If Shmee is testament to anything true about cars and racing, it’s that if your YouTube channel takes off, auto giants can’t get enough of you. Getting invited to the Concours D’Elegance as a VIP is one thing, but getting to sample Darren McNamara’s nutty R35 drift machine – the same one that holds the Guinness World Record for fastest drift – puts you in a special, privileged league. Especially considering that Shmee is no professional driver, but I’m beginning to sound envious. I swear I’m not.

Shmee gets inducted into the drifting world by some world-class teachers. First starting out in a narrow-tired, 320-horse 370Z, the man begins on a high note, using aggressive inputs to unsettle the rear, and his sense of weight transfer is pretty good, plus, he’s not shy – blowing off a tire within a few minutes of starting. I’d love to hate this guy, but he does deserve some credit.

After the introductory course, he breaks for an ice cream and then meets with Mr. Darren McNamara – Ireland’s best man for putting a car sideways. McNamara shows that the VR motor is capable of spinning the rear wheels in the first three gears quite easily, and the other three aren’t necessarily putting the power down effortlessly.

Naturally, Shmee is a touch timid when he gets behind the wheel, but it’s not merely a matter of overcoming fear. The narrow powerband and sequential gearbox take some getting used to.

Though the weight of the GT-R is a handicap, it does offer the advantage of high-speed stability.

Ultimately, Shmee emulates McNamara’s shifting pretty well for a first-timer, and after the two change seats again, he gets to see how a pro does it. With smooth transitions and a delicate control of the throttle pedal, the Son of Eire makes harnessing 1,390 horsepower look graceful, almost like a dance.

It’s going to be a while before Shmee gets anywhere near that level, but he was thrown in the deep end head-first. Considering that, being jealous would be unjustified – the man deserves some praise. Still, I can’t help but feeling I’d drive it better.

OK – I’ll stop now.