Travis: . . . No, stock ones too. I rolled a Subaru wagon three times before it quit.
2NR: Stock, with no roll cage?
Travis: Uh . . . hypothetically speaking, that is. [laughter]
2NR: For those of you who were previously in STI sedans, how do the '08 hatchbacks compare?
Travis: The hatchbacks are more of a race-able car. They hug the road a lot better than the previous sedan--the previous Imprezas tended to slide a little bit more. You can still slide the new STIs, but you can be more aggressive with them.
Ken: The new STI's suspension geometry has really come a long way.
2NR: How's the anti-lag system?
Travis: It sounds sweet and it takes out the hesitation! You notice the anti-lag more when stuff's going wrong than when it's going right. When you're driving smooth and everything is perfect, you can get on the gas and it's mellow. But when you're hail-mary, spun around backwards, and you need the power right there, the anti-lag system provides it.
Ken: I notice when I switch into my gymkhana car that doesn't have it, I have to be more accurate with my throttle control--I have to know where the power is and when it's going to hit. With the anti-lag, it's not even a thought. The boost pressure is always there.
2NR: What on-track adjustments are made to the car?
Ken: Depending on the track layout, mostly differentials and suspension setup. We don't mess with the engine too much . . . although I do ask the engineers for more power at every race, and not to give it to Travis. [laughter]
Dave: For us, it's more about dialing in the weight ratio. It's really precise--it boils down to whether I eat a cheeseburger or a chicken salad before a race. [laughter]
2NR: The craziest repair during a rally?
Travis: I think I know the least about cars, motorcycles or anything mechanical out of anyone on the face of the Earth. We broke the driveshaft and front right tire at Ojibway Forests in 2006, and I had no idea what was going on. My co-driver Christian started yelling, "OK, jack up the front of the car!" He yanked out the tire and yelled, "Pull the driveshaft out!" I yanked it out and he yelled, "Throw it in the back, let's go!" I'm like, don't we need this? Christian yelled back, "We don't have time--lock the differential! Go, go, go!" [laughter]
I think I need to learn more about mechanics just so I'm not as frightened when we're pulling stuff off that we're not putting back on. [laughter]
Ken: In 2006, at the Maine Forest Rally. I clipped a rock on a turn and broke the front control arm on the left wheel. We ended up on the side of the road with the rim jammed up in the wheel well. I was devastated. The rally was going well and Alex, my co-driver, hopped on the right corner of our Subaru to try and counterbalance the missing front left. By the end of the stage the wheel was sideways and one-third of it had ground down.
Dave: Maine Forest Rally, last year. I hit this bank and the gas pedal got stuck wide-open and my co-driver was yelling "keep going!" Every time I shifted, the motor would rev up and I had to use my brakes for everything. It wore down to the point where I was driving without brakes!
2NR: What's the worst accident you've been in?
Travis: My most fun accident was when I came over a crest after a really long straightaway. The car got loose and we rolled out into a field. After three rolls it got quiet, so my co-driver and I thought the crash was over and started asking each other if we were OK, and then, "wham!" Another three rolls!
Ken: Ojibway Forests, 2006. I was few seconds ahead of Travis . . .
Travis: . . . Thanks for throwing that in! [laughter]
Ken: . . . Another event where something happens to me and I have to sit there and watch you win! [laughter] As we were sliding through a junction filled with sandy material, the rear wheel caught something mid-slide and stopped--we flew into a tree.
Dave: I'm pretty chill. I haven't had any crazy wipeouts.