Once I found out our monthly theme for September would be interviews, I knew Mad Mike Whiddett would be the perfect candidate.

As he heads towards the end of his first season as a Formula D competitor, Mike tells us about his experiences drifting in the US, Japan, and New Zealand, his take on car style, and much more.

Speedhunters: 2010 has definitely been one of the biggest years of your career, but
you've been drifting for a while now. How did you get started with
drifting?

MM: Yes 2010 has been absolutely amazing and is a dream come true that has come with a lot of hard work. Well I have always been bit of a noise and speed junky, I have never met or had contact/support from my father but my mum has supported me with whatever I wanted to do and not on a big budget. Mum has ridden horses all her life so at the age of 6 she brought me an old 2stroke DS80 dirt bike to blast around the paddocks on. I was left to figure out everything from how to start it to the finding all the controls to make it work, 6months later that bike was ridden into the ground and I needed an upgrade.

I raced moto-x until I was 17 then got into FMX because mum couldn't afford new tyres and clutches that I needed to stay competitive. I did manage to place 2nd in the NZ Junior MX champs and actually bet the guy we brought the bike off as he was fully sponsored on free bikes. At this stage I was also beating cars in the farm paddocks from a very early age. A mate who was a neighbour of my auties farm where I would ride had an older brother who had a DX corolla paddock hack so when he went out to get drunk and hit parties we would trash his corrolla over the paddocks and jumps. We ripped the hood off and tied it to a rope and the tow hook and would drag each other around full pace through the dewy grass and cow S*#T It was great fun.

After 3-4 years competing pro in FMX doing demos and comps over NZ and Australia and breaking alot of bones. My girlfriend and I heard about a D1NZ event that was local so we went to see what it was all about. The second we both seen the first car come flying down the straight and pitch into the sweeper sideways at Pukekohe raceway at near 180kmh we looked at each other and Toni said "dam you could do this!!!" So that was it I had owned rotaries from the age of 13 and had won the Skidfest comp 5years in a row and other burnout comps at such events like the 4andRotary nats. It was always my tuff built style rides and driving style that got me known so Toni and I maxed out our credit cards I got another 2 jobs so I was working crazy hours climbing and cutting trees, Fabricating trucks and Signwriting to fund my passion. This is now my 4th year drifting.

Speedhunters: Something we have to ask. What was your first car? Did you do anything to it?

MM: It was an 88 Mazda Famila 4dr sedan, my uncle Clay who was a car dealer got it for me cheap when I was 13. I slammed it to the ground by cutting the springs out and bolted some TSW Evo 17's (which were the biggest rims in those days).

Speedhunters: You are first and foremost known a rotary man. How did you get started with rotaries?

MM: I had that Famila for a very short time and swapped it for a 77 Mazda 323 hatchback with a 12a Bridgeport rotary conversion and all the goodies including a lock diff. I then would swap and do deals like every 6months or less for different oldschool Mazdas. I just liked getting them, rebuilding them my style and then skidding them up. My RX8 is my 28th rotary powered vehicle I've owned.

Speedhunters: What does your personal car fleet consist of at the moment?

MM: Wow between my Fiance Toni, 2 1/2 yearold son Lincoln and I we have the MADBUL FD RX7, BADBUL RX8, The Bro Dozer Dodge Dually and living quarters trailer, Optimus Prime our Western Star truck and trailer transporter in NZ, XBENZV twin turbo powered V8 Mercedes Benz., Holden wagon family car that is slammed on concaved 18's, Nissan Cefiro
daily and of course Lincoln's powerwheels Cadillac Escalade. Then we
have a family set of dirt bikes amongst many other toys.

Speedhunters: Your drift cars have always been known for their aggressive style. What influenced you to build them like that?

MM: I have always liked the Japanese Bosozoku style and the original style that started on drift cars in Japan. I like to create cars that differ from the rest. Not only does this make us stand out more on the track, but it makes it much more exciting for the team as everything is trial and error so it's more of a task to make it work and be competitive. 

Speedhunters: At the pro level there is always a balance between a car's style and a car's performance. Has this been an issue for you?

MM: Yes definitely this year has been hard as my cars are built on style. Drifting originated as a sport from the dudes with lower budgets and who wanted to go up the mountains to have some serious fun and to see who could look the best sliding up these dangerous windy roads. A lot of people don't like FormulaD because of the reason that half the cars are NASCARS that have no style and are all about performance built with big budget teams. This is true but it is great for the sport. It not only gives drivers the opportunity to compete in an ultra competitive sport but brings a lot of media, big name sponsors, teams and if you really want it you can make it a full time job and make good money from it now all because of Formula D. This year I have learned so much and have been improving the car immensely from round to round, but still keeping my style.

Speedhunters: What are your general impressions on Formula D after competing in several events this year?

MM: It is like nothing else, the competition is so tough, the cars are mind blowing fast and the spectators are just amazing. I really like the format of the judging with 3 judges each scoring on one point of focus Line, Speed and Angle and then all judges combined for the maximum score with Style! I like how they have now want maximum angle and commitment as it makes the sport so much more exciting.

Speedhunters: Has the transitional to FD brought any changes in your driving style?

MM: Well I have always had an all or nothing style and am known for not being shy of concrete walls at speed. I think my driving style has got a lot more aggressive and consistent from competing in FD and learning from watching the others. It is important to me that I keep my style and try to differ from the rest as much as possible to ensure there is variety for the crowd.

Speedhunters: You've also had the chance to drive in Japan a bit. How does that compare to the US?

MM: D1GP Japan was also an amazing experience, it was hard to know what the judges actually wanted as I can only speak limited Japanese but again I wasn't there to win the judges I was there to win the crowd and put on a show. Japan has a much much bigger population of experienced drifters even than USA, but there is not half as much sponsorship so it's more like grassroots but these guys and girls can pedal a car so well.

Speedhunters: How about back home in New Zealand? Do you have much chance to drive in NZ anymore?

MM: This year couldn't be better as D1NZ is now running a summer series which in NZ starts in October. So I have had all summer competing in the USA and then get to concentrate on the NZ events over our summer until FD 2011. My great team back in NZ are currently rebuilding the 4rotor MADBUL FD so I can't wait to get back in it and battle with my fellow kiwi drift buddies.

Speedhunters: You've had some great experiences in your driving career. Is there one that stands out as being your favorite?

MM: This wasn't my best result but my first invite overseas to the D1GP world Allstars was a wicked experience. It was USA VS Japan and I qualified for top16 I had my FURSTY FD which at the time was naturally aspirated 3rotor peripheral port that was side piped and I was running D2 suspension that was wound down to the floor. I had nothing but 10mm bumpstops holding it off the tarmac. The crowd went nuts every lap I came out and that event really put me on the map globally.

Speedhunters: As a pro driver, what other drivers past and present do you look up to?

MM: I have always looked up to Yoichi Imamura from Japan but Dai Yoshihara is my current favourite from that region. His style is aggresive and his entrys have always inspired me to push harder. I look up to JR as he has helped me a lot this year not just with car set up but teaching my mind to be in the mode. JR is also great with the fans/sponsors so he is the full package not just a great driver – Captain America, larger than life.

Speedhunters: We all know about your awesome Dodge tow rig in the US. What is your daily driver back home in NZ?

MM: I just use our family / work hack, Its a Holden VT wagon that we fitted some BMW suspension into to slam it out hard, some 18's and custom Senator kit.

Speedhunters:  You must have a dream car. What is it? Is it powered by an ear-busting rotary?

MM: Ha well when I was 15 my dream car was a camo FD with a 3rotor Peripheral port so I've done that. I guess if I had unlimited budget I would build something for the next season FD.

Speedhunters: There's only a couple of FD events left this year. Any big plans for the off season?

MM: The U.S off season is the start of the D1NZ season, so I don't have any rest. I have been from summer to summer and back to back seasons.

Speedhunters: You must have had some interesting great experiences towing the Badbul across the USA this year. Is there one memory that sticks out?

MM: I cant choose just one.. Obviously all the blow outs and mechanical problems when you talk about towing, but it helps having Toni there to keep everything in perspective, she always keeps cool and positive which helps alot.  There was also a time driving from east to west that we drove through every kind of weather possible, overcast, clear skies, dust storm, torrential rain, tornado warning, lightning & thunder storm, hail, then into Nevada where it was dry and stinking hot.  I saw a fighter jet on the back of a tow truck on the freeway, found a rattle snake skin at Vasquez while trying to hunt a real one, that was up there. Going to the Fantasy Factory, Twitches house, seeing all the historical areas and the White House, not to mention all the people who we meet on the road that make America what it is..

Speedhunters: Thanks for your time Mike, anything else you'd like to say to the readers?

MM: Yeah Thank you all so much for your support, I will continue to push the boundaries of my driving talent and also carry on creating crazy vehicles for you to hopefully aspire. I wish to be explosive, exciting and to bring something different to the track and help grow our amazing sport of drifting.

-Mike Garrett