How Drifting—and Lunatics Co.—Started for Me

My name is Cornelius, and I didn’t get into drifting until my mid-20s. Like many car enthusiasts, I’d been fascinated by the sport for years but never took the plunge. What held me back was fear: I didn’t know how to build or maintain a drift car, and that kept me from diving in.

In 2018, I built a 1991 Miata as my first drift car. While it was a fun project, it wasn’t practical. The car was too small to carry spares, and street driving it to and from events was a challenge. I sold it less than a year later.

Things changed at the end of 2019. A few months before the pandemic shutdowns, I picked up a Lexus IS300. A month after getting it, I brought it to its first drift event—and a month after that, I drove it at Sonoma Winter Jam. From those first two events, I knew the IS300 had potential. It was underpowered, but that only pushed me to become a more aggressive, skilled driver.

Why "Lunatics"?

Drifting is unlike any other motorsport. Clutch kicks, handbrake pulls, and oversteer—it all looks wild from the outside. And honestly? It is. The sport is full of contact, broken parts, tire smoke, and door-to-door action. That chaos is exactly what inspired the name Lunatics. It takes a little bit of madness to love this sport as much as we do.

The Problem with the Drift Scene Today

Modern drifting has become a horsepower and grip chase. Social media highlights 600+ horsepower builds and full race setups, which makes it easy to forget that this sport started with grassroots drivers and budget builds. Back then, a simple RWD car, welded diff, and coilovers were all you needed to get started—and people had a blast doing it.

Now, many new drivers feel pressure to overbuild their cars before even hitting the track. That intimidation factor can stop people from ever getting started.

The Mission Behind Lunatics Co.

I started Lunatics Co. to lower the barrier to entry for drifting. My goal is to help new drivers get started with simple, affordable, and functional parts. You don’t need a pro build to slide and smile. You just need the right mindset and a setup that works.

Whether you’re a garage builder, weekend warrior, or someone who's just now catching the drift bug—Lunatics Co. is here for you. Check out our product lineup and explore our Heat Lightning Handbrake Conversion Bracket for your drift build.

Looking for a clutch pedal kit for your drift setup? Check out the Heat Lightning Speed Shop Clutch Pedal Kit—designed to be simple and effective. And for your transmission swap, don’t forget the Xcessive Manufacturing Transmission Crossmember, perfect for those working on a W58 swap.

Let’s bring the fun back to drifting. Let’s keep it real. Welcome to Lunatics.