Vaughn Gittin Jr. Drifting Lethal Performance's 2012 BOSS @ PBIR!
When we purchased our Boss a lot of our fans wanted to see something out of the car other than 1/4 mile runs. Although we're going to have to take the car down the track I was definitely open for a change. Some mentioned the road course and a few mentioned drifting.
Well this afternoon we broke our car in the way it should be done. We headed up to Palm Beach International Raceway in Palm Beach Gardens FL to meet up with 5.0 Mustang & Super Ford Magazine editor Steve Turner. He was there covering the Formula Drift event that's going to take place at the track this weekend. Not only was he there to cover the event but he was also there for a photoshoot with none other than 2010 Formula Drift Champion Vaughn Gittin, Jr.
Funny thing is that on the way up there I noticed a black Ford Fusion behind us in my rear view mirror. The guy driving was wearing a Monster Energy hat. It crossed my mind that it was Vaughn but I didn't think any further of it. As we're on the Bee Line Hwy not far from the track the Fusion passes us and Christy says to me that she thought that it was Vaughn that just passed us. So I pulled up aside them and sure enough it was him and his fiance Abigail on the way to the track. They looked over and gave the thumbs up to us in the Boss and we did the same to them. We get to the track and make our way to the pits. We finally get to the area where Vaughn's trailer and car was and parked the Boss. Within a minute of us getting out Vaughn came over to us, introduced himself and we hit it off right away. Abigail came over too and we all stared chatting. Steve Turner then shows up and we all start talking cars and having a great time.
Rewind a bit...Before going up there I had this crazy idea that I ran by Steve which was to see if we could get Vaughn to take our Boss for a drift. Being that I've never met Vaughn before and the fact they were just setting up for the event I had no idea if something like that was even possible. So I called our good friend Susan Pollack who's the director of communications at PBIR and asked her if she could arrange for us to use a section of the track. She said as long as Vaughn was cool with it why not.
So as we're standing there chatting I asked Vaughn if he wanted to thrash on our new Boss for a few. Without hesitation he said sure. He asked me what we wanted him to do with it and I told him to drive it like it was his. He replied with something to the effect of " You sure you want me to do that" and laughed.
It's on!! He goes and grabs his helmet and asks me if I want to ride with him. Without him needing to twist my arm I said yes and he grabbed another helmet for me. Now I'm in the Boss with Vaughn driving and we're following Susan, Christy and Steve in their car around the road course to the area of the track that she cleared for us.
At this point I've got a **** eating grin from ear to ear. I couldn't believe this was happening. We take off and enter the turn at 60mph and we're drifting. The tires are spinning, smoke is everywhere and the G's are pulling me. He's feathering the throttle to keep the car aligned as it swings around the turn. I'm on another planet at this point. The grin is still there. Turn around and head back to the turn. This time at 80mph.. Same thing. Smoke, sliding, tire spinning and we're having a blast. All the time Vaughn was super cool and I felt like I was hanging with one of my good friends. He made it seem so easy. After my ride was done he took Christy for a spin as well and she was even more excited then me as she's a HUGE fan of his.
We wrap the drifting up and head back to the pits. Vaughn has to get to a drivers meeting so we said our good bye's and made plans to see each other at the event this weekend.
All I can say is WOW!!! What an amazing afternoon. The Boss handled and performed great. Vaughn Gittin Jr. is an awesome dude and I'm so stoked that I not only for to meet him but drift with him in my own car. For this I am thankful. Major thanks to Vaughn Gittin Jr. his fiance Abigail, Steve Turner of 5.0 Mustang & Super Fords Magazine, Palm Beach International Raceway, Susan Pollack, Christy High for being such an awesome and enthusiastic employee and Ford for blessing us with the Boss!!!!
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