Drifting the Loop with JDM Classics
If there’s one place that consistently delivers chaos, good craic, and the odd mechanical tantrum, it’s the back loop at Mondello Park. It’s raw, tight, slightly sketchy, and for some reason, it’s always where the best stories come from. So when JDM Classics IRL announced they were taking over that bit of tarmac for a day of skids, I had the gear packed before I even finished reading the post.
And listen, I’ll be honest—I love the back loop. It’s just scrappy enough to keep you honest, and the flow when you get it right feels unreal. Plus, it forces drivers to actually drive. Two long straights to gather your thoughts, with big speed entries coming at you like they’ve got something to prove.
When I arrived, the usual suspects were already there. You know the vibe—people pretending they’re not stressed out whilst simultaneously walking ruts into the ground, someone revving a misfire into the stratosphere, and that one lad who brought zero tools and somehow still ends up doing an engine swap in the paddock. Beautiful chaos.
The cars? Absolute eye candy. JZXs, Levins, S-bodies—you name it. Some things were just built to go. There’s something magic about watching a clean PS13 tear through the loop, front bumper flapping in the wind, driver fully committed and borderline terrified. Pure theatre.
I spent the morning bouncing between the track and the pits, camera getting soaked in tyre smoke and to my shock(but nobody else’s), sunburnt. Classic Mondello weather—you might get all four seasons before lunch or you might get wind burn and heat stroke, its the type of lottery that keeps you on your toes. I will say though, nothing beats standing a few feet from the clipping point and feeling the wind get sucked out of your lungs as a 180SX rips past. Bliss.
Caught up with a few heads too—Dave, Nikki, the Retro Autos crew—always a good time. There's something about these JDM Classics days that feels less like an event and more like a reunion. Everyone knows everyone, even if they pretend they don’t. It’s that lovely mix of tongue & cheek, genuine support, and “oh no, that sounded expensive.”
Highlight of the day? Had to be watching the Retro Autos lads. I think I fell in love for a second as Jamie, Paddy & Vinny came flying over the hill like a swarm of angry bees. Just pure style—good angle, tidy lines, and enough throttle to keep it interesting without turning the thing into a lawnmower. That’s the dream, right?
Also big shout to Nikki, as always, for organising these events. It’s one thing to throw together a casual drift day, but it’s another thing entirely to build a proper community around it. These JDM Classics IRL events hit different—real cars, real people, no bullshit.
Wrapped the day filming golden hour skids and trying to remember if I’d eaten anything since breakfast (spoiler: I hadn’t). By the time I got home, I was exhausted, freezing, and very much dehydrated—but buzzing. You can’t beat days like this.
Video drops soon—stay tuned.
