I've found that kind of response typical of SCCA folks, they don't understand the basics of drift or why it's relevant. The only understand it's not the fast way around a track, of course it's not. It's the fast way to learn how to deal with getting in trouble on the track without actually getting in trouble on the track!
We drive 90" wheel base high horse power cars that will swap ends real fast. Practicing a controlled slide, hanging the rear end out and learning to deal with it could mean the difference between saving the car when it gets crossed up or a crash. This controlled slide technique is called "drifting", it takes considerably more skill than going around a race track "fast". Such knowledge could well make the difference between a crash or not.
You can learn it on a snow covered parking lot, a dirt field or road or by low speed throttle oversteer on pavement or at a local "drift session". With an open diff, it will be much harder to induce under any of the above mentioned conditions.
I find it amusing that an SCCA comp licensed person would actually suggest an open diff is superior in RACE TRACK conditions? Puhlease, your pulling my leg right?
