Bad Panda Motorsports - SCCA Solo STX BRZ Build

[BadPanda]

Ok, So here it is, the build you've all been waiting for.. something other than Bill Cook's BRZ when it comes to STX class for SCCA. [Just kidding Bill.]

Our goal is to create an affordable, track-able and autox-able BRZ. And trust me, we pick Bill Cook's brain for quite-a-while on this one. And I've talked with Pallata. And Strano. And you name it just about every Twin owner at Spring Nationals. Why? Because I (Christy) drove Bill Cooks BRZ at Spring Nationals to help him and also figure out what I wanted to do with our build.

And who are we? Well, I'm kinda a Subaru person (aka wrxgrl), but I have a National Solo Champion 2006 Subaru STI (STUL), and I'm usually surrounded by friends at Rally events that are also Subaru people. The BRZ is my first foray into RWD.

OMGRWD!!!!!

The car is a fun, white, BRZ. Limited. 2013. Car Owner, Chris Gervais, Rally America #298 Crew Chief. The shop, Kinetic Motor Works in Hampstead, NH.

This is Chris.


This is me.




He lets me drive the car. I teach him the ways of autocross and provide him parts, and he allows me to use it at events. Seems fair, yes? No? Maybe? Whatever, who doesn't want a car-parts sugar momma?

Ok.. now back to the build.

[BadPanda]

Ok, here is the parts list of what we currently have on the car:

**Racecomp Engineering Tarmac II with 400lb Springs all-around

*20mm Whiteline Sway Front Bar
*16mm Adjustable Whiteline Rear Sway Bar
*Kartboy Endlinks
*Kartboy Short Throw Shifter (OMGTHEAMAZING - Clicks right in)
*Kartboy lightweight Pulley
*Kartboy transmission mount bushing

*Dunlop Dirreza ZII's at 225/40 R-17 on Stock Rims (for now - Daily Driving)

[BadPanda]

I put up a long blog about my feelings being in Bill Cook's BRZ setup for Spring Nationals here. I won't clog up too much of this thread, you can just check out the link.

http://christycarlson.com/solo-natio...-ne-brz-setup/

I can say the main thing that we learned is the importance of balance of the swaybars in setup. With Bill's Springs on the KW3's, we had some pushing issues with just a stock rear bar for the National's surface. You really need to either: Leave the bars all stock, or upgrade both sway bars, but definitely don't just upgrade the front bar because it makes it far too pushy.

Hence, we are using the sways with the rear on full-stiff (16mm Whiteline adjustable), and the front is the 20mm Whiteline non-adjustable. Springs are close to the same as Bill Cooks (he ran 400lb front/320 lb rear - we are running 400lb all around).

[BadPanda]

So, we hate the chrome on the car. We really do. I know, its personal preference but anything we can do make it look nice and go with the Panda theme. So Chris took it upon himself to do a little work to the car. The first modification was plastidip + emblems.

He also took it upon himself to use the Nightshades Red Paint, and painted the tails red (masking out a small section).. Turned out nice. Here is the car at Wicked Big Meet 2013 up at Stafford Springs June 9, 2013.

[BadPanda]

Sitting in line at Wicked Big Meet for the Autocross. Chris took home 2nd Place, (I was instructor so abstained from trophies). There were a few 'looks' at the car as we were surprising a few people with the times.. Had some other great FT86 competition, and it was a tight competition between Chris and one other FT86 owner, sponsored by Grimmspeed.



:note: the yellow fogs! Hahahaha Bill (ScoobySouth), we did it first!

[BadPanda]

So, we both relocated from Nebraska to New England in a crazy drive across the country.. and yes we drive the STI + BRZ through a snowstorm in November (Hooray Lake Effect Snow in New York). The BRZ was on Blizzacks and made it just fine, and if it didn't make it, the STI was there with a tow rope waiting to pull it out.

Here is a shot from the beginning of our Journey, prior to any modifications being made to the car.


Just to note: We stopped for 'donuts' at every rest stop in New York State. hehe

[Turbowned]

Love the plate!

[whataboutbob]

Welcome. Nice work so far.