Initial Drift - Ken Gushi: The Drift Kid

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By: Sean (Admin) Trotter




If you've been following drifting, you've probably heard of him: a young Japanese kid drifting an AE86 Corolla before he was even old enough to have a license. Taught by his father, this rebel upstart would tear up the canyons, taking down older challengers, and making a name for himself. In case you were wondering, no, he isn't a fictional tofu-delivering Manga character, but rather Ken Gushi, the Toyo-sponsored Formula D drifter.

Campaigning a Ford Mustang for the past two seasons, this year he's going back to his roots in a completely new ride, our cover Scion tC. You can say he's turning Japanese and yes, we really think so. As Ken is about to embark on his Initial Ds, we sit with the wunderkind-turned-pro to talk about his Takumi days, his worst crash, why he prefers a coupe to a hatchback Corolla, and his idea of a perfect drift.

So you are the youngest to ever drift in both Formula D and D1?
I was the youngest drifter. Now there is a teenager who is trying to take away my title. But its OK, he's not seeded! I still have my crown [laughs].

Who would that be?
Patrick Mordaunt. He's a talented kid with a bright future.

How old were you when you first competed at an event?
My first competition was Option's Ikaten Drift Competition at Irwindale Speedway in 2003. I was 16 years old, without a license, and I managed to finish in the Top 8.

How did you first get into drifting?
I got into drifting when I was 14 years old. My father was always into motorsports, specifically rally racing. Initially, he wanted me to pursue a career as a rally driver. He would take me out to a dry lake and teach me the fundamentals of car control. We eventually found out about the Drift Association events at Irwindale Speedway. In the beginning, it was just a few of us into drifting who never had a venue to practice at. We'd use the parking lot and have fun.

So no Mt. Akina and tubs of tofu in the car?
[Laughs] Actually, I have stories of some Initial D-like experiences.

Please elaborate on the Takumi references.
When I first started drifting, my father and I would drive up to the canyons late at night. We would drive through a single corner continuously and practice drifting.

This of course was completely legal, correct...
[Laughs] Let's just let it all out on the table: I was unlicensed, uninsured, and of course, uneducated, but hey, everyone's got to start somewhere. Now, we have the privilege to practice drifting under professional supervision in a safe environment thanks to organizations such as Drift Pro, Just Drift, and Drift Buffet. But in my days, track time was expensive and drifting events were limited.

Any close-call stories during your underage days?
Many! When I used to work at a second-hand wheel store, my boss owned a first-generation RX-7. It was beat up, but it ran like a champ. He would let me take out the car for a "test" run around the shop so I could give him feedback. One time, I went around the block to the designated "drift-turn" and I slid the car full-speed into a pole. The car stalled there with a broken axle. I called my father who was waiting for me at the shop and told him what happened. He got his truck from the house and came to my rescue. We managed to drag the broken car back to the wheel shop, but the police came almost instantly looking for the party responsible. Since I was underage, my dad told me to go and wait inside the shop. He ended up taking the blame.

And that would be the last of your wild police chases?
This other time, I took my competition-ready S13 240SX out on the street after I finished installing my new turbo. I was drifting recklessly when I saw the dreaded red and blue lights in my rear-view mirror. I knew I was in deep trouble. He pulled me over and asked for my license, registration, and proof of insurance when all I had was the registration. I ended up getting a ticket, going to court, and paying a huge fine.

Another pre-license, completely illegal our-company-whatsoever-does-not-endorse event?
[Laughs] Yes sir! Everything illegal I did was pre-license. Lesson learned: Never borrow a car and go drifting without a license.

Now would be an appropriate time to say, Don't try this at home, kids!"
[Laughs] Now, as a pro however, I do not participate in any illegal activities. I do admit, however, I fight the urge.

So you never got busted and went to jail or anything?
I got handcuffed when I was trying to teach a friend how to do donuts in a private parking lot when I was 15. But no, never went to jail.

Hilarious. Back to the Takumi references, the first car you drifted is the Corolla?
Yes, an '85 Toyota Corolla GT-S. I can't even remember how many Corollas we've been through since.

Money question: hatchback or coupe?
Coupe for life! Coupes look classier in my opinion.

Coupe?!? Takumi just shed an animated tear.
Not quite the Takumi you imagined now am I? More like Takumi's evil twin. Muahaha!

I actually owned a coupe before...a really beat up coupe.Beat up or not, coupes are classy.

No, you never saw my coupe. It was super beat up.[Laughs] Super dorifto-style beat up??

Worse. One headlight was stuck up, dents galore, and paint so bad it looked like rusted sheet metal. Quick story on how bad it was: I was getting into the car after lunch with my ex and as we were about to leave, my ex asked, "What are those people laughing at?" I looked up and saw two guys sitting in a Numero Uno pizza pointing and laughing at my hooptie.[Laughter]

So tell us about this new car you're drifting this year.This new car will definitely drop jaws and turn heads. It's a car no one has ever seen on a drift track: a Scion tC converted to a rear-wheel-drive platform. I'm leaving my supercharged V-8 to go back to a four-cylinder turbocharged engine, and I can say with confidence that it will suit my driving style. RS-R will be building the car from the ground up with the help of Scion Racing, Toyo Tires, Design Craft, and all of our sponsors. It's something new for me and for fans of drifting and I'm really excited!

Without having driven the tC yet [as of press time, it's still in development], what challenges do you foresee?
One of the biggest concerns I have is seat time. As I've experienced in the past, seat time is very crucial when developing a new drift car. Every car behaves differently, and it takes time to drive a car to its fullest. With seat time, I begin to build confidence as I learn the car's habits. Time is running out till the start of the season, and to make matters worse, the opening round is at Long Beach. Long Beach equals walls.

What differences do you anticipate between the Mustang and the tC?
The biggest difference I anticipate is the weight. The tC will obviously be a lot lighter than the Mustang. With that said, it will be a lot easier and faster to drive the Scion. Also, with RS-R behind the car, they bring a history of working with great drivers and building great drift cars. It should be a championship-ready vehicle!

On the subject of drifting, let's talk about the difficulties you faced this past '07 season.
The biggest problem I had in the '07 season was mechanical failure. We had transmissions breaking left and right. I also lacked seat time. I literally had no practice sessions last year. That's why I'm asking for a lot of practice this year. After all, practice makes perfect, right?

Not all the practice in the world is going to get me a Formula D license. Was there a reason for lack of seat time?
Well, for the most part, the car was always in the truck. It was hard to get the car in one place. Secondly, we couldn't find a venue where we could practice. I also blame myself for not requesting practice time.

What was going on with the transmissions?
There was nothing wrong with the Tremec transmissions; it was more of an engineering failure. We missed a few shims and that threw off the clearance of the input shaft. Every time I kicked the clutch, the transmission would shatter.

Did you ever have an on-track crash where you were like, "Oh shit, I can't believe I just walked out of that"?
No, but I did have an on-track crash at New Jersey where I thought to myself, "I can't believe I just did that." It was the slowest crash ever, but it was enough to total my car. I felt crushed.

Literally...what happened?
I got too close to the rail and my tail end hit, rotating my front around causing impact.

Do you have a favorite circuit?
It would be the Irwindale Speedway. It separates the boys from the men. Boys can get close to the walls, men actually tap the walls.

Which is precisely where Ken became a man?
[Laughs] Yes! I definitely manned-up at Irwindale.

What's the most difficult track on Formula D circuit?
I think the most difficult track is New Jersey. It's a slow track, but there are many ways to approach in a tandem battle. Different lines can be taken to win or lose a battle. Also, I crashed there. Bad memories.

Favorite competitor?
It has to be Daijiro Yoshihara. He is super fun to drive with. Dai's style is very fast and smooth. He is predictable, but not the kind where you can easily manipulate his driving. He does not play any dirty tricks and is a man about it. At the same time, he is very humble, which I think is a very important and highly respectable quality.

Anyone you fear?
Most feared are the ones who are inconsistent and unpredictable. You never know which way they will crash.

Besides drifting, are you involved in any other forms of motorsports?
For the past two years I've been getting myself involved with rally. I finished two rally events in 2006. Last year, I competed in the Pikes Peak Hill Climb race and managed to qualify third in our open class. During race day, however, we flew off the mountain at Engineer's Corner two miles into the race. I'm also a big fan of road-racing, and have been involved in Super Lap Battle-type events. I finished first in a Toyota 4AG challenge driving a Formula Atlantic-powered Corolla. I've also drove for a few teams in numerous circuit events. The disciplines in these forms of racing are completely unlike drifting, but I feel that racing in various genres can improve a driver's total package.

Your thoughts on the upcoming '08 season?
I have very high expectations for myself. With a brand new car and a new team I hope to perform to my fullest.

Where do you see yourself in five years?
I see myself in the seat of a Super GT 500 race car leading the pack behind me.

Well, I just so happen to own a former GT500 Supra I someday soon plan on building.
I told you that you're my best friend right, Carter? I heart you [Laughs].

Why couldn't that have come out of a model's mouth...Final question: Drifting being subjective, what is the perfect drift in your opinion?
The perfect drift would be one with high-speed initiation, no lift, full counter with steering wheel locked on one side, a wall of white smoke trailing the car, and no room for more than a sheet of paper between the bumper and the wall. That would be a run that would give me the chills.