Austin Sherbon is a great salesman at Gamblin Motors. On top of that, he comes revved up with lots of hobbies & passions! One of them is working on cars and drifting them! He also goes from the street to off-roading in the mud when he’s out Wheeling. Best of both worlds! We asked him some questions to get to know him and his interests better.

Drifting Questions: What got you into drifting, and how did you learn the skill? What’s your favorite car for drifting, and why?

“Call me biased but I believe the BMW 325i-specifically the E36 is the best chassis. Its what I have and many of my friends, and a lot of pros run them too! The new chassis that’s been getting a lot of exposure as of late is the corvette c5/c6. Most people swap the ls motor into their cars for the sole fact they make great power easily, are reliable, and are readily available. The Corvettes are performance cars from the factory that have that motor already so with just a few suspension modifications, you are ready to go!”

What are the key factors in executing a perfect drift?

“Its all about control. You have to learn the dance between the 3 pedals, there’s a few ways to enter a drift, that’s with a clutch kick, a hand brake pull, or sometimes, just throttle. My favorite is using the handbrake to get the angle of my car set, typically about 30 degrees of a turn, dump the clutch, and punch it. If a line is too shallow, left foot brake or pull the handbrake to get the car deeper into the back of the corner. Once you know your car, you know how much angle you can work with before you spin out. Things get hairy? Throttle it out!”

Have you ever competed in a drift event, or is it just for fun?

“As of now its just for fun but once my motor is built and in my car, ill join the local circuit, I have a few friends that are doing pro am this year.”

What’s the biggest mistake beginners make when trying to drift?

“Building a car that exceeds their current driving capabilities, people want to build cars, but give it too much power and then just never learn to control the beast. You have to learn your cars capabilities in stock form, then build from that. If you keep spinning out, get an angle kit. If you have to continuously clutch kick to make it through a corner, maybe upgrade the power of your car a bit.”

What modifications do you recommend for a car to make it drift-ready?

“Get a car with good bones. It can be older and have higher miles, as a lot of stuff you will break and have to replace. But if it’s rusted underneath that’s just more work for you in the long run. Essentials are either a welded differential or LSD, functioning hand brake that can lock up both wheels, and a manual transmission. If you have those, look into suspension mods( bushings, control arms, coilers, angle kit)”

What’s your most memorable drifting experience?

“I have a lot of great memories, but the first time I went into a corner sideways at 60+ mph will always stay with me. I’m an adrenaline junky and the only comparable rush would be skydiving”

Wheeling (Off-Roading) Questions: What’s your go-to vehicle for wheeling, and what makes it great for off-roading?

“Hate to say it but I’ve become a bit of a jeep guy ever since I bought mine from the Gamblin’s, I took this little puff out into the woods in stock form and was absolutely blown away at what it was capable of doing. Also taking the top and doors off in the summer is awesome.”

What are the must-have mods or gear for a successful off-road adventure?

“Essentials would be good tires, a cb radio/walkie, and some good friends. Mods I’d recommend are larger tires, a lift, and a winch.”

What’s the toughest terrain you’ve tackled while wheeling?

Elbe has some trails that claim rigs, but I try and keep it moderate while I’m building my jeep. I do test it as well as my driving capabilities, but it’s easy to go down the rabbit hole of upgrades.”

What advice would you give someone new to off-roading?

“Try your vehicle out in stock form to see what its capable of doing and what its not, don’t get yourself into a situation you can’t get yourself out of. Always bring a buddy, whether they are in their own vehicle or with you. Prepare for worst case scenarios, make sure to have food water and blankets.”

Have you ever had a breakdown or crazy recovery story while wheeling?

“A couple weeks ago I decided to check a spot out by myself and got stuck in a super deep mud hole, thankfully I had a winch and was able to get out but it took me about an hour. Then last weekend my buddy and I crashed after he slid down a icy hill and hit me.”

What are some of your favorite local wheeling spots?

“So far my favorite has been Elbe ORV, but I want to go and check out Tahuya!”

How do you balance power and control when tackling rough terrain?

“Well I drive a Jeep so there isn’t much power to begin with, but its all about picking the right line and using the clutch to rock back and forth when trying to get over a large obstacle, most of the time I just let it crawl in 4 low and give throttle when its needed. Speed is the fastest way to break your vehicle while Off-road.”

Thanks Austin, for sharing and being a star employee! If you have an interest in drifting or wheeling, Austin is your guy!