[svxcess]

I have seen this maneuver done in person, but only and always with a RWD car with manual transmissions, preferably with a limited-slip differential. Cars with a handbrake on the rear wheels can enter a controlled turning skid by shifting the car into second gear, employing the handbrake, locking the wheels and turning the steering wheel sharply in either direction. This maneuver can also be called a "bootleg turn".

You may also be referring to the "Handbrake/ebrake Drift". This technique is pretty straightforward; pull the handbrake to induce rear traction loss and balance drift through steering and throttle play. Some people debate the fact that if using the handbrake creates an actual drift, or just a power slide.

This is generally the main technique to perform a controlled drift in a FWD vehicle. This is one the first techniques beginners will use as their cars are not powerful enough to lose traction using other techniques.

I have never seen either of these methods successfully used with AWD