Turbocharged AE86 Corolla

HT: Going from driving a turbocharged AE86 Corolla to driving the turbocharged S2K, how similar are they to drive, being that they're both short wheelbase cars?
AP: There are really 2 techniques when it comes to drifting cars. You have high-horsepower cars, which use mostly throttle to adjust the drift, and lower horsepower cars that use weight transfer and more steering adjustments to maintain the drift. The S2000 is a little weird. When you're high in the RPM, you drive it like a low horsepower car-with more steering. If you're lower in the RPM band, you can handle it like a high-horsepower car because of the torque, which means more throttle control than steering. It's kind of backwards from what you would expect.

HT: You're judging this year for Formula D. What made you want to step out of the drivers seat, and how is the judging going?
AP: It came down to the drivers. We had a meeting at the end of last year (2005), we put a vote to see who the drivers wanted to be the judges for this year. My name was brought up by the drivers several times as someone who would do some good as a judge. We put it up to a vote, and that was that. Now that I'm judging, I don't really enjoy it as much as I thought I would. There is so much stuff going on at the track, there isn't as much of a chance to just hang out with the fans and sign autographs. I'm too worried about taking care of the small things to make the event run smoothly. Overall, I think we have really helped bring Formula D up a level in competition, so it has been good.

HT: Do you feel you might be biased for or against the S2000, having driven it?
AP: No, not really. When we watch the drivers run, it doesn't matter what car they're in. We do base our decisions on how they are doing related to their car. We pretty much know what each car is capable based on horsepower and wheelbase and such. We want to make sure that the drivers are driving the most out of their car, whether it is a high horsepower or lower horsepower car.

HT: How do you feel Tyler McQuarrie is doing in the car since taking over the driving responsibilities from you earlier this year?,br>AP: At first, he was learning the car and how it responds. I think he has been around higher horsepower cars a lot more, so he had to learn to drive the car like a low horsepower car and that's why it took him a while to get comfortable. He's really getting comfortable with the car now and he's doing a lot better. We saw him get a top qualifier award in Chicago this year, and he also got on the podium for the first time at that event. He seems to be going into competition with a lot more confidence, and it shows.

HT: Where do you see Formula D and drifting headed in the next 5 years?
AP: I think the sport will fair pretty well, as long as we keep our fan base going. So far, our fan base has been developing at a pretty good rate. As long as we put on a good show and keep our good drivers at the events, we'll be sticking around for quite awhile.