Vd – As VegasDrift gears up for the third season of VegasProAm, Robert Strohmeyer prepares his “bastard child” for it’s first season. Robert has helped out with the Vegas scene since his arrival with driver instruction as well as videos of earlier VegasProAms. Fill us in about your history with drifting.

RS – It mainly started in late 2003 after being stationed in Florida at Eglin AFB. There was a big rain storm when I was on leave in Virginia and my Miata that I was going to drive down to Florida was wrecked two days before I moved my stuff to Florida. My friend I met in tech school was stationed at Eglin a month before me, so after I showed up he already had heard of this shop called MPHAutomod. When I walked into the shop, soon to be Professional Drifter Ben Schwartz and the owners of the shop where all watching JDM Insider 2 siting in bucket seats on the floor. Once I watched the whole video with them that first day I went back to the dorms found a white 1993 SE coupe on ebay and bought it. It was in Virginia so I had an old high school friend drive it down from Virginia. The next two years where filled with nothing but traveling by truck and trailer to events all around the east coast, mid west, Texas and California. A highlight for me was traveling up to RS-R Drift festival at Chicago in 2004 and placing 4^th at the time it was my 4^th event ever.  A bunch of other military stuff happened between 06-09.  I met Nick and the main members of VegasDrift at the first powdered drift night at FastLap in early 09.

Vd – Tell us about “Bastard Child” and it’s predecessor, “High Hopes”.(Check Rob’s build thread here.)

RS – Well, after being in the Vegas and west coast FD scene for a few years, I got sick and tired of not driving. I’ve talked about driving again to other people in the scene. After working at this past FD Irwindale event with the VegasDrift crew, I had just about had enough with not driving. I went out and bought “High Hopes” just in time for the “Best of Vegas” event on the inside road course at LVMS. Bastard Child comes in for the simple fact of being fiscally cheaper for me to buy a shell with a cage in it then putting a cage in High Hopes.  Bastard Child will be a full ProAm build with around 300hp and pretty much everything you can do suspension wise except aftermarket LCAs. Vd – Being a race car instructor has to be fun job, what steps did you take to get there?

RS – Well, I guess it came down to the ol’ “who you know.”  I knew a few people that worked there and I was called by one of them when Exotics Racing was looking for another instructor. I interviewed for the job and started the next day. It’s nice to drive exotic cars but the real experience is an abundance of track time. I now have over 12,000 on track miles as an instructor, which is pretty crazy to think about. Its also cool because quite a few celebrities stop by. Recently Mickie Frial, a so-cal drifter hopped in a 458 with me and turned some fast laps. Vd – What advice would you give to someone that wants to start drifting?

RS – While everyone gives the stock answer of “practice makes perfect” and have fun yadda yadda. I will say to anyone that wants to start….THINK about it first. What do you plan to accomplish by starting? Will it be hobby or are you going to try and make something of it? For many people it will start as a hobby and as they progress they start taking bigger steps. But really think about it first. For me, it has become a 9 year obsession that has caused great moments in my life but has also demanded the high sacrifices. Vd- Are there any sponsors or people you would like to thank or mention?

RS – I’d like to thank the current crew signed up for the 2012 VDPA season, Crew Chief-Danny Libonati, Spotter-Marlon Tecson, PR/Art Director- Jovany Martinez. DDS performance for letting me use the shop and their tools when I didn’t have the right tools/space to get the job done. I’d like to thank Eladio at H1 Performance for helping the team out with chassis tuning during the season. I’d also like to thank Nick, Wes, Ace, Ray, Mando, Robert, Danillo, Aj, Jc, and anyone in the VegasDrift crew that I didn’t mention. You guys are great and it has meant a lot to me being apart of these events! I also have a few prospective sponsors in mix, which I hope to add at a later date but wanted to acknowledge them with a thanks as well (you know who you are).

Photo Credit

Larry Chen – Drift Fotos

Joel Cada – Third 3ye Photography

Brenton Ho – Brentonho.com

Import Racer

This is a limited edition VegasProAm x DSTROYR collaboration t-shirt. If you weren’t able to secure one at FD Vegas, rest easy, there are 25 left. They will be available shortly at DSTROYR.com. Don’t sleep on this!

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 – We’re here with Eugene “Driftaholic” Remishevskiy, tell us about yourself and what got you into drifting.

ER – Well to start I am 28 years young, 6’1″ in height, muscular built and very handsome, I enjoy long walks on the beach and romantic candlelit dinner, OH SHIT!, wrong site! LMAO!

Originally I am from Russia, raised in the U.S. and have been around cars all my life thanks to my dad. I always loved cars and have had many “nice cars” and then it all changed one beautiful day in August when I attended the Formula Drift Las Vegas in 2009. Since then, drifting has become my hobby, addiction, obsession and main subject in marriage counseling lol no I am serious tho…. I purchased an 89 Nissan 240SX from a guy in AZ, some of you may know him, Mike Burns, it was a drift ready car with a roll cage, sr20 and a suspension. Since I knew zero about drifting, all I wanted to do was learn how to drift and this car was a perfect start. A lot of stuff broke and I was forced to do most of the work myself, at that time I knew no difference in KA vs Sr20 all I knew my car had a turbo lol. Long story short, that car was a great jump start into drifting and I knew what I wanted and didnt want in the car that I would build for myself…

Vd – Tell us about your S13 and the work put into it.

ER – I got the green S13 as a total stripped shell from Traverse. He had an extra one laying around lol. I started from stitch welding the whole chassis, making some oversize tubs, and adding a rollcage and dimple die gussets. I knew nothing about welding I just got a TIG and started making a mess. (that’s how you learn… just do it). I used most of the parts from my old car, cheap ksport suspension , engine and transmission, I had a bigger turbo ecu and injectors. I made it look pretty with a body kit 40mm front and 50mm rear overs and to top it off, a bright green paint job done in my garage. I took the car out for a Vegasdrift event and had a major problem with oil disappearing… car was running with no power and on the second event my motor blew……RIP!   All I wanted to do is drift and in the course of one year I became a mechanic, painter ,welder, designer, engineer and a slave to my car lol I was tired and wanted something reliable so I can actually have fun with my hobby and focus on getting better at driving. The choice was really easy to make LS1 with T56 six speed tranny Monster six puck racing clutch and light weight flywheel. I used well known Sikky kit which included oil pan, engine mounts, tranny mount and headers. I got a Nascar radiator to make sure I wont have overheating problems not realizing that the size of it was to fit in a dump truck lol….. well some how I made it work. Also got an oil cooler and so far no cooling issues. (Click here to view Eugene’s Build Thread)

Vd – Congratulations on being the #1 qualifier (score of 89) and winning Retaks’ “Insane Entry” award for VegasProAm round 1. Tell us about the experience with your first drifting competition.

ER – First of all, I was feeling sick and scared for a whole month before the competition!!!! Calling my brother ( William ) and Travers and bothering them with ” OMG I am so scared, what am I doing, I am going to suck, maybe I should start competing next year. ” and all sorts of worrying. Once the day came and the practice started I was just having fun. I was running random used tires for practice so my runs were not really consistent. In the last hour of practice I put a set of new tires and damn what a difference. I was trying to get more consistent, asking VD staff for help, thank you Bomac for your help that day. Qualifying started and I was a worried wreck again, lol, waiting in the line for my turn felt like eternity and I got a “0″ for hitting a cone. Waiting for my second run I almost threw up got in the car and my favorite song came up by Ying Yang Twins “Salt shaker” and I was in my zone…….. yea right!!!!!! The song was pretty good but I still had no idea what the hell I was doing. Started from second gear straight into third and initiation was super fast, no E-brake just a clutch kick in third gear. I thought for sure I was spinning but instead I got the “Insane Entry” award thanks to Ying Yang Twins…LOL! Finished up with some left foot braking and lots of smoke and I truly surprised myself. ( I had no idea I can do all that ) Event was great! I love Vegasdrift and Drifting!!! I think its really keeping me and lots of guys like me out of TROUBLE.

Vd – Which should come first in a build; suspension, power or dry dock until it’s all finished?

ER – I would say suspension!!! When I started my build, I had a little bit of everything but if I would choose one, it would definitely be suspension, look at my brother William and his 240sx stock KA and coils. He gets more drive time than me cuz I am too busy changing tires.

Vd – What advice would you give to someone that wants to start drifting?

ER – Reliability is the key. Less time you spend fixing stuff the more time you are driving. Being consistent is very important! That’s how you can get better but if your car is not 100% all the time, it’s hard being consistent and keeping focus on driving. So don’t complicate things just make it work good and drive.

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

ER – I have been in the car scene all my life. Russia, Florida, California and Vegas and let me say that I am glad to see a car scene where people actually use their cars and not just build them and just stand around them. Now the fact that we can do it all legal, that’s what’s amazing and once again thank you Vegasdrift for making it all happen. I love the people in the scene who help each other by actually helping and doing work and also the critics that talk shit and motivate you even more to do it your way lol.

Vd – Alright Eugene, once again congrats on the Retaks entry award, we’ll see you at VegasProAm round 2. Is there anyone you would like to thank or mention?

ER – Where do I start, well first let me thank my number one sponsor, my beautiful wife Laila! Without her approval, none of this would of ever happen. My brother William for helping and listening and agreeing with my weird ideas, Travers for teaching me the right way to do things cuz in Russia we just use a hammer to make things fit. Angel, who is my best critic so got to give him credit, thanks man! Karpo, my Armenian buddy for helping me a lot at the Rd1, now he wants to drift his 4dr G35, that will be cool! Everlast Welders for supplying amazing machines for mad Russian fabrications, Kyle DDS for putting up with me coming to the shop twice a day every day my car was in the shop. Rueben, Martin, Blane, Matthew ( Williams friend ), Matt that sold me LS1, Matt the hillbilly kid, Dave for taking awesome pictures, HeybroitsRay, Griffin, Josh and of course Vegasdrift staff, you guys always making it happen for us, Thank you guys.

Photo Credit

Joel Cada ——>Third 3ye Photography

Gage Grizovic

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