After the recent news regarding Mallory Park having to dramatically reduce events in 2012 thanks to local noise complaints, we have been working tirelessly to find a suitable alternative venue. But the amount of planning involved in an event of this scale always meant that we were on a very tight deadline to find a replacement venue. That time and our options are now completely exhausted.
We have carefully considered, enquired about, and visited many of our ‘backup’ venues, and some of the suggestions you all came up with too. Although we would be able to put on a relatively good event at a couple of the venues, we feel that at this time none would be suitable enough for us to call it ‘Awesomefest’.

Those of you that have already pre-ordered tickets should have received a full refund by now. If you haven’t, please contact usat :sales@driftworks.com with your order details.

We would like to thank you all for the support you have shown us, and assure you that when we have a suitable venue Awesomefest will be back bigger and better than ever.

Phil Morrison, Bob Inglis and the rest of the Driftworks Awesomefest Team.

AWESOMEFEST 2011 : THE FILM from Stephen Brooks on Vimeo.

Stephen Brooks has worked his magic with his amazing film from Awesomefest 2011! Thanks to everyone who supported Awesomefest, and remember – Awesomefest 2011 tickets are on sale now and discounted for the 1st 1000 tickets!

Wow, what an incredible, amazing, sunny, packed, adrenaline fuelled, chilled out, tyre wrecking, music filled, jump-tastic wicked, fun and happy event that was.

AwesomeFest 2011 has been described by so many people as the best festival they have ever been too, and some even went as far to say the best weekend of their lives! And we completely concur, the brilliant mix of fun, fuel and face plants have made this brand new style festival a complete hit over night and we cannot thank you, the people, enough for coming to be a part of it.

There was as promised a huge amount of things to participate in – everything from the massively popular MX tracks, BMX jumps, the hilariously surreal Beard Off, the on track drifting throughout the day, the ramp park, the huge Big Top Party tent that played host to what the DJ’s described as ‘One of the best crowds we’ve ever ever had’, and of course the utterly incredible night drifting battle that genuinely changed the game completely overnight.

It is so rare to have everyone from all the scenes in one place, and this really bought us all closer together. No competition meant drivers didn’t have to worry about the pressure of winning, it was all about going back to the reason they started drifting in the first place, for fun. The media teams gelled together and shared stories and laughs all weekends, and it was great to see all the guys working with each other. We promise next year we will have working WIFI, and we will continue to limit the amount of media passes to ensure you guys can always produce the quality of shots we have been previewed.

We at Driftworks have a few thank you’s to make, so we will make it quick. Firstly, thank you to you for buying your ticket, having an amazing happy time, and giving us the incredibly overwhelmingly positive feedback. We’d like to thank the media guys for trooping the entire event for two and a half days taking stunning pictures and film that we cannot wait to see. We’d like to thank the caterers, the brilliant security staff, and the volunteers who helped out. We’d like to say thank you to Propaganda, The Futureheads, Aeroplane Dope, Cyantific, Wilkinson, Bassline MC, Switch, Cable, JellyHeads, and all the other DJ’s who ripped on the decks. We’d also like to thank the pro drivers who travelled from all over the world to be there – guys, you made the event, and we hope you all can make it back again.

Most importantly, we’d like to finally thank Bob Inglis, the guy who quietly in the back ground made this event happen, we couldn’t have done it without him, and to say that he is the best thing to happen to European Drifting would not be an understatement in the slightest. Bob, from the people, the staff, and us here at a very broke and tired DW HQ, thank you.

We have threads up in the Driftworks Forum for discussions, photos, videos, memories, fun and when all the other blogs around the net hit their write ups we will try and be the first to let you know what and where you can read them.

Lastly, we will soon have the official AwesomeFest 2011 video from Stephen Brooks which I can assure you will be something very very special.

Now I think it’s time to go to sleep. And with that, we would like to announce that AwesomeFest 2012 will happen, and we will release dates and more awesomeness in the next few months. See you next year? F*ck yea.

Friday 29^th July
13:00 Campsites open
17:00 Media sign on opens
18:00 Paddock open (including Skatepark, bars, paintball arena, funfair, Huffy sliders, track access [no engines allowed] and graffiti wall)
18:00 Media sign on closes
19:00 Big top tent open with Propaganda DJ Nick Finning playing the Sky Insurance Sound Stage
22:00 The Futureheads DJ set
22:00 Gates close for entry
00:00 Big top tent closes – Paddock closes.

Saturday 30^th July
07:00 Gates open
07:00 Campsite entry opens
07:00 Media sign on opens
08:30 Pro drivers briefing
09:00 Public track sessions begin, including Drifting, Moto X and Mini Moto X. Big top tent opens.
10:00 Media sign on closes
14:00 Beard-off judging in big top
14:00 Digital Base DJ set begins
17:30 Public track sessions end
18:00 Moto X and Mini Moto X tracks close
18:00 Aeroplane Dope DJs BTT
20:00 DJ Switch & DJ Cable DJ BTT
22:00 Pro Drift Demo, Aeroplane Dope DJ set
22:00 Gates close for entry
22:30 Cyantific Vs Wilkinson Ft Bassline MC
00:00 Big top tent closes – Paddock closes.

Sunday 31^st July
07:00 Gates open
08:00 Media sign on opens
09:00 Media sign on closes
09:00 Sky Insurance sound stage opens
09:00 Public track sessions begin, including Drifting, Moto X and Mini Moto X.
17:00 Public track sessions end
18:00 Moto X and Mini Moto X tracks close
18:00 Awesomefest finishes – Paddock closes.

All tickets are available on the gate for no extra cost. Track sessions are still available…

With 3 days remaining until Awesomefest kicks off, here’s the full and final list of Pro drivers that we have taking part in the demo on Saturday night:

Phil Morrison
Ben Broke-Smith
Dan Chapman
Paz
Remmo Niezen
Lars Verbraeken
Darren McNamara
James Deane
Paul Smith
Shane Lynch
Shane O’Sullivan
Stephen “Baggsy” Biagioni
Julian Smith
Walton Smith
Mark “Buff” Luney
Christy Carpenter
Lennard Wanders
Duane Mckeever
Steve Wills
Wayne Keeber
Brad Hacker
Paul “Polo” Cheshire
Matt Carter
Alan Green
Buttsy Butler
Anthony Scott
Brad McQueen
Marc Huxley
Andy Shervington

This is the revised Awesomefest skate park layout that’s being built for us by the guys over at Fearless, and it looks perfect for Bon to get ripping whilst learning to skateboard. Don’t worry, the grind rails are there but just not shown in this image! The park will contain:

Big Quarterpipe – Measuring 7ft high X 12ft wide X 11ft deep
Jump box – measuring 6ft high X 10ft wide X 27ft long
Quarterpipe with sub box – measuring 5ft high X 15ft wide X 12ft deep
Quarterpipe – measuring 5ft high X 10ft wide X 12ft deep
Flatbank- measuring 4ft high X 8ft wide X 12ft deep
Driveway ramp with 2 grindrails measuring 2ft high X 18ft wide X 20ft long
Quarterpipe measuring 5ft high X 10ft wide X 12ft deep
Flatbank measuring 4ft high X 10ft wide X 12ft deep

The park is being built this week by the guys over at Fearless, and ready for Friday night as Awesomefest gets underway at 6pm… So what are you riding?

Formed in 1995, the STR CRew hail from Bristol, London and Leicester.
Considered by many as one of the most elusive crews in the UK, but here, in the year of the rabbit, they are popping up in the their numbers once again.

They’ve been credited as pioneers for their early multi layered stencils, all members have very unique styles and have had works published in a variety of books and zines.

Now spread out across the globe, the STR Crew rarely get opportinuties to paint in numbers, but when they do they create striking visuals which make them in exceedingly memorable crew.

Phil took his new Honda for a quick spin around the Mini MX track and had a blast, loving the size of the track and the twisty layout which should allow for a good rhythm. This view here is from the top of the BMX Dirt jumps which the diggers will do on Tuesday. Remember, this is all FREE to ride, all weekend!

Everything is now finally in place (phew!) and we really don’t think we could have a more incredible line up things to do this weekend. Even the music, considering we are not trying to be a music festival, is going to be frickin’ ACE.

Anyway, most of the staff here at DWHQ have bought MiniMX bikes to rip around the weekend, none of us are any good at it at all so we’re all expecting horrific and cool injuries that will badly scar us so that we can get sympathy from girls.

Even though Mallory already has a MotoX track, we wanted to improve it further, and the team who specialise in dirt track building where there grading and perfecting the surfaces so it will be really really nice to ride on.

If you’re watching from the top of the Moto X track, you’ll get a great view of one of the campsites – as you can see it’s only a short walk (if you turn around from where this photo was taken, you can see the circuit, which is basically40 metres from the entry into Gerrards.

We are so excited, the weathers even looking awesome!

If you don’t know who Stephen Brooks is, then make sure you check out his work HERE. and then make sure that whatever you do over the Awesomefest weekend, you do something awesome (or stupid) enough to end up in front of his lens! . Brooksie is really looking forward to shooting such an awesome array of different spectacles, and we can’t wait to see the video results!

The latest pro drivers confirmed to take part in the Pro demo on Saturday night at Awesomefest are Dutch Falken drivers Remmo Niezen & Lars Verbraeken. Remmo and Lars will be bringing their world-famous E30 BMWs all the way from Holland, and both Falken cars sound freaking amazing! Remmo’s E30 is powered by an E39 M5 V8 and Lars’ car is powered by a 1JZ Toyota engine.

Have you bought your AwesomeFest™ 2011 tickets yet? Weekend & day tickets, and track sessions are available from the Driftworks shop now…

We’ve finally been able to confirm that Friday night at Awesomefest will be taken over by Propaganda – the UKs biggest indie club night! The Sky Insurance sound stage will be hosting a night of indie music with Propaganda’s DJ Nick Finning kicking the night off at 7PM and the Futureheads’ Ross Millard and David “Jaff” Craig headlining Friday night’s entertainment with a killer DJ set from 10-midnight.

For more information on Propaganda take a look at their website and you can follow them on twitter and Facebook.

For more information on the Futureheads, check out their website, twitter and Facebook.

Just a little taster of what you can expect to see at Awesomefest!! Keelan Phillips, one of the best Flatlanders in the business! You will be sure to find me engrossed all weekend, fondly remembering the days where I could just about manage a hang five without busting my teeth out . I may even dig out my Quamen to see how many dents I can put in my shins. Bring your bikes people! Awesomefest will be unmissable!

If you don’t already know who Julian and Walton then you’ve missed out! They’ve both been around since the beginning of the UK and Irish Drift scene, Julian being one of the most experienced drifters in Europe, starting his competition career back home in Ireland in an E30 M3, now most commonly seen in ‘de Blitz’ ER34 Skyline. Walton followed in his brothers footsteps jumping straight into Irish and UK competitions, although with a different selection of drift cars, starting his competition life in a Ford P100 pickup with V6 power! Both of them now use their skills to keep half the European drift cars alive (and Watford’s KFC in business) at Julian’s workshop in Watford, Garage D.

Julian’s Blitz ER34 is one of the most recognisable drift cars in Europe, if you haven’t seen it being driven on the limit before, you’re in for a real treat! Julian is one of the most entertaining drifters I’ve ever seen in person so the sight of the R34 getting fired into Gerrards will be something you won’t want to miss!

Walton Smith, who competes in the Drift Allstars series (formerly JDM Allstars) with his Jap Performance Parts RB25 powered Subaru Impreza will be taking part in the pro demo alongside his Brother. This car has now been all over Europe and the Far East with Drift Allstars, and has proven itself to be a spectacular sight!

Have you bought your AwesomeFest™ 2011 tickets yet? Weekend & day tickets, and track sessions are available from the Driftworks shop now…

Have you bought your AwesomeFest™ 2011 tickets yet? Weekend & day tickets, and track sessions are available from the Driftworks shop now…

YESSSSS!!!!!!! Thanks to the support of Sky Insurance, we are pleased to announce that Cyantific Vs Wilkinson Ft Bassline MC will be headlining on Saturday night (30th July)! Saturday night is going to be insane – Pro drift demo’s and a top line up which also features Aeroplane Dope, an amazing party set from DMC World Champ DJ Switch and his partner in crime DJ Cable. Cyantific & Wilkinson are two of the best Drum and Bass DJ’s and Producers around at the moment and we promise they will deliver a night to remember!!

Have you bought your AwesomeFest™ 2011 tickets yet? Weekend & day tickets, and track sessions are available from the Driftworks shop now…

I’m sure most of you will know that Cyantific is one one Europe’s top Drum and Bass DJs and for any of you that don’t, check out his website here.

Hit the jump for more information on Cyantific Vs Wilkinson Ft Bassline MC…

Take a listen to the mix below (which is almost a year old) to get a flavour of Cyantific’s style:

Cyantific – Return of the Ghetto Blaster by Reprise Agency

Joining Cyantific is at Awesomefest is Wilkinson, who is a true rising star of the UK Drum and Bass scene and has already gained a reputation for delivering super high energy sets at some of the greatest clubs all over Europe. Check Wilkinson out on Facebook here.

Here’s a sample mix by Wilkinson from a recent Drum & Bass Arena podcast… It’s well worth a listen!

Wilkinson – June Drum & Bass Arena Mix 185 by Wilkinson UK

Joining Cyantific and Wilkinson is Bassline MC who is a legend in the London Drum and Bass scene…

Once again, take a listen to this mix to get a feel for Bassline MC:

EOC Promo Mix 3.2010 – Subterra & Bassline MC by basslinemc

We’d just like to say a quick thanks again to the guys and girls at Sky Insurance who have helped make this all happen!

We’re proud to announce that Darren McNamara and Team Need For Speed have confirmed their attendence at The UK’s most insane event!: Awesomefest 2011 @ Mallory Park in the UK.

Team Need for Speed wrote: “Owner of multiple Formula Drift podium-finishes, Darren McNamara (D-Mac) has been working for one year to create the wildest Toyota AE86 ever imaginable: the Dmac86. The car will make its world debut at the AwesomeFest at Mallory Park in the UK on July 29-31.”

Darren has been driving in Formula D for three years now, and this is his first UK event for years. In his specially built Toyota Corolla AE86, D-Mac will be putting on a huge show with his fellow drifters on the fastest drift track in the UK: Don’t miss it! Get your tickets for Awesomefest from the Driftworks shop HERE & don’t forget you can still buy your track time to drive alongside all of the Pro drivers.

The Need For Speed Crew have just announced an official European tour which you can read more about HERE

We’ve got an inflatable arena coming to Awesomefest which is 60x60x40ft and we’ll be running 10 minute battles between two teams of 5 players… all for free!! Another reason to make sure you don’t miss Awesomefest this year!

Have you bought your AwesomeFest™ 2011 tickets yet? Weekend & day tickets, and track sessions are available from the Driftworks shop now…

Have you bought your AwesomeFest™ 2011 tickets yet? Weekend & day tickets, and track sessions are available from the Driftworks shop now…

Have you bought your AwesomeFest™ 2011 tickets yet? Weekend & day tickets, and track sessions are available from the Driftworks shop now…