Drifters, racers burn rubber on Nellis flightline Published April 13, 2007 By Senior Airman Andrew Dumboski Nellis AFB Public Affairs NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (ACCNS) -- The Airmen's Auto Event weekend is came to the Nellis flightline April 14 and 15. The two-day event featured free driving classes and affords people the chance to race their cars on the flightline. April 14 featured a free drifting class at 8 a.m. Drifting is a new sport designed in 2001 where drivers intentionally pitch their car to power slide in a turn. Judges, are incorperated to evaluate the style and skill of each driver. At the Auto Event, Air Force members, their families and civilians worked with a drifting professional and learned the basics of this new sport. During the autocross April 15, participants raced one-at-a-time on a predetermined course made of cones. Additionally, people honed their driving skills, learned how to control their vehicle in certain situations and improved their driving skills, all in a controlled environment. "Autocross gives Airmen a safe alternative to racing on the streets of Las Vegas," said Senior Airman Michael Newman, the coordinator for the drifting event. "Drifting is an up-and-coming auto sport, so, instead of Airmen learning on the streets, we are providing them with a controlled, safe alternative."