TRUE GRIP TG’S FIRST LOOK AT SUBARU’S NEW BRZ We take the opportunity to take an in-depth look around what is expected to be one of the most exciting new cars realised in 2012.
(WR) ONE VISION
SIDC AGM MINUTES
Chris and Rosie Buckler’s Impreza WR1, ‘Rosy B’ has just emerged from its latest metamorphosis...
Full minutes of SIDC’s recent Annual General Meeting off the back of Round One of 2012’s Time Attack Series.
THE ‘PERFECT’ WR1
BOLT OUT OF THE BLUE
SUBARU’S NEW BRZ FIRST LOOK
2012 AGM REPORT
P14
FEATURES FIRST LOOK AT THE NEW SUBARU BRZ
P32
TIME ATTACK ROUND ONE: CADWELL PARK
P36
ONE VISION: THE ‘PERFECT’ WR1
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P42
JAPFEST 2012
PRE LOADING EDITOR, TRUE GRIP
Welcome to the first issue of True Grip under the SIDC’s newly refreshed moniker - The Subaru International Drivers Club. To run alongside the club’s new look which is currently being rolled out, we’ve made a few changes to True Grip - nothing too dramatic, more of a spit and a polish than a complete overhaul but we’ve paid particular attention to making the magazine as readable as possible across all media, beit printed or digitally online.
True Grip is the official magazine of the Subaru International Drivers Club
CONTENT 3 Editor’s Intro 4R egional Organisers 5 C hairwoman’s Intro 6 Latest News 12 V F-Racing Update 14 F EATURE: BRZ First Look 22 S IDC 2012 AGM Minutes 26 S IDC Kames Trackday 28 R eaders’ Rides 32 T ime Attack Round One 34 N otes from the Old Fosse Way 36 F EATURE: [WR] One Vision 42 F EATURE: JapFest 2012 47 E VENTS: Nationwide 2012 Events
So, onto the issue itself and we’re incredibly excited to be leading with a showcase of one of the very first Subaru BRZs in the UK without wanting to give away too much, it really is something quite spectacular, take a look for yourselves on page 14 where we’ve taken the opportunity to take an in-depth look around what is expected to be one of the most exciting new cars realised in 2012. We also have full minutes from the SIDCs recent AGM in Linconshire for those that were unable to attend on the day itself [pages 22-25]. We have a writeup on the recent SIDC Track Day at Kames from badbaz (page 26) and regular Readers’ Rides section as well as an update from the fine folk at Cross Roads Subaru. As if that wasn’t enough for you, we have an update from Round One of the 2012 Time Attack series as well as a features on the JapFest 10th Anniversary event and Chris & Rosie Buckler’s Impreza WR1, a well-known car on the Scooby scene affectionately known as ‘Rosy B’ - their take on the perfect WR1... From where we’re sat, they’ve done an absolutely sterling job! Lastly, don’t forget you can buy True Grip in print through HP’s MagCloud at www.magcloud.com/user/truegrip
Stu Mason Editor, True Grip
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REGIONAL ORGANISERS THE RO TEAM
ENGLAND
SCOTLAND
DEVON (Joint) Terry Butcher – SpecT sirgeffrye@virginmedia.com 07703 696 188
CENTRAL SCOTLAND (Joint) Brian Smith - rallye 6 brian.smith22@btinternet.com 07979 708 118
Jamie Tonkins - j wrx tonkins jtonkins1@hotmail.co.uk 07725 738 658
Tam Mellon - tommytcut tammellon@hotmail.com 07847 131 660
DORSET, HAMPSHIRE & WILTSHIRE
DUNDEE
True Grip is the official magazine of the Subaru International Drivers Club Cover Image: Kim French Editor: Stu Mason (stum450n) Deputy Editor: Rachel Keir (little vodka goblin)
(Joint) Peter Lashbrook - plodster plashbrook@hotmail.co.uk 07411 990 858
Glyn McCrickard - BalliSTIc Glyn@sidc.co.uk 07739 036 929
Darren Coombs – Bailey73 bailey73@hotmail.co.uk 07854 521 728
Cathy Kerr - Midnight21 cathykerr@mac.com 07788 953 803
MIDLANDS (Joint) Rachel Keir – Little Vodka Goblin Rachel@sidc.co.uk 07766 002 293
Kenny Fyall – wrx Kenny Kenfyal@ymail.com 07545 550 363
Published by: SIDC, PO BOX 128, March, Cambridgeshire PE15 5BR
Nick Wakelam - Goofy Nick@sidc.co.uk 07980 005 579
Keira Procter – empty_heed keirap1@hotmail.co.uk
SOMERSET
Dave Shanks - Scooby222 dave222@tiscali.co.uk 07768 230 461
Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without prior permission of the Editor. Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not the SIDC.
GUERNSEY
Barry McGowan - badbaz badbaz@sidc.co.uk 07831 638 482
Anthony Cridland – Criddy anthonycridland@gmx.com 07748 390 142 Steve Forrest - JD steveforrest222@msn.com 07781 165 177
EDINBURGH/LOTHIAN’S
GLASGOW/STRATHCLYDE (Joint)
INVERNESS / HIGHLANDS
LANARKSHIRE
MORAY AND ABERDEENSHIRE
=============================
(Joint) Alan Addison – ScoUK sidc@scouk.net 07764 939 604
No local group in your area? Interested in starting one? Contact Dave Shanks, Regional Organiser Co-ordinator
David Lisle – davey | wrx davidclisle@hotmail.com 07912 057 418
Subaru Impreza Drivers Club PO BOX 128, March, Cambridgeshire PE15 5BR
John McBay - Cruz104 blurxc1@tiscali.co.uk 07747 026 253
or email d ave222@tiscali.co.uk =============================
SCOTTISH BORDERS
Advertising Sales: E: advertising@sidc.co.uk Designed & Produced by: Stu Mason E: truegrip@sidc.co.uk www.stumason.com
All contributions, whether they bear the names, initials or pseudonyms, are accepted on the understanding that the author is responsible for the opinions expressed and that they do not necessarily reflect or comply with those of the publisher or editor. Although every care is taken, the publisher, designer and editor cannot be held responsible for loss or damage to material submitted. Whilst every care is taken to ensure contents are accurate, the publisher and editor assume no responsibility for any effects arising from errors or omissions. Acceptance of material is not a guarantee of publication in any particular issue, since space is often at a premium. The publisher and editor cannot guarantee to return original material and photographs. © SIDC 2012
PACE NOTES SIDC CHAIRWOMAN
Wow, what a hectic three months it’s been since the last issue of True Grip, so much has been planned behind the scenes for you all. So let me give you a quick update on our news... In January we emailed you announcing that we’d be renaming and rebranding in order to move the club forward, giving it a fresh new look and inviting owners of other models to join and get involved in the club. As of the 1st May we are now known as the Subaru International Drivers Club, but still to be known as the SIDC. This week we gave members of the club an insight into how we have designed the new branding for promotional material and show/event equipment. Throughout the course of the year we will be replacing all show/event equipment and merchandise along with the website, forums and membership database with new branding. Merchandise should be with us in the next few weeks whereby all paid members will receive replacement vehicle stickers and tax disc holders. Life members will also receive some additional promotional items with club branding on. Clothing will also be available soon too. If you’ve not seen the new branding then venture into the Members Only section of the forums. In 2012 the club is supporting three extremely worthy charities; the East Anglian/Hertfordshire Air Ambulance, the Wallace & Gromit Children’s Foundation and the Scottish Santa Cruise. So, through the course of the year we’ll be
raising funds through a raffle and auction that are being held in September. All monies raised will be split between our chosen charities. You can help make a difference in a number of ways - either by purchasing raffle tickets at one of our shows for £1 a strip, taking part in the auction, donate money directly to our pot or even donate some prizes to either the auction or raffle itself. Any help is very much appreciated. On the events front, we’ve already attended half a dozen so far, with some rather interesting weather to say the least. We have some fantastic events still to come this year so get those tickets purchased from the online shop to avoid disappointment. Lastly, I hope you enjoy this packed issue of True Grip and I look forward to catching up with you sometime in the year. Happy motoring everyone
Kim French Club Chairwoman
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NEWS SUBARU BRZ VDI MAGAZINE’S ‘CAR OF THE YEAR’
The Subaru BRZ has been named by Vehicle Dynamics International magazine as ‘Car of the Year’. The Awards’ judging panel – comprised of vehicle dynamicists, automotive engineers and technical journalists – also recognised the role of the BRZ’s development leader, Toshio Masuda, by naming him ‘Dynamicist of the Year’. Subaru shares these two Awards with the BRZ’s nearidentical sister, the Toyota GT86, and its chief engineer Tetsuya Tada. Jury panel member Peter Cambridge, a respected performance car dynamicist, welcomed the Subaru BRZ and GT86 as “the new generation of affordable rearwheel-drive coupes”. TRUE GRIP 6
Graham Heeps, Editor of Vehicle Dynamics International, commented: “For some time now we’ve been beating the drum for simplicity. Cars that take a less-is-more approach and offer fun at legal speeds have been thin on the ground.” Having already secured widespread media acclaim for its engaging handling, winning the Vehicle Dynamics International Car of the Year Award is further confirmation that the BRZ has met Subaru’s objective of delivering ‘Pure Handling Delight’. The BRZ accomplishes this thanks to its light weight, low centre of gravity, front engine/rear-wheel-drive chassis balance, short wheelbase, and free-revving 2.0 litre Boxer engine.
CROSS ROADS SUBARU SCOOPS BRACE OF AT THE AUTOMOTIVE ACCOLADES MANAGEMENT AWARDS Multi-award-winning Subaru dealership, Cross Roads, has picked up another two automotive retailing industry prizes to add to its already overloaded trophy cabinet. Warwickshire-based Cross Roads scooped the ‘Best Dealership’ and ‘Best Training Programme’ accolades at the annual Automotive Management awards – one of the most important events in the motor industry calendar. Subaru UK’s industry leading Kaizen training programme was adopted, with the Cross Roads team being recognised for employing best-practice standards resulting in outstanding performance across all areas of the business. The bespoke Cross Roads’ Subaru staff training programme was also recognised for its exemplary coaching, leadership and on-thejob training. As with its award wins in previous years, the Cross Roads team saw off strong competition from many of the UK’s largest dealership groups. Cross Roads’ Dealer Principal, Jon Mathers, commented: “During 2011 we employed Subaru’s Kaizen approach to staff development which resulted in small and effective continual improvements which has helped Cross Roads
Left to right: BBC TV’s Susanna Reid, Jon Mathers, MD at Cross Roads Subaru, and Ian Simpson, The Warranty Group
achieve the highest possible customer service score at 91%. Cross Roads’ long-standing ethos of customer first and using the best staff development programme in the industry has been truly recognised with these latest awards.” Marketing Director of Subaru UK, Kenyon Neads, added: “Once again, Cross Roads Subaru has shown it has what it takes to compete with the biggest and best dealer groups in the country. This is a dealership that always puts the customer first, and is a shining example of
the high standards of service for which Subaru’s UK dealer network is renowned.” Located in Tredington, Warwickshire, Cross Roads Subaru is open from 08:30 to 18:00 Monday to Friday and 09:00 to 17:00 on Saturdays. For more information about Cross Roads Subaru and the All-Wheel Drive models available, please visit www.subaruvehicles.co.uk or contact the award-winning Cross Roads team on 0844 662 6864.
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PODIUM-PERFECT START TO TIME ATTACK SEASON FOR PRO-R RACING
Time Attack driver Ben Shimmin couldn’t have started his rookie season any better; the Subaru General Manager from Cross Roads Garage in Tredington finished his inaugural round at Cadwell Park with a string of fastest times, followed by a hard won podium finish. Shimmin was driving the Pro-R backed car, prepared by Cross Roads and TDRacing. This very same machine had been piloted to outright victory in the Club AWD Class by Cross Roads dealer principal Jon Mathers during the
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2011 season, so after a refresh over the winter, complete with a stunning new orange and white colour scheme, all eyes were on Shimmin to see if he could repeat the same level of success. Despite Cadwell Park greeting the drivers with a deluge of rain upon their arrival – which stayed for much of the day, Shimmin was quick from the get-go, showing his competitors a clean set of wet-weather Uniroyals and the time-keepers a brace of fastest laps, to top the time sheets in both the warm-up and initial practise
sessions. With a driving style and car set-up that clearly suited the prevailing conditions, Shimmin also scored well in qualifying, setting several fastest sector times during the build-up of the round. As the lights went out for the final, the track had dried significantly, which allowed many of the higherpowered cars to exploit their advantage on the more open parts of the challenging circuit. Despite this, Shimmin kept things neat and tidy, chipping away at his times, to net a third overall behind the
capable and well-pedalled Evos of Steve Peel and Marc Kemp. Commenting after the race, a clearly delighted Shimmin said ‘For my first ever event I am ecstatic to be on the podium. The team at Cross Roads and TDRacing have built a phenomenal car, and even this early in the season, it’s feeling very easy to drive. We’re a little bit down on power compared to some of these cars, but that’s no bad thing at Cadwell in the rain! My main focus now is to get my head down and focus on the task ahead at Knockhill. It would be great to try and repeat our success there!’ The Time Attack circus rolls into Knockhill on the 10th of June. Don’t miss it For more details on Pro-R, please click to www.pro-r.co.uk TRUE GRIP 9
NEWS
2012 SUBARU TOURER RANGE LEGACY REFINED Subaru’s Legacy Tourer has received a number of significant technical improvements and equipment upgrades for 2012 that will make ownership even more enjoyable, while also lowering running costs and environmental impact. The most important change for 2012 is the fitting of Subaru’s next-generation Boxer diesel engine. This Euro 5-compliant power unit features a more efficient turbocharger, new exhaust-camshaft timing and lighter connecting rods, and is mated with new oxidation catalytic converters and Diesel Particulate
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Filter (DPF). The result is an improvement (compared to the previous Boxer diesel Legacy) in fuel economy of over seven per cent, to 49.6mpg (combined), while CO2 emissions are cut by up to 7.5 per cent, to 149 g/km. Importantly, the latter drops the car’s VED band down to level F, saving customers £35 per year. All 2012 Legacy Tourer diesel models now have a CO2 rating below 160 g/km which ensures they will qualify for tax savings by the hirer (of 15 per cent) and the leasing company / business users (10 per cent) – enhancing the vehicle’s appeal to a wider audience.
The improvements in economy and emissions haven’t undermined the diesel-powered Legacy Tourer’s performance. Generating 147 ps at 3,600 rpm and 350 Nm between 1,600 and 2,400 rpm, the diesel unit powers the car from zero to 62 mph in 9.6 seconds and on to a top speed of 120 mph.
IMPROVED REFINEMENT AND COMFORT The Legacy’s six-speed manual transmission (standard fit for diesel models) has been refined to improve its fuel efficiency, shift feel and its ease of operation. Wider gear teeth, new synchromesh, lower friction bearings and low-viscosity transmission oil combine to deliver improved performance and refinement, while also helping to maximise the improvements made to the diesel engine. Suspension modifications for all 2012 Legacy models include new bushes for the front anti-roll stabiliser bar mounts to improve ride comfort, new pressed upper rear suspension arms to reduce weight (saving 2 kg per car), and new pillow-ball bushes in the rear wishbones to reduce friction and provide a smoother ride. With the introduction of the 2012 models, the Legacy Tourer line-up in the UK offers buyers a choice of five versions with a diesel or petrol engine and three trim levels – depending on model. New Legacy Tourer prices start at £26,865 (OTR) and cover a £4,510 range.
Each model is so comprehensively equipped that the only factory-fitted option will be special paint finishes, priced at £500.
ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT ENHANCES VALUE FOR MONEY Exterior changes are limited to new, aerodynamically smoother door mirrors, a higher-resolution rear view camera (SE NavPlus only) and the availability of a fresh new colour – Ice Silver Metallic. Inside, the 2012 Legacy sports a single-CD unit featuring a large LCD display screen together with USB and iPod connectivity and steering wheel-mounted controls. On diesel models (with manual transmission) the instrument cluster now has a ‘shift-up’ indicator to encourage an economical driving style. The 2012 Legacy is comprehensively equipped and all models feature cruise control, a glass ‘tilt-n-slide’ sunroof, dual-zone fully automatic air-conditioning, a premium audio system with six speakers (including two tweeters), automatic lights and wipers and a powered driver’s seat. A Bluetooth® hands-free system with voice activation is fitted as standard, while all but the S model are trimmed in black leather. Models with Lineartronic transmission feature steering wheel mounted paddle-shifters as standard. SE and SE NavPlus models now feature a ‘Sports Package’ which comprises a sports front bumper and front grille, dark tinted headlamps, larger 18-inch alloy wheels and special Bilstein dampers. SE NavPlus models also feature a new DVD navigation system as standard, with a high-resolution eight-inch display for optimum clarity. In the UK, the 2012 Legacy is available in a selection of six exterior body colours – one new colour (Ice Silver Metallic) – alongside five popular carry-over colours, Satin White, Galaxy Blue Silica, Crystal Black Silica, Graphite Grey Metallic and Camellia Red Pearl.
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VF-RACING AT
CADWELL PARK BRSCC EURO SALOON CLASSIC CHAMPIONSHIP ROUNDS 3&4
PRE RACE: Following the car’s first outing of the season some 6 weeks ago on the GP circuit at Silverstone, the team prepared for the trip to Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire and the search for better results. Towards the end of the team’s first race at Silverstone, the car began to loose power and limped across the line in 4th place after a battle with Barry Squibb and his Evo 9. The engine was removed from the car, and the cylinder heads were removed. From here on in it was obvious that the car had severely overheated. The head gasket on one bank had blown right through, while the other was not far behind...One scrap engine! Not only would another new engine be required, but some more work around the cooling was in order in order to stop this happening again. Some time spent on the dyno at Scoobyclinic got everything working as it should, and pumping out some big numbers so with everything back together, a test session on the Saturday before the race was booked to allow the car to be checked over. Everything looked to be working as it should, with no obvious signs of anything untoward, and early indications showed that we were already quicker than our times from 2011. RACE DAY: With dry and warm weather expected all day, the slick tyres remained in place, with the pressures set accordingly. The car was left with the same set up we had run in testing, as both tyre wear and temperatures showed that we had got this well sorted. TRUE GRIP 12
As the qualifying session unfolded, Vaughan was able to push on, and was visibly quicker than others in his class. Lap after lap the times dropped steadily - getting into the 1.33’s was a massive improvement since our last visit and a great reward for all the work carried out. Not everything in the garden was rosy though, as the Impreza failed to complete qualifying, which caused concern for the whole team. Despite not going the full distance, Vaughan had still done enough to place 2nd on the grid. The car was returned to the paddock where it was found that all electrics had been lost and the car had just died out on the circuit... ROUND 1: With the car not able to start, meant that the first race would be watched from the sidelines. With about 4 hours until race 2, a call from Kev at Scoobyclinic lifted team spirits and gave us hope of joining the grid later in the day. With the car jacked up the issue was all too apparent - the thermal wrap on the headers had
caught fire and the resulting heat had melted a large part of the wiring loom. With the wiring repared, and the next to last fuse installed, it was fingers crossed to see if a miracle had been performed.
driver was gradually picked off - seeing Vaughan climb the leader board - much to the delight of the commentators and the crowds.
With minutes to spare, Vaughan donned his race suit and headed to the assembly area, where he took up his position at the back of the grid.
With only Robinson ahead, it was still all to play for, although time was against us meaning a challenge for 1st place was not possible. With arguably the drive of the day, Fletcher crossed the line in 2nd place.
ROUND 2:
Finished: 2nd in class | 2nd overall | Fastest lap: 1.33.5
With the out lap complete, and the course car safely off track, the lights went out and the grid roared across the start/finish line and headed for the first corner of Coppice. Andy Robinson and his Ford Falcon lead the pack with a train of cars behind him. Already rocketing through the pack, Vaughan had taken 6 places before Coppice and was already beginning to close on those ahead. Unfortunately a red flag incident on the first lap meant Vaughan was returned the back of the grid for the restart. All that work in the first lap, and he was left to do it all again. With speed and skill, each TRUE GRIP 13
BOLT OUT OF THE BLUE IMAGES Stu Mason
With its eagerly awaited arrival in UK showrooms in the summer and off the back of Subaru UK announcing highly competitive prices and a choice of two model variants for their new BRZ, we took the opportunity to take an in-depth look around what is expected to be one of the most exciting new cars realised in 2012.
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To recap for anyone who’s been hiding in a cave in the wilds of Mongolia for the past 6 months, the Subaru BRZ is the result of a joint venture between Subaru and Toyota. Toyota did the planning and design (although not all) whilst Subaru did the engineering and will build both versions at their Gunma plant in Japan. The BRZ has already been acclaimed for delivering a driving experience unseen since the launch of Mazda’s MX-5 in 1989 mostly thanks to its light weight, low centre of gravity, superb rear-wheel-drive chassis balance, and surprisingly high-revving 2.0L Boxer engine. With only 3 BRZs in the country and absolutely no budget to fly to Japan to test drive one on track, we were extremely pleased [giddy, over-excited and bouncing up and down with glee is probably more accurate] when faced with the offer of intercepting the only publiclyviewable BRZ in the UK - en route to a dealer open day in order to have a good old nose around!
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The BRZ will initially be offered from launch in two model variants: 2.0i SE, and 2.0i SE Lux with a choice of a six-speed manual or, for £1,500 more, a six-speed automatic with flappy paddle things. A more basic S model is anticipated for launch in 2013 (hopefully it’ll be the ‘RA’ model everyone’s been getting excited about!).
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We were lucky enough to get a nosey around the SE Lux which on the face of it, seems not only well built, but surprisingly well equipped too - especially for the price! Both the SE and SE Lux will come equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels, torque-sensing limited slip differential and fully automatic air conditioning with dual-zone controls.
The SE and SE Lux also feature electrically-folding door mirrors with heaters; keyless Smart Entry with push-button engine start; leather-trimmed steering wheel, parking brake and gearshift lever; and a high-quality six-speaker audio system with CD, radio and iPod connectivity. In addition to all these features, the SE Lux also has heated leather seats which are, by comparison to my gargantuan blobeye seats, absolutely divine -
offering an incredibly comfortable driving position. Six bodywork colours will be available: Satin White Pearl, Sterling Silver Metallic, Dark Grey Metallic, Crystal Black Silica, San Remo Red, and, as pictured, WR Blue Mica which in the flesh seems far deeper and richer in tone than it has traditionally. There are just two optional extras on the BRZ: Pioneer satellite navigation (£1,000) and special paint finishes (£500) which is reassuringly straightforward - especially by comparison my recent attempts to help a friend in selecting a new ‘horrible little thing with a blue oval badge’ [yes, I can still taste the bile now!] In a recent press release, Marketing Director of Subaru UK, Kenyon Neads, commented: “There is huge interest in the Subaru BRZ, heightened by very positive press reviews of the car so far. Early demand is strong so we fully expect that some early customers will have to wait some months for delivery, especially during 2012, but we have no doubt they will agree it will be worth the wait.” On that note, we’ll need a real road test of the BRZ to see if this car really does merit the “zenith” that represents the Z that makes up its name [Again, for those that have been hiding in a cave, BRZ MORE TRUE GRIP 17
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stands for Boxer, Rear-wheel drive, Zenith] but based on what we’ve seen so far, if it drives half as good as it looks, Subaru really are onto something VERY special indeed! As with all new Subaru purchases, BRZ buyers will be entitled to Subaru’s unique Everything Taken Care of (ETCo) aftercare package. Subaru ETCo covers minor dent and scratch repairs, alloy wheel repairs, monthly wash, annual valet, lost keys replacement, service collection and delivery, annual wheel alignment check, first MOT cover, and winter wheel & tyre storage, as well as providing an accident management service and a contribution to insurance cover excess. Subaru ETCo is offered in addition to Subaru’s threeyear / 60,000-mile manufacturer warranty. TRUE GRIP 20
SUBARU BRZ RANGE: Model
Price CO2
2.0i SE manual
£24,995
181
2.0i SE automatic
£26,495
164
2.0i SE Lux manual
£26,495
181
2.0i SE Lux automatic £27,995
164
Subaru BRZ specification in detail: Standard features for SE and SE Lux models: 17-inch alloy wheels 16-inch front brake discs Torque-sensing limited slip differential Cruise control Paddle shift-operation for automatic transmission Fully-automatic dual-zone airconditioning Six-speaker audio system with iPod connectivity Front fog lamps Electrically folding and coloured door mirror with heater Smart Entry and pushbutton engine start Leather-wrapped steering wheel, parking brake lever, gear shift lever Unique to SE Lux model: Leather seats, with heating
Huge thanks to Unity Automotive (http://unitysubaru.co.uk) for allowing us to bully them into having an early look and also to Grange Farm for the use of their wonderful facilities (http://grange-farm.co.uk)
For more information about the BRZ or the rest of the Subaru model range, visit www.subaru.co.uk/brz
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MINUTES OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF SIDC
SATURDAY 5TH MAY 2012
The Golf Hotel, Woodhall Spa
SPONSORS: JC Welding & Fabrication
COMMITTEE ATTENDEES
MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE
Kim French
Alastair Brady, Emma Smith, Don Clark
(Chairwoman & Webmaster)
Angus Duncan (Vice Chairman)
Barry McGowan
(Treasurer & Lanarkshire RO)
Glyn McCrickard
(Secretary & Tayside RO)
Stu Mason (True Grip Editor) Rachel Keir (True Grip Deputy Editor & Midlands RO)
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APOLOGIES Phil Stephens
(Events Organiser – England)
John Stewart
(Event Organiser – Scotland)
01
02
WELCOME
CHAIRWOMAN’S REPORT
Kim French opened the meeting and welcomed all in attendance – especially those who had travelled considerable distances to do so – and by thanking the sponsors.
MATTERS ARISING FROM 2011 AGM MINUTES Angus Duncan read the 2011 AGM minutes and these were agreed by those in attendance. There were no matters arising other than as discussed hereafter.
ELECTION OF COMMITTEE 2012-2013 Chair – Kim French
(Proposed: Alastair Brady Seconded: Don Clark)
Vice Chair – Gus Duncan (Proposed: Kim French Seconded: Glyn McCrickard)
Treasurer – Barry McGowan (Proposed: Kim French Seconded: Gus Duncan)
Secretary – Glyn McCrickard (Proposed: Alastair Brady, Seconded Stu Mason)
Although they are non-elected committee roles, all in attendance were happy that that Stu Mason and Rachel Keir continue as True Grip Editor and Deputy Editor respectively.
Kim French gave her perspective on the Committee’s year. Kim had succeeded Robert Allan during the course of the year when Robert had to relinquish his role due to external commitments. Kim had been the only other candidate for the role of Chair at the previous election and the committee had felt her succession was both appropriate and in the Club’s best interests. Kim said she looked back on the 2011-2012 session with a sense of pride in what the committee and the Club had achieved, making special mention of the “Newquay Invasion” event and the worldwide publicity enjoyed by the Club as a result. She also highlighted other successes: the addition of the popular “Anything Goes” Members subforum; improved communication and e-mailshots regarding Club news; and maintaining positive working relations with Subaru UK.
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REBRANDING & PLANS FOR 2012 ON Kim went on to say that there was much scope for further improvements, especially with the Club website and that this would be a particular area of focus for the 2012-13 session
TREASURER’S REPORT Barry McGowan presented the Club accounts. As per the 2011 minutes, quarterly updates and the Treasurer’s formal report were (and will continue to be) posted in the Members section of the forum. The entire Club’s outstanding debt accrued prior to November 2010 was cleared and further expenditure minimised by the end of Q2. As such, during the year to the 2012 AGM, the Club’s net worth had risen to a healthy £8434, an increase of some £12,000, leaving tremendous scope for reinvestment in the Club in the year to come (see Rebranding).
SECRETARY’S REPORT Glyn McCrickard then gave a report on membership status noting a steady rise in membership levels throughout 2011. These appear to have been boosted by the previous reduction in Membership fee to £20, but having peaked around 600 in Dec 2011 at just over 600 had actually declined slightly in Q1 of 2012. It was suggested that this was partly due to ongoing global financial downturn (as a result of which, other clubs, notably WR1OC have actually folded) and partly due to potentially renewals awaiting details of the Club rebrand.
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Partly in response to declining membership levels, but more-so in response to changes in Subaru’s model line-up (notably the addition of the BRZ and the phase-out of Impreza), it was felt by the committee that making the club more accessible to ALL Subaru models was vital to modernise and expand, especially in an ongoing financial downturn. Stu Mason outlined a variety of changes that will see the forums, homepage, merchandise and shop take on a fresh corporate image along with much better integration and easier navigation with the current forum format considerably simplified and streamlined. In particular, it had been decided to replace “Impreza” in the club’s current name with “International” to maintain the SIDC acronym and the strong identity this has accrued over the years. With members across the UK and now several in Europe, “International” was felt to be the most dynamic alternative. Glyn McCrickard noted concerns about this on the forum, especially with regard to other marque-specific forums not making similar changes. He responded that SIDC has always been about inclusion and having “something for everyone” rather than specialising in technical issues or purely social interaction, and that such specialised forums had tendency to suffer more with any drops in membership. He went on to say that responding to all these changes was essential and
that the name change – as part of the wider rebrand – was felt by the committee to be the best way forward. Stu Mason commented that the rebrand was an enormous project and would take time to be rolled out, starting with the forum, but EVENTUALLY including shop, merchandise and membership packs etc. The committee had agreed that existing members would all receive new car stickers free of charge when these became available, but that there would inevitably be a degree of overlap with the “old” versions. Publicity was also seen as an important part of encouraging new members, and Stu discussed options for integrating social media with the new forum eg: given the Club’s significant presence on Facebook. These avenues were to be explored. Furthermore it was announced that the committee was in the process of procuring a range of new rebranded show equipment to give a professional, high impact presence to club stands at major shows. The broad geographical demographic of the club means that rolling this out across the country poses the usual logistic problems, but in time (and with the Club’s strong financial position) the equipment would hopefully become more widely available. Glyn McCrickard once again highlighted the need for more ROs to come forward, especially in England and Wales as noted at the previous AGM to help grow the club (Inter)nationally.
04
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
03
CLUB RULES UPDATE
In line with the rest of the rebrand, Glyn McCrickard proposed changes to the Club rules. As a member club of the MSA, it is a requirement that the rules conform to MSA specifications to protect Members’ interests. The existing club rules are a “suggested” generic set issued by the MSA as a starting point, but Glyn noted that – with the rebrand – we would require to modify the Club name in the rules as a minimum and that this was a good opportunity to modernise and personalise the remainder to SIDC. The essence of the MSA ruleset would be maintained for simplicity and Glyn proposed to post the SIDC-specific version in the Members area for approval prior to submission to the MSA on the proviso that redrafting may be required to meet their criteria.
Public liability insurance (in respect of additional cover currently paid to permit non-members to get on Club stands at shows etc) was discussed. This has been paid for the current session and it was agreed that it should be used while we have it. However, MSA affiliation provides PLI for Members (only) at such events and it was agreed that the need for extra cover be reviewed at renewal, with a view to dropping it. This would mean Members only on Club stands thereafter, preserving this as a minor membership perk. Resumption of SIDC trips to rallies (and other motorsport events) was discussed. These appear to have fizzled out following Subaru’s WRC withdrawal but it was felt there is an appetite within the club to restart them. It was recognised that certain Members seem to regularly attend these events and iIt was agreed that they be approached as points of contact to raise the events’ profiles and make them more accessible to the rest of the Membership. The committee would therefore be looking for someone (or several) to resume the role of WRC coordinator, but broaden the role to include other motorsport events.
05
FINAL REMARKS
There being no further business, Kim French thanked the Sponsors and all in attendance and closed the meeting.
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SIDC
KAMES
TRACK DAY MARCH 2012
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The Club held its first sprint track day of the year at Ayrshire’s Kames Circuit in the small village of Muirkirk. A lovely, sunny day greeted the morning participants as they arrived, signed on and had a driver’s briefing. One final hurdle before hitting the track, new for 2012 at Kames, is a noise limit of 105db. This is a static test and none of the cars came close to that. Helmets on and off we go… Numbers on the day were lower than anticipated, a sign of the economic times, never the less, a fast moving queue quickly formed as drivers waited their turn. The weather stayed sunny all day although temps were on the rather cool side. Good for the cars, bad for the sunburn.
If you’ve never been to Kames have a look at their website www.eastayrshirecc.co.uk - it’s a short tarmac sprint track which has various configurations within it’s layout and can be run in any direction the participant chooses. We run four laps at a time, including in and out laps, which means short waiting times, plenty of turns and your car doesn’t get a hard a time! It’s a comparatively slow and safe environment to explore your own and your car’s capabilities without the intimidation of other potentially faster cars. There were several newbies on the day, some having their first taste of ‘track’ driving and, from the look on their faces, they had a ball. In fact some have already rebooked
for June’s event. If you live close enough, come along and have a look, or better still, book a slot and have a play in your Subaru (or any make of car for that matter).
THE WEATHER STAYED SUNNY ALL DAY ALTHOUGH TEMPS WERE ON THE RATHER COOL SIDE. GOOD FOR THE CARS, BAD FOR THE SUNBURN. Pictures courtesy of SIDC member and participant at Kames: Davie Hatrick aka corsa on the forum.
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READ ERS’ RIDE TAFFY’S 95 TYPE RA ...HANNIBAL
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This is my 1995 WRX Type RA in the rare red. It was imported in ‘02 and spent its life down south. I bought it before Christmas ‘11 with most of the mods already done - these are a TD05 turbo, front mounted intercooler with water spray (being the RA it has the 5th injector on the top of the manifold too), decatted with a stright-through 3in stainless exhaust and remap. Hopefully I’ll get a new dyno print out by end of June. Since I’ve had it I’ve put in a new clutch kit, new crank and cam seals along with new belt and pulleys, full service, new tyres, took out the air con pump and radiator to lighten the standard 1100kg kerb weight even more. Rough figures at the moment are 0-60 3.5 to 4 sec, bhp sitting just over 300bhp. The reason for the hannibal name is thanks to my wife as when we were driving through a town and its on low boost and only dumps small air then she says it sounds like hannibal lector after he “ate him with a bottle of ciantti... fff fff ffffff”. Every time I’m driving in the town thats the image I keep getting until it dumps when you give it a bit of welly lol.. I have a small few bits to finish on the kit and that should be it. One of the best cars I have ever owned and one of the few that I call a real drivers car as it make you want to go out for a spin just for the heck of it and no matter what mood you’re in when you set off, you will always come back smiling - and there’s not many cars that can do that now. Taffy
STi UK/Euro spec. £25K+ spent on modifications since it was bought new by me from Iain Litchfield Imports in NOVEMBER 2008 (58 plate). Engine, suspension and brakes all upgraded by the best tuners in the Country. This is the very top model (Euro Premium Spec) which comes with DVD touch screen UK/Europe sat-nav, Recaro leather Bucket Seats, electric folding wing mirrors, HIDs, tints, keyless entry and button start, CD/DVD, climate control, cruise control, hill start assist, variable centre diff etc etc. Basically the same specification as the 330S, so not many with this full spec about. Plus now with far superior handling, braking and power than the “Cosworth Impreza”. The 400BHP Cosworth does 0-60 in 3.7s, so even at only 460/460, this should do it in 3.5s, possibly less. Designed/mapped as a reliable very quick, effortless (460ft-lbs torque) road car. 460 BHP at only 1.3 bar on V power. With a simple remap will produce over 500/500 if required. ENGINE SPEC. 2.5 litre (Top spec engine built by Enginetuner, Plymouth, finished end of July 2010) COSWORTH parts: 9.2:1 pistons, rods, race bearings, head gaskets, 14mm head studs, Kevlar cam belt, sump baffle plate, high pressure oil pump, front mounted intercooler. RIC WOOD CNC machined and hand finished flow-tested heads (cost £1200).
STANS 2008 STI HATCH
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LITCHFIELD Twin scroll LM480 ceramic coated turbo. 800cc injectors. Litchfield cold air induction kit with high flow filter and improved ducting to the filter, also side vent ducting improved for better engine bay ventilation. RCM Equal length twin scroll headers and up-pipe. BOSCH 044 Secondary fuel pump and swirl pot. MOCAL Catch tank, 44 row oil cooler ducted from bonnet scoop SFS 60mm intake hose. PERRIN Parallel feed billet fuel rails. TURBOSMART Solenoid. MILTEK 3” “Turbo back” exhaust. H & S centre silencer so it complies with track day noise limits (88dB static test). Group N engine mounts (required for 450BHP+), New AP Uprated organic clutch. DCCD - driver controlled centre diff to allow choice of power split between front and rear wheels. 6 speed box will take 600+ BHP. 3 switchable fuel maps SUSPENSION/STEERING SPEC: Uprated front strut brace, undercarriage brace. AST Sportline 2 Coilover 12-way adjustable suspension all round with ride height adjustment, AST adjustable front top mounts allowing increased Castor angle and wheel base.
Whiteline parts: antilift/castor bush kit, steering bush kit, front and rear anti-roll bars, rear subframe inserts. Latest Litchfield “Type 25” laser geometry settings and suspension spec. JDM “quick” steering rack, re-valved steering pump (for better feel/weight) WHEEL, TYRE, BRAKE SPECS: Speedline Lightweight 18 x 8.5 silver rims with 2 new and 2 nearly new Michelin PS2 tyres. Massive Alcon 6 pots 366mm front brakes, Alcon 4 pot 343mm rear brakes for the hardest track use. INSTRUMENTATION/MONITORING HKS Camp 2 monitoring system, displayed through the DVD screen (cost £1000). COSMETIC etc: Fog lights , Red Maserati style rear light option, fold down cargo tray, F+R carpet mats, F+R rubber mats, STi mesh front grille, front STi lip spoiler, F+R mudflaps. Subaru Sat-Nav/DVD touch-screen.
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I’ve owned this car since October 2009 and loved every minute of driving it. Upgrades that I have made are: Brakes: Godspeed Grooved vented front discs EBC Orangestuff Front pads Braided brake hoses all round Motul 5.1 DOT brake fluid Suspension: Prodrive lowering springs Whiteline 24mm Rear anti roll bar CDF Racing solid rear drop links Engine & Exhaust: Cosworth panel filter NGK PFRB7 spark plugs Walbro 255 fuel pump STI up pipe DEI wrapped 3” Bellmouth decatted downpipe DEI part wrapped Afterburner centre section Prodrive backbox Remapped by FB Tuning It’s now running 262bhp and 290lb/ft torque following the re-map, and pulls a lot stronger in the higher gears.
JAMIE’S 2003 WRX SIDC READER RIDES
WANT A FEATURE? Just send 4/5 high-resolution images and a brief spec of your ride to truegrip@sidc.co.uk
TIME ATTACK 2012 ROUND ONE
CADWELL PARK LEE BULLEN - FASTEST OHW & FASTEST IMPREZA
After Lee Bullen set the fastest Impreza time of the day at Round One of the 2012 Time Attack Series, SIDC’s John S caught up with him to present the round’s Fastest Impreza Award which is one again, supported by SIDC... In response, Lee said: “I just wanted to add my thanks for the award, I am really chuffed to receive this recognition from you and your team. The event was a big day for me and the planning started in the middle of 2011, the day before the event it was nearly game over when I was travelling to Cadwell, I have been having issues with my AP calliper pins staying in place, so I bought a new set and fitted them the week leading up to Time Attack. TRUE GRIP 32
On the Wednesday I was swapping my wheels around after scrubbing in a set of Toyo R888s and noticed the pins were coming out again!! So I decided to take my old pins to work and have them drilled, I thought I would fit the old pins at Cadwell and lock wire them. On the M62 whilst travelling to Cadwell I heard some rather large stones rattling in my front wheel arch, it happened a further two times which had me concerned? I pulled over at a service station and checked my wheel nuts which were ok, I then noticed my brake pads were coming out of the calliper and touching the wheel rim!! Thank god I had my spare set of pins with me and all the tools required to fit them
and lock wire them whilst I was parked in a truck stop!! On the Saturday the big day was here!! I went for a few laps in warm up and noticed three cars coming off the damp track, obviously the track was slippery and it was only warm up so I just took it easy, when the practice session came it was raining quite heavy and it was declared a wet session, this meant you had to use MSA list 1A tyres, I never had any with me so I sat this session out, thankfully when qualifying came around the track was almost dry, I knew I had to put a quick lap in to make sure I made the final, so I went out following another car, put a quickish lap in followed by another ok lap, I was
may be an issue with cylinder 4, so until its repaired I am out of the rounds coming up, I will definitely be missing the next round at Knockhill, this is a shame because I was hoping to have a good show at this track, I have never been there before but I like the look of the track from videos I have seen.
sure this would get me in the final so sat the rest of the session out trying to conserve the tyres I had for the final. When the final came round I wound the car up to 2bar, put the diffs in manual, dropped the tyre pressures by 3.5 psi and went out early to get a quick lap in. To my surprise the car is so much quicker at 2bar compared to 1.8bar that I had to almost learn the track again, I found myself selecting 6th gear on the back straight were previously I was only using 5th. The right hander following the mountain I nearly lost the car when the back end swung around on hard acceleration, the 2bar map is so much more aggressive, I decided to
up the diff manual selection from 1st green setting up to the 2nd orange setting. I put two quick laps in which were both 1;38 and then had two cooling down laps, tried a hot lap but this was scrubbed when I caught up with traffic, I went for a quick lap again and then managed the 1;37 lap which I am more than happy with. Unfortunately when crossing the start/finish line flat in 5th the car cut out, so I coasted to a stop at a marshals post... obviously concerned!!! Thankfully the car started up, so I drove it back to the pits and still managed to drive it home to Preston. The car is now with Steven Darley having the engine checked over, we think there
Whilst I was watching the trophies being presented I learnt that I was the quickest OHW (One Hit Wonder) of the day, my name was called out and I was presented with a trophy!! I have been watching TA for 4 years, I have been building up to this point of trying to be competitive, now to receive a trophy from TA it really makes all the hard work, effort and costs feel worth while. To now also be recognised by the SIDC it really tops off a fantastic weekend, it really does feel great to be given this award. I am just hoping now that the car can be fixed, we can get back out and learn a few more circuits this year, I believe that my car is now at a good level for Club at TA, I am hoping that if I can continue to improve as a driver whilst learning other circuits that I will be ready to put in a good challenge for the full championship in 2013.” We’ve no doubt we’ll be seeing more of Lee and his STi throughout the season - congratulations! TRUE GRIP 33
NOTES FROM THE OLD FOSSE WAY...
MUSING ON LIFE AND ALL THINGS SUBARU FROM THOSE IN THE KNOW
I’ll kick-off with a huge thank you to all who supported our BRZ Coupe preview and Impreza gathering on Sunday 22nd April. With a turnout of around 120 people we had a great turnout, with some really interesting Imprezas present too! Reception to the BRZ was just incredible, and thanks to all who were so positive about this great new addition to the range. Although clearly not an Impreza nor a car necessarily aimed to tempt STi buyers away, the BRZ is a different market sector for us. We are dipping our toes into different water with this car so it’s great that its gone down so well so early!
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Theres no denying it looks fantastic in the flesh. Not one person I spoke to didn’t like what they saw - there was of course the usual enquires as to when an STi version will debut - well, watch this space as it is coming but I’ll have to update you as and when I hear news. Please register your interest with me at elliott@subaruvehicles.co.uk and I’ll keep you in the loop.
In the meantime, the order books are open for the BRZ - we are actively taking deposits now and are keen to satisfy as many orders for the first batch of cars if possible. We will be facing very short supply on this car, so if you fancy one, please do get in touch. We are the first dealers to get our hands on the car, and feel very privileged indeed to be so. Sadly, we were not allowed to drive the car on the road as it was brand new - one of the only ones in the country and unregistered. We will have a demonstrator in due course, but I can almost guarantee you’ll like the noise it makes and the way it feels [Seconded - Stu]
during the event, and you can bet your bottom dollar there wont be many motorways involved either! So, 4 chaps in a tired Impreza GL, finished in differing shades and textures of silver, having had the absolute minimum of ‘prep’ for the event... it might be quite interesting
donation if you can. Please also follow us on Twitter and Facebook for regular updates for what has happened to us or the car... it promises to be an epic trip, there will be adventures, high moments, low moments, embarrassing T-Shirts, much humiliation and
NOT ONE PERSON I SPOKE TO DIDN’T LIKE WHAT THEY SAW - THERE WERE OF COURSE THE USUAL ENQUIRES AS TO WHEN AN STI VERSION WILL DEBUT - WELL, WATCH THIS SPACE AS IT IS COMING...
You’ll also notice the little 1967 Subaru 360. This was recently purchased by Subaru UK as a show exhibit to give those who dont know Subaru a taste of the heritage behind the brand. This is a very rare little car with a 360cc 2 stroke engine & 4 speed gearbox, suicide doors... could be interesting on its crossply tyres with that rear camber! As you can see, you can just about get 4 big fellas in it! Now, heres some news... Cross Roads Garage are taking part in the Scally Rally 2012. From June 29thJuly 2nd, Myself, Jon Mathers, Ben Shimmin, & Ian Armstrong from our sister dealership in Peterborough will be driving £250 worth of Subaru Impreza 2.0GL 5 Door from Mid Wales to Ben Nevis in Scotland. Sounds simple enough...but it wont be quite that easy... we will be undertaking various challenges
to say the least! We are supporting the Richard Burns foundation for this event and I would be delighted if you can spare a couple of pounds for this worthwhile cause that is close to our hearts, please visit www.justgiving.com/ crossroadsgarage to make a
everything you can realistically expect from a road trip adventure... please visit www.subaruvehicles. co.uk for more info on the car and to meet the team. In the meantime, I hope to see you all for our next Impreza gathering in Summer 2012! TRUE GRIP 35
ONE VISION BY ROB HARRIS
CHRIS AND ROSIE BUCKLER’S IMPREZA WR1, A WELL-KNOWN CAR ON THE SCOOBY SCENE AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS “ROSY B” HAS JUST EMERGED FROM ITS LATEST METAMORPHOSIS.
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Back in 2005, this car appeared in Japanese Performance Car, when it was proclaimed as the most powerful WR1 in the United Kingdom. Time marches on, and whilst other examples of the limited-edition model have reached dizzying heights of power outputs, Chris’s machine remains one of the finest all-round cars in the country. Chris and Rosie have owned the car from new, having placed an order on the day the WR1 was unveiled at the Autosport International show in January of 2004. “We’d seen the car on the Crossroads stand, and the salesman had
explained how special this car was going to be, but we still weren’t sure about spending that much money” Chris told me. The lure of what was at the time the “ultimate” UK-specification Impreza was too strong however, and Chris and his wife Rosemary returned to the stand later in the day, secured a cracking deal on the trade-in of their existing 2003-model Impreza STI, and signed on the dotted line. Chris consulted Matt Clark at Roger Clark Motorsport and their joint vision was one of a car which looked unmodified both inside and outside, retained all of its everyday usability, but was an absolute monster of a car beneath the skin. “We wanted to keep it subtle, but end up with the perfect combination of power, performance and practicality” says Chris. To the untrained eye, the car looks factory-standard. Those in the know however will notice the bright red callipers of the larger AP Racing brakes all round, the front splitter, and possibly the lower, squatter stance. Other than those subtle changes, the aesthetics of the car are all standard WR1 fare. Instead of taking a piecemeal approach to modifying the car, Chris and RCM dreamt up their ideal engine specification, and executed the plan in one fell swoop. “We had a definite goal in mind and knew where we were aiming, so there was no point in doing the job bit-bybit - changing the air filter one month, the exhaust the next, then the turbo, for example”
Chris commented. The EJ20 semi-closed deck block was taken apart, and rebuilt with up rated main and big-end bearings, RCM Arrow H-beam conrods and rod bolts, and RCM Omega high compression forged pistons. The cylinder heads have been gas-flowed, polished and ported to RCM’s specification, and are fitted with RCM stainless steel Nimonic one-piece exhaust valves, RCM inlet valves, and then bolted back down to the block with 14mm RCM head studs over a triple layer metal head gasket.
“noise police”, without overly restricting the exhaust flow.
The strengthened engine breathes through an APS front-mounted intercooler with water-spray, and a huge RCM induction kit. The turbo was changed to an RCM450 hybrid turbo fitted in the stock position, with the spent gasses being expelled through a full RCM stainless steel exhaust system of 3” diameter. A central silencer along with the back box helped keep things nicely understated and avoid the attention of the
after it was finished, we were blown away by how quick it was! Rosie loves the speed, and her face just lit up when I hit the throttle and we were pinned back in the seat by the acceleration!”
The fuel system from the STI Spec-C has been fitted, comprising an RCM anti-surge tank with a Bosch Motorsport 10-bar fuel pump, with the flow being controlled by an SX fuel pressure regulator before being squirted in to the cylinders by a set of 800cc Power Enterprise injectors. Controlling the whole affair is a MoTeC M800 Pro ECU, resulting in a power output of approximately 480bhp and 430lb/ft. “The first time myself and Rosie went out in the car
With the engine well and truly sorted, attention then turned to the less headline-grabbing areas of the suspension, brakes and drivetrain. The clutch had already been upgraded to an AP Racing item, mated to an
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RCM super-lightweight flywheel, but by using some blagging skills that Delboy Trotter himself would have been proud of, Chris managed to secure himself the very first carbon propshaft made by CTG for an Impreza. “Matt and Olly were so impressed with the quality of this, that they then secured a deal with CTG to sell the propshafts themselves.” Other “firsts” on the car include the exe-tc Fast Road adjustable dampers, which were the first set of galvanised steel units made, and the rear AP Racing brakes, again the very first set made for this version of Impreza. The front brakes are also by AP Racing, the 355mm discs and 6 pot callipers providing immense levels of fade-free braking. Complimenting the exe-tc dampers are 22mm diameter front and rear anti-roll bars with up rated mounts and drop links, front and rear strut braces, and a full set of STI chassis components including up rated front castor block and bushes, and rose-jointed track rods, lateral links and trailing links, all supplied by RCM. Using rose joints, the common TRUE GRIP 38
name for spherical rod bearings, removes the play associated with the OEM rubber joints, and provides much crisper steering response and sharper handling, although occasionally to the detriment of the ride quality and increased levels of road noise and vibration. “I’ve found it easy to live with though” says Chris. “The steering is pin-sharp now, you just need to nudge the steering wheel, and the car turns in immediately and you’re around the corner before you know it!” The only changes within the cabin are a trio of Defi gauges mounted in an RCM dash-top pod, with the control unit tucked away out of side in the glove box, a further oil pressure gauge mounted on the A-pillar, and a trick Pioneer CD/ radio/DVD/MP3/satnav in-car entertainment system. Chris and Rosie are fully immersed in the Subaru scene, and are active members of the SIDC, WR1 Owners Club, and numerous other Imprezaorientated clubs and forums. “For us, owning a car like this brings the added benefit of a great social
scene. Because of this car, we now have friends from one end of the country to the other, and have met loads of great people” they both commented. The car is only used for nice weekend blasts around their local country lanes, and for
“THE STEERING IS PINSHARP NOW, YOU JUST NEED TO NUDGE THE STEERING WHEEL, AND THE CAR TURNS IN IMMEDIATELY AND YOU’RE AROUND THE CORNER BEFORE YOU KNOW IT!” attending shows and events around the country – Chris admits he’s only driven it in the wet three times in its life! - but the couple still thoroughly enjoy each and every drive. Despite having created a truly superb all-round performance car, both Chris and RCM knew there
was more potential lurking under the WR1’s bonnet. RCM had been developing their “twisted turbo” set-up, which changes the position and angle of the turbo. This creates room for much larger blowers than could be accommodated in the stock position with the standard up-pipe and downpipe. Chris’s car has recently been the recipient of the first example, fitted with a new RCM “billet” version of the GTX35 turbo. The turbine blades are machined from solid billets of aluminium and are both lighter and stronger, with a larger blade area thanks to a smaller central core area. This results in a quicker spool-up and greater power outputs as higher levels of boost can be safely achieved. The inlet manifold from the STI Spec-C has been fitted, after having any superfluous lugs and protrusions machined off as part of a new refurbishing process RCM can provide, and refinished with an RCM red “matchbox” heatresistant finish. A new custom intercooler pipe with a red powder coated finish has been fabricated by RCM, and has served as the prototype pattern for a further production run of additional copies. The rest of the exhaust system has had a black heat-resistant ceramic finish applied. “White is a cheaper and more common colour for the ceramic coating, and at first it gives a proper motorsport look to the exhaust, but it gets dirty far too quickly for my liking” reckoned Chris. TRUE GRIP 39
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Continuing the “first of many” theme are the new RCM parallel fuel rails. Chris had wanted to fit them in place of the standard “series” fuel rail, to provide an even supply of fuel to both banks of cylinders, and to avoid any possible issues with reduced fuel pressure at the last injector in the line. Unfortunately, none were available at the time, so RCM designed and commissioned the machining of their own parallel fuel rails. Two months later, the new rails arrived. “They looked great, with a gold anodised finish and the machinedin RCM script, but Matt wasn’t 100% satisfied with how they fitted” says Chris. A second set was duly fabricated, which then met with the approval of the master engine builder. The rails are fed with their dose of 99-Octane Shell V-power by braided steel fuel lines, wrapped with Nomex shrouds to reduce heat soak.
Matt had originally fitted 800cc injectors but found that they weren’t adequate for the job, so replaced them with 1000cc injectors instead. After some tweaks to the mapping by Paul Blamire of Zen Performance, the final power figure is approximately 600bhp and Chris is safe in the knowledge that this increase in power won’t have come at the expense of any engine responsiveness or driveability. “Paul is a great mapper after all, he really knows his stuff and deserves his reputation” he said. The creation of one owners’ vision of a “perfect” Impreza hasn’t come cheaply, and Chris reckons it would have been foolish to have thought otherwise.
SPECIFICATION SUBARU IMPREZA WR1 ENGINE
EJ20 2.0 litre flat-four WR1 engine with semi-closed deck block, STi8 crankshaft with up-rated main and big-end bearings, RCM Arrow H-beam con-rods and rod bolts, RCM Omega forged high compression pistons (8.4:1 compression ratio), RCM modified oil pump, RCM oil catch tank, up-rated thermostat, APS front mounted intercooler (with water spray), RCM gasflowed polished and ported cylinder heads with RCM 14mm head stud kit/14 mm head stud kit conversion, triplelayer metal head gasket, RCM Nimonic one-piece exhaust valves, RCM inlet valves. Latest RCM rotated turbo kit with GTX35 Billet turbo charger
(2.1 bar peak boost), TiAL 44m external waste gate with RCM exhaust manifold, RCM induction kit, RCM 3” exhaust system, TiAL recirculating dump valve. RCM super lightweight engine pulleys, Spec C fuel system comprising RCM anti-surge tank with Bosch Motorsport 10-bar fuel pump, SX fuel pressure regulator, parallel fuel rails, 1000 cc fuel injectors, Odyssey dry cell battery. MoTeC M800 Pro ECU. Estimated maximum power 600 bhp
SUSPENSION
EXE-TC fast road adjustable coilover kit with RCM fast road geometry set-up, front and rear strut braces, 22mm front roll bar, 22 mm rear roll bar with up-rated mounts and drop links, polished front wishbones with up-rated STi castor blocks and front bushes, STi rose jointed track rods, STi rose jointed lateral links , STi rose jointed trailing links.
BRAKES AP Racing 355 mm Formula Standard STi six-speed gearbox Big Brake kit with red six-pot with WR1 driver-controlled callipers, Ferodo DS2500 pads, centre diff, AP Racing clutch with AP Racing 335 mm four-pot RCM super lightweight six-speed at the rear. flywheel, RCM/CTG one piece carbon-fibre prop shaft. TRANSMISSION
WHEELS AND TYRES
8 x 18” WR1 Prodrive PFF7 alloys with 235/40x18 Toyo T1Rs
EXTERIOR
RCM front splitter and wind deflectors over side windows
INTERIOR
Full set of Defi gauges mounted in bespoke RCM dash-top display with Knock sensor / LCD display built in. Pioneer AVIC F900 CD/radio/DVD/MP3 with Sat-Nav, Road Angel Compact
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JAPFEST 2012 10TH ANNIVERSARY - CASTLE COMBE It had been five years since I’d attended Japfest last and feeling slightly apprehensive about the weather after the weeks of rain we’d been experiencing, I had concerns over the success of this event...
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So 5am Saturday morning came and all concerns over the weather had quickly disappeared when I looked out the window and saw glorious sunshine – thank goodness!
the show I can safely say we made the right decision to arrive this early but really feel for those who never actually made it through the gates due to being turned away by the police.
Leaving at 6am to meet up with Bakerzone, Bailey73 and teamwolf24 just outside of Swindon, with a prompt departure to head on down to Chippenham to beat the queues.
Upon arriving at the SIDC stand we were greeted by what looked like every member from the South West, and I thought I had an early start :op
Driving through Chippenham you can feel a buzz when you see the hordes of cars meeting up at their convoy points to take the slow drive down to Castle Combe – I knew at this point that this was going to be a good show and being the 10th anniversary of the show I had high hopes for it. We pulled up at gate C and faced a queue half a mile long, thinking we’d be sitting here for a considerable amount of time, we were pleasantly surprised when the traffic started moving quickly allowing us to enter gate A around 7.30am. Since attending the show and hearing horror stories of people queuing for around 3 hours to enter
THE SHOW HAD AN AMAZING ATMOSPHERE AND MEMBERS APPEARED TO HAVE AN ENORMOUS BUZZ We quickly got the stand set up and everyone parked up, but we seemed to be missing a good 8 cars which we assumed would be along shortly after having queues to attend with. The organisers of the event positioned us in Area A which invited all clubs situated here to take part in the Cavalcade finale at 4.30pm - one slow lap of the circuit TRUE GRIP 43
which would see 100 cars on track at the same time. I can safely say that we were all primed for this fantastic experience. The day passed by relatively quickly, seeing a lot of members of the public popping by to see what we were all about. The show had an amazing atmosphere and members appeared to have an enormous buzz about the events the club were attending over the course of the year. With so much to see at one show, you were spoilt for choice depending on what you were here for. Whether it was the club stands, show cars, retail village, track action or the British Drifting Championships, you certainly
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wouldn’t be short of things to see. Getting some time away from the stand I took a tour of the circuit to see what other clubs were showing and to catch some track action. Clubs appeared to be packed in tightly due to the massive interest in this show. I could see that the organisers had prepared the sodden grass areas with steel panels to avoid cars getting stuck in the mud – being here only 2 weeks prior and experiencing torrential rain the whole day, I can safely say they made the right choice. 3.00pm came and the marshals advised us that we should be ready at 4.00pm to head down to the pits for our parade lap. Feeling the excitement in the members gave me such a warm feeling inside, this
for some of us was an opportunity of a life time. We headed down to the pits and waited patiently for the other clubs to line up with us. Almost 4.30pm on the dot the safety car lead us out the pits for our slow lap of the circuit – slow lap, what slow lap? This was a fast paced track session with 100 cars! You can see how much fun these guys are having by merely looking at the expression on their faces – what a fantastic experience for them all. Okay, so we’re now approaching the entrance to the pits but we’re driving passed it, wait a minute – so we’re getting two laps then? Awesome!! No, we ended up having a total of four laps of Combe circuit with some rather
spirited driving. Driving back to the stand with enormous grins on our faces, we park up and all share our experience on track, for some this being the first time. The show had now come to an end so after a little banter and a brew to end our day we all say our goodbyes and head home. I can safely say that I was far from disappointed with this show and will be making the trip down again in 2013. A massive thanks go out to all those that attended with the club and I look forward to catching up with you all at the Japshow in June.
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www.keithmichaels.co.uk
SIDC 2012 EVENTS CALENDAR ENGLISH EVENTS The Japshow, Santa Pod Modified Live, Brands Hatch Modified Mania, Smeatharpe Stadium, Devon Rally Day, Castle Combe Skylark County & Vintage Air Show, Cambs Trax Shows, Silverstone Modified Live, Snetterton
Sun 17 June Sun 8 July Sun 29 July Sat 18 August Sat 1 September Sun 2 September Sun 23 September
SCOTTISH EVENTS Modified Live, Knockhill The Scottish Motorfair, Knockhill Alford, Grampian Transport Museum Total Jap Car Scotland, Knockhill British Touring Cars, Knockhill Wheels and Wings Show, Museum of Flight British Drifting Championships, Knockhill Streetcar Scotland, Knockhill
Sun 10 June Sat 16 – Sun 17 June Sun 8 July Sun 19 August Sat 25 – Sun 26 August Sun 23 September Sat 29 – Sun 30 Sept Sat 21 October
NATIONAL EVENTS & TRACKDAYS Summer SIDC Track Day, Knockhill Summer SIDC Track Day, Kames Autumn SIDC Track Day, Knockhill
Saturday 9 June Sat 23 June Saturday 15 September
For full details please check in the Track Days and National Events section on the forum at
http://bit.ly/kfGDkw
SIDC & MLR TRACKDAYS All our trackdays feature open pit lane, free professional tuition, 105dBA noise limits, restricted number of places available, Protyre tyre support at each round, trackside photography from Xtreme Sports Photography and info pack prior to each trackday for those drivers booked in.
The calendar is as follows: Friday 8th June Silverstone - International circuit £189member/£219 non member Friday 10th August Anglesey - GP circuit £169 member/£189 non member Friday 21st September Snetterton - 300 circuit £169 member/£189 non member Friday 16th November Oulton Park - International circuit £129 member/£149 non member (Cadwell, Angelsey and Snetterton all precede Time Attack)
Additional costs are: Garages (Brands, Anglesey, Snetterton, Oulton) - £10 per car Additional Drivers: £35 each Passengers: £10 each Helmet hire: £10 each
ADVERTISE IN TRUE GRIP
EMAIL: ADVERTISING@SIDC.CO.UK
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