Subiesport Magazine - February/March 2008 - (Page 68)

EAST COAST IMPREZA TOPSPEED ATTACK Story by Patrick D’Auria Photos by John Swain hile many americans hit the road this summer to enjoy a well-earned vacation at some tourist trap, there are a select group of folks that turn this summer relaxation ritual into a motorsports marathon. These folks forego “fun and sun” at the beach to tour the country participating in the “tire Rack Cannonball one lap of america Presented by Car and Driver.” The one lap of america is a cross-country driving tour, with stops along the way to compete in time trials, skid pad competitions, drag racing and autocrosses at famous racetracks. The event’s origins go back to the 1970s, when automotive journalist and self-acknowledged icon, brock Yates, devised the “Cannonball Sea-to-Shining-Sea memorial trophy Dash” a flat out, no-holds-barred race from new York , City to Redondo beach, Calif. today the one lap is a much more organized, formal event that tests not only a driver’s skill but also personal and mechanical endurance and vehicle preparation. The teams must persevere over 5,000 miles of interstate driving, competitive racing events and living out of a “race car” for a week. no support W crews are allowed and the car must use only one set of street tires during the event. In 2007, seasoned “lapper” luke Russell and topspeed tuning owner and head tuner, Doug Wilks, prepared a wicked 1996 Subaru Impreza brighton to win the event. fate would have a different plan, but more on those details later. Glutton For Punishment luke Russell’s first motorsports activity was when he and a friend participated in the one lap back in 2003. at that time he drove a white bugeye wagon covered in blue and black tribal graphics that made about 250 whp. “We just showed up like two doofs wanting to have some fun and ended up 12th out of 84 cars; that felt pretty good,” luke recalled. 2005 was the year he and another friend returned to the one lap, but this time they were competing in a 2004 StI making about 380 whp. They had fantastic success on-track, winning their class at every event and landing in the top three or four spots overall. “Then I got greedy at Shenandoah Speedway going for an overall win and threw it away,” luke said about his spectacular crash into a tire wall. (You can see the 68 MARCH 2008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Subiesport Magazine - February/March 2008

Subiesport Magazine - February/March 2008 Contents Travis Geny Letters Readers' Rides Subaru News Subie Sleuths Hatched Plans United in Subarus East Meets West WRC Rally Catalunya WRC Rally France WRC Rally Japan WRC Rally Ireland WRC Wales Rally GB The Future of Subaru WRC Team Orange Where to Buy Subiesport 1993 Impreza "Dreadnought" Performance Radiator Install Special Kei Ad Directory Spotted!

Subiesport Magazine - February/March 2008

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