Mark Luney - Drifting - ABOUT BUFF .........

Live Track action at the Scottish Modified Car Show on Sunday 19th July 2009



Where it all began
Sidewaysbuff (real name Mark Luney) has been involved in motor sport from a very young age. This obsession started off with an interest in rallying, attending events from the age of 7. Mark was always in awe of the control that some of the great drivers were capable of. These included Vatanen, Mikkola, Arikkala, Tony Pond, Russell Brooks and Jimmy McCrea.

BRAND NEW CAR FOR THE SCOTTISH MODIFIED CAR SHOW 2008

   

As Mark was too young to get behind the wheel, he managed to try the next best thing and started racing 1/12 scale radio controlled cars. Although this was just a hobby, he modified these into monsters, Le Mans GPC type cars!

A family friend, Ernie Foster, also had a keen interest in racing these R/C cars and helped Mark build and race them. Mark would practise for up to 4 hours per day to learn how to steer and control these mini machines. During this time, R/C racing was becoming hugely popular and competitive, so Mark decided to try his luck in the new off road R/C racing.

Again family friend Foster helped cultivate Marks hobby into something more serious. Mark started to race a R/C 2 wheel drive off road buggy with spectacular results, moving on to 4WD cars. Also, due to his success, he received full sponsorship from Schumacher, England in 1985.

Mark won the Irish championship 5 times between 1984 and1989. He also won various championships with EABC, UBC and had various successes in England and Europe.

By 1989 he had reached the age where was finally able to drive the real thing. This led to Mark hanging up his controls for good in 1990, but it wasn’t the end of his racing career.

On the road
Mark started to attend road rallies in 1989, entering in a Fiat Uno Turbo. The car had varying degrees of success, but unfortunately it was failing more often than succeeding.

A few local rallies and forest grouts in the early 90’s saw some success, but unfortunately for Mark rallying was getting pretty expensive. This was a terrible blow for him as he was passionate about motor sport, so he looked for another way to continue this passion, which led him to the modified scene.

The Modified Show Scene
Mark Luney built various modified cars from a MI 16 engineered 205 to a concourse BMW M6. Throughout the modified scene he owned various top quality sports cars from a Lotus Carlton, TT Supra, Sierra Cosworth and a MK2 Escort to name a few.

During this time, Mark was asked to perform in several live action events around the country and was eventually persuaded to take part in a few track days. These track days are what led him down the path of drifting.

Drifting and Track Days
The first real track day was in 1997, attending the Ford RS Owners Club meeting at Nutts Corner in his Ford Cosworth Sierra. At these events, drivers would have to go as sideways as possible around the track. The screeching of the tyres would have the crowds going crazy for more.

After Mark realised how popular this could be, he and a few of his fellow drivers would privately hire tracks and practice at night time during the summer months. He would practise in many cars ranging from a GSI 24v Carlton to BMW M5, Subaru Legacy Turbo, Lexus Soarer and a 200 SX. These where great nights and taught everyone massive car control and commitment, and no danger to other road users.

Eventually, Mark thought the time was right and decided to enter his first competition in 2004. Several years later and he is now one of the most respected drifting competitors in Europe.

<<< Back to main features page


Get your car featured by contacting us here >>>