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This event will be hosted at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on July 30th 2011. VegasProAm follows a Formula Drift style event format to help drivers get the feel of what will be expected from them at the next level of competition.

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Vd – Robert Chin, VD track staff and knowledgeable wrencher, has been a part of the local drift scene many years now and was one of the 2010 VegasProAm judges. Alright Rob,  tell us about your S-13 hatch. We know it was in hibernation mode for minute, but now that beast is fully operational.

RC – Running, not running… Its all the same right?? Actually the motor had recently experienced catastrophic failure after detonation melted down the sparkplugs and burned a hole on one of the pistons. Other than that, it runs great! We were out at a PCA track day that weekend, running the car hard for the first time since finishing up the car. The car had been running great all day, prior to the event’s last session. Currently the motor is as DDS performance for a rebuild but an engine swap may be in this car’s future. It should be back in action soon, but unfortunately I don’t have much time to get it running as quickly as I would like.  This car is actually my first 240sx that I had purchased back in 2005 (I think), completely stock, and fairly beat up. At the time I assumed the car would simply get beat up and thrown away. Never would I have imagined I would still own this car, or that it would look or function the way it does today. This car has been through the more common powerplant choices for these cars. Stock motor, KA-T and now SR20 (KA-T was, by far, my favorite).  This car has definitely been one of the the most involved projects I have undertaken. For the most part, the car is self/community built. I have been very fortunate to know many tremendous people whose hard work and dedication were invaluable in the development of this 240sx. I definitely couldn’t have done it without them.  Click Here to view Robert’s build thread!

Vd – What are you plans for VPA Round 3?

RC – The engine problems have unfortunately ended this season for me. I had originally planned on running the first three rounds of the series.

Vd – Do you think it pays off to learn the ropes with a stock KA.

RC – Absolutely, it is where myself and many others 240sx owners I know have started. In general, I feel that the experience gained from driving and drifting lower power (maybe slower) cars is invaluable to a driver. There is something to be learned from driving all different types of cars and setups. It seems like in recent years there has been a trend in beginners moving away from these less modified, less powerful cars. It is truly a shame. It used to be that, among grassroots drivers, High powered dedicated track cars were more of the exception than the rule. The best advice I can give any novice driver is: Start small and simple, work your way up, and have fun!

Vd – What are your views on Japanese pros versus American pros?

RC – At this point, I feel the only difference is purely in driving style. Both Japanese and Americans drivers are tremendously talented. Anyone that thinks otherwise is fooling themselves.

Vd – What is the best local strip club you’ve been to?

RC – I’d have to say Treasures takes the cake and definitely can offer a quality experience. At the end of the day, it depends on what you want but many of the other ones are either too crowded, too dumpy, or have less (if any) good looking girls. Some places what will remain unnamed are just flat out terrible. Beware of these places!

Vd – You’ve witnessed the local scene since it’s infancy. Tell us how far the scene has come.

RC – Its phenomenal! As many “old guys” can tell you, Vegas used to have next to nothing. It used to be almost exclusively street drifting and Thursday night meets with maybe the occasional event once a year. For the longest time, local drivers were forced to travel out of state to see any track time. While part of me gets a bit of a nostalgic feeling thinking about the old days (and some potentially reckless behavior), the new local drift scene is amazing and an excellent opportunity for any aspiring local driver!

Vd – Tell us about your career goals outside of drifting?

RC – Currently, I’m working on my professional degree at the UNLV School of Dental Medicine (shadow lane campus). In a few years here I will be a licensed and practicing dentist. While its been quite tough, it has also been greatly rewarding. Never before would I have thought that I would be doing some of the things I am now, it’s pretty unbelievable. You never really know someone until you’ve seen the inside of their mouth!

Vd – Thanks for the interview Robert. Is there anyone you would like to thank or shout?

RC – My friends and family as well as everyone that has helped me out and been there for me over the years, the VegasDrift crew, the guys at DDS performance, Paladin Advanced Automotive, and Socal Speedshop (I’m sure there’s more). Also don’t forget, Cfinch and Joel!
Photo Credit

Joel Cada  – Third Eye Photography

Vd – With VPA 2011 being Mark’s first season of competition, he has earned a spot in the “Top 16″ for the first two rounds.  Mark, we know you’ve been in the scene for a while, give us a brief history of how you got into drifting.

MT – Well before drifting I was into autocross. I’ve autocrossed my 1985 Toyota Corolla GT-S and 1991 Toyota MR2 Turbo. I’ve always known about drifting and wanted to try it but I never had enough money to buy extra tires and pay the entry fee to do a VD event. Most of you know my older brother, Marlon Tecson, and his “rootbeer” AE86, he also got into drifting after doing autocross and roadracing. One night during the weekly Thursday car meets a friend of mine told me about this place called U-Drift that just recently opened at the speedway and I just had to go check it out. I was there during the middle of December and pretty much have been drifting non-stop since then.

Vd – Tell us about the experience so far with your first competition season.

MT – My experience so far has been amazing. I have a great time drifting with all the drivers competing in the 2011 season. I’ve also learned that it doesn’t really matter what you have done to your car, although it helps, but how much seat time you get and just listening to the judges to be able to drive the line they want to see. One of the most important things I have learned is just have FUN!

Vd – What upgrades and mods have you done on your S-13? What was the build process?

MT – My car is pretty basic compared to some of the cars that are running this year. The usual SR20DET swap, welded diff, coilovers, links, and etc. No upgrades really except for a fuel pump, front mount intercooler, turbo elbow, downpipe, and custom exhaust. My motor is still running on the factory T25 turbo with stock wastegate. No boost controller or anything also. My build is pretty simple; I got the car a little over a year ago and just little by little I got the parts I have on it now. Even with it caged and all the vinyls and what not, I still do daily drive the car once in a while, though I try not to so much anymore because its such a cop magnet now.

Vd – What’s it like working at a 7 day a week drift park?

MT – Working at U-Drift is awesome. I pretty much have unlimited seat time. Whether I am drifting my car or instructing in one of our U-Drift rental cars; I still am getting practice in every day that I’m working. I’m constantly driving and learning every day. Not to mention crazy out of the blue drift sessions when Mike Bolanos and Jesse Hanna roll through during some late nights! I am extremely lucky to be working at U-Drift, especially since I am competing in VPA 2011, I get to practice and practice and practice.

Vd – What other hobbies and interests are you involved in if your not getting seat time?

MT – I literally eat, sleep, and drift 24/7 haha. But if I’m not drifting I’m either hanging out with my girlfriend, friends, watching tv or movies. Spending time listening to music, facebook, youtube, car forums, watching drift videos, nothing out of the ordinary. I am rarely NOT drifting though so I don’t have much time to get into other hobbies.

Vd – Thanks for the interview Mark. Are there any sponsors or people you would like to mention?

MT – There are a number of people I’d like to thank. My girlfriend, who is my number one supporter and is always pushing me to do my best and just have fun. My older brother Marlon, for being part of my crew doing events, being my spotter and helping me set up my car. My boss and co-workers at U-DRIFT, without them I wouldn’t be competing at all this year. Brennan at 702 Graphics, for sponsoring me for round 2. Eladio Rodriguez at H1Performance for the excellent alignment. Mike and Dino at X13 Fabrication for helping me with some wiring and welding work. My parents, sisters, brother, and friends for supporting me! I’d also like to thank all of you guys behind the scenes. Nick, Mike, Ray, Tommy, Wes, Ace, and the rest of the VD Staff! You guys are awesome!

Photo Credit

Kid Yosh Photography – Kidyosh.com
Third Ey3 Photography – http://gallery.third3ye.net/
Yoshibesto Photography
KP Photo

Vd – Ok Traverse, tell us about yourself and what motivated you to start drifting.

TH – My name is Traverse Hilsabeck, I’m 27 years old, been here in Vegas for 17 years originally from Lakewood, California. Ive always been into a lot of motor sports and extreme sports like skateboarding, dirt biking, drag racing, ATVs, mini bikes, street bikes, and off road racing. But as i got older and my body kept breaking i decided to go back to what i always enjoyed best was building and driving cars. I got my first 240sx coupe when i was 18 and fell in love with the S- chassis since day one. I learned to drift in un-paved roads and dirt lots with my underpowered car and all my off road experience helped with the sliding around. When I finally got over my off road phase I had enough money to finally build me a nice street worthy drift car. And the madness began….. This was the first car I did VD events in. I believe it was VD 13. After a year I sold my chassis to Eugene and bought the Black and Yellow shell with plans to run the 2010 VD pro-am. The building process took pretty much the whole year leaving me out of drift commission for almost a year. But the overall results were well worth it and everyone will see me out this year for sure.

Vd – We know your S13 hatch was in dry dock for a while, and had some serious upgrades. Tell us about it.

TH – Ya the build process took me longer than expected due to me always wanting to make it better and was trying to do it all right the first time. Also being around Forrest really motivated me to make my car super reliable and simplified by building it for purpose and style. But patience was well worth it and the car shows in the quality and reliability. I’m currently have a stock SR20 red top block with an upgraded Cosworth head gasket and ARP studs. Gt3076 turbo with a ram horn Fullrace style manifold with Tial 38mm waste gate, with a custom mid mount intercooler and piping. The exhaust goes out of custom down pipe to 3″ Tanabe G-force Medallion exhaust. Drawing in the air threw a Greddy polished intake manifold mixing fuel with Nismo 740cc injectors mounted in a billet Circuit Sports fuel rail. Everything is kept in line with a Apexi Power FC D Jetro and tuning done by Insane Speed. Making about 360hp at the wheels now with the current setup and reliable as ever. All custom aluminum catch cans and reserviors made to harness the fluids, power steering cooler, oil filter relocation and oil cooler, custom bubbler setup and Koyo radiator, with dual electric fans. everything has been done in AN fittings and black braided nomex hose to keep it simple and easy. Greddy rs blow off valve and 4 inch custom intake with K&N filter. The chassis was reinforced with full roll cage and chassis gussets from front to back along with front and rear bash beams. full suspension setup with all Megan V2 links all around, JIC coil overs, urethane and solid bushings, Get Nuts steering knuckles, Custom rack spacers and rack relocation to get maximum angle and smoke. Definitely a lot done and too much to list. (Click HERE to see Traverse’s build thread)

Vd – Which should come first in a build, suspension or power? Please elaborate.

TH – Honestly its a combination of both for me. A stock SR is plenty of power for me to have fun in it but if it doesn’t have the suspension to hold it on the ground u spend more time spinning in circles then drifting. My first street car I built was a stock sr with coil overs, RUCA’s, Toe links, Tension rods, and Tien tie rods. The car was the most fun to learn in and reliable to beat up every time I took it to the track. And then had to drive it home and around like most of the guys do here in Vegas. But power isn’t everything. A well balanced car with suspension is far more important especially if u want your Angle and Style to be consistent. Steering modifications are becoming a must these days to be competitive and knowing what you need to do to achieve MORE ANGLE. Becoming comfortable with your car is also important and once its feels solid adding power is always easier to learn than learning the feel of a car.

Vd – So VegasProAm is awarding 3 Formula Drift licenses for the 2011 season. We know your competing in VegasProAm this year. Do you have plans on competing in any other ProAms?

TH – I wanted to try to do the top drift series as well as Vegasdrift if funding allows me. I would even like to make a few west coast Xdc’s if the dates don’t coincide. Funding is also a concern being a privateer money is only limited to make things happen but i do what ever it take to get out there. My main focus of the year is to run Vegas Drift pro-am and to hopefully do well to get one of those license. Its a goal to shoot for this year but the most important thing is to keep getting better and overall HAVE FUN!! Hopefully my driving can take me to where I want to go in this sport which is to make a living doing what I love drifting!!!!

Vd – If you weren’t drifting a 240 what other car would you choose? Why?

TH – I really want a R32 four door Skyline with an rb26 with about 500whp. I always like the long four door and still sticking to the Nissan roots. The RB motors have always been a favorite of mine and might even be a future motor swap. Just getting a hold of an r32 is not the easiest of task.

Vd – As far as diffs go, welded or 2 way?

TH – I like welded and that’s what i currently have now on my car. Reason being CHEAP and EASY to fix and replace. You don’t have to buy expensive oil and it doesn’t make weird noise’s unless its broke. Then you just replace it cause its so cheap to do. the cost effectiveness is just to great to waste time with 2-ways especially when you just beat the hell out of it.

Vd – What are your thoughts on the Las Vegas drifting scene?

TH – The scene here in Vegas is always growing and getting better. The quality of cars and builds coming out of Vegas are starting to show. Thanks to the Vegas drift crew for keeping the scene alive threw all the hard times and giving most of us a place to stay out of trouble with our cars. The drift scene still is a smaller community and everyone here seem to mostly be good people and i am glad to be part of Vegas Drift.

Vd – Well Traverse, good luck this season at all the ProAms. Is there anyone you would like to thank or mention?

TH – Yes i would like to thank my parents Ken and Sherilyn and my brother Trent and his wife Ashleigh for all the financial help and support. Along with the rest of my family that puts up with my craziness. Too all my friends that have always helped me get the car done and out to events. Thanks to Forrest for all the inspiration and help along with Garret for painting, Jesse, Ray, Ben, Aj, Brotha Phil, Eugene and William, for all the help and support. To Nick and Wes for making Vegasdrift scene what its is and for giving me the opportunity to do this interview. Anyone else that has helped along the way everything is always appreciated.

Photo Credit
Larry Chen —->www.driftfotos.com
CW Photography
Jason Sudds
RB Photo