March drifts into Irwindale speedway

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman David Flaherty
  • 452nd AMW Public Affairs
MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, CALIF. --  Tires screeched and rubber burned at the 2007 ProDrift Championship after members from March Air Reserve Base recently partook in the opening ceremony at the Irwindale Speedway. 

In front of approximately 10,000 fans, eight new Air Force Reserve recruits who will be joining the 452nd Air Mobility Wing took the oath of enlistment on the speedway's race track. 

Immediately following the enlistment was the national anthem, sung by an Air Force reservist, followed by a flyover of a C-17 Globemaster III from March's 729th Airlift Squadron. 

March also provided the honor guard for the event. 

"At first, I was really nervous about being sworn in in front of so many people," said David Cox, 22, who will be going to basic training in February. "But because the crowd was so hyped up, it was actually really exciting." 

The crowd of spectators flocked in mass to the Irwindale Speedway to witness this year's championship competition in drifting, a racing sport that has been gaining popularity in the past 10 years. 

Drivers go head-to-head on a multi-turn trying to keep their cars in a controlled skid, or "drift," around every curve, gaining points for speed, smoke, drift angle and show factor. 

This marked the third time during the year that an Air Force Reserve Command recruitment team has participated in a ProDrift Series. 

According to Senior Master Sergeant Patrick Wood, senior recruiter for the 452nd Air Mobility Wing's recruiting office, the championship fits a command initiative to kick off the new fiscal year with a high profile event. 

"It brings an awareness to all the kids that are enlisting," said Sergeant Wood. "And it shows that the Air Force Reserve at March is alive and well!"