PASMAG Features Editor Ricky Chu interviews Formula Drift President, Jim Liaw about the 2021 Formula Drift season, the Turn 14 Distribution Skills Competition and Jim's campaign for the SEMA Board:
Ricky Chu
We have Jim Liaw, the President of Formula Drift. I call him the big boss. Jim, with the last year of COVID, and all the challenges with postponing schedules, how did you guys manage to navigate everything again, you know, the Formula Drift season going
Jim Liaw
Last year was tough. You know, we went through probably six months of just like pivoting and changing and trying to figure out what was happening every day almost had a different, you know, requirement, different governmental policy, just every state functions very differently. So that was really hard for us. But ultimately, I think our goal was that we wanted to keep the season alive no matter what, we have obligations to sponsors, they pay the bills. And the same goes for the teams, the ability for them to compete, and deliver for their sponsors, obviously, is, is crucial. So we didn't want to just shut everything down, and come back in 2021. And so we pivoted, we adjusted schedules, we slashed and burned budgets and all that kind of stuff. And ultimately, we got to a point where we were able to put together four rounds, or four locations that were doubleheaders. So we still delivered eight rounds of competition. But at four locations, we did that in the span of 13 weeks. So competitors were not only competing in such a short span of time, but they were zigzagging across the country. And there were doubleheader weekends. So luckily, we pulled off a season, we were able to deliver eight rounds of competition, some to fans, and some without fans. But I think it put us in a better place to springboard into 2021.
Ricky Chu
Being based out of California, and us being in California at the house of drift. They just started open things up, about maybe two, three weeks ago, how challenging was that for you guys to put this event together? Because of COVID. And the new restrictions and the new open ups?
Jim Liaw
Yeah, I mean, I think what we've been able to do, like, you know, with this particular event, we're treating it as a closed film shoot. And that's exactly what it is, is a special event, we created this event, we always had an idea to do some sort of like skills challenge, like all star weekend type of thing. But in a way because of COVID, because we were shut down, that we finally put this together. So last year was our first year doing this. And we did this during you know, during similar time when everything was closed, and we were able to basically get a private track rental and be able to film. And the results were great. So we wanted to do it again as a as a kickoff to the season. So we're here, you know, we're doing a new set of skills, and getting drivers back together, seeing new cars, getting them kind of, you know, dusting off, you know, from the from the offseason. And it's just good to be back at the track.
Ricky Chu
Are you guys allowing fans to the events in 2021. And if you are, what safety precautions are you guys taking?
Jim Liaw
We watch every every region, state City County of every track that we're going to. And one pivot we already had to make is we usually start in Long Beach. California is more restrictive. And we kind of are tied into the Long Beach Grand Prix. Long Beach Grand Prix had worked with IndyCar the city to move that event later in the year. So they're going to be at the end of September. And as a result of that we're able to basically cottail with and we're always a weekend before. And so the city made arrangements for that for us. So we moved Long Beach to September. And what that did is that kind of freed us give us another month of time to breathe. But we're also going to regions that are already open. So we start the season off in Atlanta, there's already you know, limited capacity but still open. Florida is open. New Jersey has limited capacity, but we'll have fans. Pennsylvania is going to be open, limited capacity by like 50% State of Washington is open and the state of Illinois is open. So our first six rounds will have fans and some limited capacity, some to full capacity, but we'll be able to kind of bring that atmosphere back that we lacked at a couple of the rounds last year and hopefully hopefully by, you know, late summer by September October, we'll be able to finish off the season here in Southern California at Irwindale. at Long Beach. We really kind of cap it off and hopefully, to full capacity
Ricky Chu
For all these fans like Formula Drift has a huge following what do they have to look forward to in 2021 you know, obviously, being able to go to an event live is huge, but are there any changes you guys are making.
Jim Liaw
Yeah, you know, the changes have to be, we're kind of following along day by day. And as we get closer to each event, we'll roll out more protocols if needed. First, the foundation is what the city state, you know, region requires of us. And then if we feel the need to enhance safety on top of that for not only ourselves and the competitors, but also for the fans that are coming, we can't expect we want to, but I don't think we can fully expect that, hey, we're, we're at some point, it's, it's going to switch back to fully open and everybody, everything's back to normal, there's still going to be some process, to get us back. But I think the main thing is that people are hungry, they want to be back, whether they can, you know, walk through the pits, or if they have to be socially distanced, or face coverings, or any of that kind of stuff. The fact that fans can be back at the racetrack, in front of race cars, I think will be kind of the biggest success of 2021.
Ricky Chu
Right It's a different feeling. I mean, to be there and just see it live and be around like the sound that exhausts like the ton of screeching, you know, it's different on, you know, on Livestream videos.
Jim Liaw
It's been, we were able to see that last year where, yes, we were fortunate enough that we were able to run a few of the events, even without fans, but we were still able to compete and to broadcast. But it was different feeling. It's different without the fans.
Ricky Chu
On a somewhat personal level, but also professional, I saw the big announcement that you are a nominee for the SEMA Board of Directors, which is awesome. What does that entail? And what does that, you know, bring to you and bring to the table?
Jim Liaw
Yeah, I mean, I think, yeah, that's a talk about like, you know, diving with, like both feet in, it's exactly what it is. I mean, I've been in this industry for, you know, 20 plus years, I've obviously been to the SEMA Show, every year that I've been in this industry. But to be, you know, the first part was to be nominated. So that was a humbling part, that there were people, you know, my peers in the industry that nominated me for an open spot. It's quite a intensive filtering process, quite thorough, that SEMA goes through to be able to make it on the ballot. Now that I'm on the ballot, kind of the work begins in terms of like, you know, networking and talking to member companies. The SEMA board is kind of broken up into different categories, if people don't know. So where we lie events and agencies and media kind of falls into what they call the service category. And there's only one seat, and there's two people running for that seat, myself and another person. And then the other tricky part is that only SEMA member companies can vote, just because your company is a SEMA member company of 100 employees doesn't mean all 100 employees can vote, each company gets one vote off. And so it's, it's quite strategic. But it's also quite challenging. You know, for someone like me, that's kind of entering this realm for the first time. And to be able to, you know, speak to and network with the right people to kind of garner support. And to be able to kind of bridge that to say, hey, look, this is what, what I have to offer. And, you know, my main stance currently, that are two hot topics within Sema are youth engagement. People say that all the time. But it's been a challenge. I don't think it's been tackled correctly. And there's huge concerns that young people are not getting into the car industry, are not becoming car enthusiasts. I mean, come to any Formula Drift event, I would, you know, contradict that. And I think I'd like to bring that to the table. And in motorsports as a whole, you know, my true feeling is that a lot of things inspiration that you get from parts on street cars, is rooted in racing. So without race cars without racetracks, our industry, I think would implode. So that's a big part of why I feel I wanted and motivated me to maybe step in. It's overwhelming. It's challenging. It's it's like, you know, I don't know why I got myself in it kind of thing, but I think my motivation is there. And you know, we'll see how it goes.
Ricky Chu
Awesome. Thanks!
