Now that you know the background of Final Bout- How does it work?
(If you need to catch up click here)
The process for drivers really starts at the beginning of the year when Special Stage team applications are due, typically in January or February. Final Bout is an approval only, team event. What do those words even mean? Approved teams, is exactly as it sounds with each team having to submit an application online. A “team” in grassroots drifting typically has three or more drivers. The application reviews the following of not only each driver, but how the team as a whole comes together as one. The application consists of the following: team name, year established, photo and video galleries, team socials and the details of each build on the team. They ask for the basics: chassis, engine, turbo, power output, car color, body kit and wheels (application according to 2020 application).
Approvals and denials typically have gone to drivers in March, forcing those winter projects to actually get wrapped up, or started. March typically brings the first of four (sometimes five) special stages to happen each Final Bout season. Special Stages typically have started in the South, at SpeedSportz karting track in New Caney, Texas, home for Houston drivers with drift club Knuckle Up. Next move is Affinity Circuit in Medford, Oregon in April for Special Stage Northwest, home for Drift Evolution. May brings Final Bout to the East coast at Summit Point Motorsport Park in Summit Point, West Virginia for Special Stage East. Ending the Special Stage portion of the competition in June with Special Stage Central at the one and only USair Motorsports in Shawano, Wisconsin. From each stage 3-5 teams will be invited to the summit. There isn’t a set number due to being aware that not everyone invited will be able to attend. This is the main event that has usually occurred every Labor Day weekend at USair Motorsports.
The 2024 season had an additional Special Stage that was brought back, after a Covid-19 forced hiatus, Special Stage Japan is back! Final Bout has hosted two previous Special Stages in Japan, but had to stop due to the pandemic. In December of 2023 it was announced that they would be able to host a Special Stage in Japan again. This announcement of course got everyone excited for the 2024 Final Bout season. As the event has grown, the last few years they have been able to invite special guests to come to the summit. Eight drivers shipping their cars to the United States, getting them hauled to the track for them. This year they shipped over the cars of two well-known Japanese drift teams, Yokohama Bay Side Team Charme and Lein Sense.
Bringing Japan back would start the idea of doing a “Final Bout World Tour” as it would come to be known by three United States based photographers and videographers.
“I found out late 2023 that a few of my drift friends were taking a trip in early 2024. I didn't know why they were going, all I knew is that I wanted to be a part of it. - When Simba said that nobody ever was able to actually do all of the Special Stages. Once I heard that, I took it as a personal challenge to make that happen.” - Mack Geggie.
These three creatives would come to travel to two countries, 4 states and 5 different tracks within 9 months: Alec Archer ( @rustbunni__ ), Leah Bagman (@leahoktho) and Mack Geggie (@car.diac_arrest); who I had the pleasure of getting an inside scoop from. Mack has now attended 14 Final Bout events, since his first being Final Bout Gallery in 2019.
Mack stated… “Over the last year and a half or so, I have come to the realization that the only difference between the people doing what they want to do in life and me, is that they are actually doing it. So I decided to take a huge gamble of sorts and make these trips happen no matter the cost, and it has been so worth it.”
Inspiring media and content wannabe pro tip:
If you want to do media for any event, APPLY. Never walk past a track barricade without permission from a staff member. I don’t care if you have high vis or if you think you’re someone special, know somebody. If you don't have the right badge or wrist band, make it work. Don't be the dumbass that ruins things for everyone.
When Mack was asked what being part of media for Final Bout means to him, I think it's safe to say on behalf of many other creatives that his response sums up what if feels like to be part of the drift media community. Basically, it's the best.
"It's never something I thought I would be doing, but I can tell you what, my 13 year old self would be absolutely stoked on what I am doing. I am thankful for every event I get to attend, and for every new friend I have made along the way. Forging lifelong relationships with people I never would have known otherwise is something that you can't buy, and I will treasure that forever." -Mack Geggie
If you missed Final Bout, what's it all about? click here
Special thank you to the following
-Simba Nyemba for taking time to verify the facts of this series
-Mack Geggie of Cardiac Arrest for letting me pick his brain about taking on the Final Bout world tour and use some of his amazing work for this series.
-Drift Enthusiast Magazine for their continued support
-Corey Holmes, my fiancé that supports me endlessly in wherever clusterfuc takes me.
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