In response to Chris’ request that we locate our work within autoethnographic theory, I have knocked up a post on my own blog that does so. Hopefully some of you find it useful, and if you find anything I can improve upon, by all means leave a comment in either location.
Greetings valued reader, my name is Dave and I am fanatical about anything with a firing order, particularly automobiles. When offered the opportunity to autoethnographically research a topic of my choosing, I was quick to combine my passion for motorsport with the anime that has influenced an increasing inclination in my ever-inflating automotive infatuation: Initial D. Somewhat-accurately depicting drift culture, this animated series has become a cult classic in the drifting community, and as an active member of this community, I hope to at least begin unpacking features of the series that have fuelled the flames of fandom, but first, I feel I must explain the tool with which I plan to do so.
Ellis et al (2011) articulate the academic investigative method of autoethnography best through deconstruction; noting that such an approach to research and writing seeks to describe through analysis (graphy) personal experience (auto) in…
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Digital Asia 
Hi Dave,
What a fantastic post! To begin with, you a brilliantly fluid writer and have a wonderful vocabulary! I am very impressed.
From my understanding of your digital artefact, you will be further involving yourself in the drifting community and narrating your experiences on your blog? If so, I am intrigued to know more about this community. Where do you participate in such a hobby? Is it legal? What kind of car is needed to drift successfully.
My minimal knowledge of drifting stems from the Fast and the Furious;Tokyo Drift, which is undeniably, my favourite of the movies. I am drawn in by the culture of ‘cool’ in Japan and their different ideals surrounding it. Thus, I was aware that Japan had a culture of drifting and drag racing, though I didn’t realise it was at all prevalent in Australia!
So you will also be drawing upon an anime which originated your interest in drifting! It sounds as if you have your study all planned. I am interested to read more about it!
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Thanks for the kind words!
You’ve understood my aims perfectly. I’ve been involved in the drifting community for a number of years and believe an analysis of the way this cult-classic anime has influenced my involvement will be interesting, if not for others, at least for myself.
Personally, I participate in drift events at various race tracks around Australia, and also spent a month in Japan drifting a car I had purchased at a race track complex. While many do also practice on the street, I cannot justify the legal repercussions, namely having a car I am heavily invested in confiscated. The Japanese and Australian drifting scenes cannot really be compared, but the Australian scene is constantly progressing and there are many passionate participants focused on maintaining its existence.
Many Australian drifters are of the mindset that you need a highly modified car to drift and spend more time working towards that goal than working on their technique. I much prefer progressive modification of a very basic car, only adding improved parts as the existing ones break or if I find the limit of them and can justify to myself how such modifications will benefit my driving. My current car in Australia, whilst highly modified, began as a very basic car that has gone through the process mentioned above over years of what I like to think is constant improvement as a driver. My car in Japan was drastically different, with only mild suspension modifications all that was needed for me to drive that car to the best of my ability. Both cars can be observed in my various videos hosted on my YouTube channel, linked below.
https://www.youtube.com/user/davejcarter
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