WORDS BY TODD KUCHEL
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAM KROEPSCH
After ten years spent working his way to the top of the drift scene, both nationally and internationally, Jake Jones aka ‘Drift Squid’ is dedicating 2018 to attending every national drift event and getting back to the roots of the sport.
At the age of thirteen, Jake became intrigued by a D1GP drift video being played at his mate’s house and was instantly hooked.
As soon as financially possible, Jake purchased a Nissan sil80 and took the car to Mallala.
During the first lap, Jake became unstuck and slammed it into the wall. The car was all but written off and he was warned that if it was crashed again it won’t be fixed.
“I was actually going to sell it and not pursue drifting,” Jake recalls. “But I was like nah, give it one last crack and I went out and literally had the best time of my life. I think I only went through four tyres, but I had a whole day of adrenalin fuelled fun.”
Jake was enjoying himself, but had soon reached a point where he needed to spend a further $20,000 to bring the car up to spec. Instead, he purchased the Wheelworx Onevia pro drift car, but unfortunately blew the engine the first time on the track.
With a freshly rebuilt RB25, Jake finally had the car he needed. And with an S13 bonnet the car was transformed into the Sonvia Jake still drifts today.
“That year I went through $20,000 worth of tyres,” Jake admits. “I just wanted to keep driving.” And it paid off. That year Jake came 3rd in the national titles.
In the early days, Jake had idolised the guys at Wheelworx Performance and is embarrassed admit that he used to drive to South road just to buy their tyres and be associated with them. However, it was there that Linden Reynolds, a well-known Australian drifter started calling Jake ‘squid’, because of the mad afro he had at the time. Since then the nick-name has stuck and evolved into Drift Squid.
Jake has accumulated quite an outstanding list of achievements over the years. These have enabled him to compete in events around the world, including the D1GP in Tokyo and the Red Bull China Drift Series for three years in a row which resulted in him becoming the 2017 champion.
“I was actually going to sell it and not pursue drifting, but I was like nah, give it one last crack and I went out and literally had the best time of my life” – Jake Jones
Jakes dream for the ultimate drift car had been a marriage of German styling and Japanese power. It was during a slow shift at work, when Jake jumped onto gumtree and searched for his ideal starting point, the BMW E92 M3, that he found one for sale in Queensland.
The car was just a shell at the time, sitting on a pallet with smashed in doors, no bonnet, fenders or windows and with a ridiculous price tag. However, seeing this as the perfect opportunity, Jake made an offer.
When Jake returned home with the car, Jake guttered it entirely, the fuel tank and disk brakes being the only standard parts remaining.
Jakes engine of choice was an RB26 from the iconic R34 Skyline GTR. A fresh N1 block was purchased direct from Nissan, fitted with a Tomei 2.8 stroker kit and mated with a custom made shimless bucket head system head with twin fuel rails for sequential injection, which in turn helps create a unique sound on the intake. The finished result is essentially a one of a kind RB28DET built by Power Tune Australia, with 930 rear wheel horse power that can effortlessly tear tyres to shreds while at 10,000 RPM.
For any businesses looking to have their name advertised in the most exhilarating way, sponsoring Jake would be the perfect opportunity. Following the Adelaide 500, Jake
embarks on his campaign around Australia to gain as much attention as possible before taking the RBM3 to compete in the US in 2019.
“This year I’m going to travel as much as I can, doing whatever I can,” Jake says.
There are a few competitions in the 2018 calendar; however Jake’s primary interests this year are his drift demonstrations, fun days, guest speaking, marketing his merchandise, giving fans drifting experiences as his passenger and school visits.
“A teacher asked if it would be safe,” Jake says, following a student’s request for a burnout during a Nuriootpa High School visit. “With the principle’s permission, I just let it rip.”
Jake chuckled.
For further information on Jake’s cars, accomplishments, merchandise, sponsors, competitions, giveaways, videos and how to get your name on either of his cars, check out www.driftsquid.com
You can also check out the Driftsquid youtube channel for more insane video’s and updates on Jake’s projects and events.
