Joon Maeng
06 Jul, 2012
Words : Bergenholtz Racing & EmotiveImage
Snaps : Nitto Tire & EmotiveImage
"Bergenholtz Racing and Joon Maeng Part Ways.
Effective immediately, Bergenholtz Racing and Joon Maeng have both decided to part ways. "Though we both gave our blood sweat and tears to achieve podiums, we still couldn't get the formula right. In our quest to win, we realize that change must occur and sometimes that involves tough decisions. It is with great heart-felt regret that this has to happen but I believe it is the best for the future of Joon and our team.” Said Ron Bergenholtz, Team Manager of Bergenholtz Racing."
- Bergenholtz Racing
Sometimes all you need is drift...
I've had the pleasure of covering the Nitto Tire drift team for the last season and a half of Formula Drift competition and have seen first hand the type of passion and determination it takes to compete at this level. Joon Maeng has always been the model ambassador of drift, quite possibly the friendliest person you'll ever meet, all the while being one of the fiercest competitors out there. And while these are all well and good at the amateur level of competition, the higher up you move in the food chain the more politics plays a role, the more sponsors demand in return, the more finances start slapping you telling you to wake up; to the point where you aren't drifting for the sheer joy of drifting, but drifting to survive.
I've always felt that luck was never on Joon's side. Practice days were never seen as practice days, making sure the car survived and made it to competition seemed to be the priority. When competition day rolled around, the podium almost always seemed so close yet so far. Epic reverse entries, massive angle and that rotary sounding like a pissed off swarm off bees paired with Joon's aggressive driving style was definitely a spectacle but never won the hearts of the judges.
What Joon did win was the respect and admiration of the fans of drifting. We loved that stupidly loud rotary motor and his never-say-die attitude and it didn't matter where he placed or how high up that food chain Joon climbed, he was your friend. Want a photo? Hell yeah. Autograph too? Here's a hat to go with it along with Joon's signature fist pump high five. Where that fist pump high five goes now, however, with the departure of Bergenholtz Racing, is a return to grassroots drifting. It will definitely be an uphill fight for the rest of the year, personally funding a drift campaign going head first against the might of a factory backed drift fleet. The fight in Joon is there. That podium spot is there. And the best part of it all, the second Joon sits in his Sparco seat, stares straight down that startline, and slots that gear lever into first, it's all for the joy of drift.
Best of luck Joon! We'll be there cheering you all the way!
About the author
Related Posts
-
Volkswagen Tiguan GTE Active Concept Makes World Debut at NAIAS
-
Pirelli will be conducting F1 Wet Tire Tests January 25 / 26
-
Nissan TITAN Warrior Concept featured at 2016 NAIAS
-
Global Debut of the All-New 2017 Lexus LC 500 at the 2016 NAIAS
-
Subaru Impreza Sedan Concept makes World debut at 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show
-
BMW Concept M4 GTS
-
Subaru to Offer Limited Edition Series.HyperBlue BRZ and WRX STI Models
-
The 2016 Scion FR-S
-
Next-Generation 640-hp Cadillac CTS-V Launches This Summer
-
BMW ALPINA B6 xDrive Gran Coupe to make North American debut at NYIAS