Adam: Jake, tell us a bit about yourself.
Jake: I’m an autobody tech with 18 years in the trade. I’m based in Vancouver, WA but originally from Forest Grove, OR. Outside of drifting I enjoy snowboarding, hiking, camping, traveling, and Disneyland.
Adam: What teams and sponsors are you affiliated with?
Jake: I’m sponsored by D1-Fighter and Maclan. I’m part of Midnight Suns, Team PDX, and D-Style.
Adam: What chassis are you running?
Jake: My main setup is a D1-Fighter conversion based on a GRK Evo2. I like center motor cars because they look and feel right (see Chassis Showcase for full details of Jake’s rig).
Adam: Any new tech you’re experimenting with?
Jake: I’m currently playing with the Acuvance Merv-Era motor. It allows me to add weight back to the car in another spot that can benefit. This is only because of my GRK 5R having the motor inline and mounted up pretty high. By saving weight up high, I'm able to put more weight down low and on the rear of the chassis. This helps with kickout and adds additional pressure on the tire, creating grip. The only reason I was even interested in this motor was because of how much I enjoyed the small D-Like motor. The Merv-Era Acuvance has adjustable timing, so it seemed like a good fit for me.
Adam: How would you describe your driving style?
Jake: Fast and aggressive. Meihan-style. I hit corners with speed and flick the car hard. My entries are intense, but I slow mid-corner to stay in control.
Adam: What’s your home track?
Jake: Drift-PDX in Portland. Day passes are $20. My go-to food spot nearby is Satellite Tavern. If you’re flying in, PDX Airport is just 15 minutes away.
Adam: How did you get into RC drifting?
Jake: I resisted it at first because I was focused on rock crawling. But some crawler friends were drifting between runs. Eventually, I bought a YD2S RTR and cleared my garage for drifting. We learned together as a group. That support made the hobby so much more fun.
Adam: What sparked your love for full-scale drifting?
Jake: Riding in a friend’s SR-swapped 240SX in 2006 did it. I bought my own 240, swapped the engine, and never looked back.
Adam: What 2025 events are you excited about?
Jake: I split them into Matsuris and comps.
The Matsuri I look forward to every year is The Model Hobby Expo in Monroe WA, hosted by RC Fight Club (RCFC) and Rain City Raji Con (RCRK). It's like a family reunion for all the Pacific North-West drivers. I help to host “Drift 2 Death” at Drift-PDX in the new space. Come hangout with us for 50 hours straight driving if you can!
For competitions, I’m continuing with the Oregon SDC rounds. I’m going to SDC Worlds 2025 at Super-G, which is always a fun event where I get to see everyone from around the world. Also, the IRCDF finals (I judge the Oregon series), and Cross Games in Texas. I can’t wait for that one.
Adam: What are your goals?
Jake: In 2025, I’m refining my style and taking more risks. In 2026, I want to hit as many major international events as I can. This includes the SDC Worlds (the big RC Drift Competition for America), IRCDF (International RC Drift Federation), TDC (TDC originally stood for Thailand Drift Championship, then it was hosted outside Thailand and changed to WTDC “World Tournament Drift Championship”), RCDC (RC Drift Championship Japan), COT (Clash of the Titans) and maybe the UK finals. I want to travel with my tiny car, meet new people, and be an ambassador for the hobby.
Adam: Who inspires you?
Jake: Drivers like Jordan Meyers, Adam Hokoki, Mikko, Vittorio, and Matt Timmer. They combine aggressive driving with amazing style. Also, paint schemes and livery designs really fire up my creativity.
Adam: Do you have a biggest rival?
Jake: Honestly, everyone. The talent level has skyrocketed the past two years. It keeps me pushing harder to improve.
Adam: Who would you like to Tsuiso Battle?
Jake: Junior Barba from Texas. He knocked me out at SDC Worlds 2024. I got nervous and blew it. I want a rematch.
Adam: What track styles do you prefer?
Jake: Fast transitions and big entries. I love tracks that flow well and allow for big trains and backies. Layouts should let people drive long laps without bunching up.
Adam: You are a big component to track design at both Drift PDX and the car shows that we attend, what type of track features do you typically include?
Jake: The tracks have to flow so that everyone can stay tight. You need a long straight to gain speed before the long sweeping corners. You should be able to throw the car hard and float out to a wall. A tight switchback mid track helps get people excited mid lap and keeps people driving longer. The goal is to see cars on track and people laughing and chatting while driving. I like to put zones in dangerous spots to create excitement or absolute chaos.
Adam: What supplies do you recommend for a garage or pop-up track?
Jake:
¾ inch paper tape (for layout design), Uline tape for clean lines, garden edging or bricks for barriers, Nobori flags, grass patches, fake plants, extra bodies for detail.
More detail means more enjoyment for everyone.


Adam: Shout-outs?
Jake: Neal Sauter, Alexander William, and Lance Cornelius. Without them, I wouldn’t be drifting. They pushed me to get into it and helped launch Midnight Suns. We created a local scene that’s grown tremendously. A ton of friendships and opportunities came from their efforts.

Follow Jake on Instagram: @jake_dotter
Follow Adam on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram: @yadmah