[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

—When did they start calling “fishtailing” “drifting?”—

Youse guys must be quite young! It’s been called “drifting” since at least the Fifties. That’s how it was referred to by all the pro sports car racers back then.

[IYAS9YAS]

Youse guys must be quite young! It’s been called “drifting” since at least the Fifties.

Yes, and it was mostly done on dirt tracks, too. When you got to asphalt, you didn't want to drift as much, as you didn't go as fast doing so.

[McGruff]

You should have seen me drift one of these babies in my dad's driveway.

[ZirconEncrustedTweezers]

Drifting, as defined today, is VERY different from a four-wheel drift. A four-wheel drift involves a lot less slip angle than today’s drifting, and back in the days of hard bias-ply tires and no wings you had to do it to turn fast laps.