No flaming please, but it would be great if someone could explain this.

Racing clips sometimes the pro drivers come around corners with their wheels facing opposite the direction of curve in the track.

Is this drift? How is that even possible to do with the wheels facing the "wrong" way?

 

Because the momentum and throttle position is pushing the car and trying to "Spin Out" the rear end. To avoid a full spin you compensate by turning the wheels the opposite way. This keeps a nice balance between the momentum of the car and the steering of the wheels. The result is a nice slid with total control using the careful throttle actions and precise steering movements.

 

Not that I am going to do it, but.....

Suppose there's a curve with a posted speed limit of 45 MPH...
How fast do you think you would have to take that curve in to make the drifting work?

 

go to a driver's educational course at a reliable track... once you start pushing your car under a more controlled environment, you can start getting the feel for what your car is capable of doing... but in my opinion, drifting in our is extremely difficult... but countersteering during a turn is more likely the needed remedy...

 

Go to a local autocross (auto-x) event. You'll get a better feel for the limits in a safe environment. SF region has a strong SCCA group.

 

Yup auto-x is the way to go
Steve