Meet The Drifter Part 8- Tomas Falvey.
The guy who has the s15 that I want!
If there was ever a fella I was envious it has to be Tomas....my love for his s15 is very much real, I've know this car down through the year from it's first owner, now Tomas owns it. I've seen the changes in colour this car has been, the modifications which have been done to it. The love for this s15 is real.
Sarah: So , introduce yourself to Drivetribe.
Tomas: Hi guys, My name is Tomàs Falvey, I'm thirty years old and I'm from the nicest place in Ireland, Cork City.
Game face.
Sarah: What age were you when you first got behind the wheel?
Tomas: Coming from a construction background, my first real love for driving was operating various types of heavy construction machinery with my Dad, I started this from the very young age of about 8, fortunately for me health and safety enforcement wasn't a priority at the time.
Sarah: What was the next step for you after that?
Tomas: My love of driving these machines soon escalated into a love for cars. The modified car scene in Ireland was really at its peak when I was a teenager, I was just amazing by the whole thing.
Sarah: What was your first 'legal' set of wheels?
Tomas: My first car was in 2005, a new MK5 Volkswagen Golf, I absolutely loved this car, kept it for six years.
Sarah: What first caught your attention about drifting?
Tomas: My first memories of drifting was attending Prodrift at Rosegreen, Co Tipperary. I was hooked instantly, what a buzz, even just being amongst the spectators !
Sarah: What age were you then?
Tomas: I'd say I was around 18/19.
Sarah: What made you think, I could actually do that?
Tomas: I don't think I ever really thought about weather I could do it or not, I just said I'd give it a go and take it from there.
Sarah: What was your first proper competition car?
Tomas: My first drift car was a Nissan Silvia S14, I bought it with a good friend of mine and we both drove it at every single drift practice day until it eventually gave up on us, it is a wonder that we are actually still alive after some of the manoeuvres we managed to undertake 😂 I went from this onto a Silvia PS13 which I drifted for 5 years. This was an absolute dinger of a car.
Sarah: Why did you pick the car that you have now?
Tomas; I currently drive an RB25 Silvia S15. From day one I always said my dream drift car would be an s15, I just love everything about them.
Sarah: So you've been a spectator and a competitor. Has it good side bad sides etc?
Tomas: There is no bad side to drifting. It is a great experience going to an IDC event as a spectator but once you have competed, you will never again be able to enjoy an event without driving, in my opinion.
Sarah: Best aspect of drifting for you personally?
Tomas: It's hard to describe it, the incredible adrenaline rush of sitting at the start line in a 500bhp+ beast waiting for the start line marshal to give you the thumbs up and go, the beautiful mixed scent of burnt rubber and race fuel inside the car and coming over that finish line with clouds of smoke bellowing from the back wheels, there's nothing like it.
Sarah: One thing you could change about drifting what would it be?
Tomas: There is absolutely nothing I would change about it, I do it because I love it.
Sarah: Whose you best friend(s) you've made through drifting? Why?
Tomas: I have a great group of friends that come to every event with me, some made through the drifting and some that were there long before I started competing. Collectively we all have a good laugh and just enjoy it in a relaxed friendly atmosphere.
Sarah: Have you got any advise for anyone wanting to get into drifting?
Tomas: My only advice for somebody getting into the sport is just to always stay within a budget that's comfortable for you, there is no need for putting yourself under pressure, it's only a hobby at the end of the day.
Sarah: Are you glad/happy you got into drifting? Why?
Tomas: I am delighted I got into drifting. It's a community of decent, helpful, friendly people, all with similar interests. It's fantastic.
Have a look at this in car footage below!
Sarah: One thing you hate about drifting from any aspect of it?
Tomas:The only thing I hate about the drifting is the drive home from the final round of the season, the thought of knowing you have such a long wait until your next event sometimes can be overwhelming
Sarah: Tell us a random fact about your drifting career to date?
Tomas: I have never made it past a pro-am Top 8 finish at any IDC event ever, we are going to rectify this in 2018 though.
Sarah: You have drifted and battled with some world famous drifters, who was the best and why?
Tomas: As I am still a pro-am driver, I haven't experienced a battle against the real big guns, looking forward to achieving this in the near future.
Sarah: If you could meet or battle against one other famous world known drifter who would it be and why?
Tomas: I always said I'd love to battle the best in the business, James Deane, you could chase as hard as you possibly could with the comfort of knowing that he would have the perfect line in front every time.
Sarah: Endless amount of money for a new car and build what would it be and why?
Tomas: I'm very happy with the setup of my S15 to be honest, it is all the car I ever wanted, however, if I won the lotto in the morning my dream would be to buy a shiny new Scania and race trailer, how cool would that be, I suppose I should really start doing the lotto.
Sarah: When it's time for retirement what do you want to be remembered for in the drifting world?
Tomas: If I could just be remembered for being a nice friendly helpful person to everyone that has crossed my path, I would be happy with that, but I suppose to be remembered as a good driver too would also be a bonus .
Big thanks to Tomas for taking the time out to do this interview.
Also to the photographers.
If you'd like to follow Tomas you can do so by following him on Facebook below:
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