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TRUE GRIP True Grip is the official magazine of the Subaru Impreza Drivers Club A CLOCKWORK ORANGE INTRODUCING DANNY PRECIOUS’ TRACK-PREPPED STI

True Grip Subaru Magazine | Feb 2012 | Subaru Impreza Drivers Club

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With plans for the Club’s future coming together quite nicely indeed (of which you can see a sneak peek on P6) and a whole host of nationwide event lists filling further in advance than ever before (Events list is on P37), it’s looking like a busy year in the 2012 SIDC Calendar! We look to Subaru and it is with anticipation that we see the first wave of reviews of their exciting new BRZ - a car tipped as one of the greatest driving cars since the 1980’s. Further into the magazine we have our cover feature, an early look at what is promising to be one of the standout track-prepped Imprezas of 2012’s racing season, if not just for looks alone! We have Cross Roads’ rather wonderful TA340C... an STi hand-finished by Pro-R Racing.

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Page 1: True Grip Subaru Magazine | Feb 2012 | Subaru Impreza Drivers Club

TRUE GRIPTrue Grip is the official magazine of the Subaru Impreza Drivers Club

A CLOCKWORK ORANGE INTRODUCING

DANNY PRECIOUS’ TRACK-PREPPED STI

Page 2: True Grip Subaru Magazine | Feb 2012 | Subaru Impreza Drivers Club

P30DRIVEN: SUBARU STI TA340C

P8NEWS SPECIAL: BRZ

P20READER’S RIDES BADBAZ

P12DANNY PRECIOUS’ TRACK-PREPPED STI

FEATURES

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Page 3: True Grip Subaru Magazine | Feb 2012 | Subaru Impreza Drivers Club

TRUE GRIPTrue Grip is the official magazine of the Subaru Impreza Drivers Club

CONTENT 3 Editor’s Intro

4 Regional Organisers

5 Chairwoman’s Intro

6 SIDC Rebrand 7 Latest News

11 The Muffin Man’s Adventures

12 FEATURE: A Clockwork Orange

20 Reader’s Rides

24 Notes from the Old Fosse Way

28 TECHNICAL: RCM Catch Tanks

30 FEATURE: Subaru STi TA340C

36 FEATURE: East Midlands Run

37 EVENTS: Nationwide 2012 Events

39 Members’ Discounts

Okay, so if I thought 2011 was a good year, 2012 is already set to trump it, and by quite some mark too! With plans for the Club’s future coming together quite nicely indeed (of which you can see a sneak peek on P6) and a whole host of nationwide event lists filling further in advance than ever before (Events list is on P37), it’s looking like a busy year in the 2012 SIDC Calendar! Whilst the club goes from strength-to-strength, thanks in no small part to the current Committee and the support of the Club’s members,

we look to Subaru for inspiration on the future and, much like days of old and the arrival of the Impreza on our shores, it is with anticipation that we see the first wave of reviews seeping out into the world on their exciting new BRZ - a car tipped as one of the greatest driving cars since the 1980’s. As such, we’ve dedicated the large majority of our news section to the BRZ. Okay, so it’s not an Impreza but really, how can you fail to be excited about this car and hope that maybe, one day in the not too distant future, that we’ll be hearing news of an official turbocharged STi version. Here’s hoping eh! Further into the magazine we have our cover feature, an early look at what is promising to be one of the standout track-prepped Imprezas of 2012’s racing season, if not just for looks alone! Page 12 sees a full and in-depth look at Danny Precious’ Scoobyclinic fettled STi track monster. Having seen this car in the flesh at Donnington, things are looking promising for Danny through 2012 and beyond!I’ve also been lucky enough to spend a day in the fine company of Cross Roads’ rather wonderful TA340C... an STi hand-finished by the same technicians that created the Pro-R Racing Time Attack Subaru – a car that obliterated the Club Class of Time Attack last season. It really is something very special indeed, and only 15 of them are going to be made!Lastly, don’t forget you can buy True Grip in print through HP’s MagCloud at www.magcloud.com/user/truegrip

Stu MasonEditor, True Grip

PRE LOADINGEditor, true grip

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Page 4: True Grip Subaru Magazine | Feb 2012 | Subaru Impreza Drivers Club

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Each car soundproofing kit (available from £120 incl. VAT) has been custom designed for the vehicle and uses a combination of materials to ensure maximum noise reduction for each area of the vehicle. Fitting a car soundproofing kit will reduce engine noise, road and tyre noise, exhaust noise and vehicle body vibrations leading to not only a quieter vehicle but helping to give a more comfortable ride for both driver and passengers.

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Devon j wrx tonkins Jamie Tonkins 07725 738658 [email protected]

Dorset & Hampshire Plodster Peter Lashbrook 07411 990858 [email protected]

Harrogate sl0959 Paul Greenwood 07530 166242 [email protected]

Midlands warrior08 Mark Dormer 07934 691957 [email protected] Goofy Nick Wakelam 07980 005579 [email protected]

North West Diablo_Blaze Andy Gill 07768 595756 [email protected]

Somerset/Whiltshire Bailey73 Darren Coombs 07854 521728 [email protected] & Herefordshire andy scoob Andy Winter 07821 663551 [email protected]

Channel IslandsJD Steve Forrest 07825 502294 [email protected]

Aberdeenshire supremeweb Blair Nichols 07717 598841 [email protected]

Edinburgh/Lothian’s Midnight21 Cathy Kerr 07788 953803 [email protected]

Glasgow/Strathclyde STI Pretender Robert Allan 07581 068641 [email protected]

Central Scotland rallye 6 Brian Smith 07979 708118 [email protected]

Central Scotland tommytcut Tam Mellon 07847 131660 [email protected]

Dundee BalliSTIc Glyn McCrickard 07739 036929 [email protected]

Inverness / Highlands Scooby222 Dave Shanks 07768 230461 [email protected]

Scottish Borders cruz104 John McBay 07721 433848 [email protected]

Lanarkshire badbaz Barry McGowan 07831 638482 [email protected]

=============================

No local group in your area? Interested in starting one?Contact Dave Shanks, Regional Organiser Co-ordinator

Subaru Impreza Drivers ClubPO BOX 128,March,CambridgeshirePE15 5BR

or email [email protected]

=============================

REGIONAL ORGANISERSthe ro team

Page 5: True Grip Subaru Magazine | Feb 2012 | Subaru Impreza Drivers Club

TRUE GRIPTrue Grip is the official

magazine of the Subaru Impreza Drivers Club

Cover Image: Lindsey Bridger

Editor: Stu Mason (stum450n) Deputy Editor: Rachel Keir

(little green goblin)

Advertising Sales: Mark Dormer (Warrior08)

E: [email protected]

Designed & Produced by: Stu Mason

E: [email protected] www.stumason.com

Published by: SIDC, PO BOX 128, March, Cambridgeshire PE15 5BR

Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without prior permission

of the Editor. Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not the SIDC.

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

We’re a month into 2012 and behind the scenes planning for the year is well underway by the Committee and Regional Organisers, and as Stu has already mentioned, we have a huge line up of events across the country in store for you - with tickets selling fast. Keep an eye on the National Events section of the forums for more details as well as the club shop for tickets.

You may now be aware that the date for the 2012 Annual General Meeting has been set for Saturday 5th May at the beautiful Golf Hotel in Lincolnshire. This has been organised around the Modified Live event for round one of the Time Attack Series at Cadwell Park. Details of the AGM location, along with room booking details can be found in the members’ only section of the forums. And of course, tickets for Modified Live can be purchased from the club shop too. In October’s edition of True Grip I mentioned the reshuffle within the Committee, since then we’ve gained another member to the team to take on the Advertising role for the website, forums and of course True Grip itself. Mark Dormer (Warrior08)

gratefully accepted the position and is beavering away bringing those pennies in. As for the Product Co-ordinators role – Nick Wakelam takes on this position to source new SIDC merchandise which will be launched alongside the rebrand of the club. Don’t forget though, if you’d like a particular Group Buy set up then Nick’s your man. I leave you now to enjoy the fab articles in this edition and look forward to catching up with you throughout the year.

Kim FrenchClub Chairwoman

PACE NOTESsidc club chairwoman

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Page 6: True Grip Subaru Magazine | Feb 2012 | Subaru Impreza Drivers Club

SIDC: REBRANDEDThe SIDC Committee have been working frantically behind the scenes over the past few months to agree on how best to up the ante in 2012.Alongside this growth, Subaru’s own activities have expanded, as has the model range -including a change in naming convention for the STi models.With this in mind, and as a reflection of our growing international popularity, the decision was taken by the Club’s Committee to rebrand, replacing ‘Impreza’ in our name to a more encompassing ‘International’, becoming the Subaru International Drivers’ Club. Still to be known as the “SIDC”.Over the coming months we will be rolling out new SIDC merchandise, meet promotional material and show equipment.Alongside the rebrand, we’re redesigning the website, shop, forums and True Grip. By doing so, we’re taking the opportunity to merge all the current systems into one which will be more user friendly, not just for you but for administrators dealing with the memberships, shop and forum adjustments too. The build itself and the export of data will take a number of months so we’re a little way off at present.

THE FIRST GLIMPSE AT THE NEW DIRECTION FOR SIDC

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Page 7: True Grip Subaru Magazine | Feb 2012 | Subaru Impreza Drivers Club

SUBARU OFFERS UK’S MOST COMPREHENSIVE AFTERCARE PACKAGE

Subaru UK is raising customer care to a new level with the launch this month of a new three-year aftercare package called Everything Taken Care of (Subaru ETCo).Included in the price of every new Subaru, Subaru ETCo is the most comprehensive and targeted three-year aftercare package currently on offer to motorists in the UK, offering a host of potential benefits worth over £7,000.Subaru ETCo comprises 11 different elements, all designed to make running and owning a new Subaru easier and more beneficial than ever, not to mention the cost benefits with each of the services provided free of charge. Subaru ETCo’s comprehensive package includes:• Minor dent and scratch repairs• Alloy wheel repairs• Monthly wash ‘n’ vac• Annual makeover – full valet• Lost keys replacement• Service collection and delivery• Annual wheel alignment check

• First MOT cover (and contribution to repairs)• Accident management service• Insurance excess cover contribution• Winter wheel and tyre storageThese benefits can also be passed on to subsequent owners of the vehicle, helping to enhance the vehicle’s residual values. Subaru ETCo will be offered in addition to Subaru’s three-year (60,000-mile) manufacturer’s warranty, 12-year anti-corrosion bodyshell cover and three-year paintwork warranty, and also lasts for three years.Marketing Director of Subaru UK, Kenyon Neads, said: “Totally free with every new Subaru, this innovative – and we believe industry leading programme – is a package of services and promises, specifically designed to complement the lifestyle of the typical Subaru buyer and to enhance the car ownership experience – year after year. Subaru ETCo is available to all Subaru retail customers and we believe it has no rival in the UK as an aftercare package.”

NEWS

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Page 8: True Grip Subaru Magazine | Feb 2012 | Subaru Impreza Drivers Club

NEWSSUBARU’S BRZ BREAKS COVERIn December Subaru unveiled the production version of its highly anticipated BRZ sports coupe. With 200PS and 151lb/ft maximum torque in a car weighing just 1,220kg, the BRZ has been designed for maximum – and accessible – driving enjoyment.The result of a Subaru-led joint-engineering venture with Toyota, the BRZ delivers a sensational and engaging driving experience, thanks in large part to an engineering and development programme that focused on achieving the lowest possible centre of gravity.

CONCEPTThe Subaru BRZ was designed and developed from the outset to deliver driving fun and exceptional handling, combined with reliability and safety.Carefully conceived powertrain packaging allows the celebrated horizontally-opposed Boxer engine to be positioned lower than ever before. This, in conjunction with its advanced lightweight chassis and use of cutting-edge lightweight materials, endows the BRZ with exceptional handling characteristics.

The low-slung, naturally aspirated engine allows for a low and wide stance: 1,300mm tall and 1,775mm wide. However, the 2+2 sports car still offers ample luggage space, ensuring it is adept as a weekend touring companion and as an enthralling daily driver.

EXTERIOR STYLINGThe BRZ’s styling – instantly recognisable as a Subaru – conveys the car’s fun-to-drive attitude.At the front, the low-slung engine facilitates a low, purposeful bonnet line, which in turn accentuates the bulging front wheel arches. Signature design features – such as the six-star badge, distinctive headlights and hexagonal lower grille – give the BRZ a fresh, striking appearance.The clean flanks of the BRZ are punctured by neat air vents either side, pierced by a chrome dart. A visually striking diffuser dominates the lower edge of the BRZ’s tail, with twin exhaust pipes prominently penetrating on each side, representing a final flourish of stylish functionality that conveys the performance intentions of Subaru’s newest model.

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Page 9: True Grip Subaru Magazine | Feb 2012 | Subaru Impreza Drivers Club

INTERIORThe interior of the BRZ is designed to ensure that the driver enjoys the behind-the-wheel experience to the full. The steering wheel is deliberately compact to aid rapid inputs and to ensure the driver can fully enjoy the BRZ’s lightning-quick responses. The instrument binnacle features a tachometer with a digitally displayed speedometer at its centre, ensuring that the time required to view vital information is kept to an absolute minimum, and that time concentrating on the road is maximised. The BRZ’s specially designed sports seats feature ergonomically optimised bolsters to hold the driver and passenger securely and comfortably.

POWERTRAINFully exploiting the best design features of the current-generation Boxer engine, the newly developed 2.0-litre powerplant is exclusive to the BRZ. The joint development programme with Toyota Motor Corporation allowed Toyota’s ‘D-4S’ direct injection and port injection technology to be incorporated into the BRZ’s power unit, improving efficiency. The powerplant achieves a maximum output of 200PS and 151lb/ft torque. The transmission was engineered for exceptional gearshift feel and response. The six-speed manual features a short-stroke gear lever, which is optimised in rigidity, shift accuracy and weight. The six-speed automatic transmission has a ‘Sports’ mode for immediate shift response. Its ‘Manual’ mode allows the driver to use the steering wheel-mounted paddles and features a downshift ‘throttle blipping’ system to ensure the BRZ delivers maximum driver satisfaction.

CHASSIS AND BODYBRZ boasts a lightweight yet highly rigid body, developed to maximise the advantages of the car’s low centre of gravity. The rigid and durable chassis structure employs the latest lightweight, high-tensile steel technology, and helps the car’s driving characteristics while also enhancing occupant safety. The aluminium bonnet helps to minimise the BRZ’s weight, while the structure is also designed to maximise pedestrian protection.The front suspension employs struts for optimum rigidity, while a double wishbone layout at the rear provides superb shock absorption and compliance. The 215/45 R17 tyres are mounted on lightweight and highly rigid 17-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels.All BRZ variants are equipped with electronic stability control to ensure that driving pleasure and safety are delivered hand-in-hand.The Subaru BRZ is scheduled to go on sale in the UK in July 2012.

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Page 10: True Grip Subaru Magazine | Feb 2012 | Subaru Impreza Drivers Club

Subaru may have withdrawn from the World Rally Championship years ago, but they couldn’t stay out of motorsport for long. Hence why Subaru have announced that it will campaign a racing version of its hot new BRZ coupe in Japan’s domestic Super GT Series.Subaru worked fans of the company’s BRZ into a frenzy with the release of the wide-body terror prowling around a race track via YouTube. As you may have heard, Subaru is retiring the current Legacy B4 race car that’s competing in the SuperGT series, and the BRZ GT300 will fly the flag for Subaru throughout 2012 and beyond.

With its insane bodywork and flame-spitting side-exit exhaust, the BRZ GT300 looks menacing enough standing still but imagine the thrill of watching it go head-to-head with the rest of the SuperGT Series cars. Justification for a trip to Japan if ever we’ve heard one! Subaru say that the BRZ GT300 will join the SuperGT fray early next year. Proud of Boxer? Damn straight, but here’s hoping Subaru go some way to matching the styling of the GT300 with factory options on the road-going BRZ!

Watch the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LjYl7VfFKE

SUBARU BRZ GT300 SET TO TAKE ON JAPAN’S SUPERGT SERIES

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Page 11: True Grip Subaru Magazine | Feb 2012 | Subaru Impreza Drivers Club

NO muffins were consumed for the writing of this article due to Mrs Muffin Man putting me on the Atkins Diet through the winter, in preparation for the forthcoming excesses of 2012!I did manage to get the muffins out one last time in 2011 for the open night and pig roast at Crossroads Subaru. Unfortunately the muffins were all snaffled away by the staff before any punters turned up! Luckily, the generous pig offering made up for my empty cake boxes.2012 is looking good – with orders already booked for Japfest/Rallyday and Trax. I’m now back in the test kitchen, working on a suitable muffin for all the guys and girls travelling down from Scotland for Rallyday – haven’t yet managed to perfect the deep fried mars bar muffin, but I’ve a good few months to master it, either that or Irn Bru cupcakes, so it’s going to be fun! Some fat bloke in a red suit got me the Mary Berry ‘Great British Bake-off’ book for Christmas, which I’ve been working through, so expect some diversification through 2012 with my superb Victoria Sponge and ‘other friends’.Hope to meet and feed more of you in 2012.

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Page 12: True Grip Subaru Magazine | Feb 2012 | Subaru Impreza Drivers Club

A CLOCKWORK ORANGE INTRODUCING

DANNY PRECIOUS’ TRACK-PREPPED STI

WE ALL KNOW HOW OFTEN PROJECTS CAN SPIRAL OUT OF CONTROL. THE PERFECTLY INNOCENT PURCHASE OF A SET OF WHEELS, LEADS TO NEW SUSPENSION IN ORDER TO GET THE STANCE RIGHT, AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT YOUR DAILY RUNABOUT HAS TRANSFORMED INTO A SHOW WINNING CREATION AND YOUR CREDIT CARD COMPANY IS AT THE TOP OF YOUR PHONES ‘FRIENDS AND FAMILY’ LIST!

Well this meticulously prepared ‘Hawk Eye’ Impreza belonging to Hull based computer science lecturer Danny Precious, is a prime example of what can happen when things get a little bit carried away in the pursuit of the ultimate track Subaru.Having already previously owned a year 2000 turbo Impreza wagon in the past, Danny was quick to return to the Subaru stable, and it was this 2006 STi that did the trick.Knowing their reputation for quality work long before taking delivery of his Impreza, there was only ever going to be one place that Danny would trust with his newly purchased steed, and that

was the Subaru specialist ‘ScoobyClinic’. However, little did he know at the time, that his cherished purchase would evolve from a pampered road car into what is now a dedicated track weapon.‘ScoobyClinic was a name I associated with ‘prepped’ Impreza’s since long before I bought my first one. I initially went there to have the alignment on my ‘Hawk Eye’ checked out and it snowballed from there. These days I see the guys as friends who just happen to look after my race car as well. What they don’t know about Impreza’s isn’t worth knowing in my opinion, and they’ve got the results to prove it!’

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Page 13: True Grip Subaru Magazine | Feb 2012 | Subaru Impreza Drivers Club

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Page 14: True Grip Subaru Magazine | Feb 2012 | Subaru Impreza Drivers Club

It was the aforementioned alignment check at the Derbyshire home of ‘ScoobyClinic’ that brought about a chain of events which transformed the bog standard 8 month old UK spec STi Impreza into what you see before you over a period of 4 years.It was only a couple of months later that Danny began making the first of many regular trips from his home on the Humber, down to Chesterfield for his first power upgrade.With a new exhaust, an uprated fuel pump and a re-map, the standard power climbed to a little over 340bhp.Over the next couple of years while the car continued to be developed, it remained road legal, transporting Danny to and from a number of different venues in order to take part in various motor sport disciplines. Along with the usual foray into track days, the Impreza was put to the test on the drag strip, and entered into local sprints and hill climbs, which showed the cars all round ability to succeed. Finding new limits during the car’s time on track, it was only wise to upgrade the safety aspects, and again ‘ScoobyClinic’ were called upon to

install a full cage and the necessary race seats and harnesses. Come 2009 and it was a search for more power that brought about the car’s greatest transformation of all.Danny had always aspired to trying his hand at competitive racing, and the time to realise his ambition was now within reach. Not wanting to do things by halves, a plan of action was formed to convert the relative rarity of the ‘Hawkeye’ into a fully fledged race car.

Instead of the planned ECU upgrade that was going to be carried out on the OE 2.5, it was decided that a completely new engine would be required in order to satisfy Danny’s quest for power with reliability.A closed deck EJ22 block, sourced from a 2.2 turbocharged Subaru Legacy was built with a selection of the finest components ScoobyClinic had to offer in order to create a unit capable of producing over 600bhp.

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Page 15: True Grip Subaru Magazine | Feb 2012 | Subaru Impreza Drivers Club

With a 79mm billet crank added to the EJ22, the capacity grew to 2.33, creating an engine that revs like a 2.0 litre but produces torque like a 2.5. Following some additional development and fine tuning, the rebuilt Impreza finally made its competitive debut at the 2011 Scooby Shoot Out. Fresh out of the box, it promptly ran the quarter mile in 11.15 seconds and recorded a flying speed run of 149.2mph, which helped secure 2nd place overall ahead of more established competitors.After a couple of races learning the ropes towards the end of the 2011 season, we find ourselves at Donington Park in Leicestershire in order to sample this Impreza first hand.With the pre-flight checks complete, the motorsport spec fuel pump in the boot buzzes into life, as it fills the swirl pot before feeding the uprated 1100cc injectors, and squirting super-unleaded into the combustion chambers at an alarming rate as the push button starter is depressed, and the engine bursts into life.

The off beat burble synonymous with Subaru’s boxer engine fills the pit garage as the exhaust note echoes off the walls.The noise within the cabin is muted inside the helmet, but the machinery working in perfect harmony just a few inches away from your feet can be felt through the seat as we sit idling ready for the off. With the interior stripped to remove anything superfluous, you’d be forgiven for thinking it would be as inhospitable as a prison cell, but far from it.A flocked dashboard has pride of place ahead of the driver, being both pleasing to the eye, but also a crucial piece of race equipment designed to cut down on unwanted glare on those rare sunny days. The light weight doors that sit between you and the outside world are now fitted with polycarbonate to replace the heavy glass, and finished off with custom built fibreglass door cards to keep everything neat and tidy.

DANNY HAD ALWAYS ASPIRED TO TRYING HIS HAND AT COMPETITIVE RACING, AND THE TIME TO REALISE HIS AMBITION WAS NOW WITHIN REACH.

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Page 16: True Grip Subaru Magazine | Feb 2012 | Subaru Impreza Drivers Club

To free up more weight, the air-conditioning has been relegated to the parts bin, and even the heater hasn’t escaped the car’s diet! This has been pared down to its absolute minimum of components, and now only blows hot air onto the windscreen when it’s called for.A Stack dash displays everything that is going on around the car, and is in constant communication with the car’s ECU, which in this case is a stand alone Syvecs S6 system. A popular choice with the team at ‘ScoobyClinic’, the S6 is fully programmable with several maps covering different levels of boost, anti-lag and pre-set safety limits. During the last race outing at Pembrey, the S6 paid for itself several times over, as a split oil feed to the turbo caused a small under bonnet fire, but the ECU saw the drop in oil pressure and killed the power in a fraction of a second, before Danny realised there was a problem, which stopped any major damage being done.Held firmly in place with the 4pt harnesses, we peel out of the pit lane. As we head around ‘Redgate’ for the first time, marbles flick off the tyres and ricochet from underneath the wheel arches as we begin our first lap of the circuit. With no heat in the tyres, the car squirms as we tackle the sweeping ‘Craner Curves’ before

heading round ‘McLeans’ and ‘Coppice’ before barrelling down the ‘Dunlop Straight’ which is now devoid of the famous bridge after it was demolished as part of the ill fated F1 deal.

With a few laps under our belts, to check all is well and to get the tyres up to temperature, Danny burries the throttle as we come through the chicane to start a new lap. The ScoobyClinic billet GT30R turbo mounted on one of the companies twisted pipe work set-up’s, spools up with the minimum of hesitation, as air is ravenously sucked in through the custom built air intake and front mount Perrin intercooler. The explosive power delivered by the boxer engine catapults us towards ‘Redgate’ yet again and we’re soon calling on the combination of AP Racing and OE Brembo’s to scrub off the minimum of speed before turning in, clipping the apex, and feeding the power back in. The task of keeping the car on the black stuff is the responsibility of the HotBits RSi inverted coil-overs, and

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Page 17: True Grip Subaru Magazine | Feb 2012 | Subaru Impreza Drivers Club

the plethora of Perrin, Whiteline and SUMMIT Racing goodies that adorn every aspect of the chassis.Exhaust gasses escape via a circuit friendly 98db stainless steel Mongoose system, which has been used as they have been seen to provide great performance results without the need for ear splitting noise, which given the sheer pace experienced takes some getting used to.Back in the pit garages, and all too soon a crowd has appeared to take a closer look at the black and orange Impreza, a colour scheme that is prevalent throughout the whole car.Externally, a custom splitter and canards provide extra down force at the front, while a carbon fibre wing helps achieve the same result at the rear. ABW arches are used to cover any number of the wheel/tyre combo’s at Danny’s disposal, which are chosen depending on the weather conditions or type of event entered. With the top mount intercooler now obsolete, a Seibon vent replaces the standard bonnet scoop, and additional vents have been created and moulded either side of it to allow the hot air to escape, while the roof vent allows the fresh air to enter during the heat of a race.The powerhouse that lurks beneath the bonnet is again prepared to the same high standards as the rest of the car, with nothing out of place and everything in matching black and orange, right down to the custom made silicon hoses.2012 will see Danny’s first full season of racing, and his goal will be going all out to secure his first podium finish. Finishing on the winners rostrum will be a just reward for taking his time in getting the car prepared to this level and enlisting the help of the best in the business in order to achieve his dream of becoming a race driver.

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Page 18: True Grip Subaru Magazine | Feb 2012 | Subaru Impreza Drivers Club

TECH SPECEngine2330cc EJ22 ‘closed deck block’ 4 cylinder 16V Turbo 79mm throw billet crankMahle PistonsForged con rodsScoobyClinic Billet GT30R Turbo ScoobyClinic Twisted Turbo set upModified STi Spec C AVCS cylinder headsSTi Spec C camshaftsSupertech inlet & exhaust valves with titanium retainersCosworth head gasketsARP head stud kitACL Race bearings throughoutBaffled SumpGT-Spec Gen-2 headers (thermally wrapped) Mongoose Stainless Steel Exhaust (de-cat) 44mm Tial external wastegatePlumbed in screamer pipeSyvecs S6 ECU (Mapped by Pat Herborn at ScoobyClinic)Perrin Front Mount IntercoolerAccusump - Oil surge protection unitBoot mounted ScoobyClinic swirl pot 1100cc injectorsScoobyClinic Billet parallel fuel railsWalbro 255 lift pump

Bosch 044 Motor Sport external fuel pumpTwin SX fuel regulatorsCustom cold air intakeScoobyClinic silicon hose’sUprated engine mountsGoodridge fuel and oil hoses/fittingsScoobyClinic twin oil catch tanksMocal oil cooler

Transmission6 speed ‘New Age’Electronic Centre DiffModified GFB ‘Quick shift’Exedy Hyper clutch

Lightened FlywheelCTG carbon fibre prop shaft

SuspensionHot Bits RSi suspension Superpro Polybushes throughoutSummit Racing front and rear strut bracesPerrin front and rear anti roll barsWhiteline anti lift kitPerrin drop links

BrakesABS removed(F) AP Racing 6 pot calipersPerformance Friction 330mm

2006 IMPREZA WRX STI TYPE-UK ‘HAWKEYE’

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Page 19: True Grip Subaru Magazine | Feb 2012 | Subaru Impreza Drivers Club

ventilated discs(R) OE Subaru Brembo calipers/discsPagid Yellow RS29 brake padsGoodridge braided hose’s throughout

Wheels/Tyres18’ Rota Grid Drifts – Michelin Porsche Cup Slicks (Circuit)18’ Rota Grid Drifts - Yokohama 265/35/18 A048 (Circuit)18’ Ultralite G-Grids – Michelin Porsche Cup Wets (Circuit)17’ Enkei – BF Goodrich Drag radials (Drag)18’ Revolution Millenium – Silverstone FTZ RR (Sprint/Hill Climb)

ExteriorAluminium Bonnet with Seibon centre vent and ScoobyClinic custom ventsStandard boot lid (lightened)Roof VentCarbon fibre rear wing ScoobyClinic custom front splitterScoobyClinic custom front canardsABW arch kitAPR Carbon Fibre mirrors‘Plastics4Performance’ Poly Carbonate side and rear windows (front slider kit) Light weight doors (central locking and all internals removed) Modified bumper for improved air flow to engine, brakes and oil cooler

Interior6pt Safety Devices cage with door bars and diagonal rear barCustom fibreglass door cardsSparco Pro ADV SeatTRS 4pt harnessFirewalledStack Dash DisplayCustom centre consoleFlocked dashboardOMP steering wheel with quick releasePlumbed in Lifeline fire extinguisher

ThanksEstelle for her continued supportScoobyClinic: www.scoobyclinic.com without them this car wouldn’t exist.Apex Track Days: www.apextrackdays.co.uk APS auto detailers: www.automotivepolishingservices.co.uk for keeping the car looking its best.

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IMPREZA STI WRC REPLICA

Bad Baz's

READER’S RIDESsidc member cars

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Page 21: True Grip Subaru Magazine | Feb 2012 | Subaru Impreza Drivers Club

Say hello to my weekend toy. It began life as a 2005 WRX STI. Some of that remains today – but not too much!

I bought the car in 2007 after a UK wide search. I made some changes almost immediately: exhaust, spark plugs, air filter and remap. It wasn’t too long before the car begged for more. Being lucky enough to not need this as a daily hack I had pretty much free rein. Over the last few winters every area of the car has been changed. Even today it’s in pieces undergoing 2012’s updates! Pictures speak a thousand words so please have a wee look…..

SPEC:WRC lookalikeEngine: uprated turbo, headers, exhaust, injectors, spark plugs, intake, race battery and remapSuspension: uprated springs, roll bars, links, anti lift kit, adjustable mounts, bushes and geometryBrakes: uprated discs and pads all roundWheels: Prodrive GC-010EInterior: mostly gone! OMP seats, harnesses and wheel, defi gauges, AVC-R boost controller and much lightness. TRUE GRIP 21

Page 22: True Grip Subaru Magazine | Feb 2012 | Subaru Impreza Drivers Club

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Page 23: True Grip Subaru Magazine | Feb 2012 | Subaru Impreza Drivers Club

sidc READER RIDES

Just send 4/5 high-resolution images and a brief spec of your ride to [email protected]

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highlighting the latest Subaru news and offers

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into action as part of a claim for compensation.

Accident hotline - 01376 529 299: quote your membership number when calling

Page 24: True Grip Subaru Magazine | Feb 2012 | Subaru Impreza Drivers Club

NOTES FROM THE OLD FOSSE WAY...Musing on life and all things Subaru from those in the know

I’d like to kick off this issue with a big thank you to all who attended our Impreza owners meeting here on the evening of Tuesday 18th October. When originally planning this, I hoped for, and banked on if I’m honest 30-40 people turning up, which would have been fine. However, in reality I predict we had more in the region of 100-120 people and cars turn up! I was absolutely delighted, and we all at the garage had an absolutely fantastic time, with some stunning Imprezas turning up, and plenty of great cars to drool over. It was also great to meet some new faces of course, and many thanks to all who came to say hello and join in with our general car obsession! We plan to make this a more regular occurrence on the back of the success of the 18th, so watch this space for news and updates as and when... only this time I will order a bigger pig!As a grand finale to 2011, we held ‘Cross Roads At The Ace’ on Saturday 10th December. For those of you who have been to the Ace Cafe before, this great venue needs no introductions, for those that havent, this place is seriously worth checking out, assuming we are allowed back... (the last few people to leave will know what I mean) we would like to do the Ace Cafe again... I hope you can make it to the next one, it would be great to fill the carpark to the brim next time.We also have a couple of other ideas for 2012, please keep an eye on our website www.subaruvehicles.co.uk for up & coming events and Time Attack news, or follow us on Facebook!I have recently taken a step back in time. To 2007 to be exact, and have re-visited the legendary Impreza RB320. This came about having just bought a 4,800 mile totally original car that we originally

supplied back in 2007 from its original owner, and I was reminded just what a truly great car this was, and of course still is now. By the time you read this, the RB320 will be safely in the hands of its lucky new owners, and I’m pleased its gone to such a good home, where it will be driven & polished in equal measure!The RB320 came about in 2007 in commemoration to the great Richard Burns. The RB320 was not the first

Impreza to bear the great mans initials however, the first was the RB5 from 1999, but more on that another day. Richard Burns sadly passed on 25th November 2005, and we were all so saddened and hugely affected by the death of such a colourful character, and one who will deservedly remain synonymous with Subaru forever more. He was of course one of the best drivers of our time, in fact I’d bet he’s one of the

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Page 25: True Grip Subaru Magazine | Feb 2012 | Subaru Impreza Drivers Club

NOTES FROM THE OLD FOSSE WAY...

best drivers of ‘any’ time, and he was well known for his modest attitude and friendly and approachable demeanour. He is sorely missed indeed, and will always remain very close to our hearts.RB320s were all finished in Obsidian Black Pearl, with the Prodrive

Performance Package, (320PS) Quickshift, 18” GT1 alloy wheels finished in gloss black, Bilstein dampers, built to Prodrive specification, Eibach springs and an Eibach rear anti roll bar, plus a 30mm drop at the front of the car, and a 10mm drop at the rear. 320PS and 336Ib ft of torque equated to 0-60 in 4.8 seconds, so this was one seriously quick car, that handled as well as it looked thanks to the chassis changes. Optional at the time was leather or alcantara interior trim, both came with RB320 embossed backrests to the front seats, and the double din satellite navigation was a little less popular but a few were specified with this when new. The ‘320’ represents the power output in PS, and the number of cars producedThe upper and lower mesh grilles, STi front lip spoiler, and the bespoke carpet

mats and gearknob gave the car a different look to the standard STi and the grilles and the front spoiler were available as stand alone options on the regular 2007 MY STI.The first RB320 was raffled in conjunction with Autosport magazine, and the first RB320 owners were invited to collect their cars at Prodrives facility near Warwick.So, what are they like to drive now, 4 years on from launch? It’s actually been a long time since I’ve driven such a low mileage RB320 as this one, most have now done a few miles of course, as lets face it they are 4 years old and many are in regular use, but most I know of are still in outstanding original condition too, but the opportunity to drive a completely unabused original one, that’s not been touched apart from periodic maintenance, that still smells and feels like a new car doesn’t come along everyday. There is a crispness to the RB320 that is hard to match in any car, and although the straight line performance and great sound effects are one thing, it’s the precision of feel, the surprisingly civilised ride quality, the spot on weight of the steering and the pin sharp turn in that impress most. One thing you do notice

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after driving the later hatchbacks is how slender the A Pillars are on the earlier cars, this provides a panoramic view of the road ahead, and makes the car so easy to place.At the risk of upsetting some, they are also a lovely thing indeed to drive on track, due to their rarity and value in many cases, many people will not get to try their RB320s on track, and I cant of course blame them for this, but I am struggling to think of a car that I enjoyed as much as that day at Brand Hatch with an RB320, sure there have been quicker, and some ultimately better handling Imprezas that I have been fortunate enough to drive on track, but few of them had the all round abilities of the RB320, or made it all look and feel so easy. According to the ‘How many left’ website, there are 45 RB320s ‘missing’, I’ll leave you to draw your own conclusions as to the whereabouts of the missing cars.....For everything that the RB320 is, and everything that it represents, the RB320 will always be one of my very favourite Imprezas, and more relevant still, one of my favourite cars of all time.

Finally, I thought this was worth a mention....after chatting to a service customer recently, he very kindly let me play with his 200,000 mile STi, (actually I’m exaggerating, its only done 198,000 miles but by the time you read this it’ll be on 200,000..this was on the understanding of course that he could play at the same time with our demo STi, seemed like a fair enough deal to me. For any car to achieve 200,000 miles and stay in one piece is quite an achievement, for a performance car that is, shall we say ‘used as intended’ is something else all together. The car in question is a 2003 model year STi, fitted with a Prodrive Performance Package that was fitted at around 5,000 miles, and is otherwise a standard car owned from new. It gets driven daily, in all weathers, and usually driven pretty hard too. It has towed a log truck, and even a cattle trailer that was stranded, so as you can see, the owner isnt exactly precious about it.So, what is an STi like to drive after 200,000 hard miles? Pretty damn good actually! The dampers feel a little soft, which is the only real clue to the car having covered lots of miles, but in every other respect it feels as fit as a flea. The

engine still feels and sounds crisp, and it still pulls hard. You wouldn’t have a moments hesitation in using it to its full potential, and it still does the business with a lovely gearbox, and great steering, and none of this has been compromised by heavy use which is pretty amazing really, it does prove that with proper maintenance, which we suspect is the key thing here, that these cars are more than capable of handling pretty much everything you can throw at them.So, it’s lost a little of its precision, but this could be put right with some investment... the owner was also very impressed with the new saloon - so much so that he decided there and then that this will be his next car, but he does want to run the STi to 250,000 miles before selling it, just to see if it will do it... unfortunately I dont think I’ll be selling a new saloon to this chap just yet - this 200,000 mile STi isnt showing any signs of stopping yet!

Elliott**If you would like to help support the Richard Burns foundation, please visit www.richardburnsfoundation.com**

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Page 28: True Grip Subaru Magazine | Feb 2012 | Subaru Impreza Drivers Club

FACT OR FICTION? CATCH TANKSTechnical section

Discussing the potential merits of installing an aftermarket product on your pride and joy is par for the course in any car club or on any car enthusiast forum. However it could be argued that certain parts seem to be shrouded in an air of mystery which can cause conflicting opinion when considering their benefit or otherwise to your cars performance. One such product which fits neatly into this category is the fabled oil catch tank. Yes most would concur that having a beautifully crafted, shiny looking tank tucked neatly in your engine bay looks great! However the actual advantage of having one of these correctly fitted to your Impreza can be huge. At the same time an incorrectly plumbed in tank will not function properly and could even have an adverse effect on your engine. The RCM range of Subaru Impreza specific catch tank kits are available for the GC8 V1-6 and GDB V7+ cars and are purpose built to fit each model. This means you get everything supplied in the kit ensuring the engine receives the full benefit from the revised breathing system.

RCM’s hand built tanks are made in the UK from high grade aluminium and mounts neatly and discretely on the left hand side chassis leg. So no more universal tanks wedged in your engine bay coupled to random hoses!! For those of you to whom these kits are somewhat of a black art there is a very valid reason why so many Imprezas do utilise oil catch tanks. The layout of the factory breathing system means that oil vapour that has built up in the crank case finds its way back into the cars turbo intake hose via a system of pipes from the Imprezas two rocker covers and engine block. As a result of this many owners who do work on their cars themselves will have noticed a small build up of oil in the pipework when removing the intercooler. In the majority of cases this is quite normal and simply a result of the flawed factory engine breathing system re using this contaminated air. Therefore once the oil vapour cools it settles as a liquid in parts of the cars intake such as the intercooler pipework, core and throttle body. Of course it is worth noting that excessive amounts of oil in these areas would certainly require further investigation for a more sinister underlying problem. If you are unsure best to get it checked by the professionals!

There are a number of adverse effects on the Impreza engine when using the factory standard setup. This is mainly the contamination of the combustion chamber with oil vapour which in effect reduces the octane rating of the fuel being used. This can then result in detonation causing damage to the cars pistons. Furthermore as the factory setup can be restrictive to the way the engine breathes this vapour, a build up of crankcase pressure can develop. The RCM catch tank system helps remove this unwanted vapour by diverting it from the righthand rocker cover, left hand rocker cover and the block case breather directly into the catch tank.

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Page 29: True Grip Subaru Magazine | Feb 2012 | Subaru Impreza Drivers Club

To avoid pressurisation inside the tank from this vapour a vent to atmosphere pipe is run under the car alongside the transmission tunnel. What you may ask happens to all this oil condensing inside the tank? A lot of universal style tanks on the market are often too small and can become full, clogging the breather system and totally negating the reason for fitting the tank in the first place! The RCM solution is a two pronged attack! Firstly via an in-built drain back to sump pipe. This stainless braided pipe fits securely to the tank via high quality aeroquip hose connections and then can be fitted directly to the cars sump in one of two ways. The drain back pipe can either be screwed into the standard sump bung position (in effect replacing the sump bung). Alternatively you can use one ofRCM’s tried and tested “Track Attack” baffled sumps which come with a seperate drain back facility into the side of the sump oil pan. In both instances oil collected in the tank is returned to the sump removing the need to perform messy catch tank drains!

Secondly all RCM catch tank kits have a unique baffled chamber for more effective condensing. Upon entering the RCM tank warm oil vapour will make contact with the baffled insert whereby it will then be safely guided to the base of the tank maintaining a clear path, ensuring your engine breathe’s none of these harmful vapours (Regular oil changes are recommended when using any oil catch tank system).In these days of spiralling bhp figures it’s easy to forget about the modifications that help sustain the reliability of your engine as the power is increased. The oil catch tank certainly would fit into this category. Often over looked hopefully this article has clarified what these are used for and why they are fitted!! Contact:www.rogerclarkmotorsport.co.uk

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Page 30: True Grip Subaru Magazine | Feb 2012 | Subaru Impreza Drivers Club

Current championship leading Time Attack team, Cross Roads, has released a stunning, strictly limited edition version of the latest Subaru STi saloon; the TA340C.This stunning 4 door is hand-finished by the same technicians that created the Pro-R Racing Time Attack Subaru – a car that dominated the Club Class of Time Attack last season. The TA340C uses many components and set-up techniques derived from the racecar, and with driver Jon Mathers being an

integral part of the development process, balances exceptional performance with ‘real-world’ usability. The build spec and branding of the car has been endorsed by the UK Time Attack championship; the first car ever to receive this accolade.Based on the 2011 MY 2.5 WRS Sti Saloon, the Pro-R Racing technicians have replaced many of the standard parts with motorsport quality alternatives from the Pro-R range, to enhance the entire driving experience. Despite the added edge of performance

STUDY IN GREYPro-R’s

IMAGES Stu Mason

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Page 31: True Grip Subaru Magazine | Feb 2012 | Subaru Impreza Drivers Club

offered by this rather special Impreza, the TA340C still enjoys full manufacturer’s warranty, thanks to every part fitted being a Subaru-approved accessory. As the nomenclature suggests, the engine itself has been remapped to produce a prodigious 340 BHP, with improved torque characteristics and a subtly increased exhaust note, thanks to a bespoke Scorpion rear box, which is hand-crafted from aerospace grade T304 stainless steel.As you might expect from a race outfit, handling is sublime, building on the already benign chassis of the STi and improving further still with the addition of stiffer, hollow Eibach anti-roll bars and subtly lower Eibach springs to create a chassis that still cossets during normal road driving, but rewards during hard cornering. This capable package is augmented by a full complement of SuperPro bushes which remove some of the compromise from the factory rubber bushes, without adversely affecting ride quality.Braking comes from the race-proven Pro-R brake set-up by Alcon. Boasting 365mm semi-floating front discs and lightweight monobloc alloy calipers, these brakes inspire huge confidence when stopping from any speed.

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Page 32: True Grip Subaru Magazine | Feb 2012 | Subaru Impreza Drivers Club

When I was invited to take the car out for the day I was slightly apprehensive if I’m honest - regardless of manufacturer, I’m sure we’ve all experienced the ‘Special Edition hype’ that gets banded around and already being aware of this car’s heritage, I wasn’t keen on being disappointed. That apprehension though was short-lived as within seconds of pulling out of the Cross Roads forecourt, it was immediately clear that this car was more than industry hype, this was something VERY special indeed!

I’ve driven a lot of Imprezas in my time (despite owning a lowly, albeit incredibly reliable, non-turbo daily driver), from showroom condition classics with less than 10k on the clock, some even with nigh-on 200k through to barely broken-in hatches and saloons of the current generation, unmodified and otherwise - not once though have I driven an Impreza so well set up as this. Initial expectations of a tuned STi with any number of ill-thought-out aftermarket accessories thrown at it proved to be deeply flawed as I negotiated my first roundabout and

feathered in the power, driving the car onto the long, open straights of the fosseway. What occurred to me as I took every opportunity to explore the limits of this car was that A. my own abilities as a driver would not come close to finding the true limits of this car and B. that every single component of this car had been carefully chosen to compliment one another - springs and bushes that give ultimate support in the corners but are comfortable and refined pootling through town, engine upgrades for increased power and an exhaust note that is barely noticeable sat in traffic but

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Page 33: True Grip Subaru Magazine | Feb 2012 | Subaru Impreza Drivers Club

more...

put the power down and you’re rewarded with an unmistakable exhaust note that reminds you of this cars true aspirations - screaming around a track! The component selection of parts that make this car stand out against the crowd are far from a random selection bolted onto the car for the sake of it, they’re chosen with thought, care and consideration - this is not your everyday tuning, this is motoring artistry. That refined balance of performance and usability, the handling, the looks (and by God it doesn’t half look good!) - they’re all chosen for that perfect balance of form and function. This is a high-power track monster, it is a refined family saloon and for all my efforts to prove otherwise, I could not fault its abilities in either environment.When the performance and handling lived up to (nae, exceeded) the hype, I cruised the M1, the M6 and M42 and it was as refined as any performance BMW or Audi I have driven and comfortably ate up the miles. Annoyingly, the trip even indicated on a number of occasions along the M42 that I was achieving better fuel economy than my Sport delivers!! I pulled off the motorway, into Northampton - again, refined and comfortable - out into the lanes for a gentle cruise through the lanes for my best flat cap wearing Sunday driver impression and as to be expected with a lowered car, it had a firmer ride than your average Maybach, but by comparison to the standard STi setup, it was (by this point) infuriatingly smooth! I wanted to find fault with this car, I wanted to find a reason to convince myself that I shouldn’t lust after it, to reassure myself that despite appearances, this was just another tuned STi.

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Page 34: True Grip Subaru Magazine | Feb 2012 | Subaru Impreza Drivers Club

In all honesty (and I know I’m gushing here) I could not find fault with it. It is, without doubt, the most exceptionally well balanced Impreza I have had the pleasure to drive.Despite the ‘wish-list’ of additional componentry to please the most dynamically demanding driver, it’s the aesthetics that really set the TA340C apart from the standard STi. A flawlessly applied ‘Moondust’ bodywrap tips its hat to the current supercar trend of satin finishes, yet needs none of the special attention associated with those high-maintenance hues. Indistinguishable from paint, it is augmented by the 19” Prodrive GT1 wheels, wrapped in the new Pirelli Trofeo tyres that have been developed for the 2012 Time Attack series. The final finishing touch is that most iconic of Impreza accessories, the high level OEM rear spoiler, complete

with an especially strengthened boot lid. As well as looking the part, it also adds genuine downforce to aid stability once the car reaches high speed.The TA340C is priced at £39,995 on the road. Only 15 will ever be produced and all come with individual numbered carbon plaque, bespoke carpet mats and discreet TA340C badging - this, as you would expect, is #1 and what a stunning blueprint for success it is!

For more information on the TA340C, visit www.subaruvehicles.co.uk

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Page 35: True Grip Subaru Magazine | Feb 2012 | Subaru Impreza Drivers Club

Additional options includeMoondust bodywrapOEM High level rear spoiler340bhp performance upgradeScorpion rear exhaust boxes made from T304 aerospace grade stainless steel.Eibach Anti Roll BarsEibach SpringsSuperpro suspension bushesPro-R Alcon front brakes (365mm semi floating discs with monobloc alloy callipers)19” GT2 alloy wheels in Bright flitter finishTrofeo tyresTA340C bespoke deep pile carpet matsTA340C bespoke exterior badgingSatellite navigationBluetoothXenon HeadlightsTinted GlassCruise ControlClimate Controlled Air ConditioningIpod/MP3 CompatibilitySI DriveDCCD Differential ControlRecaro Front SeatsAlcantara Interior TrimFront Fog LightsElectric Heated/Adjustable Door MirrorsElectric Front & Rear WindowsCD PlayerElectro-luminescent gaugesAluminium pedalsFront/Rear/Side AirbagsMeta Sat Tracking DeviceThatcham Cat1 Alarm/Immobiliser

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Page 36: True Grip Subaru Magazine | Feb 2012 | Subaru Impreza Drivers Club

EAST MIDLANDS RUNWORDS & IMAGES Little Green Goblin

Sunday the 21st January saw the first meet of a very jam packed Midlands calendar for 2012 and the morning dawned bright and dry if perhaps a little bit too windy for my liking (read as blowing a gale).Despite my SatNav insisting I had another 4.5 miles to go to reach my destination, I followed the sign for the Ikea car park just off of the A610 and have to admit to being slightly relieved to see Nick (Goofy) already there; at least I knew I was in the right place! Mark (Warrior08), Chris Woodhouse and Smiffy852 arrived not long after me and after a quick chat and a few introductions we decided it was time to hit the road, maps and radios were shared out and off we went.The route was planned to cover approximately 80 miles through various towns and villages with a stop off at Rutland Water for a quick photo opportunity and then finishing off in Fosse Park, Leicester. Despite a few “detours” en route Nick had planned and led a really great run with some interesting country roads thrown in for good measure, I think I can say we all really enjoyed it as well as a couple of guys walking down one of the roads who were most impressed to see and hear 5 Imprezas rumbling past them! Abuse – oops I mean banter on the radios continued as we headed towards Rutland Water and yes once again Little Green Goblin managed to put her foot in it on more than one occasion much to the hilarity of Nick and Mark (ok even I admit I should put my brain into gear before my mouth sometimes)!

The time for the photos arrived and we lined the cars up roadside with a very choppy reservoir in the background. Photos taken we all gathered together for another bit of banter before heading off for the final stretch of the run. It was at this point that I decided to head off in the opposite direction to the rest of the guys as I was only 30 odd miles from home and heading onto Leicester would have only taken me further away. Despite me opting for a shorter route I have to say I had an absolute blast and both Nick and Mark deserve a big pat on the back for all of the time and effort they put into ensuring this meet was as enjoyable as it was – thanks guys and I’ll see you next month at Washford Mill!In case any of you are interested in joining us, please find below the events planned for the up and coming few months and keep an eye out for posts on the Midlands regional section.

East Midlands Events February 19th Washford Mill Pub, Redditch

March 17th Scooby Clinic, Chesterfield

April 22nd Cross Roads Subaru, Treddington

May 20th Peak District Run, Chatsworth Estate

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Page 37: True Grip Subaru Magazine | Feb 2012 | Subaru Impreza Drivers Club

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:

Saturday 25th February Brands Hatch - Indy circuit £129 member/£149 non member

Friday 4th May Cadwell Park - Full circuit £149 member/£179 non member

Friday 8th JuneSilverstone - International circuit £189member/£219 non member

Friday 10th AugustAnglesey - GP circuit £169 member / £189 non member

Friday 21st September Snetterton - 300 circuit£169 member / £189 non member

Friday 16th NovemberOulton 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 carAdditional Drivers: £35 eachPassengers: £10 eachHelmet hire: £10 each

events calendarsidc 2012

English EventsSpring Action Day, Castle Combe Saturday 28 April

Modified Live, Cadwell Park Saturday 5 May

Japfest, Castle Combe Saturday 12 May

The Japshow, Santa Pod Sunday 17 June

Modified Mania, Smeatharpe Stadium Sunday 29 July

Rally Day, Castle Combe Saturday 18 August

Trax Shows, Silverstone Sunday 2 September

Scottish EventsThe Highland Fling, Various Scotland Friday 27 – Sunday 29 April

British Rallycross, Knockhill Saturday 12 – Sunday 13 May

Modified Live, Knockhill Sunday 10 June

The Scottish Motorfair, Knockhill Saturday 16 – Sunday 17 June

Total Jap Car Scotland, Knockhill Sunday 19 August

British Touring Cars, Knockhill Saturday 25 – Sunday 26 August

Magnificent Machines, East Fortune September date TBC

British Drifting Championships, Knockhill Saturday 29 – Sunday 30 September

Streetcar Scotland, Knockhill Saturday 21 October

National Events & TrackdaysSpring SIDC Track Day, Knockhill Saturday 17 March

SIDC 2012 AGM, Lincolnshire Saturday 5 May

Summer SIDC Track Day, Knockhill Saturday 9 June

Autumn SIDC Track Day, Knockhill Saturday 15 September

For full details please check in the Track Days and National Events section on the forum at http://bit.ly/kfGDkw

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Page 38: True Grip Subaru Magazine | Feb 2012 | Subaru Impreza Drivers Club

www.keithmichaels.co.uk

Page 39: True Grip Subaru Magazine | Feb 2012 | Subaru Impreza Drivers Club

The following Subaru dealers offer discount to Members on the production of a valid Membership card. Always confirm the level of discount on parts, (some Prodrive parts may not be discounted at all dealers) labour or accessories with the dealer prior to work commencing, or ordering parts.

A F Noble & Son Penicuik 01968 678002Adams Brothers Ltd Aylesbury 01296 434343Aird Motors* Invernesshire 01463 782266 AMC (Chelmsford) Ltd Essex 01245 235030 Ashburton Motor Works Ltd Ashburton 01364 652302 Barry Curran Ltd Isle Of Man 01624 817050Beechdale Derby Derby 01332 372555 Bell & Colvill (Horsley) Ltd West Horsley 01483 281000Bramley Kensington* London 0208 838 3113Bramley Kensington (Sales) Kensington 0207 937 8487Bulldog Twyford Twyford 0118 932 1331 Carstins Ltd Coventry 01676 533145 Chandlers Grantham Grantham 01476 590077Chandlers Horncastle* Horncastle 01507 527211Cheam Motors (Ewell) Ltd Ewell 0208 394 2266 Christopher Neil Cheshire 01606 41481 Concept* Birmingham 0121 313 6100Conders Subaru Cambridgeshire 01733 893704Constitution Motors Ltd Norwich 01603 411111 Cotswolds* Witney 01993 776622 Cross Roads Garage (Tredington) Ltd Shipston-on-Stour 01608 661544 Culverwell Cars Robertsbridge 01580 880567 Cutlers Of Streetly* West Midlands 01 922 472250Cvc (Cardiff) Cardiff 02920 222100 Davies Motors (Cardigan) Cardigan 01239 621222Dennis Common Morpeth 01665 570542 Desmond Eastwood Motors Ltd Lisburn 02892 621293 Dicksons Of Inverness* Inverness 01463 712800 Donnelly Belfast 02890 375000 Eaglesham Garage Ltd* Eaglesham 01355 302685Emg Bury St Edmunds Suffolk 01284 775900 Emg Spalding Spalding 01775 767651Evans Halshaw Newcastle-upon-Tyne 0191 266 4055F R Pulleyn Wigginton Garage Ltd* York 01904 690742Fiskens Of Forfar Forfar 01307 462980 G C Stanbury & Son* Dulverton 01398 323545 Gatwick Crawley 01293 429800 Gilesgate Ltd Hexham 01434 605825 Gmd Car Sales Durham 01913 840070Greenwood Manchester 0161 301 5000H Robinson & Sons (Rochdale) Ltd Rochdale 01706 716655 Haddocks Colchester 01206 230331

Halleys Garage Ltd Milngavie 0141 956 1126Heritage (Leicester) Ltd Leicester 0116 283 1052 Holdcroft (Staffordshire) Newcastle-under-Lyme 01782 617321 Hylton Of Shrewsbury Shrewsbury 01743 450 450Hylton Of Worcester Worcester 01905 748414 Ian Grieve Falkirk 01324 605100 J N Royle & Son Ltd (Parts Only) Oswestry 01691 610216James Haugh (Dumfries) Ltd Dumfrieshire 01387 255291 Jennings Middlesbrough 01642 209100John Grose Suffolk 01394 383456 John R Weir Ltd Perth 01738 477700 Jordans* Hull 01482 222500K T Green Ltd Nr Leeds 0113 284 3535Keith Price Garages Ltd Abergavenny 01873 811555Kendal Motor Village LA9 6DU 01539 736666 Kenneth Melville (Errol) Ltd* Errol 01821 670242 Le Mont Saint Garage Ltd 01481 264811Lifestyle Tunbridge Wells 01892 510005 Listers Of Worcester* Worcester 01905 640512 Lucas Of Mansfield Ltd Mansfield 01623 624244 M & R Gair Shetland 01595 693246Mantle’s (Trefeglwys) Ltd* Caersws 01686 430202Marlborough Isleworth Motors Ltd* Isleworth 0208 568 1414 Maugers Garage Ltd Channel Islands 01534 861388Mckeary Motors* Coleraine 02870 351081Mkg 3000 Middlesex 0208 894 7504Monks Heath Motors Ltd Macclesfield 01625 861544Monty’s Of Sheffield Sheffield 0114 221 4333Oaken Garage Wolverhampton 01902 844441Pewsham Garage Wiltshire 01249 654429Prosport Ltd* Stockport 0161 432 9999Proven Motor Company Ltd Haslemere 01428 652554 Quenby Bros Ltd Baldock 01462 499930 R N Golden Ltd Huddersfield 01484 608060Research Garage Group Ltd Nuneaton 02476 377170 Robert Bowett Motoring Leeds 0113 277 6099S & S Services Heathfield 01292 880080S G Petch (Richmond) Richmond 01748 825757Sgt Select Maidenhead 01628 605353Showells (Garages) Ltd Nr Stourbridge 01384 422488Simpsons Of Swindon Swindon 01793 762234

Slip End Garage Ltd Bedfordshire 01582 456888 Soul Garages Limited Buckinghamshire 01234 244300 Sparshatts Of Botley Ltd Southampton 01489 785111 St Leger Doncaster 01302 571420 Stan Palmer Ltd Carlisle 01228 525051T H White Ltd Cirencester 01285 653354Threeways Garage Ltd Clwyd 01745 825847Tiley Bristol Ltd Bristol 0117 923 1231Town & County Motors Ltd Aberdeen 01224 874333 Triangle Of Chesterfield Ltd Chesterfield 01246 454545Vale Motors Wincanton 01963 34034Vospers Exeter Exeter 01392 203800Vospers Of Truro Ltd Truro 01872 226226Walldonway Ltd Larkfield 01732 870386Webbers Hampshire 01256 300653Welch Group Garages Ltd Cambridge 01223 843015Westaway Motors Ltd Spratton 01604 847245Williams Lancing 01903 753535Willoughby Group Nottingham 0115 925 8282

*(Authorised Repairer Only)

MEMBER DISCOUNTS

A large number of specialist suppliers also offer discounts to Members on the production of a valid Membership card. These include The AA, Black Circles, Scoobyworld and many, many more. Check out the Membership /Club Enquiries section of the forums for a complete list.

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TRUE GRIP 39

Page 40: True Grip Subaru Magazine | Feb 2012 | Subaru Impreza Drivers Club

Laura

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