A few months ago, my good friends Ameen and Amir Rizvi, owners of 786 Motoring, a drift and performance shop in Houston, told me that a big opportunity had come up and they wanted a photographer to come along. I said, “Sure, no problem!”
Then they said we’d be going to Brazil. Wait, BRAZIL!?
They explained that Leo Malfatti, owner of TTR Tuning, wanted to hold a drift event in Brazil in collaboration with Drift Company Brasil, the country’s leading drift crew. Leo felt that 786 Motoring had the reputation and experience to assist and contribute. Leo had approached many shops, but Amir and Ameen were the only ones that had taken him seriously. I wasn’t surprised that 786 Motoring was the shop he connected with — they’re a great bunch of guys with an extreme dedication to the sport.
After considerable planning and collaborating, things started to take shape and the trip was scheduled. Our plan was to meet and hang out with Drift Company, document our trip, discuss cars and setups, and talk about the overall logistics of drifting in Brazil. Unfortunately, Ameen had an issue securing his passport at the last minute. However, if everything worked out as planned, we also knew we’d probably have the chance to return to Brasil.
The day finally came to leave for Brasil and Amir and I met at the airport! I can’t tell you how excited I was! Amir was pumped as well! This photo was taken on the Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport’s train as we headed out to our terminal. Amir is rocking a Serial Nine shirt, a company that specializes primarily in parts for the Toyota Cressida. Ameen Rizvi’s car has nearly every Serial Nine piece made and these guys are always showing their support.
We finally caught a glimpse of our plane – TAM Brazilian Airlines! I had never flown TAM before, but the color scheme was pretty awesome. I also noticed that seats on TAM were an inch or more wider than any previous domestic flight I had flown. Maybe, this extra width was due to the legendary Brazilian asses I kept hearing about? Either way, only time would tell, and it made for a much more comfortable trip. They also had a great entertainment system in the airplane and I was able to pass the time on the 10-hour flight by watching “Avatar” over and over.
Our flight touched down in São Paulo, Brazil where we waited briefly for our friend Leo from TTR Tuning. I instantly felt the culture shock creeping in as soon as I exited the airport. Everything was so different! All the cars were extremely small compared to what you’d see in America. Most were hatchback vehicles with very small motors. There were many common brands there that weren’t entirely familiar to me – Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Lancia. There were makes and models of cars I’d never seen as well – small Chevy and Hyundai trucks, plenty of unfamiliar hatchbacks, and even their cargo vans were much different looking! Also, the foliage surround the airport looked very foreign to me as well – very tropical! The place even smelled different, in a way I can’t explain. I was soaking it all in!
São Paulo is a city of beautiful, rolling hills. As we made our way through the city we noticed the hills were covered with tightly packed housing as far as the eye can see. Some of the areas were very beautiful, with homes painted in a vast array of bright pastels. Unfortunately, some of the areas were very poor. I know many of you have seen poverty in the United States, but not many of them could rival the ghettos of São Paulo. It’s unbelievable to see miles and miles of homes built entirely out of sheet metal and plywood. Some of them looked more like shacks than living areas, and it really struck a chord with me. I wish I had photos of the more run-down areas, but in the photo above you can see a little bit of what I’m referring to.
You can also see a “Motoboy” here, which is the name given to the union (actually, it’s more like a gang) of bikers that run around the city. They usually are on 250cc or smaller bikes, and they courier documents and food across the city. They ignore road signs and weave in and out of traffic, stressing out drivers. If you hit or obstruct a motoboy, they are likely to destroy your car . . . you mess with one, they swarm like a pack of killer bees. If the police attempt to stop them, they protest downtown and block traffic, and their numbers are so large the police reportedly give in to the demands of the Motoboys.
The first thing we did in Brazil was find some lunch! After fourteen hours of eating only what the airline offered, I was very much looking forward to trying out Brazilian food! In the photo above, you can see my plate loaded with rump roast — it was excellent! I love the way Brazilian meat is cooked, it’s very good and very tender! I hear the secret is that they use papaya juice as a meat tenderizer, which allows them to cook much tougher cuts of meat and get excellent results! I also had a variety of side dishes, most notable of them being the fried bananas. You can also see our drinks — Guarana Antarctica, an amazing soda with a berry taste. Its flavor comes from the Guarana berry, a fruit grown in the Amazon. You can also see my Canon 85L in the photo, my signature lens!
After lunch, we made our way to the small town of Itu where Drift Company Brasil is located. Itu was a very country town in comparison to São Paulo! The streets were very, very small and lined with small, colorful buildings. We had a chance to walk around quite a bit and interact with the locals. Most the people we came across were students at the small college located in town. I can’t stress enough how friendly everyone was towards us! At night, we’d walk down to the square. There was a small street barbecue vendor named Eduardo who would offer us sticks of meat for 2 Reals (about $1.00 USD). We’d sit down and eat and enjoy the atmosphere, usually staying for an hour or two. People would constantly walk up and introduce themselves and sit with us, telling stories and drinking with us. In Brazil, the people do not hesitate to share. Anytime my cup would go empty, someone would offer to fill it with whatever beer or liquor they were drinking at the time.
I was very anxious to meet with Drift Company Brasil. I knew all about them, but up until I arrived at their facility I had never actually talked with them due to the language barrier. I had seen a few photos and video of their cars in action, but I had no idea what to expect when I arrived. Come to find out, their shop was located at Kartódromo Arena Schincariol, a very popular go-kart track. The facility is much larger than it looks, and it needs to be — the drifting, as well as the karts, draw very large crowds of spectators on weekends. I was really impressed with this location! To have your shop literally in the backyard of a track is a huge advantage! Its good to be able to get seat time on an actual track as opposed to the streets where many American drivers get their start.
Right behind the stands lies a large pit area with garages on each side. Drift Company owns nearly half of the garages here, using them for storage for parts, cars and tires. Just behind the facility is a much larger shop, where most of their maintenance is done. Here, you can also see many of the karts being prepped for an event as well. Its never a dull moment, considering you’ll always hear the sounds of either drift car or kart engines piercing the air!
As mentioned previously, Kartódromo Arena Schincariol is a go-kart track. There are competitions and races on a regular basis, with point standings just like a professional race series. They definitely take it very seriously! I happened to catch a group of go-kart drivers about to head out on to the track. Can you believe that many drivers, like Felipe Massa of Formula One fame had their start at events just like this? Massa is from São Paulo, but it never crossed my mind to ask if he had ever driven on this track, but it’s very likely!
It was great to finally meet Drift Company Brasil! Within minutes of meeting them we felt as though we were among good friends. It was great to actually speak with them in person! I was very interested to get to know them and understand what motivated their passion for drifting! Gerson Mekaru (owner of Drift Company) had learned of drifting while living in Japan. He had actually had the opportunity to witness drifting in the mountains years and years ago. He later returned to Brazil, but never lost his love of drifting. He formed Drift Company Brasil shortly after as a shop and team, often doing demos and track days to try and stir interest in the sport.
Drift Company Brasil was definitely down to rep MotorMavens.com! This photo brings back so many memories. We had so much fun with these guys! The fact that Americans had come all the way meant so much to them. It meant a lot to us, too. Drifting in Brazil is new, its fresh, it hasn’t had a chance to really develop. It was an amazing opportunity to be involved and witness what they were doing. They’re really paving the way for the sport in Brazil, and it isn’t easy. The initial costs of drifting is significant no matter where you go, but in Brazil the costs are staggering to say the least! I’ll go into more detail on my next post, but I just wanted to stress that the challenges these guys face is tremendous. This didn’t happen overnight, these guys have worked for years to make this happen. Its absolute dedication.
Drifting. It’s what we came for; it’s what brought us to Brazil. When the engines finally came alive on track, the tires started screaming, and the smoke filled the air, a strange feeling came over me. Although I was thousands of miles away in another country, immersed in an unfamiliar culture, in a place where nobody even spoke our language… I honestly started to feel at home. I had done this so many times before, standing in the center of a track with my camera, taking photos as the cars attacked the apex in front of me at increasingly aggressive angles run after run. No matter what separates us, no matter how many miles, how different our cultures are, or what languages we speak… we all were there on that track for the same reason. We love drifting. Its a common bond that brought us all together. The realization was overwhelming. While I was out on the track with my camera, Amir was behind the wheel of a JZX100 Toyota Chaser! Drift Company Brasil insisted that he drive with them.
Here’s Amir getting out of the JZX100, like a boss! I’m not a driver, I’m only a photographer, but I can imagine that it meant a lot to him. He had mentioned it plenty of times on the trip down. I’m really glad he had the opportunity, and I think Drift Company Brasil had a great time watching and driving with him!
In between drifting we’d all take time to chat and let the cars cool down. These are fond memories for me. It felt like a grassroots event back home, we’d all stand around and joke and cut up, and after each run Amir would offer assistance and suggestions to the drivers. They welcomed his advice and were very appreciate, and it paid off. We saw a tremendous amount of improvement in their driving during the short time we were there.
I know you guys have been wondering all along… did I get a chance to cover the girls? You’ve all heard about Brazilian girls, they have quite a reputation. This photo should answer your question! I knew that I couldn’t come back without sharing stories and photos of the Brazilian women. While I was in Brazil I’d check my Facebook from time to time. Each time, I’d see a new update from Antonio. “Hey man, I hope you’re having a good time! And don’t forget… the Brazilian girls!” … he would say it jokingly, but I knew he and everyone else were expecting it. 
I totally understand why, the girls in Brazil are amazing in both physical attributes and attitude!
I don’t really even need to caption this… LOL! In the next post I will introduce you to Ana Rosa and Fabricia, the girls in the two photos above.
Brazil is such a beautiful country, and the track is no exception. On our last day there, after the cars had been put away and the track had went quiet, I had a chance to walk around and reflect on my trip. Its amazing to me that something as simple as a hobby can bring people together. We can connect with other enthusiasts from thousands and thousands of miles away all because of a shared passion and love for drifting. The more I thought about it, the more it struck me… it isn’t the cars that matter. We could’ve had the same passion for any number of things, any number of hobbies. It is the people that matter, the people that make the sport what it is. It’s people like Drift Company Brazil. At the end of the day, what I remember most won’t be the specifics of the cars, how much angle they got on the track, or how much smoke they made… I’ll remember the friendships we developed and the fun we had together.
I can’t tell you enough how thankful I was to meet these guys, and I’ll thoroughly enjoy the next post as I give you a closer look at Drift Company Brazil!
:: James Evins
Holy boobs! Brazil looks cool too…
Looks like it was a lot of fun! It’s amazing how we are so much more alike then we give credit for.
Y man this was an awesome post and i loved it you did a great job! Love the coverage and I love the pics. Now more on the two hot women of Brazil! I mean dang dude that ish was hot!
:jealous:
Beautiful pics and great write up man.
I’ve been waiting for this coverage. Love the write up.
James! You lucky dog! I lived in Brasil from 97-99. Best 2 years of my life! I’m glad you found out what I did, Brasileiros rock! Coolest people in the world! I love the Guarana, churrasco (bbq), meus amigos!
Very cool that drifting is picking up in Brasil. Would love to see a drifting Brasilia (vw aircooled hatchback only sold in Brasil).
Yes, the gatinhas (hot girls) do Brasil are hot mamas.
Vive Brasil! Can’t wait to see what else you post about.
Chris
Obrigado, Chris 😉 You must’ve been what they call a “show de balla” ??? 😛 Those are the only two words I learned, haha!
@Danh & Shocker Joe – Thanks, guys!
James, riri (that’s ha ha in Portugues, because the r makes an h sound at the beginning of words…). I guess I was a show de bala.
They call tall white light haired people Alemao (german).
I never got to see Sao Paulo, except the airport. I was down in Rio Grande Do Sul, the most southern state. I lived close to the Autodromo de Viamao in Porto Alegre. Anyway, I could go on about Brasil. Man I miss that place and the people.
Adeus!
Looks like yall had a badass time!!! Need more pictures!!! JE+AR=LOVE
Agreed on the sights and sounds and smells. Trash burning, cars burning oil, the motos, the food, the big bugs, the cobbstone/brick roads, all the Fuscas (vw bugs)…
I loved this trip and cant wit to go back. Also super thanks to all of the guys at Motormavens you guys are the best. James is a beast behind the cam and cant wait for his other posts on this trip wait till you see the pics of the girls. Thanks for everything Antonio!!!!
@Chris – Our friend Leo was from Southern Brazil. He was telling us how nice it was there. I’d definitely like to visit that part as well!
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That’s IT!!!! I’m movin to Brazil Bro…who’s coming with me!!!!!
Seven Eight Motherfuckin’ Six going global! DAMN! Sexcellent photos and write up, James. They couldn’t have picked a better person to cover this.
Amir is also dead sexy.
These types of stories are always fun and exciting! Please post up more stories like this! I’m sure you guys have lots more of these kinds of stories.
AWESOME post guys, Brazil looks amazing. Can’t wait to see more…thanks for showing us the scene over there!
WOW, that looked like a rad time.
that track looks like a lot of fun
@David – Thanks, buddy!
@Lucas – The track had a nice layout, for sure. It was on the small side considering that it was originally intended for Go-Karts, but it appears to work out just fine for Drift Company. Either way, they’re very lucky to have a track and a shop at the facility – most of us getting into drifting would probably be learning on the street!
I’m going to plan a trip to brazil, packing 10 vlagra, a box of magnums, a crate of monster, and a tooth brush. that’s all you need.
That looks like a great trip and great time. Drifting unite us! No matter where… and the friendships you make on the way, are priceless!
James good stuff , I;ve been dying to go Dominican Republic events
I found this wicked entertaining. I want to go to Brazil badly. Cool write up!
thank you very much James
thank you very much Leo
thank you very much Amir
special thanks for everybody, nice to met you,and thank you for the good job that you did here in Brazil. We are waiting for your return in the end of this year.
It was a unforgetable and special days.Hugs from Drift Company Brazil.
Regards Gerson Mekaru
Hey James isn´t show de balla, the right is show de bola LOL joke…Show of Ball uashuahushuahs.
Hey it´s me Lucas, the Gerson´s son, nice to met you, i liked to know you, and Amir you are my 1st american friend you are fucking man, i wanna see you more times,and in the next time, we must play Race Driver Grid to see who is the best on the videogame LOL thank you everything.See you next time. Do you wnat some Churrasco?
AWESOME!!! 😮 I’m from Brazil, love see it here. <3
Yes, I agree with a lot of people. This story is very entertaining and warm.
Hey, thanks guys – very much appreciate it!
Sup, James! You probably didn’t realize that, but motormavens and you guys have LOTs of fans here, in Brasil. It’s great to see that you guys enjoyed staying here, and most of all, hearing you saying good things about our country, specially about the scene right here… I’m not from São Paulo but I have family there, I’m from Florianópolis – Santa Catarina, southern too.
The scene here is growing up pretty much, but as you saw, it all costs too much… Altough that won’t stop us
Great post, and you bet, you haven’t seen half of the brazilian women.
Stay cool, nice job!
Cheers
Awesome pics and very good read. Would smash photographer….errr I mean Brazil girls.
Wow! Tits are the most powerful thing on Earth! I could NOT scroll past this post.
wow james… awesome trip.. brazilian girls are so Gorgesous
@Gerson – Unforgettable is correct, thank you for having us. You guys are an inspiration and I’m happy to tell your story! I cannot wait to see you all again!
@Andre – Awesome, man! I bet you’re cheering for Brazil in the World Cup?
@Marcelo – Glad to hear! We definitely did enjoy the stay, I was very impressed with the culture and the people there. It was such a great trip. I cannot wait to see what unfolds in Brazil for the automotive and drifting enthusiasts, but I know you have a bright future with guys like Drift Company steering it in the right direction!
@Lucas – it was very nice to meet you, as well! I will be happy to beat you, Amir, Leo, and anyone else at any video game, any time
@Eric Candler – Thanks, friend
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh que muito lokoooooo… 😀 Valeo ae James.. muito obrigado mesmo cara, vocês ai da MotorMavens são de mais.. Otimas as fotos ta tudu otimo 😀 VALEO
Great Job with the article. I knew your photography was excellent, but I’m really impressed with your writing skills. Way to go!!!!!
@James Evins – Better, right? haha. you could have announced this special visit, I would certainly participate, I’m crazy for having a motormavens sticker. nice post again.
Cheers
@Andre – Man, I would’ve loved to announce it. Unfortunately, it was so last minute! I’ll definitely spread the word next time I go! I’ll for sure post it up on Facebook, feel free to add me
@James Evins – Twitter? i dont have facebook
I think I have one, I haven’t used in in awhile … let me check! Send me an email, james@jamesevins.com
God im gonna marry Ana I SWEARRRR
YES! Excellent article Mr. Evans.. Looks like you guys had a blast..the way you described everything reminds me of going back and visiting Oahu, Hawaii. Honestly, i think despite what people say, most countries love Americans. The ease of access to the track is also something you dont see very often. Very impressed!
James! such sick photos like always!
That track looks hella fun!
…….Still waiting on the nudes.
All I saw was boobs when I loaded the website. Send pix to my email. Kthxbye 😀
DAT AZZZZZZZZ
Fantastic!!! Your writing, coupled with the pics, not only made me feel like I was there, but that I wanted to go back as soon as possible. Great job!!
– James, after reading your article, I really could feel your feelings when you were writing this up. After those few days that me, Amir and you spent over in Brazil, was amazing, we all saw the day-by-day of DRIFT COMPANY BRASIL, we saw how hard they’ve been working to make Drift a Sport in Brazil and for how long, you can see their passion on their eyes and when they talk about Drift. They are limited in resources such Tires which cost about US$350,00 a piece to them and other things as well. With their work at the Kartodromo, everything that they made they put into Drift and their work –
– Amir, your advices and the way you are, really made a big impression on them, I wish that Ameen was there with us. –
To me as a honor to have you guys for the first time in Brazil, you saw even with the struggle that us Brazilians go through we are the most happy people in the World. –
Drift Company Brasil has a tremendous future, and they work hard for it, I hope that others can see that and become a part of Brazil’s new Drift Team, Drift Company.
I also cant wait to see you guys in my city, the beautiful city of Porto Alegre.
Thank you all very much, Muito obrigado Gerson e grupo, por ter nos recebido! Thank you very much MOTORMAVENS CREW to post James Evin’s amazing story.
Im looking foward for the next post.
Leonardo Malfatti =)
WORLD CUP 2010 = BRAZIL 6th time champion!!
Hey James, great post! Hope you enjoyed your time around here! If you’d like to write a article about it to post in a Brazilian blog dedicated to modified cars (like Motormavens), write to me so we can talk about it!
Thanks!
Phenomenal James, what a great write
holy hell, i had to restrain myself super hard to not click this while at work. them girls are STACKED.
if you ladies read this, hello my name is lance.
sounds like a pretty epic trip! looking forward to the next post!
For some reason I keep seeing the title of this post as “Drifting Culture is Alive in Brassiere”. Wonder why that keeps happening…
What a nice post we have here! Mad props, James! And it is such a lovely surprise to see that despite so many things you’ve liked the country! I guess that, as you’ve said, it’s all about the passion for drifting or the passion for cars… it doesn’t matter if you’re brazilian, if you’re american, japanese… doesn’t matter where you come from, all that matters is that we happen to like the same thing. Cars can make the world come together, and that’s the coolest thing.
Again, awesome work on this post and I hope you guys come again soon and have a great time!
Pce
ahh… my hometown… 7 years of life spent there,
it’s awesome to know drifting is starting up there…
lol maybe my cousins will get into it so when i visit… well u know… i can do a lil test drive 😛 hehehe
never heard of drift team Brasil! either, pretty dope…
Rumo ao Hexa!!!
I really enjoyed shooting for you.
Thanks for the compliments and come over to Brazil to come out with us the night.
Great story James! What an opportunity, this must have truly been a trip of a lifetime, and you have done a fantastic job documenting and telling the tale. Looks like you had an amazing epic journey, I can’t wait to hear the rest!
OMG LOUD NOISES!! 😉
NH
Perfect.
Thanks, everyone. I cannot wait to travel back!
@Igor – True, you’re 100% correct. I’m definitely looking forward to coming back out.
@Renan – Wow, stop by the track next time you are in town, the members of Drift Co. actually work there and you can meet them!
@Ana Rosa – it was my pleasure 😉
Awesome write-up! Pics say a lot too!
Nice post man!
Im from Brazil.. i live in Sao Paulo…
At ITU… i guess you forgot to notice the big things in the city! haha its a amazing city..
Its funny to read your opinion about motoboys haha i liked!
Oh.. and you guys saw any Chevette drifting?? this little ugly car is like AE86 to us haha .. just kidding
Would i add you to my facebook?
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