Two Brothers, One Goal: To drift in every state of America.

This is how 50 States of Drift was born.

While shredding tires across the country, the Jakiela brothers came across a big obstacle towards achieving their goal. Trying to find information about smaller events in every state proved a difficult task. Not being in the ‘local’ circle made events hard to find and organisers hard to contact. The brothers were serious about competing in every state in their Formula Drift Spec E30, and decided to expand their original goal.

They set out to create a solution for other Drifter’s, with the 50 States of Drift Mission:
“To help grow and unify the USA grassroots drifting community through our all inclusive database, which includes every grassroots drift event nationwide, in an effort to help facilitate the connection of drivers (of all skill levels) with more events and drift organizations.”

We like it. We like it a lot!

Link ECU are huge supporters of Drift events worldwide, sponsoring a variety of grass roots events right through to the elite level: Formula Drift. Creating a clear path to the top of the sport is something we believe in, so that any talented Drifter can aim for the professional ranks of Motorsport. That is exactly what one of the Jakiela brothers, Dan, has his eyes set on. While Doug is heavily involved with operating the Drift Event Database and teams networking, Dan concentrates on building the team’s E30 coupe and driving it.

Purchased as a bone stock, run down car, the 1987 BMW E30 325 Coupe has come a long way. Almost everything has been mechanically modified.

Currently sitting up front is an Nissan RB25DET NEO engine making around 500 horsepower. The R34 engine is controlled by a NGTT PlugIn ECU. An Expansion harness allows for a MAP sensor, IAT sensor, flex fuel sensor, boost control and a fuel pressure sensor to all be added. All this makes for many, many features which help Dan out on track. Flex Fuel, cyclic idle, anti-lag and launch control all play a part in the engine management package. Also, two different maps can be used; one for FD ProAm Competition vs a Grassroots Event tune. They have even set up a Short Multi Corner Layout Tune, and a Long Sweeping Corner Layout Tune, to choose from depending on the track they are competing at.

The tuning was a joint effort between Dan and Sam Barros at Nostrum High Performance (using their DynoJet in Ann Arbor, MI).

Data from the ECU is relayed to the cockpit through a Microsoft Surface tablet.

Doug spoke a little more about the external modifications: “The exterior has been painted 4 times since we got it (3 coats of white for 2015-2019, 1 coat of Audi Merlin Purple for 2020).  We have run 3 different wide body kits since purchasing as well as 4 different types of wheel (Racing Dynamics, ESM 001’s, ESM 004’s, and now 18in Apex SM-10’s).  In terms of wide body kits: The 2018 kit was made in house, we then ran an ODP Widebody Kit in 2019, and now in 2020 we have an extremely rare custom kit (1/6 on earth) created by a Swedish fabricator & E30 specialist.”

The build really is a labour of love.

That doesn’t stop the boys from thrashing it while on track. Their event schedule for the remainder sf this year is jam-packed, including the No Star Bash at Drift Indy/Kilkare Raceway in Xenia, Ohio,  Midwest Drift Union FD Pro-Am Shootout, and the North Dakota FD Pro-Am Shootout.

Follow the Brother’s journey on social media below, and check out the impressive full list of car specifications!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/50statesofdrift/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/50statesofdrift/

ENGINE SWAP AND BUILD INFO

· ENGINE SWAP: NISSAN RB25DET NEO (FROM AN R33 SKYLINE GTST)

· TURBO: BORG WARNER GTX3076R (WITH ELECTRONIC BOOST CONTROLLER)

· WASTE-GATE: FORGE MOTORSPORT LIQUID COOLED 50MM

· ECU & TUNE:

-LINKECU G4+ GTTLINK – NGTT+ STANDALONE ECU

-ADDITIONAL:

-LINK ADAPTOR HARNESS (MASS AIRFLOW -> MANIFOLD PRESSURE SENSOR)

-LINK ECU 3 BAR ABSOLUTE MANIFOLD PRESSURE SENSOR

· CUSTOM TUNE: TUNED BY OUR DESIGNER/DRIVER DAN JAKIELA AND NOSTRUM HIGH PERFORMANCE

· EXHAUST SET UP: FULL CUSTOM 3” V-BANDED

· EXHAUST MANIFOLD: TWISTED MOTION (TOP MOUNT WITH EXTERNAL PORT)

· VALVE COVERS: AUTECH RB20 GTS-R EDITION

· FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR: FORGE MOTORSPORT DIGITAL

· INTAKE MANIFOLD: DEEPMOTOR INTAKE MANIFOLD (90MM THROTTLE BODY)

· FUEL SYSTEM: E85/FLEX FUEL SET UP- NOSTRUM HP

-FUEL INJECTORS: NOSTRUM HP (950CC)

-FUEL CELL: REAR MOUNTED 8 GALLON CELL WITH SURGE TANK

-FUEL PUMP: TWIN MOSTPLUS 380LPH PUMPS

-FUEL LINES: -8AN BRAIDED FUEL LINES

-FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR: FORGE MOTORSPORT DIGITAL

· COOLING SYSTEM:

-INTERCOOLER: MISHIMOTO R-LINE INTERCOOLER

-RADIATOR: REAR MOUNTED MISHIMOTO DUEL PASS RADIATOR

-RADIATOR FANS: MISHIMOTO 12” HIGH-FLOW RACE LINE FAN

-COOLANT OVERFLOW TANK: MISHIMOTO RACING COOLANT OVERFLOW TANK

-WIRING HARNESS: CUSTOM WIRING SPECIALTIES PRO RACE HARNESS

WIDEBODY, EXTERIOR, & INTERIOR

· BODY UPGRADES & DETAILS:

-CUSTOM EURO WIDEBODY

-CUSTOM 6 IN. SIDE SKIRTS

-DTMFIBERWERKZ REAR LIP SPOILER

-HOOD VENTS: STIM TECH CUSTOM E30 ALUMINUM VENTS

-PAINT: AUDI MERLIN PURPLE

-CUSTOM VINYL WRAP: METALLIC SILVER (ALL VINYL PRINTED IN-HOUSE)

-FRONT END: FULL CUSTOM TUBULAR FRONT END

-ROLL CAGE: CUSTOM 8 POINT ROLL CAGE

-SEATS: NRG FRP-RS600M RACING

-SEAT BRACKETS: GARAGISTIC (BILLET)

-SEAT-BELTS: NRG INNOVATIONS

· CAR LIGHTS:

-FRONT: HARLEY DAVIDSON AFTERMARKET LED’S

-REAR: BLACKOUT E30 TAIL LIGHTS (BLACK EXTERIOR, RED ALUMINATION)

-WHEELS: APEX SM-10 (18X10.5)

-WHEEL SPACERS:

-FRONT: 20MM 5X120 – 5X120, REAR: 6″ 4X100 – 5X120

TRANSMISSION & SUSPENSION

· TRANSMISSION SET UP:

-TRANSMISSION: SAMSONAS H PATTERN DOGBOX

-CLUTCH: SPEC STAGE 5 CERAMIC CLUTCH

-FLYWHEEL: CLUTCH MASTERS LIGHTWEIGHT RB25 STEEL

-TRANSMISSION MOUNTS: CUSTOM

-DRIVESHAFT: CUSTOM FAST SHAFTS 1 PIECE DRIVE SHAFT

-REAR DIFFERENTIAL: BMW 4.10 RATIO

· SUSPENSION SET UP:

-COILOVERS: DGR CUSTOM FULLY ADJUSTABLE RACE SUSPENSION

-LOLLIPOP BUSHINGS: TREEHOUSE RACING

-ADJUSTABLE TOP HATS: SLR ADJUSTABLE TOP HATS

-DRIFT ANGLE KIT: SLR ULTRA DRIFT ANGLE KIT

-STEERING RACK: BMW Z3 CLOSE RATIO STEERING RACK

-REAR END BUSHINGS: FULL REAR REVSHIFT KIT

BRAKES & MISC.

· BRAKE SYSTEM SETUP:

-BRAKE CALIPERS: E46 FRONT CALIPERS, TWIN E30 REAR CALIPERS

-BRAKE PEDALS: WILWOOD BRAKE, CLUTCH, AND THROTTLE PEDAL ASSEMBLY

-BRAKE CYLINDERS: WILWOOD COMPACT ALUMINUM MASTER CYLINDER

-BRAKE LINES: -3AN STAINLESS BRAIDED

-REAR BRAKES: DUAL OEM HYDRAULIC CALIPERS

-HAND BRAKE: REMOTE MOUNT STIM. TECH HYDRAULIC BRAKE

· MISCELLANEOUS

-GAUGE SETUP: LINK ECU CUSTOM GAUGES, MICROSOFT SURFACE

-O2 SENSORS: INNOVATE MOTORSPORTS WIDE-BAND O2 SENSORS

-BATTERY: ODYSSEY EXTREME SERIES RACING BATTERY

-TIRES: NEXEN SUR4G 255/35ZR18

-POWER-TRAIN LUBRICANTS: LUCAS OIL