Name: Jonathan Rudman
Date of birth: 29/07/1981
Hometown: Midrand, Gauteng
Car specs: Nissan 200SX S13
Current mods
SR20DET
Equal length stainless steel turbo manifold
T3T4 turbo (AR/48)
63mm full Stainless exhausts
Spitronics management
Front mount intercooler
Aluminium boost pipes
Dual dump valves
Adjustable coil-over suspension
Solid bush kit on rear sub assembly
Solid spool differential
Tein front strut bar
Adjustable fuel pressure regulator
Aluminium Mishimoto radiator
Future Mods
Ball bearing turbo
Nitro oxide kit
Rear strut bar
Roll cage
550cc injectors
Sponsors
Speed and Sound, XS promotions, Spitronics, Yokohama\Achilles tires, Turn1 Wheels, F1X Racing, Liquimoly, Smith Optics, Sunoco Race Fuels, Turbo Toys, Import Parts.
When did you start Drifting?
13 January 2007. We were just a couple of guys with the right cars at the right place a guy called Lucas introduced us to Florin who organised the Wesbank track in Alberton on that Saturday. We all just got on the track and, without knowing, became good friends. When Wesbank closed down, myself and Charel went to see a guy by the name of Tim Stephens who owned a little track called “Thunder valley” that changed to what everyone knows today as “The Rock Raceway” and we started what would be the drifting you see today.
Where did you start drifting?
Well, I started drifting at Wesbank Raceway when that was still going, used to go there on Wednesday nights for the illegal to legal drag racing which turned into drift practice nights for us lucky few.
You run with a small motor, this leaves you at a slight disadvantage. How do you overcome it?
Yes, it’s a slight disadvantage and it’s not easy sticking it to the big guys, so we have to hone our skills bit more and spend bit more time on suspension setup as we can’t just correct small mistakes with our right foot. We have to pull a rabbit out the hat more frequent than the guys with the big horse power. I have had my car mostly stock up to a couple of months ago, now I’m busy with new setups and testing new things for this year to get the car competitive and up with the big guns.
You come from a biking background. Do you feel this has helped you with drifting and how so?
Yes, it has. I had a motorcycle before I had a plastic scooter! I was 18-months old when my grandfather thought it a good idea to get me my first bike and, as you know, with all kids, the moment you can ride it you try and see what tricks you can do. Ever since then I’ve had one and it didn’t matter if it was a road or off-road bike, I was racing it and tricking with it and that all teaches you balance and where the limit is and in drifting we keep it on the limit of control.
If you had a big team budget, what would you build for drifting?
I would love to build a 200SX S15 for drifting with a 500HP power plant. It would be on a serious diet as only the lightest of equipment would go in the car, from very sexy carbon bits to the motor and drivetrain, as I believe in what my father taught me, that there is a fine balance when it comes to a car performance no matter what discipline of racing. Power = Weight = Traction.
What’s one of the scarier moments behind the wheel?
Well, there is a couple but the one that really sticks out is where I was still a young pup in the art of drifting. You get to a point where your ego gets bigger than your skill level; I lost it on some loose rubber at the big oval at Wesbank Raceway and hit the concrete wall at about 120 KM/H, bounced off the wall bout three times before I could get it off of the wall. That said, the damage was not too severe and I kept on drifting the rest of the night. I’d call that commitment.
Who inspires you?
There is only one and that has to be my father. He too has a racing background and has been in the game very long and without his help and support I would not be where I am today!
Which driver, do you most like doing tandem runs with?
There is only one and it’s David Nell. We have a very good partnership and understand each other’s driving style well, pushing each other past the comfort zone and that’s due to knowing we can push without any serious repercussions. He has bumped me a couple of times before but all good, he even signed the one spot where he bumped me afterwards.
Lead or Follow?
Personally, I don’t really care to do either but I do love to lead as then you specify the pace at which your opposition has to follow.
What are you looking to accomplish in 2011?
2011 for me is a development year to help with the setup and power gains. I’m aiming to try compete in the whole series and to rack up enough points to try impress new sponsors for 2012.
Final words of inspiration?
We are still growing the sport of drifting in South Africa; I must say it’s starting to look good.
So, for all the aspiring drifters out there waiting for the perfect time to start there has never been a better time than now to get involved as we’re starting to get more magazine and TV coverage than ever before and more and more sponsors are getting involved as this is the next big thing! It’s not called the fastest growing motor sport in the world for nothing! Sucks gas and hauls ASS!
