Gridlife Midwest at Gingerman Raceway in South Haven, MI is an experience like none other when it comes to automotive events. You have 3 days of nothing but racing, drifting, music, and camping. Here is my experience from someone who has never made it to a past Gridlife event. (Pics of built drift and grip cars throughout and below post)
The picture above was us arriving at the event around 11am on Friday and meeting the guy driving the Nissan Truck in front of us. We hit dead stop traffic waiting to get into the event, but the fun has already started! Everyone hops out of the cars on the street and is hanging out admiring all the cars lined up to get in. An hour and a half later we finally made it through the gates after getting our wristbands and parking the car. As we gather our belongings and head towards the track you can feel the excitement from everyone around you. The closer you’re getting the more you hear Formula Drift drivers Ryan Tuerck, Chris Forsberg, Vaughn Gittin Jr., and more slaying some tires. As you approach the track you enter the area where all the show cars sit as well as the paddock for all the drivers out there for the weekend. Rounding around the paddock you have all the vendors for parts companies and food for the weekend and then finally reaching the track. The first sight we saw was Ryan Tuerck coming around turn 1 in his GT4586. To say the least it was a jaw dropping moment to start an amazing weekend.
Once the initial shock of being around all these amazingly built grip and drift cars wore off we made our way around to all the vendor booths chatting with them about what they do and deals they may have this weekend. Tons of vendors have free giveaway items as well as parts for sale at a discounted price, so it’s a great time to pick up something like a new wheel from NRG or Grip Royal for a significant amount less. Throughout the day the track cycles from being time attack racing to drifting in different classes, so anyone who wants to get out and drive can sign up prior to the event and for a fee get some seat time on a real track! We spent most of the first day up against the railing on turn 1 watching the high speed entries of drifters and grip drivers while getting absolutely cooked by the sun.
The unique thing about this event is that once the sun goes down the party doesn’t stop! Located just off of turn 2 of the track is a full stage where late into the night there are live performances ranging from small artist to big artists like Keys N Krates. Tons of people gather to make for amazing nightlife with awesome people all around. Everyone gets involved in the shenanigans, even some of the biggest Formula Drift drivers out there. At one point during Keys N Krates I even caught Chair Slayer crowd surfing in his wheelchair!
The second day of the event is about the same as the first, but with more serious time attack battles going, more tires being slayed by professional and amatuer drifters, and headlining artist putting on an amazing show come sun down. Sunday is definitely more relaxed than the two prior days as it’s only about driving. Most vendors are packing up as well as a lot of the attendees gathering their belongings and heading home after a long weekend out in the sun. All in all this is an event like none other and if you have yet to experience it I highly recommend making it out next year!
