Staff

Dan Perlenfein, General Manager

The whip: 1992 Turbo LS Lexus SC300

The story: I became part of Staff in 2018 when I started helping run grid. The following year I started helping with tech inspections as well as general track operations. In 2020 I started handling driver registrations, "backend" office type work and the front gate with help from my Wife Lynn. In 2021 I was also put in charge of the organization and operation of the 10th annual No Star Bash. An enormous task with tons of pressure from Edgar, I did the best I could at setting up a huge event which I have never done before! At the end of the 2022 season I was promoted to General Manager.

Derek King, Drift Indy Street League Announcer, Clinic Instructor

The whip(s): AE86, FD RX7, Porsche 911... you name it

The story: I went to Drift Indy's first official event in 2006? I ended up as staff to be a driver coach/instructor and that carried onto other general responsibilities and eventually DISL microphone work. Being a part of Drift Indy is being a part of a family that cares about teaching what drifting is supposed to be about and keeping it on the right trajectory for the younger generations to get to experience. My life is heavily evolved around motorsports with drifting being the anchor of it all, I would say I fit into the life of drifting, not the other way around.... am I a f***ing dork? Probably yes.

I've finished top 16 in D1GP and FD ProAm Nationals, I hold an FD license, I've won a Drift Indy series, been top qualifier in Midwest Drift Union, won overall in NASA endurance racing, have multiple class wins in SCCA Hillclimb and SCCA AutoX and have finished in the top 20 in GridLife GLTC.

TR Scrivner, Co-Founder/Day Laborer/Mid Driver

The Whip: Black C5 Vette on reps

The Story: I met Edgar in 04 after wandering into a local import shop inquiring about making my car faster (Mazdaspeed Protege, yes, the worst Mazdaspeed). A few weekends later we met up at Slamology, think Indiana hot import nights, but with minitrucks. We shared a bottle of Sailor Jerry, talked shit, slid down a hill naked (not me), wrestled a 400 pound man named Bubba, and became best friends. At the time, I knew very little about drifting, but Edgar was very passionate about the sport. Drifting was different from my perception of motorsports. The cars and driving allowed for so much personal expression, something not seen in autox which I was familiar with. About 6 months later we hosted our first event at the Speedrome. Even though we could barely fill this event, Edgar and I were both invested in trying to build a home for drifting in the Midwest with Drift Indy (a name we came up with via aim). Fast forward to today, we have an amazing community, incredible cars, and overall something to really be proud of. In those almost 20 years, I've built and driven over 20 cars, met some lifetime friends, and hopefully helped shape a few lives for the better.

Tanner Thomas, Grid Master / Operations

The Whip: Almost anything with a VQ apparently

The Story: I was first introduced to drifting back when I was just 9 years old. The first event I ever attended was Street Life Tour over a decade ago (2011) when Midwest Drift Union was a thing, and since then i've been hooked into drifting. Overtime I would attend almost every drift event I could, and since Drift Indy started hosting events at Kil-kare I have been to almost every single event. I started driving consistently early in the 2022 season and met a lot of amazing people along the way who supported and helped me progress as a driver (I still suck). Huge shoutout to my dad and ole uncle Rodney for getting me HOOKED on drifting, I wouldn't be where I am today without them. Early in the 2024 season I was blessed with the opportunity to be able to work alongside some of the coolest dudes and be apart of the Drift Indy Staff team, and it has been an absolute blast. I love getting to travel to different places/tracks and meet and talk to new and different drivers all over the midwest and cannot wait to see what other opportunities Drift Indy has in store for me. Here's to many more seasons of Fun Having.

Shawn Allgood, Media

The whip: Anything a 2.0 Ecoboost will fit in

The story: My first Drift Indy event was the season opener in 2021 with the Bobby's Crew guys. From there I attended both DISL events and No Star Bash. I was brought onto Staff at the end of 2021 because of the vibe and style I brought to the video game. I always try to capture and present the unique vibe from each event as well as showing the fam driving their balls off (ladyballs too, I don't discriminate). In a way there's an allure in drifting video that can't be found elsewhere, the violence of bashing limiter, roasting tires and fat turbo noises juxtaposed to the delicate balance of grip vs spinout within a foot of a fellow drifter. To me, drifting is both a hobby and a lifestyle, a sort of counterculture movement in motorsport where it doesn't necessarily have to be about the quickest lap times or the highest power. Its about having fun with your friends, enjoying the machines that you build, occasionally competing for bragging rights and of course absolutely decimating any tire in the tri-state area. Coming from doing Karting, SCCA and NASA its an absolute breath of fresh air where all the trash talk about being the quickest falls away.

Sam House, Media

The Whip: Dailies a Honda Fit, E30s for projects

The Story: I found out about Drift Indy while I was searching around on Facebook for a car event to photograph for a multimedia project while I was a student at IU. Mario Johnston showed me around Kil-kare during a Sunday Funday and I interviewed a few dudes that were kind enough to sit down with me for a few minutes. That was either late 2017 or 2018, and I've barely missed an event since then. I fully became staff midway through the 2022 season, joining the team as a writer and getting the Drift Indy blog up and running. It's a real privilege to get to be part of such a special grassroots community of drifters.

Mike Skudlarek, Instructor/General Staff

The Whip: Currently - Coyote Swapped SN95 Mustang. Formerly (one day again maybe) - an LS3 powered S13 hatch.

The Story: Drove my first Drift Indy event in '08 or so at one of the first airport events. After that, I started following the DI event schedule to all the different venues, and eventually found myself competing with DI's Pro-Am events. Through these events, I was able to work my way to earning an FD pro license. Around 2013, I stepped back from Pro competition and ran with the DI family in their fun and competition events once again. Between 2014-2018 I was involved as a competition judge, tech inspector and rulebook advisor, marketing, and even partnered with DI in a joint effort with my own grassroots events brand called "Back to Basics" which I started out of the Michigan area. Drift Indy has been the catalyst to make drifting a major part of my life - taking it from a fun hobby in the early days to something that has evolved into a full-time career through my shop, Detroit Drifting Co., and other drifting-related ventures.

Dan Wagner, Cinematographer

The Whip: Acura MDX, saving up for something to start drifting

The Story: May 2023 was my first Drift Indy event, all thanks to Team Shade and Dave Whelen. It wasn't like any other events I’ve filmed; it was like stepping into a new universe. The energy, the roar of the engines, the swirl of tire smoke – it was electrifying. As a cinematographer with a background in commercials, documentaries, and action sports, discovering the drift scene felt like striking gold and i was excited to capture a new action paced sport.

I've always been that guy, camera in hand, ready to capture everything from a skier's mid-air flips to the narrative of a major brand. But filming at Drift Indy? It's a whole different level of adrenaline.

Now, as a member of the Drift Indy staff, I'm excited to play a role in the growth of this incredible community. My goal is to use my filmmaking skills to not only showcase the action on the track but also to bring the spirit of drifting to a broader audience.