Getting to know Kelsey Rowlings!

Getting to know Kelsey Rowlings!

Posted on by Konig Gfx

GETTING TO KNOW KELSEY ROWLINGS

We had a chance to catch up with FORMULA DRIFT PRO II DRIVER | KONIG WHEELS SPONSORED DRIVER Kelsey Rowlings. Kelsey is in full prepmode for the 2018 Formula Drift Pro2 Season but gave us a few minutes learn a little more about her, last season and how she anticipates this season will go.

Konig: Who Are You and What Do You Drive?

Kelsey Rowlings: My name is Kelsey Rowlings and I drive a ’96 Nissan 240sx with a supercharged Ford 5.0 Aluminator in the Formula Drift Pro 2 series.

Konig: What First Brought You to be involved in Drifting?

KR: I didn’t get involved in motorsports until I was 18. A friend showed me videos of drifting and I was immediately drawn to the sport and had to try it, even though I had no previous experience with cars or motorsports.

Konig: Who do you look up most to in motorsports?

KR: I look up to all women who are paving the way in motorsports because it is so male-dominated. While I don’t think we face challenges involving skill, I do think there are some challenges we face with social acceptance and it can take a thick skin to break through the norms of society.

Konig: Do you think you face any challenges being the only girl in all of Formula Drift?

KR: I don’t think I face any additional challenges because of being a girl. Once you’re strapped into the car, the driving is all that matters. The biggest challenge is honestly having to basically take my whole racesuit off just to use the restroom. It’s pretty inconvenient!

Konig: You had a pretty rough 2017 season finishing 23rd in Pro 2. What unexpected struggles did you face with your program and what improvements are you making for 2018?

KR: We had pretty rough 2016 and 2017. Building a brand new car with an engine swap that had never been done before, and going from drifting a 500 horsepower turbo 4 cylinder to a supercharged v8 was a huge transition. We struggled with steering issues the past two years that we were never able to diagnose. I felt like the steering was binding at certain points, but it also felt like my power steering was cutting out at times. Since last year, we have completely changed out our front suspension components to the Wisefab kit, and we also changed to an actual power steering fluid versus running ATF. We have had a couple test days where the steering has felt MUCH better so I am hopeful that this year will be a turning point and that we have weeded out all of the issues.

Konig: What brought you to select your unique engine package?

KR: I have never been one to just be a part of the crowd. Everyone in drifting was going with the LS platform, and while it has been tested and proven in Formula Drift, I really didn’t like the idea of doing what everyone else was doing. Before deciding on the Ford engine, we were interested in the 2JZ because I am definitely a fan of the sound and powerband since I was coming from an SR22det. But after a conversation with Formula Drift driver, Justin Pawlak, I really liked the idea of the Aluminator. Not only did it have great power, but he also mentioned how reliable it had been in his Mustang, and as a privateer in Formula Drift Pro 2, reliability was an important part of being successful. Since we have put the engine in the car, we have not had a single engine issue, and we are entering our 3rd season with no rebuilds required!

Konig: What is your Dream Car?

KR: This is a very loaded question as I have several dream cars, but I think I would have to say an FD RX7 powered by a 2JZ would definitely be towards the top of my list. However, if I had no budget in mind, I’d probably pick up basically any Mclaren… or maybe a C63 AMG black edition… or maybe a Porsche GT3… So many choices!


Konig: What is your favorite looking Konig Wheel?

KR: My favorite Konig wheel is definitely the Hypergram, which is what I currently run on both of my drift cars. I absolutely love the look of the Hypergram, and its also light enough with a tire mounted for me to lift it.

— KONIG: ONE WORD ANSWERS AND GO! —
Konig: Cats or dogs?
KR: Dogs

Konig: Formula 1 or NASCAR?
KR: Formula 1

Konig: Summer or winter?
KR: Summer

Konig: Pepsi or Coke?
KR: Neither!

Konig: Boots or sandals?
KR: Sandals

Konig: Vacation at the Beach or Mountains?
KR: Mountains!

Konig: Roller Coaster or Ferris Wheel?
KR: Roller Coaster!

Konig: Star Wars or Star Trek?
KR: Both!!!!

Kelsey Rowlings is a Konig Sponsored Professional Drift driver that competes in Formula Drift Pro 2 Series. Kelsey runs Konig Hypergrams she runs a 17×9 et 25mm front and 18×9.5 et 25mm rear. The Konig Hypergram is Flow Formed.

Make sure to follow Kelsey on INSTAGRAM!

Kelsey Rowlings putting in work at FD SEA!

Posted on by Konig Gfx

**** GUEST BLOG – BY KELSEY ROWLINGS****

FORMULA DRIFT SEATTLE – PRO II Round 3 | August 4th and 5th

After a long break, and a long drive from our home in Florida, my team and I arrived at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Washington for round three of the Formula Drift Pro 2 series. I was coming into this track with very little practice since my first and only other experience there was when my SR engine lost compression during my rookie season… on the first lap.

Needless to say, I was hungry for practice time to try to make up for my lack of experience, as well as to take a shot at the extremely long bank. After taking the couple laps, I realized I had way too much grip dialed into the car. Along the bank, the car was wanting to straighten into the wall if I lifted at all and I was fighting the car the whole way around. After making adjustments during the remainder of the first session , the car was finally starting to feel more settled in drift.

Heading into the second practice session before qualifying, I was less concerned about the handling of the car, and I could now perfect where I was putting the car throughout the course. My spotter was watching my runs as well as listening to judge feedback. One of the main tips was to enter later; Since I was entering at the second set of entry cones, it was suggested that I enter at the last entry cone.

With this in mind, I decided to concentrate on my entry. I accelerated towards the bank and threw the car sideways – too late. My rear end hit the wall and started to rotate. I tried to turn my wheel fast enough to save the front but I had too much momentum. The front of the car hit and I bounced off the wall and down the bank to a halt.

As soon as the safety crews arrived and checked me out I jumped out of the car to assess the damage. When I returned to the pits we got to work replacing: Broken rear wheel, bent rear upper control arm, bent front lower control arm, bent tie rod, bent cross-member, and broken power steering rack. Unfortunately, due to time restraints and qualifying just around the corner, we decided to leave the bent suspension in the rear and just try to align it close. For the front, we hammered on the cross-member to bang it back into shape and then replaced the lower control arm and tie rod end. The power steering rack had to stay due to time constraints.

We were just about to put the car on the ground when we were informed it was out turn for qualifying. We weren’t ready, so we pushed forward to make it for the second qualifying run. When I took the car to the burnout box to test the car and see how bad the steering was, I realized that while I did have power steering, the rack would get stuck when I turned to the left and I would have to force it back the other way instead of it returning to center like normal.

I decided to run the car as-is and attempt to qualify. If I just managed to get a score high enough to get me in the top 16 I could have swapped the rack for the competition the next day.

I threw the car into the bank. My line was alright, but I had to make corrections to stay up high on the bank as I entered the infield. I managed the transition with the broken rack and continue the course. I wasn’t as close to the second outer zone as I would’ve liked, but I was able to wrap around the final two clipping points and make it past the finish line. I was pumped. It was definitely a score-able run, but it was only a 49.

I knew there was little hope to making it into the top 16 and my suspicions were correct. Although I didn’t make it into the top 16, I was really proud of myself and my team for pushing through and getting the car back on track. Now we can come home and prepare for the finals in Texas!