Lock City Drift: Capturing the Thrill at Thompson Speedway

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of attending the Lock City Drift event at Thompson Speedway. My main goal was to get some practice with my new 180-600mm lens, but I ended up walking away with so much more—a renewed appreciation for the drift community and the people who keep this high-octane hobby alive.

To make the trip even more exciting, I decided to take my 1992 Autozam AZ-1 on a drive through the fun, twisting back roads of Connecticut early Saturday morning. There’s something about those empty roads at dawn, while most people are still sleeping, that makes for the perfect driving experience.

One of the things I love about drift events is the sensory overload—the smell of burnt rubber and race fuel fills the air. There’s something almost sweet about high-octane fuel, like the scent of oranges mixed with adrenaline. Upon arrival, I realized just how big this event was. The sound of engines bouncing off the rev limiter and tires screeching against the pavement created a symphony of controlled chaos.

The media meeting was a great refresher, as drift layouts differ significantly from traditional track racing. Safety and organization were top-notch, which was impressive given the energy and chaos that comes with drifting. My goal for the day was to capture not just the action, but also the people who make this culture thrive. I wanted to experiment with the full range of my lens, zooming in to 600mm to get unique shots from different perspectives.

I spent a good portion of the event positioned where the spectators were, soaking in the crowd’s excitement and finding new angles to shoot from. Early on, I hopped in behind a flag worker to get a feel for the track and scope out the best vantage points. Later in the day, my good friend Denton Owen and his girlfriend, Kaysey, arrived, and we wandered around together. At one point, we walked past a spot where he told me he had first said "I love you" to her. That section of the track was cold at the time, so I had them quickly reenact the moment, capturing it in a way that felt special.

Of course, the real highlight of any drift event is the tandem runs. Watching the cars slide through corners in perfect synchronization was mesmerizing. A few drift teams put on an incredible show, displaying their skill and trust in one another as they pushed the limits of control and style.

Overall, Lock City Drift at Thompson Speedway was an unforgettable experience. Between the great people I met, the new photography techniques I experimented with, and the exhilarating atmosphere of the event, it was a weekend well spent. I’m already looking forward to the next one.