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Name: John Location: Denver, CO 80016 Gender: Male Age: 35 Occupation: Grad Student & Part-time Master of the Universe
About:
I'm a grad student trying to finish my PhD but before going back to school I worked at a Subaru dealership in sales, internet sales, and as a service writer and Certified Product Knowledge Specialist & Subaru Performance Tuning expert. I started driving cars by sitting on my grandfather's lap when I was around 7, and I've had dirt bikes, jet skis, ATVs, since I was around 11. Once I was legal, I got my license and my first car on my 16th birthday--I'd worked summers and saved up to buy the car ahead of time since I wasn't going to waste a single day. I've been into all things fast and mechanical for as long as I can remember. I've done the odd race when I could afford it, and like any speed-junkie/gearhead, I've done tons of performance driving and race school events. I've had a racing license, I've done track days, auto-crosses, rally-crosses, rally-sprints, and whatever else I can do to go push a vehicle and myself to the limts (and occasionally beyond). My latest event was when I participated in the Rocky Mountain Shootout RMS08, which was a multi-day competition that combined a time-trial, drag race, Dyno-test and car show. It was put on by local tuners, vendors and dealers, and I was sponsored by a local Insurance Agency. I came in first in class for the wet-session time trial, but lost overall to a fully caged and way more heavily modified Evo on race tires and a Corvette z06, so I was happy with my results. I can't say it enough, I love to drive, and I love to drive fast. Part of driving fast is learning how to drive fast, so I'd rather spend the money on professional instruction to shave off 2/10ths of a second around a local track than to waste that money on a mod that adds power I don't know how to use properly. However, that's not to imply I don't enjoy or want to modify my cars and bikes, I do love to tinker with both, and I do mods as I can afford them. Before leaving the Subaru dealership I used to work for, I was the Certified Subaru Product Knowledge Specialist, and I was the Subaru Performance Tuning (SPT) expert at our shop, and I worked with a number of our local tuners to coordinate with our performance-minded customers who wanted to modify their cars more extensively than what the dealership offered. And, of course, I know a lot of those same tuners since they also worked on my various Subarus. But again, I know that pound for pound, the money I put into gaining experience and training are worth far more than the +30HP from a tweak here and there. I've followed Bullrun since the race (not the show) became popularized, and I always dreamed of having some exotic car to enter the competition, but since I'm a mere mortal, and a grad student at that, the full competition was really just a dream. However, once the tv show came out, then I saw my chance to actually get in on the Bullrun action in all its glory. I've watched every episode of season 1 and what's been shown of season 2, I've watched the YouTube BR channel, checked out the Behind the Scenes clips, and rounded up a buddy of mine to go jump in the STI with me so we can take our shot at winning this thing--which, unlike the full BR event, I know we can win this one. And, once we win the Bullrun/Speed competition, we can take that prize money and enter the STI into the full Bullrun competition--and that'd rock even more.
Mission Statement:
Above All: WIN! Subaru has a heritage of rallying, and though it's usually in tougher places than Bullrun typically goes, we'll still win just to bring one more trophy to our favorite manufacturer. I know my team will run a clean, fair race, and we will never back down from any challenge thrown at us. We've got a car that's solid, and we're both good with people so we can get the help and directions we might need, and we're not going in there to piss everyone off. But ultimately, we're in it to win it, and we'll do whatever it takes.
About My Team:
Team Subaru is going to be me driving and my buddy Chad navigating. And, though Chad has his own 2006 Obsidian Black Pearl Subaru Impreza WRX STI, we'll be in my 2006 Aspen White Subaru Impreza WRX STI. Chad and I met while I was working at a local Subaru dealer, where I was actually Chad's trainer when he came onboard as a salesman, and then internet salesman. After three years in sales and internet sales, I've left that dealership to go back to grad school to try to get my PhD, but Chad enjoys the thrill of selling Subies. We came to work for the dealership because we're both huge Subaru fans, I've owned 5 Subarus and still own 2, Chad's owned 3 Subarus including his 06 STI. But, we're not just fanboys, we love the technology, we love the rally heritage, and we love the local and national Subaru community. We know we're a part of something much bigger than just us, and we'll do our best to represent ourselves and our community in the best light possible--and, of course, when push comes to shove we're out to prove that our "cheap" little 4-door "econobox" can and will beat any other car no matter what their price tag. Even though I don't work there, Chad and I are still good friends since we have a lot in common--particularly when it comes to our taste in cars and our love of driving. I still hang out at the dealership a lot, we're both active members of the local and national Subaru forums, and we love to mod and drive our STIs--whether it's on the track, in the dirt, on a RallyX course, or even just hitting the twisties up in the mountains. Beyond just our mutual love for our cars, and we're both fairly capable at maintaining, modding and repairing our vehicles, so should we have an issue, we can handle it. Outside of our extreme love of all things Subaru, we're both very used to working long hours, being on the road, and working under tremendous stress while keeping a good attitude--you just have to learn how to do all of that or you won't make it in sales, and that background will help us when we're on the road. As friends who've known each other for years, we've been on the track or twisting mountain roads together so we know how we'll react, and we know what our relative strengths and weaknesses are. In sales or in driving, we know how to help cover each other's ass or pick up slack if we need to. Lastly, we're really just great friends, and we know that even if there's drama all around us, we'll be able to keep our cool, work together, and get us into the winner's circle.
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My Ride:
Make: Subaru
Model: Impreza WRX STI Year: 2006 Color: White Engine Size: 2.5L DOHC Intercooled Turbo HP/TQ: 300/300 (stock) Approx 330/330 now Max Speed: 151mph 0-60: 4.5sec MPG: 25mpg
Team Setup:
Team: Team Subaru
My Role: Driver My Team Member: Chad--Map Master of Doom
My Biggest Strength:
Calm under pressure. Everyone in Bullrun thinks they can drive, and most are probably pretty good. But...I'm still probably better than most of them--and that's confidence, not just attitude talking. I don't really have a cocky attitude, I just know that if we can get into Bullrun, then we will win, period. ;) Like many others, I grew up running back roads, and I've spent time on the track in cars and on my bikes. I've been through racing and performance schools, done the occasional Rally-X, Rally Sprint, Auto-X and Time Trial. But, the real thing that puts me ahead of the competition isn't the driving, it's the fact that I'm pretty much unflappable under pressure. Plus, unlike the teams you see breaking down, our car is also calm under pressure, and she'll go the whole way without incident. So, if we get lost, if we suffer a mechanical failure, lose the map, run out of gas (Chad gets to push, since he outweighs me by like 70lbs), or encounter whatever challenge the Bullrun gods throw at us, I know I'll keep a cool head and help get my team through it. And, if I can't, then Chad will. Really, the race is only half the game, the game-within-the-game is that it's a race inside a RealityTV show, and there's where being level-headed will allow us to form the right alliances, make the right decisions, and win the game. We simply won't lose, it's not in the gameplan. ;)
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