Sask. drifting community growing at a fast, furious pace

It's lights out and away we go for Regina's drifting community. 

Drifting — with its screeching cars, burning asphalt, raging tires and clouds of smoke — is slightly different than traditional racing like Formula One or Nascar. Drifting involves drivers using gas and brakes to get their cars sliding sideways in the namesake "drift."

Hundreds of people came together over the August long weekend at the Kings Parkway in Regina to compete in Drift Wars, Saskatchewan's annual drifting competition. For many, the sport is about more than competition. 

Sask Drift, a Regina-based drifting company, has been organizing Drift Wars since 2012. Kyle Zimmer, owner of Sask Drift, says the organization was started because Saskatchewan drifters didn't have a platform.

"There was nothing really going on here, no events," he said.

Zimmer said there has been immense progress since the organization's first drifting event and he believes the sport will only get more popular.

Saskatchewan is a prime spot for drifting due to its central location on the Prairies, Zimmer said. Drivers from Saskatchewan, Alberta, B.C. and Manitoba competed at this year's event.

Last year Saskatchewan drivers secured all the podium spots. This year's $10,000 prize pool was split between Alberta and B.C. drivers. Zimmer said seeing people from across Western Canada shows that more people are adopting the sport.  

"It just keeps growing every year," he said. 

Zimmer said the sport not only provides competition, but also cuts down on unorganized street racing.

"It's good because it gets them off the streets and it gives them a place to express their sport and their hobby. It gives them a safe space to go," he said. 

According to SGI, there were 3,247 collisions caused by speeding and stunting in 2022 — just over twice the 1,615 recorded in 2019. The numbers are based on police reports and data SGI collects through insurance claims.

SGI also said there were 242 stunting-related crashes in 2022, a five-year high.

The paved 1/3 mile oval race track at Kings Parkway is painted with tire marks along its entire length. Brian Martineau, a Regina driver who drifts a 1995 Nissan Silvia, added his streaks to the tarmac during a couple practice laps Wednesday afternoon.