Travis: Getting to the top of any sport takes a certain amount of dedication, focus and drive, and that has allowed us to bypass some of the mental challenges. I think anyone who's at the top of one sport knows what it takes to get to the top of another--although that doesn't necessarily mean they'll get there.
Dave: [sarcastically] For example: Tying Ken Block in my first X Games Rally, that's pretty huge. [laughter]
Ken: Keep it up, Dave. [laughter] I think it takes a certain personality and interest to get to a certain level of driving. A lot of people come into this sport with natural talent, but once you start learning techniques to develop that ability, you really discover just how gnarly it is to become a top-level pro. Both Travis and I have competed against some of the top drivers in the world in PWRC--which is a step below the WRC--and we both got completely smoked. There's so much more that we need to learn to go beyond where we are now. It's humbling to race guys from Finland, Sweden, Japan, France . . . who have grown up in that environment--I started rallying at 36; most Finnish drivers start at 16. Rally has been a part of their lives, it's on Eurosport (a European sports network), whereas growing up here, we hardly see it. I think Americans are handicapped when it comes to rally. There is less media exposure, drivers aren't starting at an early age, and there isn't the infrastructure here like there is internationally.
2NR: It's crazy to think international drivers are starting in their teens. Growing up pre-Internet, I think the first time I saw rally wasn't until college. How much have your previous athletic abilities helped, if any, in rally?
Dave: I think it's been huge. Reading up on racing, they say that if you're in better physical shape, you're mentally stronger and that you will win more races. I don't know how true that is, but I think it's huge to be dialed physically and mentally to be a rally driver.
Travis: For us, I think a lot of it is more natural. I've been in pressure situations since I was four years old and I enjoy having to step up in competition.
Ken: When I came into this, my experience level wasn't the same, compared to Dave and Travis. Once you've been a champion and have gone through the pressures, I think it's easier to translate it into other things. There were situations where I took things more seriously and got more nervous than Travis. Going into the last stage of the first X Games Rally, I had to beat the third-place team by half a second to get a medal. For me, after all the years of watching the guys I work with get medals, it was incredible trying to get one of my own. Televised nationally, I was more nervous than I had been in my entire life.
2NR: How did the involvement with Subaru come around?
Travis: From the opportunity I had driving the WRC car, I was hooked. But before that, everybody who helped with support in motocross and a lot of my friends drove Subarus. That established me wanting to drive a Subaru.
Ken: I called up Vermont SportsCar about taking some lessons. They got me in the same car Travis was racing, and I've been competing in a Subaru ever since.
Dave: With Ken and Travis being involved, the opportunity came my way. I came out and drove a Subaru, was pretty good at it and it's been on ever since.
2NR: What characteristics about a Subaru make them so competitive in rally?
Ken: The asymmetrical all-wheel drive. That, and the boxer engine's low center of gravity.
Travis: The all-wheel drive and durability is what sold me. I hit a lot of stuff, so I need a car that can continue on and finish.
Ken: Subarus really hold up well under a roll! [laughter]
Travis: They do! Subarus can roll and keep rolling. [laughter]
2NR: Now would be the time to say: Don't try this at home, kids! Unless you're in a Subaru equipped with a roll cage built by Vermont SportsCar, that is . . .