Driftworks supporting students at Birmingham City Uni

Birmingham University S14a Drift car

As part of Driftworks’ commitment to improving the perception and awareness of all the good things about drifting we have been working with Birmingham City University to get drifting into the avenues that normally wouldn’t be an option. The Motorsport Technology course at the university is a brilliant course because the university is looking at the what students actually find engaging – and what could be more engaging than building, running and driving a drift car supplied by Driftworks? 😀

The car now resides in the impressive Birmingham University stables where they also keep the more traditional Forumula Student cars and off road buggies.

It was fascinating to see what the students had the most interest in when parked up alongside the Formula car and the offroad buggy…

Which is a very strong and very awesome bit of kit. You can actually arrive and drive these buggies on an offroad course at Birmingham Wheels Raceway – including at night!

The buggies are running on HSD Coilovers which we are still developing to make them perfect, but they’re awesome so far!

Anyway, back to the drift car – The cars is a Nissan 200SX S14a which Driftworks has supplied a wealth of tuning parts including the full Driftworks Handling Kit including arms and HSD coilovers, Exhaust and Intercooler,

Driftworks seats, Steering wheel, Driftworks Hydro, Harnesses and a few other goodies. The car has been put together really really well – well thought through and just functional whilst still being completely drivable.

James noticed that the arches hadn’t been rolled yet to accept the Driftworks supplied Rota Grid 18x10j’s – but fortunately as this is a Nissan the tin bodywork was easy to ‘tickle’ out the way.

Which Phil did quite easily using his ninja senses.

The JimsFactory helmet was also on display and went down a treat.

Meanwhile, the buggy was out on track ripping it up whilst Phil strapped himself in the S14a to do a demo for the students just starting this years course.

The car is still running a viscous LSD, but it hooked up well and Phil was able to run the car literally a couple of inches from the wall without any problems.

And as the demo progressed he started to pull bigger and sillier angles around the track whilst still giving the tyres a chance to cool every now and then. The car was perfect and drifted the entire course without any running issues at all – not bad for a first shake down!

After the demo, all the student were invited to look over the cars and have a quick introduction chat from the heads of the courses and meet the teaching staff who have the imagination to build a drift car as a university motorsport project which we think is amazing. I wish my university was this good!!


Phil and James answered questions on the sport of drifting and how to get involved further.

So that’s about it. Hopefully getting students off on the right foot with the right car and the right parts will set them up for a lifetime of happy and competant drifting. If you’re considering Motorsport Technology and you want to get involved with the countries first and only University Drift car, then you know where you need to go!!

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

30 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
tim
tim
13 years ago

great idea, and great for the sport.

John Player
John Player
13 years ago

Excellent well done DW team! like tim says its a great move for the sport!

trackback
Tweets that mention Driftworks supporting students at Birmingham City Uni | Driftworks -- Topsy.com
13 years ago

[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Racing+Waiting, Driftworks LTD. Driftworks LTD said: I bet you wish you went to Birmingham City Uni now… 😀 https://fb.me/JFCCCf6W […]

clare
clare
13 years ago

Wish I was at that uni now, brilliant idea

Brycey
Brycey
13 years ago

Cool idea, but come on. All the cool kids went to Derby Uni to do motorsport tech and mechanical engineering 😉

Eh mattyboi and gunni 😉

Hayes
Hayes
13 years ago

Is this an ongoing thing because I’m looking into studying motorsport in a year or so and this looks plain awesome.

Bon
Bon
Reply to  Hayes
13 years ago

It is indeed ongoing for the forseeable future. 🙂

Rob Portman
Rob Portman
Reply to  Hayes
13 years ago

Hayes if you need any further information in terms of Motorsport Degrees get in touch and I will give you the guided tour of our Uni. Cheers Rob

Hayes
Hayes
Reply to  Rob Portman
13 years ago

That would be great, do you have an email address I can reach you at?

Rob Portman
Rob Portman
Reply to  Rob Portman
13 years ago
Ryan 'Tingles' Tingley
Ryan 'Tingles' Tingley
13 years ago

hey guys, im an addicted follower to Driftworks, and think this is a brilliant idea. Im studying Motorsport at University of Central Lancashire in preston, and wondered if you guys would be open to doing something similar like this again, or even just coming along (possibly with phil and his AWESOME S15) and just seeing how we work ?
Many Thanks, Tingles.

Rob Portman
Rob Portman
13 years ago

Thanks to James and Phil who have made massivecontribution to the Uni over the last couple of years. Sincere thanks both Rob

Rob Portman
Rob Portman
13 years ago

Tingles suggest you transfer to our Motorsport Degree!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Edd Clark
Edd Clark
13 years ago

:(why arn’t i going to birmingham uni! skrew motor vehicle college. you doing good things DW we looove youuu!

kevo
kevo
13 years ago

Any chance of Driftworks possibly kicking off a Student Drift Series similar to Formula Student? Would be pretty awesome. I’m gutted – I study Motorsport Tech at UH. Only slightly jealous.

Kieran
Kieran
13 years ago

Noooo!
Why couldnt you do this for University of Birmingham! 🙁

cr33ch
cr33ch
13 years ago

to be honest id genuinely quit my job to get on that course…

So wish this was avalible when i was in college

Ryan 'Tingles' Tingley
Ryan 'Tingles' Tingley
13 years ago

Student drift series would be legendary !
I sold my E36 BMW just before i came to uni, and im trying to save as much money as possible for another RWD car when i come out. Ive strongly concidered buying JAP RWD here at uni, but wont be able to afford everything =( so may just have to wait till i get home and buy a toy.

ben hansen
ben hansen
Reply to  Ryan 'Tingles' Tingley
13 years ago

dude get an s13 cheap and cheerful! 😉

Nicholas Bolton-Debbage
Nicholas Bolton-Debbage
13 years ago

Please come to coventry university! soooo cool. Lucky group of students!

James Wilson
James Wilson
13 years ago

definalty need to apply to Birmingham this year 😀

ben hansen
ben hansen
13 years ago

Brilliant, hopefully companies and universities in this country will take a move in the same direction as Hennessey have in the u.s by introducing courses private and public to further the more interesting, more realistic motorsports that antone can get into.

Nice work guys! 🙂

dc
dc
13 years ago

This is just awesome pure and simple

respect

Tom larking
Tom larking
13 years ago

Haha Love this ! I am looking at going to this Uni next year and i think this has just made me put this as my option 1

Andyfield
Andyfield
13 years ago

Glad things have worked out ok, good to see my old car is seeing plenty of action.

Ian.G
Ian.G
13 years ago

Thats a really nice touch guys!

Ali
Ali
13 years ago

That’s cool guys, wish you’d done it 6 years ago! Just wondering if any of the old guys are still there, Jens Lahr, David Jones, Ray le (mental) Gallais?

Sean Barrett
Sean Barrett
13 years ago

Nice rear arch work! Any chance I could swing my 200SX round for a similar flare?!

LCD displays
LCD displays
12 years ago

Thank goodness some bloggers can still write. My thanks for this blog post!!!

kuwhislindligh.science
kuwhislindligh.science
8 years ago

We offer a range of housing options, from self-contained flats to adapted accommodation for students with special requirements. Our housing is safe , secure and affordable and offers you the chance to live and study close to the centre of Birmingham , England’s second city.

From the Driftworks Shop

Get the latest product releases & offers...
30
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x