Corn-fed Catalyst - FlexFuel for the STI

 

2016 Subaru WRX STI Series.HyperBlue

It had been part of my plan for upgrading this car for awhile, but sitting around waiting for the Pandemic to pass got me itching for some speed.  The next obvious step power-wise for my WRX STI was to run E85 fuel.  Along with that goal came several other changes to optimize things for greater power gains and increase reliability as I continue to push both this car's capabilities and my own.  This took several months of research and planning to get right, but I'm glad I did my homework as the results have been that much more satisfying.

For the E85 upgrade, I chose to go with the COBB FlexFuel kit.  With travel plans taking me places away from E85 availability, it just made sense to fully utilize a FlexFuel type setup so whether I could only find 91 Octane or full-fledged corn juice, I wanted to be able to continue whatever routes lay ahead.  With that came ID1050X fuel injectors and a DeatschWerks DW300C fuel pump.  While we were installing the kit on the engine, we also removed the TGVs and EGR.  We used Torque Solutions block off plates to finish things up for that delete.  

This was all done long before news of the emissions requirements COBB would later implement, so I slightly regret going that direction.  If I ever need to change or tweak anything tune-related, I will need to get all of the emissions-related items back on the car.  As it stands, this STI has no catalytic converters, no TGVs, and no EGR.  I would be able to find a downpipe with a catalytic converter and re-install the EGR, but because the TGVs were removed directly from my manifold, I would need to source another manifold with the TGVs intact.  Essentially, this current setup is the best it can.  Any further improvements would also need me to reinstall the emissions-related items.

I already had installed an Air Oil Separator, but it also seemed wise to address cooling issues inherit with the EJ257.  The TGV delete and most of the install was performed at Russ' Garage, with whom I have had much success with over the last 10 years.  They did a top-notch job installing things and worked with my tuner to ensure proper methods were used when setting up the FlexFuel system.  We did a Cylinder 4 Coolant mod to improve circulation within the stock block.  We also ended up re-routing some of the AOS coolant lines to improve the layout and clean things up under the hood.  With all that installed, buttoned up, and a base tune installed, I carefully drove the car to Boosted Performance Tuning for a session with Graham.

This was my third time meeting with Graham for tuning and marked 4 years of working with him in general.  It's always a pleasure to work with someone so knowledgeable that is also easily approachable.  He has always been receptive and respectful when I've had questions no matter what.  At the time of tuning, Graham noted that I was still using the stock clutch in my STI and recommended we dial the torque back a bit to ensure reliability and keep me from tearing it apart.  I ran on that tune for almost two years before revising it just before all of the emissions restrictions imposed by COBB took place.  He was able to make quick revisions to the tune and I'm grateful that the new clutch that will go in will be able to make use of the full potential of tuning we had originally done in 2020.

What's Next?

I need to get caught up on build information on this blog and more articles and reviews will be written for the changes I've made.  New parts, new partnerships, and new goals to compete with the car again are all in place.  In fact, this very article was something I started writing in June of 2021 but had since drifted away from writing.  Life keeps me busy but it is always enjoyable to write, so I'm hoping to record all of that here once again.  If you'd like to see more, please leave a comment.  I tend to find more value in writing these when others are showing interest or have questions.  

Return of the Hoonigan

Ken Block is a motorsports icon.  From racing exploits worldwide to the media machine that is Hoonigan Industries, there's very little chance that petrolheads don't know his name.  He got his start with Subaru in  2005 racing with their US Rally Team and gained attention and credentials with each passing event.  From his Rookie of the Year debut to Gymkhana videos going viral, Ken had established himself very quickly.  When he left Subaru to further pursue his dreams with Ford, many wondered if he would ever race with Subaru again.  Now that Ken's abundantly successful 11-year-long run with Ford is over, the question remained: what's next?

Today Hoonigan Racing Division unveiled a car for Ken with a familiar logo on the front grille.  The Head Hoonigan In Charge is back in a Subaru!  This isn't to be with Subaru Motorsports USA directly, but it is a car prepared and built by his longtime friends at Vermont SportsCar (who manages the factory Subaru team).  Hoonigan Racing Division is tackling 6 events in the ARA Championship with Ken Block alongside longtime codriver Alex Gelsomino.

It's gonna be a wild ride!  Welcome back to Subaru, Ken.  I know you'll have a blast!

Tour of the "Subaru Wall"

When my Higgins Blue STI parks at home in the garage, it rests next to a wall full of posters, signatures, and great memories that go with them!  I get questions constantly about all the neat stuff on there so I thought I'd put together a video that gives you a bit of a tour through this display.

If you saw something I didn't go over and would like to know the story behind it, let me know!  Happy to share these experiences with you!

Thanks for watching!

Intercooler Shroud Project - Part 3

 On the one hand, it's been a long time since I revisited this project on my blog. On the other, I literally have done almost nothing new with this project anyways!  However with the questions I get about this and the minor adjustments that admittedly do need to be made, it's time to give this some attention again.  This is a custom-built aluminium intercooler shroud that a friend helped me build at his fabrication shop.  It is designed to mount directly to the stock STI intercooler and has been measured to fit under a ViS Racing Carbon Fiber hood for a 2015-2020 Subaru WRX STI.

Does it work?

Indeed it does!  While I don't have a way to gauge if this is an improvement over the stock intercooler shroud, this piece was built more out of necessity.  The ViS Racing Carbon Fiber hood does not have any sort of ducting underneath to direct air to the intercooler.  So, while the hood scoop itself is larger and there are vents on the side for additional cooling, the air is blown all over the engine compartment instead of directed through the intercooler like it should.  I did notice that temperatures were running higher and boost was not coming on as strong as it would, which was my first indication that the hood was actually hindering performance instead of helping it.  When we built this Intercooler Shroud those issues went away and the car performed normally.

Can I buy one?

That's the plan!  But, as of this article, I have not built any others just yet.  There are some minor clearance issues that I have noticed over time that have started to wear into both the hood and the shroud, so we'll make adjustments on this initial shroud, make the adjustments in CAD, and hopefully build a few more for those who have this same issue.  However, because this is designed to work with a stock STI intercooler with this specific kind of hood, the application for other Subaru models and years will be different AND will also be different for other kinds of hoods, too.

When will you make them?

I have no idea!  Could be tomorrow.  Could be next month.  Could be next year.  I'm a busy guy and while the minor issues the shroud has are enough to stop me from attempting to mass produce these for general sale to the public, they aren't enough of an issue to keep me running it on my own car.  I just finished a bunch of upgrades to my STI (for which a full write-up is coming soon) so it would be nice to tackle this next.  I just need to find time to meet up with my Fabrication Friend and get crackin on it!

Stay tuned for more!

The Forester tS Project

 It's no secret.  The US automotive market misses out on some pretty cool cars.  Even cars that are offered here have special editions and performance model versions of the standard stuff we normally get are skipped here.  So when I found out that the Forester would no longer be offered in the US with a turbocharged engine option, I knew we'd be keeping our 2018 Forester XT in our stable a little longer.  And when I found out Japan has a "tS" model of the Forester, I had an idea of what to do with our family hauler.

The Forester tS Project

In Japan, there are several tS models that have been made over the years.  "Tuned by STI", these tS models don't typically enhance the engine package like the full STI treatment gets, but are more focused on suspension, aerodynamics, and other things to sharpen the focus on performance.  In the case of the JDM Forester tS includes uniquely-tuned dampers and coil springs, lowering the ride height by 15 mm, 19-inch Enkei wheels, and Brembo brakes with four-piston calipers at the front and 2-piston calipers at the rear.  There's also a slight body kit that adds some definition to the lower portion of the bumpers and side skirts.  Inside there are upgrades such as the STI logo on the leather-trimmed steering wheel, CVT gear knob and instrument gauge, leather and suede trim, red stitching, STI embroidery on the seats, red STI push-button start and black roof liner.

Most of the items are dress-up related.  What caught my attention was the suspension and braking upgrades that could improve the driving dynamics of our USDM Forester XT.  For transforming ours to earn the "tS" badge, I'm combining the parts list of the Japanese Forester tS with some "sensibility" for our family's daily use.  I don't want to sacrifice ride quality, especially given the local roads where I live, but I do want to sharpen up the handling.  A little extra flair outside could be fun, too... but I don't want to go overboard and invite challengers at every red light.

Round one for our transformation is adding a little of both.  In the styling department, we've switched to a Sport Grille up front, a "tS" badge replacing the "XT" badge on the rear tailgate, and some quad-tipped exhaust borrowed from my STI.  Also borrowed from that car is a stiffer rear sway bar that replaces the thinner one from the Forester quite nicely.  I've already noticed in hard cornering that the front end doesn't understeer as easily and the whole car seems to stay more planted in the curves.  It's been a nice improvement to the driving dynamics and the extra touches outside have helped give it a little more presence in a sea of Crossovers on the road.  Plus the primary driver (my wife) doesn't seem to mind the improvements, which means I haven't sacrificed comfort in the name of performance either.

Items of consideration for Round Two involve the brakes, suspension, and wheels.  Taking cues from the JDM Forester tS, it'd be nice to find a happy medium between the performance-based suspension without giving our Forester a choppy ride on these bumpy main roads.  And, with a possible brake upgrade on my STI, it's very possible that more of those parts could wind up on this car.  We'll see!

2020 Updates

Last fall I became a father for the first time and it's been quite the ride.  I took a bit of a break from things to focus what little energy I had on helping out at home.  As 2020 rolled in and I started to figure out this fatherhood thing, I started to set my sights on resuming things in the car world.  From modifications to my cars to continued efforts in stage rally with my team, there were a lot of things I wanted to get done this year.

Enter the "pandemic".  Politics and opinions aside, it has put quite the damper on my plans.  From a financial standpoint of being able to afford taking care of my son, racecar parts take a back seat.  And with most of the racing I was planning on doing for Rallycross, Autocross, Track, and Stage Rally, those goals are out, too.  Even with racing starting to resume, it's hard to take time off work when I need to rebuild finances and emergency funds that were used when things were closed.

Still, I can't complain too much.  Nebraska hasn't been hit nearly as hard as other areas of the country.  My family members and I are healthy, we still have jobs, and with nearly everyone I know driving these Subarus that I've recommended over the years, nobody has had any surprise repair bills or costly maintenance issues which has helped.  We've even managed to enjoy our Subarus on small trips around the area together.

My WRX STI and my Baja Turbo have been great and plans are starting to come together for both of them.  I even managed to have a little fun with my wife's Forester XT and some stock STI exhaust that was taking up room in the shed.  So as my Subaru life starts to resume, so does my writing on this blog again.  I've admittedly missed the fun of documenting my exploits in the Subaru world and I hope if you've been enjoying reading this blog that you'll get something fun out of it, too.

Before long, I'll have a quick write-up on the Forester XT modifications, MtnRoo plans with the Baja, and some fun power mods coming to the STI.  Stay safe and we'll see ya next time!  

Subaru RC Cars - 2019 Livery

When Subaru released their Higgins and Pastrana RC Rally Cars, response from fans was swift!  A surefire sellout of these neat All-Wheel Drive remote controlled replicas of the rally beasts seen in the forest stages was inevitable, but now there's another run of them.  And this time they're wearing the new colors... and by that, of course I mean the throwback blue and gold!

These cars are pretty robust, as I've run mine through the ringer more than once.  Plus, since they're waterproof, you can run em outside without issue just as the Rally Gods intended.

Visit SubaruGear.com to order yours!

Add in the "FREEOVER50" code, and shipping is taken care of, too.  These sold out quickly when they were initially released, so it's best to jump on this sooner than later if you don't want to miss out!

The Internet < Real Life

I've been driving Subarus since 2012 and have loved the experience thoroughly.  However, it isn't just the cars themselves that I enjoy.  A stand-out feature of owning a Subaru, to me, is the community that's around them.  From street racers to soccer moms to adventure-seekers to everything in-between, there's a lot of ways people enjoy these cars.  I'm a firm believer that the people who enjoy Subaru most are those that are actually going out there and enjoying them with their fellow owners... not sitting on their phones picking out the coolest instagram filter to use. 

All too often I meet people that own Subarus that, like a lot of other cars, are enjoyed for a short time and then they just move on to the next best thing.  People tend to go through cars like they do cell phones and I think that's because they haven't experienced a connection with them beyond the steering wheel.  The diverse community around Subaru grants owners plentiful opportunities to go out and experience things outside of their daily 9-5 grind, but that's only if they seek it out or even know that such a thing exists in the first place. 

These days Social media has granted us the potential to connect more with those communities, but all too often, we limit that to online interactions only instead of going out and meeting these people face to face.  Whatever the reason, people seldom take the plunge to go out and meet their fellow owners to go out and enjoy these cars together... and this is the key problem I see all too often.  The increasingly negative tone of sarcastic comments, snide remarks, and general trolling online isn't befitting of a "community" at all, but these people wouldn't be acting like this if they actually knew their fellow owners in person.  It's too easy to hide behind the anonymity of the internet that enables lofty keyboard warriors an indispensable amount of opportunity to wreak havoc however they see fit.  It's a damn shame.

The right way to approach it, in my opinion, is to utilize Social Media to SOCIALIZE and connect with your community!  Meet your fellow owners at events, go to car shows and community outings together, use that common ground of the enjoyment you get out of these cars as a baseline to engage with others and let it grow from there.  And with the All-weather nature of Subaru, we should be able to do that year-round... not just waiting for "Car Show Season".  Do  donuts in the snow in the winter with your buddies!  Go Karting together during the spring rainy season!  Squad up and go to car events together in the summer!  Take a scenic route through some twisty roads in the crisp fall air!  There's things to do with great people if you just take that first step and engage with your community.

The internet can be a great tool to connect people, but it doesn't mean nearly as much to actually make those connections.  I emplore you, if you haven't done so already, to go out and discover this community that is here waiting for you.

APR Brake Cooling Kit for Subaru STI

As I venture futher into motorsports with my 2016 Subaru WRX STI, I try to find modifications that will help improve areas of performance to help reign in this car a little more.  Most of my modifications have been centered around improving engine performance and handling characteristics but I decided to tackle braking performance this time.  My car is still on stock STI Brembo 4-Piston Calipers with OEM brake pads but I decided to help those out with this APR Brake Cooking Kit for the 2015-2017 WRX STI.


The kit replaces the plastic fog light bezels in the front bumper with carbon fiber panels.  These special panels retain the stock Fog Light and Turn Signals in the bumper while adding a funnel that channels air through the bumper into a hose that redirects that air to the backing plate/dust guard on the back side of the brake rotors to cool them down while driving.  The idea is simple, but the execution is a little tricky.  Even with the supplied instructions, things weren't as cut-and-dry as I was expecting.

Fitment of the Carbon Fiber bezels was not perfect but, thanks to three bolts that anchor it in place, they were solid once they were fitted properly.  There are still a few minor gaps and areas that I had not expected, but they're not noticeable.  Also, the instructions and templates for trimming the bumper cover and crash bar were mostly correct, but additional trimming was needed to get things to fit properly.  No instructions were included to explain how the ducting should be routed or where to attach things beyond the Carbon Fiber inlets, so we had to get a little creative.  This was especially true for the drivers side as the windshield washer fluid reservoir was in the way.  Still, we managed to get around this on our own, though I would've preferred additional instructions to rely on.

Still, once everything was installed securely, things stayed in place and they've been working great so far.  No other fitment issues, rubbing, or quality issues have come up and the whole kit seems to be quite robust while still being lightweight thanks to the carbon fiber used for the inlet and outlet construction.  I'm quite happy with the end result and can't wait to push this car further!

The Return of the XT

The Subaru lineup used to offer a turbocharged option in nearly every model line at one point.  The Impreza had the WRX, the Legacy had the Legacy GT, even the Baja that only lasted for 4 model years had a turbocharged option.  But in the last decade, Subaru had seemingly watered down their more "performance oriented" options and left us with more economy-centered naturally aspirated options (with the exception of the WRX and WRX STI obviously).  The winds of change are in motion with Subaru, and we could be headed back to a the days when every Subaru has some turbocharged oomph offered under the hood.

The Return of the XT

Subaru has used the "XT" badge on several cars over the years.  From the XT Turbo Coupe in the 80s to the Forester XT offered from 2004-2018, this designation was usually a sign of a good time.  In 2019, Subaru said goodbye to the Forester XT option and I had wondered if this badge would be lost forever.  However, when the 2020 Outback and Legacy made their auto show debuts this year, both cars had replaced their 6-Cylinder Boxer engine options with a 2.4 liter turbocharged Boxer engine and, as such, brought the XT badge back with them.  In the Legacy, customers can opt for a XT model in the Limited and Touring.  In the Outback, the option for a turbo lies with the Limited, Touring, and the all-new Onyx level.  

At the heart of the new XT models lies a 2.4 liter twin-scroll turbocharged boxer engine with direct fuel injection making 260 horsepower and 277 for torque.  If those numbers sound familiar, that's because this is the same powerplant in the Subaru Ascent that came out last year.  This engine already delivers plenty of power in the Ascent, but with the lighter weight Outback and even lighter Legacy, that power is much more noticeable!  They deliver a much more invigorating punch than the previously offered 6-cylinder and can still use regular unleaded fuel.  On top of that, the new Outback and Legacy are built upon Subaru's new Global Platform design which improves safety, decreases noise and vibrations in the cabin, and sharpens handling.  When paired with the new turbocharged engine, this makes for a much more engaging driving experience that's especially fun in the Legacy.  

Subaru is taking strides towards making the Legacy and Outback more appealing to a younger audience, and these sporty engines could be the key to that.  While the Outback Onyx XT is geared more towards an adventurous audience, the "Legacy Sport" trim level in the lacks the XT geddup and go.  Customers can only get that turbo in the Limited and Touring levels for some reason.  Perhaps if the new turbocharged offerings from Subaru are well received, we could see the Legacy Sport earn it's badge. 

As with all of the 2020 Legacy and Outback models, these will feature an Auto Start/Stop system for the engine.  The 2.5 Liter Boxer Engine is the same as that in the 2019 Forester, which already has this system in place.  Tweaks have been made to the 2.4 Liter Turbocharged Boxer Engine to work with this system, as the Subaru Ascent did not have this feature.  The system can be disabled, but now that feature is tucked in the massive 11.6 Inch touchscreen on the new Legacy and Outback.  In fact, many features that were once physical buttons scattered throughout the interior before have now been organized within the new touchscreen.  That may be worrying news to those who have had issues with recent touchscreen glitches and software issues, but the new system has been completely redesigned and has much more processing power than the previous generation.  Subaru has worked with Denso to create the new radio and there are separate systems to handle infotainment and car features so they can run simultaneously without issues.

Probably the most unique of the XT offerings is the Onyx Edition.  Aimed at a younger more adventurous owner, the 2020 Subaru Outback Onyx XT features new "StarTex" upholstery with bright green stitched seams that’s water-repellent and hard-wearing to survive the adventures afoot.  There's also a front-facing camera to help with visibility in off-road conditions and a full-sized spare tire when things get gnarly.  While the Onyx XT lies between the Premium and Limited trim levels, the pricetag is no slouch, starting at $35,905, so it'll be interesting to see how many younger buyers will be able to afford such a rig. 

If you're a fan of turbocharged Subarus, there's a lot more options suddenly.  Of the models offered, the WRX, WRX STI, Legacy, Outback, and Ascent all have some power to lend their drivers, which accounts for over half of the models in Subaru's lineup of vehicles.  There's still hope for the Forester to be added to that lineup, but it'd likely be in the form of a STI-specific model if that does happen.  Whether you're just looking for more power in your next car or you're an enthusiast looking to make use of tuning and aftermarket parts in the pursuit of speed, there's a wider range of options to choose from in the Subaru stable.

Series.White WRX and WRX STI for 2020

On the one hand, fans expecting the 2020 WRX and WRX STI to be on the new Global Platform will have to wait one more year before that.  On the other hand, Subaru is releasing one more Special Edition for the 4th Generation platform before the switch is made next year.  This latest offering is a color variation, much like the Series.HyperBlue and Series.Gray special edition models released before.

The 2020 Subaru WRX Series.White and 2020 Subaru WRX STI Series.White will feature a new shade exclusive to this version: Ceramic White.  Unlike the Crystal White Pearl that has been offered since the 4th Generation WRX came out as a 2015 model, Ceramic White will be more of a pure color with no metallic or pearl in the paint.  Black details on badges, mirrors, and other accents will set off the Ceramic White exterior on both models.  In addition, these models will have bronze-finished wheels.  Other details have not been confirmed yet, but it's safe to assume that Subaru will follow their formula used on the 2019 Series.Gray WRX and WRX STI models.  That would mean the WRX would be built around the "Performance Package" option with a few extras and the WRX STI would be built around the RECARO option package and, likely, have improved suspension.

2020 will also mark the release of the Subaru WRX STI S209, but that car has already been confirmed to wear the existing shade of white (pictured here).  The 2020 Model Year will mark the end of the 6-year-long run of the 4th Generation WRX platform, so the tried-and-true EJ257 under the hood of the WRX STI will hang on until the 5th Generation 2021 gives it a new FA-series-based engine.

The 2020 WRX and WRX STI will go on sale in the US in Fall of 2019, so expect the Series.White models to be available shortly after that.  Updated information will be shared here as it becomes available, so stay tuned!

So you want a STI S209?

In recent years, Subaru has been releasing more special edition cars in the US market.  From unique colors to heritage-laden badges, a noticeable increase in cars geared towards enthusiasts have been making their way across the pond.  Unveiled at the 2019 Detroit Auto Show, the Subaru WRX STI S209 is the latest of these to finally come to US shores for enthusiasts of STI to enjoy.

Released in limited quantities, the S209 will come in White with Gold wheels and World Rally Blue with Gray wheels.  At the very same auto show, the 2019 WRX STI Rally Car for Vermont Sportscar was unveiled showcasing World Rally Blue and Gold wheels, but the S209 likely skipped this to avoid confusion with the recently released 2018 WRX STI Type RA.

An extremely limited run of only 200 units are slated to be for sale, but no price was announced.  With even more features than the $50k Type RA released last year, don't be surprised to see a hefty pricetag for this monster.  However, the S209 is not all show and no go.  It packs 341 Horsepower into the final iteration of the classic EJ257 Turbocharged Boxer 4 Engine.  There's more changes under the hood to accomodate this power, including an upgraded turbocharger, forged pistons and connecting rods, and other intake and exhaust upgrades to make this the fastest STI to be unleashed on American soil.

The odd thing with the S209 is timing.  With many fans in the US expecting the 5th Generation WRX and WRX STI as a 2020 model to be released sometime this year, the S209 was announced to be released late in 2019.  It would be odd for dealers to be receiving 2019 WRX STI S209 Models potentially after the 2020 WRX and WRX STI start to arrive.

So how do you get one?

Normally you'd think you can just stroll up to the dealership and reserve one, but this won't be that simple.  In Japan, the S209 isn't just limited in production numbers.  Purchasing an "S" model is different, especially considering that it's technically not even a Subaru model.

"As an S-line product, the STI S209 encompasses upgrades in power, handling, aerodynamics and driver engagement, and undergoes final assembly in Kiryu, Japan, where it receives engine modifications and bodywork alterations that in total require it to be homologated for the U.S. by STI; thus, the S209 is considered the first “STI-built” Subaru sold in the U.S."

Previous "S" models that had been sold in Japan were sold via a lottery to figure out who gets one, so don't be surprised if it takes more than just a willing enthusiast with a wad of cash to buy one.  Those lucky enough to afford one will need to be lucky enough to be selected to own a STI S209.

Stay tuned for more information on the S209!

http://media.subaru.com/pressrelease/1388/1/subaru-tecnica-international-unleashes-most-powerful-model-ever

Pastrana & Higgins RC Cars - 1:18 Scale

In February of 2018, there was a pre-order for a group buy of 1:18 Scale Remote Control WRX STI cars donning David Higgins' and Travis Pastrana's 2017 SRT USA Liveries.  These were originally offered to employees of Subaru of America and their retailers and were expected to arrive in August of 2018.  Being the massive rally fan that I am, I jumped at the opportunity and placed an order for both versions.  After a few delays through months of waiting, they finally arrived in December of 2018!

Produced by AeroPro Promotions LLC and distributed through Staples Promotional Products (who distribute most of the products for Subaru.com/Gear), these RC Cars are loaded with features.  A full assembly diagram and list of parts are included in the instructions.  Whether you get the red Travis Pastrana version or the blue David Higgins version, they come with their own 7.4V 1100 mAh rechargeable LiPo battery.  Included is a battery charger and a remote control dialed in to the specific car, so you could run both at the same time independently.  You'll need 4 AA batteries for the remote, but otherwise they're ready to go once you've charged up the included battery for them.  The cars have 4-wheel independent suspension and continuous All-Wheel Drive being fed power from the electric motor.  The specifications state that these cars can reach speeds up to 40kph, or about 25 mph.  They are admittedly quick and the rally-style tires they have seem to get grip on just about any surface.  It even states that these are Waterproof, though I don't know that I want to test this claim just yet!

The packaging and product look identical to the computer-generated images that were supplied during the pre-order period nearly a year ago, so I was impressed and surprised to see how accurate the initial projections were!  The Method Race Wheels, DirtFish, DMACK, and other logos are nice and crisp and they even have the correct Vermont license plates for each!  The only thing I find odd is the complete omission of any sort of names or numbers on the cars.  The boxes simply state that they're "Subaru Rally Team USA" and have accompanying photos of the cars on the boxes.  While the pictures on the boxes have their respective numbers on them, they have edited out any "Higgins" or "Pastrana" names that would've been on the cars.  Even in the Parts list, the shells are simply differentiated as "Red Car Shell" and "Blue Car Shell".  The omission of any names on them is really my only complaint, so it's not really the end of the world!

The only other thing to keep in mind with these is a slightly limited run time.  Under constant use, these cars will only last for about 10-15 minutes of use with about 4 hours needed to recharge the batteries.  The 7.4 battery is relatively small, so I'm not completely surprised by the limited running time, but it does leave you wanting more when they're spent.  They're a blast to drive around the house on carpet and flooring and even more fun when you can open up the throttle outdoors on pavement or dirt!  These things fly and they look fantastic!  Whether you're a diehard rally fan like me or just a RC car collector, these will certainly put a smile on your face.

As I mentioned earlier, these were a pre-order item only offered to Subaru employees when they were initially announced.  However, they have since been released to the general public through SubaruGear.com.  Below are the links to both versions if you'd like to purchase them!

Red "Pastrana" RC Car
Blue "Higgins" RC Car

RedFogo Racing: Nebraska Rally Team

A year or so ago I took my first step towards Stage Rally by attending a Co-Driving Course at DirtFish Rally School with Craig Drew.  All I needed then was an opportunity to race!  Turns out that it's tricky to find people in the Heartland of America to co-drive for... let alone find someone who knows what Stage Rally is in the first place!  Luckily, that has changed... and I'm getting ready for my first rally!

A friend of mine I know from NRSCCA Rallycross took the plunge and purchased a 2002 Subaru WRX that has been racing in Rally events for a few years now.  Known to some as "Bender", this car has changed hands a few times, but has ties to Nebraska.

Christy Carlson competed with this car in Regional and National level events for several years.  Everything from Sno*Drift to Pikes Peak International Hillclimb, Bender is a "Misbehaving piece of metal that bends the road to its will. And drinks a sh*t ton of gasoline. Smokes. All-around bad a** car."  It came into our hands in need of an engine and a willing team of newbies dumb enough to rally it again.  Luckily, Bender has found all of that with RedFogo Racing!

Under it's new ownership, Bender has undergone a bit of a facelift.  A 2006 Subaru WRX provided a new engine for us and, as it turns out, also provided a complete front and rear end to convert this car to "Bender 2.5".  To the untrained eye, this is a completely different car, but under that fancy Hawkeye body, Bender lives!

After a few successful test runs at local rallycross events, Bender was registered with the American Rally Association and is slated to compete at the 2019 Rally in the 100 Acre Wood!  Somehow, I've been entrusted to co-drive in this Franken-Subie... and I couldn't be more excited!

Stay tuned for more info as RedFogo Racing prepares for our first Stage Rally event next spring!

ProClip Subaru WRX Mount

I've had my 2016 Subaru WRX STI tuned for awhile now, but I struggled to find a mount for my COBB AP Tuner that I liked.  Real Estate on the dashboard is already tough to come by in most cars and the mounting choices I had seen weren't really my thing.  I didn't wanna go the "tape it to the dashboard" route, nor did I like the idea of covering up an air vent to do it, and installing aftermarket gauges seemed like a hassle.  I wanted a simple solution that would look right, be sturdy, and put my COBB AP Tuner well within reach.  Then I found out about ProClip USA and saw a product that seemed like it would fit my criteria.  I thought I'd give it a shot!

It's a pretty foolproof system for making just about any device easy to access and see.  ProClip USA's website lets you find a mounting plate that will work with your specific make and model car and then select the appropriate adapter plate to attach the device you want to use.  In my case, I got the ProClip Left Mount for my WRX STI along with the 2 Prong (Dual-T) Mounting Plate with Tilt Swivel to use with my COBB V3 Holster.   The ProClip mount comes with double-sided tape on the back side of each arm, but I didn't use it at first so that I could test-fit things and see what angle I wanted the mount to be at.  There were also four self-tapping screws included with the adapter plate that screw tightly into the mounting plate.  I found that attaching the adapter plate to the mounting plate was best when it wasn't attached to the car, so I was glad I hadn't used that double-sided tape to permanently install it just yet!

Things really fit like a glove when I installed everything.  The colors and textures on my STI's A-pillar matched up with the mounting plate great and the adapter plate connected with the COBB V3 Holster nice and tight.  There were no noticeable rattling or loose fitting parts, but it also was not so tight that you couldn't move things.  The swivel base on the adapter plate was easy to adjust and the 2 Prong mounts still let me detatch the COBB V3 Holster with minimal effort.  This was important to me, as I didn't want to struggle with making adjustments but I also wanted it to be secure.  The roads in my area are bumpy, uneven, and ridden with potholes so I was really pleased to see how well the ProClip stuff worked.

In the month that I've had the clip installed, I have yet to experience any issues with it.  October and November are transitional periods for weather here in the Midwest, and sometimes the back-and-forth mix of warm and cold days can cause creaks and rattles with the plastics used in Subaru interiors.  The ProClip Left Mount, Dual-T adapter plate, and the COBB V3 holster were steadfast all month long and continue to be.  In fact, the COBB Access Port accessories page even lists ProClip products like this one on their own website for the performance cars they tune with there.  Just recently I remembered that I still hadn't used the double-sided tape on the Pillar Mount, so I was even more surprised that it hadn't shifted or rattled at all for a month!  I went ahead and used the tape upon discovering this and, unsurprisingly, have still had no issues.

Based on my experience thus far I can easily recommend these products to friends after seeing how easily and seamlessly things have worked with mine.  There's a wide array of adapters and mounting plates available for a good numbe of vehicles.  Cell-phone holders, Navigation stands, really anything you want to put within reach in a secure fashion and the ProClip products should be able to achieve that with ease. 

2019 Rallycross Season Wrap-Up

The Nebraska Region SCCA Rallycross program finished out the 2019 season strong, albeit some challenging conditions for the last event!  Throughout the year, the program enjoyed strong steady turnout, a great variety of course designs, and a community that continues to build around the competitors and workers.  It's really been rewarding for me to be part of the great experiences shared by everyone connected to this program, so here's a "Thank You" to everyone involved this year!

For the final event of the season, Timmy Milliman took on course design for the first time.  On a dry and windy Saturday, they set up a great course that challenged drivers with tight turns and rewarded them with a few nice flowing sections to open up the taps on their cars.  It really would've been a fantastic course to finish the season on.  However, Mother Nature had different plans!

Mid-day Saturday, snow that was originally forecast to dip south of the area creeped north and dropped about an inch of blustery snow on I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, NE.  With temperatures in the teens on Sunday, the fresh powder made for tricky conditions in a course that demanded grip and precision.  Still, 14 Competitors showed up to try their hand at it for the last Points Event of the season.  Typically, conditions are dry enough to get away with using simple All-Season tires, but the snow and mud turned these into slicks and forced competitors to a crawl through much of the course.  Those with Snow Tires or Rally Tires didn't fare much better!

As the day progressed and the sun came out to start warming things up, things were looking even trickier!  Typically, the course gets faster as the day goes on, but with snow turning to slush and mud turning to soup, times dropped as conditions worsened.  Competitors put up a valiant effort to get through the course, but at the lunch break, it was decided to halt competition and settle on the 5 runs of times that we had accumulated in the morning runs as the final times.

After our lunch break, we kept the cones out there and allowed "Fun Runs" to those eager to take part in the Slip-N-Slide conditions before calling it a day.  While some packed up for the day, a handful of drivers had a ball getting sideways through the course.  We even had a few spectators grab helmets and ride along for the roller-coaster ride through the mud and snow!  Whatever blues we had about stopping competition early were vanquished by the fun we had out there before calling it a day.

At the end of the day, this event capped off a great season of competition and showcased the resilience of our competitors seen all year.  From rescheduled events to tough weather and site conditions, this program continued to grow and flourish.  We had a lot of great close competition this year and got some good exposure with spectators showing up to each event to watch and ride along.  Of our 8 Points Events this season, we only managed to hold 7 of them... and two of those were cut short due to weather.  Even without being able to secure alternate competition sites this year, we still made everything work and ended up with a great season.  I'm really happy with how the NRSCCA Rallycross program continues to grow and improve!

AOS - Every turbocharged Subaru should have one

When I bought my first turbocharged Subaru, I started learning all sorts of things to better understand my car.  From maintenance to modifications, there was a lot I needed to know so I could properly care for my car.  I'm still learning things as I take each step with modifying my WRX STI to my liking but when I noticed a puff of blue smoke coming from my exhaust on startup, I ran back to the drawing board and realized I had been holding off on a modification that I probably should've done the second I got the car: an Air-Oil Separator.

While common on modified cars, an Air-Oil Separator (AOS) can still be beneficial.  Even in stock form, oil can still make it's way through the intake system.  Boxer engines, or horizontally opposed engines, have pistons that move side to side. When running, the G-Forces push excess oil to the tops of the pistons. Because oil is just as combustible as fuel, this causes irregularities with the controlled explosions in the engine, subsequently creating multiple explosions or "detonation".  This can lead to causing the ever-popular "ringland failure" problem.  Installing an AOS eliminates the oil vapors in an intake system thus eliminating the loss of octane.  Without oil being burned off and the octane levels up, the engine can make more power!

On a stock turbocharged boxer engine, that oil getting through the intercooler doesn't make its way back to the engine.  As it is subsequently burned off, your oil levels start to drop a little.  It's not a significant amount, but over a long period of time it can be detrimental to the piston rings if the engine oil level isn't kept up.  Tie in the fact that the detonation and oil buildup in the engine are already wreaking havoc on those same rings and it's an accident waiting to happen.  Again, this can still happen on a bone-stock WRX, so even those who have been careful with their cars run the risk.

I've not noticed a single issue since installing the AOS on my car.  No loss in power, no puff of blue smoke, nothing but good things to report.  If you've got a turbocharged Subaru and you enjoy getting after it like I do, an Air-Oil Separator may not be the most glamorous modification you can spend your money on.  However, it'll certainly allow you to to have more fun and more peace-of-mind as you push your car further!

Will the Turbo Forester return?

Well, I can't avoid the facts anymore.  The Forester XT has joined the mausoleum of fun turbocharged Subarus that I loved like the Outback XT and Legacy GT.  Sure, the new 2019 Forester has a "Sport" model, but there's only so much you can do with 182 horsepower and some fancy trim.  While their overall lineup seems to be heading in the vanilla direction, we might still have some hope from our friends at Subaru Tecnica International - STI.

In years past, the US market has been largely ignored for the the Fast and Furious models that guys like me crave.  Look through just about any imported model and you'll find cool variations and homologation models that we've never had on US soil... and the STI lineup from Subaru is no exception.  However, that trend has been starting to change with a few limited production units we've managed to snag in recent years.  Subaru has brought over some STI fun with the BRZ tS and the WRX STI Type RA before, so is a quicker turbocharged Forester a possibility for us in the future?

Foresters have never worn the STI badge here in the states before, but there have been STI versions made in Japan that we never got here.  Much like the tweaked BRZ they made, the Forester tS has brought Subaru's racing boys to their family-sized crossover SUV before.  Improved aero, revised suspension, and interior and exterior tweaks to make it feel special.  These features have graced the Forester tS models in Japan before... but those have also been built around the existing turbocharged Forester XT to begin with.  One could say if the US were to get a Forester with STI treatment that it would still only come in the form of aero and handling and leave the naturally aspirated Boxer engine under the hood alone.

Still the possibility of more STI models in the US isn't out of the question.  As part of Subaru's "Prominence 2020 Plan", the STI Brand is charged with bringing more racing support, more performance parts, and more complete STI cars to the US market.  While the year 2020 is bearing down on us quickly, we've already seen a spike in special edition and limited production performance models coming to the states.

The possibility exists for Subaru to bring a Turbocharged Forester back to the US Market, but it's uncertain if they recognize enough of a demand in the market for something like this.  Don't hold your breath, as Subaru seems to lean more on the WRX and BRZ as their options for performance-minded customers.  Even the 6-cylinder Outback and Legacy have their days numbered and it's uncertain if those models will go back to a single engine option like the Forester has for 2019.  As 2020 approaches with the new Outback and Legacy design, the new WRX and WRX STI design, and the target point for their plans, we'll have to wait and see if STI will deliver us anything more than they already have.  Dear Forester... I'll be waiting.