| What modifications do you have
to the car(s)? |
2002 WRX: Turboback exhaust, catless
uppipe, pulleys, UTEC engine management, hardened engine/tranny
mounts, JDM version STi replica scoop, and a killer tune
by Tony at XXTuning.
2005 STi: “Stealthback” exhaust,
UTEC engine management
|
| |
| What mods to you have planned for
the future? |
The next step for the STi is a good dyno tune. Somewhere
down the road will come a larger turbo (Garrett GT35R?)
and relocation of the top mount intercooler to a front mount.
|
| |
| What was your original goal for
the car(s)? |
| The original goal for the 02 was low 13s. The original
goal for the STi was to beat the 02’s best time. |
| |
| What is your present goal for car(s)? |
| Current goal for the 02: Sell it. Current goal for the
STi: High 12s, then low 12s.
I would also love to try open track at the Poconos. |
| |
| What was your reason for buying
the car(s)? |
I bought the 02 when I was looking for a new daily driver.
I had never even dreamt about racing at that point.
I bought the STi because I loved the WRX so much that when
they offered one with even more power and better handling,
I HAD to have it.
|
| |
| What other cars have you considered
buying/presently own? |
In 2001, the WRX was just released in the states
and there was nothing yet comparable on the market (AWD,
turbo, sedan). I test drove it and looked no further.
|
| |
| What are some of your Car / Driver
achievements? |
Does winning the “Longest Distance Traveled”
award at the Glenside, PA car show count as a driver achievement? |
| |
| Shout outs to people that helped
you achieve these goals? |
Thanks go to Glenn Sullivan for introducing me to racing
and SSOTN.
Also, thanks to all the Mustang guys who were willing to
work on a lowly import including Bill Tumas, Brian Kirk,
Mike Wilson, and Mickey Mitchell.
Lastly, thanks to everyone at SSOTN. I've made some truly
great friends here and I can't imagine not being a part
of this club.
|
| |
| What is your Best 1/4 time? |
02: 13.23 @ 102.08
STi: 13.07 @ 104
|
| |
| Do you have any regrets along the
way? |
| Regret is an appalling waste of time, you can’t build
on it; it’s only for wallowing in. |
| |
| What was or is your favorite vehicle
to this day and why? |
| My first car – a 1982 Buick Regal with a Chevy 350
engine and turbo 350 trans dumped into it. Lots of memories
and lots of fun. |
| |
| What was your main reason for participating
in the SSOTN Nationals? |
The first Nats I attended was in 2001. I knew nobody
except Glenn and Dianna and I wanted to run the bone stock
WRX just out of curiosity. Never racing before in my life,
I ran a measly best of 15.4. I was instantly hooked and
have attended every Nats since.
Though I love racing and working on improving my times,
I now attend the Nats primarily to see the people that I
have become such great friends with. |
| |
| What other things do you enjoy
besides cars? |
| Boating, fishing, guitar, partying. |
| |
| What upcoming events in 2005 do
you plan on racing in if any? |
| Hopefully one or two Cecil Saturday Test & Tunes and
of course, the Fall Nats. |
| |
| Is it difficult to launch an AWD
Subie? |
| Like an RWD, it’s a matter of finding the right combination
and timing of events. The primary difference is that clutch
dropping is a big no-no unless you like changing out expensive
AWD transmissions/components. Slight clutch-slip provides
the optimal launch though it is still sometimes difficult
to get a perfect bog-free launch. I have yet to play with
the Driver Controllable Center Differential to see how biasing
the power towards the fronts or rears will affect my launches
and 60’s times. |
Congrats to Steve Rappaport for being the SSOTN
Featured Member for August 2005.
Interview conducted by : John
Paulson - Founder
Web Site Production: Matthew
DeCillis - Webmaster
