Formula D Streets of Long Beach – Along for the Journey

“Formula D Long Beach was an exciting weekend full of tire slaying, drivers being pushed to their limits, and on my end… lots of shooting. My name is Karissa and first off I want to thank Mayday Garage for letting me have the opportunity to do coverage of this event. FDLB was quite the week for me because I was in the process of moving out to Long Beach and literally picked up the keys to my apartment the day before the main festivities began…”

Andy Hateley returns to FD with his LS3 powered E30

If you didn't know, Karissa owns a Mazda RX7 FD... so if you see lots of rotary powered car coverage, that's why...

You thought I was kidding? Haha...

With all jokes aside, Kyle Mohan and his RX8 joins the GTRadial team...

“I’m Texas born/raised and was nervous as hell moving out to a place much bigger than a small hometown girl could expect, but overall the timing of this move hit dead on with such a rip-roaring season kicking off.”

A wild rocket bunny FRS appears... with some fat ass thighs...

Daijiro ditched his s13 this year and went with a LS powered Rocket Bunny BRZ...

Cali sweg...

Coming from Texas, she had to get some coverage of Will Parsons in his F20C powered AE86...

“The first morning I woke up in my apartment hearing the sound of screaming engines and howling tires sliding around the track, pro to living in Long Beach during April. That sort of atmosphere was just the beginning. I arrive to the street course and it was like a whole new world, I had been to FD before in Texas but our courses are nothing like this.”

Captain America suit wearing, Tyler Wolfson, starts the grid off in his rotary powered FD RX7...

A view from the first turn of the track...

“I get to the grid and am awe struck at what I see, high rises and palm trees lined up along the walls, quite the SoCal coastal living. I look up and imagine being on a condo’s balcony overlooking the track below-holy shit, I’m already Cali dreaming.”

Told you Karissa likes FDs....

Prettying interesting graphics work done on this s14...

Lots of new cars competing at FormulaD this year such as Matt Coffman's LS7 powered 240sx...

Drift Alliance boys...

Conrad trails Essa's E46 M3 during the Top 16...

Kenny Moen smoking for days in his S14...

Can't forget about the umbrella girls...

Umbrella girls from the back....

“As I’m walking past the drivers who are lined up and anxious to tear up some rubber, clouds of smoke fill the air from endless burnouts and donuts. Qualifying begins and I make my way over to the course to be up close and personal with the action.”

So much smoke... fcuk yo e-ciggs.

Did someone nominate Tony Angelo in a burnout contest?

Will Parsons waits for his turn for a practice run...

A new livery and kit for the Greddy racing Scion FRS...

You had to deal with this as a photographer... pretty awesome feeling when you're so close to the action...

“Right before my very eyes, clipping points are hit, body panels fly, wheels shatter, and gut churning crashes take place.”

I don't think it's possible to take a bad photo of Forrest Wang's beautiful S14...

“There were some aggressive runs as the drivers gave it their all racing for the title; crowds of fans filling the grandstands and cheering them on. Forsberg made his way to the top of the podium followed by Moen and Essa. At the end of the day, it was an experience that I will always remember and quite the opener as my own journey begins.”