ROCKINGHAM — A lot of rubber was laid down on the road course of Rockingham Speedway on Saturday for MB Drift’s season opener.
The vehicles driven in the Ice Breaker Challenge varied from hard-top to convertibles, imports to domestics. There was even a truck.
MB Drift’s Zach Sebald signaled the drivers when it was their turn to take off.
Drivers drifted around the course’s corners, some spinning out in the grass and kicking dirt in the air, others putting smoke into the air, as they performed rolling burnouts.
Spectators gathered near the course barrier behind the garage.
There were multiple media pits set up along the infield so photographers and videographers could be close to the action.
Several drivers had cameras mounted on their cars and others had passengers hold sticks out of the windows to get video from a unique perspective. A drone also zipped around overhead for a bird’s-eye-view.
MB Drift was founded in 2005 to get a program started in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area to give young drifters “a place to have fun with their cars, not on the streets where they can get in trouble and get hurt,” according to Marshall Eggerling.
After 15 years at Myrtle Beach Speedway, MB Drift had to find a new home when a zoning change led to the closing of the venue.
After visiting several tracks, the team landed a deal with Rockingham Speedway.
Their first event, Driftmas Matsuri, was held at the speedway the weekend prior to the CARS Tour tire test in January. While at the track, they also shot a promotional video.
MB Drift has nine more races scheduled for the 2021 season at the speedway. Other events are scheduled for March 13, April 17-18, May 15, June 12, July 17, Aug. 14, Sept. 25, Oct. 23-24, and the season ender on Nov. 20.
The RO will have video later this week on the RO Sports Show.
