DAY 1.
Arrived at the track a bit too late - atmosphere was already filled with burned tire smell and clouds, angry engines where bubbling up somewhere deeper in the forest. Latvians are crazy, no doubt. But what I like the most about them is how passionate and how dedicated they are towards this autosport. Rolling through the streets of Riga you can see a lot of stanced out and drift cars, hell, even the bus goes up to 70km/h! Seems like everyone there is a racer. It's always nice to see a community like that - they are respectful not only to one another but to visitors too, which, sadly, I can't tell the same about my country. They have a big ass Bikenieki trase where you can think hundreds of tracks to go sideways through and everyone stays happy because no outsider gets irritated or anything.
Anyway, when we arrived, our drifters started getting ready, because there wasn't left much time for PRO AM league's trainings that evening. I think it was one of those times where cars were perfectly good without any troubles. The trainings went good, the weather where getting chilly but everyone was happy and ready for next day's competition.
DAY 2.
Left hotel rooms at 8:00 am, we went to get some breakfast and soon after rushed to Bikernieki trase. The day was long and tense, though the weather was perfect. Our drifters from Smagresta and Side to Side drift teams where ready for last trainings and after hit the track with some awesome runs of qualification. Artūras and Lukas from Smagresta drift team passed qualifications for PRO AM leage and where ready for final tandems at the very evening. As for Gediminas, Side to Side drift teams leader, PRO AM qualification went wrong, but the organizers of the event were kind to let him qualify for PRO league with one try. Good luck as he had, he passed and right away were running tandems with the best pilots from Latvia. Gediminas got himself into TOP 4, but before he started tripping - once there was too big of a gap between the cars, the other time he knocked down the pin at clipping point, and finally, didn't get much points to go further.
Running for PRO league and getting that far - it's amazing. It's a big win and one step closer to be one of the best not only in Lithuania, but maybe even in Latvia too. As for Smagresta pilots, tandems where going fine, but not as good as for Gediminas. No one got into TOP 4, but everybody had a good time.
I don't know if it's even worth to participate in our drift competitions anymore after being in Latvia and seeing everything from a closer view. Everything they do - they do it right and not haphazardly. They making sure that everybody's good and happy, helping each other. Oh, and the thing they did when they fitted all leagues into one day with trainings and qualifications is mindblowing. They work fast, but good knowing how many participants were registered.
I thank the organizers for such a warm welcome, good time and friendly faces!
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