a marked course, has more than 60 professional drivers competing in all seven competitions this year.

Judged on execution and style, rather than who finishes the course in the fastest time, Drifting is a guaranteed crowd pleaser, and is often compared to the freestyle nature of skateboarding and motocross.

Formula DRIFT and the drivers serve as ambassadors for the sport of drifting bringing exhibitions to traditional/mainstream motor sports events across the country which have included: multiple Champ Car, World Series races, American Le Mans, USAC, NASCAR Busch North & Featherlite Southwest and the SPEED World Challenge, among others.”

This year International AllStars took part in all areas of the event. Alex Farrington’s NSX was representing strong as one of the 2 Exeddy booth cars. John Marsh, Pete Lutz, and Alex again all had vehicles in the Mazda booth which was manned by Team AllStars members through the whole weekend. Our presence was clearly visible down vendor row. However, we did not stop there, Tony Nguyen and Bing Low were both participants in the JTuned Car Show with a Black and Carbon Fibered Lexus GS300 and a Supercharged VIP Lexus GS400 respectively. Bing even took home top honors being named “Best VIP”.



International AllStars even got to spend some time in the United Way tent (Thanks Monty), who graciously gave us amazing seats and a great view of the drift exhibition right at the horse shoe where all the action was. We also had team members Mike Taylor and Nico Figueroa and their families who came out to support the team in every way possible.


With the majority of the team’s Southeastern members present, it made for a great weekend. If you happened to miss the event, or if you were there and would like to relive the fun, we’ve got the coverage needed to make you feel like you were there alongside with us!




Enjoy the pics below!




Setting up our Mazda booth in Vendor Lane































































Went to visit our friend Steve Flynn at his Detailing Supply Booth







Pete our personal Mazda Body Guard!






























Bubba, our Trailer Guard Dog







Alex cleaning away and getting his car all set up in the Exeddy Booth.



















I dropped my car off at the Car Show Lot which was right above the pits overlooking vendor lane











Nico’s Support Vehicle for the weekend!







Everyone else was busy setting up too!























Attack of the camera!











































































































































































I went home to pick up my cousins. Thanks to Kenny for driving me back to the house. This is a pic I took while he was loading up the Integra and standing in front of his G35.







Came back around 3:30PM with my cousins and caught up with the team. Then we went to go see some drifting!















Got amazing seats with the United Way group! Thanks again Monty for hooking us up in your VIP booth!







Time for some drifiting! Thanks to Kevin Bandy for letting me borrow his 70-300 lens. I forgot mine at the house! This made it a lot easier to take closer and more detailed shots!







































































Packed it up around 7 and headed to the Golden Corral for dinner with the team!