The 2013 season of Formula Drift is turning out to be just as exciting and suprising as last year. As we approach the last two events on the schedule, we thought we would take a look at the teams who have partnered with Radium Engineering to stay competitive this season. Teams come to Radium when they are looking for the highest quality no-nonsense components for their race vehicles. A failed component at a competition can mean the difference between a win and a loss, and ultimately may affect the running for the season champoinship. Radium Engineering is proud to partner with these teams and drivers to help them reach their goals.
Here is a summary of who's running what in the Formula-D pro drift circuit from Radium Engineering: (in no particular order)
KYLE MOHAN
Kyle is a Pro-Drift veteran and a rotary specialist. He is one of the only pro competitors running a turbocharged rotary engine in his Mazda RX-8. Kyle is not only the driver, he is also an expert mechanic and builds his own cars and engines. Kyle is the head technician at Mazdatrix, a rotary performance shop in Southern California. We first partnered with Kyle in 2012 and look forward to supporting him throughout the season and year to come.
Kyle chose a Radium Engineering dual Bosch -044 fuel surge tank (shown below) to feed his fuel hungry rotary.
Kyle is also building a second car for the Formula Drift Asia series and once again chose Radium for the fuel delivery.
Links:
Kylemohanracing.com
Mazdatrix.com
MICHAEL ESSA
Micheal Essa is having a phenomenal season this year and currently sits 2nd in points. We are proud to be partnered with him and his program. His E46 BMW M3 competition drift car is built by his shop GSR Autosport in Southern California. He is running a Radium Engineering BMW S54 fuel rail, Radium Coolant Tank, Radium Competition Catch Cans, and a Radium Fuel pressure gauge. We look forward to supporting him and seeing him continue to climb the ranks this year.
Links:
GSR Autosport
DEAN "KARNAGE" KEARNEY
Dean approached us shortly before the 2013 season looking for a fuel pump solution. We were impressed with the professionalism of his program and were excited to partner with him.
His team has gone through some mechanical issues this year in FD, but they are using the lessons learned to come out stronger than ever for 2014.
Dean is running our Dual Bosch -044 Fuel Surge Tank on the Oracle Lighting Achiles Radial turbocharged Dodge Viper. He is also running a Radium Competition Catch Can, Radium Coolant Tank, and our 4-Port Fuel Manifold.
Links:
https://www.facebook.com/DeanKarnage
RYAN TUERCK
For 2013, Ryan Tuerck contacted Portland Speed Industries (a local Radium Dealer) to build a new 2013 Scion FRS-based drift car. PSI completed the build in a staggering short amount of time. Ryan and his team have been doing extraordinarily well as they work out the bugs and get things sorted. The car is running a turbocharged Toyota 2JZ-GTE engine. More details about this car can be seen here. We were more than happy to help out Ryan's program and keep the PSI crew stocked with whatever Radium parts they needed for this build.
PSI chose to use the Radium Multi-Pump Fuel Surge Tank, Radium Competition Catch Cans, and Radium Fuel Pressure Gauge
Links:
http://www.tunedbypsi.com/
https://www.facebook.com/RyanTuerck
Robbie Nishida
We first came in contact with Robbie Nishida in 2012 and worked with his builder, Gary Castillo of Design Craft. Robbie was experiencing fuel starvation and needed a solution. Radium supplied a Dual Bosch Fuel Surge Tank setup for the Bridges Racing Achiles Radial Lexus SC300 competition car.
Gary installed the fuel surge tank system using aluminum hard lines for a unique look and bulled-proof reliability.
Nishida is doing very well this season and is battling in the top 10.
Links:
https://www.facebook.com/bridges.racing
Rob Primozich
Rob Primo is a local Pacific Northwest privateer that is working his way up the ranks. 2013 is his rookie year in the Formula Drift championship series.
Rob is running several Radium products in his 2JZ powered S14 including the Competition Catch Can, Coolant Expansion Swirl Tank, and Multi-Pump Fuel Surge Tank.
Links:
https://www.facebook.com/RobPrimo21
Matt Field
Matt Field has been doing very well this season and is currently sitting in 9th place in the Formula Drift overall standings.
Matt is running Radium Dual Catch Cans on his Vortech LS3 powered S14.
Links:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Matt-Field/156616491031227
Walker Wilkerson
Walker has had a heartbreaking season in 2013. He built a new car (S14) for 2013 and is running a turbocharged LS engine. But chronic engine issues have plagued his program this year causing him to miss a few events.
Knowing Walker, he will be up and running full steam for 2014.
Walker is running a Radium Competition Catch Tank, and a Multi-Pump Fuel Surge Tank (shown):
Links:
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialWalkerWilkerson
Luke Pakula
After winning the Just Drift series championship in 2012, Luke is a rookie this year in Formula-Drift. His Hachi Roku runs a Radium FST with a Walbro 400 E85 and a Radium Competition Catch Tank.
Links:
http://www.lukepakulamotorsports.com/
Radium also sponsors other drifters who are climbing their way up the ranks:
Cameron Moore
Cameron Moore is a Pacific Northwest based privateer competing in the local Pro-Am series. Cameron is doing very well and should have no trouble obtaining his pro FD license. Cameron, his dad, and friends run the program. They do a great job hitting as many events as possible in the area and have shown to have a reliable and solid car for competitions. Cameron is running a Radium Dual-Bosch fuel surge tank, Competition Catch Can, and Coolant Tank.
Links:
https://www.facebook.com/CMooreDrifting
Erich Hagen
Another Pacific Northwest native, Erich just received his Formula-Drift license last weekend in the Evergreen Drift ProAm series. Erich runs Radium Dual Catch Cans and a Radium Coolant Swirl Tank in his 1JZ powered Nissan S13.
Links:
https://www.facebook.com/erich.hagen.9
Dan Brocket
Dan is infamous for his appearance in all three of the Motorcycle vs Car Drift Battles as "Officer Dan".
After rolling his S13 in Motorcycle vs Car Drift Battle 2, Officer Dan was issued his Formula D license in 2012 driving a friend's SC300 (above). For 2013, he has been touring the country as FD driver Danny George's spotter. Next year he will be drifting in the pro series in his RB25DET powdered S13 "potentially" alongside Danny George.
Dan runs a Radium Fuel Surge Tank, Radium Coolant Expansion Swirl Tank, Radium Fuel Pressure Gauge, Radium Coolant Tank, etc.
Links: http://www.danbrockettdrift.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Te0V71sGoxA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoiVtXtS444