There's a drifting howto on the civic SI forum. It covers all the basics for all the different drivetrain layouts. I don't have a direct link, but if you cant find it let me know.

 

Here are few sites to check out:
http://minuitauto.tripod.com/
http://www.driftclub.com/
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Towers/2771/

Do NOT try to learn about drifting from *** draggers. It seems like they get all of their instructions from Stupor Street or the like. With the above sites I listed, they can take you even farther out with their links. If you are going to try drifting, practice in a large parking lot with nobody around. Industrial parks are good for this. America is full of people that feel like they are doing the world a favor by calling the cops when somebody is having fun and they don't understand it. If the parking lot is wet, all the better. You can start out with slower speeds and still break traction easily. All without too much noise which, again, attracts attention. If you find a good place to practice, keep it to yourself so the Honda crews don't come out and try to practice what they just read in SS and ruin your good time.
As far as your car goes, make sure everything is in good shape first. Drifting breaks parts. I'm not sure what kind of car you have (I won't assume anything) but RWD, 5 speed, and a LSD are the basic ingredients. You don't need to buy anything for your car right away, unless you can afford it. Good tires up front with crap in the back works very well. Learn your car very well. Go to autoXes to get to know your car at the limits even better if you don't already.
Keep it safe out there of course. But above all else remember that drifting is about fun. Those with attitudes need not apply. Drifting isn't all about going sideways, but is a way of life. If you have any questions, e-mail me. I left out a lot of things because I'm very slow at typing. Good luck.

jerk_racer@hotmail.com

 

Also be careful if you took your powersteering out. Drifting without it can rip the wheel out of your hands if you aren't holding on tight. Dont ask how i know!

 

on the civc si forum? hahahahhhahhhahahahah

 

I do lots of drifting, and it does take lots of practice. A good way to get the feel of a 4 wheel drift is done by waiting for a rainy day, find a corner with some run-off room (no ditches, trees, parked cars) go around the corner at about 30mph and just before the apex start to SLOWLY feed it gas untill the rear swings out. Keep your foot in it and counter steer, making sure not to over correct. get good at this befor trying it on dry pavement, things happen a lot faster! good luck have fun, use your car for what it was ment for!! get good enough and you will emparass much more powerfull and expensive cars.

 

drifting in the dry is alot harder and can be a costly mistake if you mess up......this saturday i drifted my beautiful T2 into a curb at about 45mph........not a pretty site.....now i need an entire rear end for my car......OUCH.....but yes drifting is fun.....practice in the wet at first to get the feel of what its like to get loose and as you get better at controlling both steering and throttle ....try the dry....i think the key is throttle control.....well have fun and dont get too crazy

 

Not that im going to attempt one but if i was to try something that crazy with my TII i make sure i have a friend of mine video tape everything!

 

I learned alot of drifting by driving in snow.... true its far different from dry pavement but its much harder to bring back into control and throttle steering is essential.

 

With my first gen 83 GSL (whopping 90 RWHP and all...LSD too!) I was getting off work one night when it was snowing in a big snowstorm back in 1996. Midatalantic people should remember that one... People where driving in 4x4's and getting stuck, and I got all the way home in a RWD car..wtf... Anyways, before I left the parking lot I decided to do some sliding, going to about 20-30. Say I wanted to turn left (or have the car swing so the front would be facing left). I would let off the throttle slightly, nugde right BARELY, enough to shift the weight. Throttle on 3/4 pop out clutch after turning my wheels left. It would cause the rear end to swing around perfectly. Countersteer to avoid a spinout, easing on throttle till I got it straighted (Lack of traction makes throttle turning with no rear end difficult). Timing Timing Timing.

If theres no chance in hell of it snowing where you are, wait for a good rainstorm, if your young, take out your dad; if you get harrassed by the cops you can use the "dads teaching me to drive safe" excuse. Traffic cones help, you can lay out a turn, and TRY to stay between the cones--if you don't have traffic cones laying around get some cardboard boxes. Cover em with a white trashbag.

Practice just driving around the turn about 10 times. Go faster each time, till you feel you are at your limit of traction. At first go through with no throttle, then more and more. When your ready to break traction, just rev and pop while turning. Keep your traction loss small at first, then gradually increase the time your wheels aren't stickin!

Hope this helps, i've played around in lots, only got told to leave once; I used the excuse "I just want to know how to handle my car in the rain" Some rules you should follow for everyones safety.

1. Seatbelt
2. Stay away from light poles.--i've been scared shitless before...
3. If there are cars in the lot, don't do it; only looks worse to a cop
4. Slow, you local closed hardware store parking lot isn't INDY
5. NEVER try doing it on a public road until you KNOW how to countersteer and straighten.

bah i'd write more, but fingers are tired...

 

Josepi is right. Look at Sweden with all of their snow. Up until recent years most Volvos were RWD. RWD works just fine in the snow and other low traction situations. The driver just has to know how to drive a car in such conditions. Strangely enough, that's where most of the best rally drivers come out of. But that's opening another can of worms.

jerk_racer@hotmail.com