This trip set forth with me, my iPod, and the open roads of this nation… towing the e46 solo-style across America’s interstate highways from right coast to left and back again. Three twelve-hour days of blaring heavy metal across the continent, sketched out truck stops, drive-thru windows, and rest stops, and 2400 miles later… I came to rest in Burbank, CA – about 10 hours before the Formula D Media day.

Irwindale Speedway was the one track I was scared of all season. I think just about everyone I know has wrecked there – so that was always in the back of my mind. Right off the bat, I realized my car wasn’t prepared to handle the track layout. Beyond underpowered, and still lacking the right suspension setup… I couldn’t link the track right all day. I scored another flat tyre… this time after six runs (versus two in Chicago). My torque wrench accidentally went home with Dan after Chicago… so I was stranded for a little while without a way to change my wheels – everyone was down on track… so there was nobody to ask. :/ Towards the end of the day, I started to make sense of things… although I wanted to hold my angle too long coming out of the bank which would cause me to kickback and spin. I just couldn’t manage to link the section from the bank to the infeild. I’ve never initiated so fast. It definitely took some getting use to.

Qualifying the following day went well. The caliber of driving put on by everyone there was about two steps above top-notch. You could really tell that it was the home track to many of them. It was impressive to watch, and inspiring to be driving with these madmen. I knew my chance of making the main event was slim-to-none… so as long as I rocked that BMW as hard as I could and have the time of my life in the process, I would be happy. Those goals I hit head on. I gave that li’l car as much hell as she could handle, and walked away very pleased with my runs… so no complaints.

Post qualifying, at the end of the day… I just sorta stood track-side staring at the infamous “House of Drift”. I was just plain awestruck at what I had just done. I dove head-first into the American professional drift series… and pulled it off. How I pulled it off, I still don’t really know.

I once had this dream, and standing there trackside at dusk… I realized that it wasn’t a dream anymore. It was right in front of me… all around me… encompassing everything I do. That dream was right in the palm of my hand… and it never felt better.