So I’m still getting used to the blog stuff and usually struggle to figure out what to talk about.  But after this week’s event at Super Lap Battle, I knew right away what I should be sharing.

As most of you already know, I’ve picked up EDO Performance as one of my major sponsors.  As the only U.S. distributors of Zerosports products, they naturally wanted me to run the Zerosports Big Brake Kit on my car.  Hesitant at first, but with a little arm twisting and coaxing, I agreed to run the kit on my car.  I’ve never been one to give credit to JDM goodness just for the sake of being JDM, so you could see how I struggled to justify this purchase.  This week was the Super Lap Battle Finals.  I thought to myself, what better place to do a little testing on my new brake set up!  Hitting the track for the first few laps was a little nerve racking.  Were they going to work?  Would they stop me in time?  Would they withstand the heat?  Could I go in deeper and brake later?  Well….Yes, Yes, Yes, and Oh hell YES!!!!

While flying down the front straight at full throttle coming into a short braking done before I’m back on the throttle and into turn one, only one word came to mind….DELIGHTFUL!!!! 

I cannot stress to you how well these brakes worked.  I came into the braking zones waaaay later than usual and these things just laughed at me….haha, that all you got????  After my second session and we were rotating the tires, I thought for sure we should be bleeding the brakes, and what do you know…the fluid looked like it did when I poured it in the first time…Un-freakin-believable!!!!!

With the same power, tires, and only a different brake setup, I was able to shed a full second off my lap times at Buttonwillow raceway.  I’m looking forward to exploring the limits of these brakes as my lap times will only be improving. 

Next up is power mods: bigger turbo, new pistons, cams, and other goodies…it’s good to know that I will be able to stop Sancha as she shoots even faster down the straights!!!

Time for another installment in my so-called life.  Doing a little housecleaning these days…out with the old, in with the new.  This entry is a continuation from my last blog.  After going off track at Subiefest and flying Porsche parts at Auto Club Speedway, I had to make some changes to the front end…pretty much everything needed to be changed (hood, fenders, bumper, and sideskirts.) 

I dropped off the car to my preferred paint shop (Upland Ford Collision Center) as they have done great work for me in the past.  I was then off on my east coast road trip that my boss so kindly volunteered me to go.  Two weeks on the road without hotel rooms or showers can do a lot for a person…making new friends was not one of them!  One good thing, people give you lots of personal space so I was a happy camper!

Oh yeah, I had a point…after two weeks on the road, waiting for me all pretty, and clean, and new was Sancha parked just where I left her at the shop just waiting for me to pick her up!  For those that want to know why I call her “Sancha”, ask someone who knows spanish to expain it to you!

Sancha looks great…a little plastic surgery by the “doctor” Bill at Upland Ford was enough to bring a tear to my eye.  She was absolutely beautiful!  A new carbon fiber hood, painted on both sides with a carbon fiber stripe down the midel, carbon fiber fenders, and a shiny new Zerosports front bumper and sideskirts.  Wow, she is quite menacing now with plenty of wide open space for air to flow through to the brakes and intercooler. 

Well what’s next for Sancha?  Gotta get her a new dress of course!!!  This weekend we plan to re-wrap her with all new sponsor logos.  Possibly show her off this weekend at a local car show.  The big dance will be the first week of November where she will be featured at this year’s SEMA show in Las Vegas, NV. and Subie Invasion sponsored by EDO Performance.

Then we’re off to Buttonwillow Raceway where we compete in the Super Lap Battle Finals!  Come out and show your support…hope to see you there!!

Hello Everyone!

As my second blog entry, I struggled with what I should write about as I’m a little new at this blog thing.  I figured I’d share what every driver, car owner, and team must deal with in this sport…vehicle damage.

Starting with this year’s Subiefest, held at Willow Springs Raceway, temperatures were hot and the competition was stiff!  With track temperatures reaching upwards of 115 degrees, it was very hard on the motors!  With 3 motors blowing up on saturday’s practice, and a few more spewing oil on track on sunday, it made for scary and unpredictable track conditions.  I was a victim on sunday morning during my practice session when a car ahead of me had been spewing oil on track without getting black flagged.  So into turn 1 at speeds well over 100mph, I hit a patch of oil at turn exit sending me off track.  At those speeds, I was sure I was going to do some serious damage…both feet in and hope it didn’t roll!!!  Lucky for me, the runoff wasn’t too bad, but after hitting a small ditch in the runoff I generously donated some body parts to the track.  The carnage was bad but not enough to kill my day.  We lost the front splitter and bumper, and also did damage to the fenders, sideskirts, and undercarriage.  With the help of EDO Performance and their pit crew, we were able to get the car back out for qualifying and made it into the finals!  All in all, I can’t complain…things could have been worse!

Two weeks later brings us to California Speedway.  Speedventures put on a track day on the Roval Course and I couldn’t resist!  Five minutes from home, and enough track credits to cover the day convinced me that it would be a good day to go play and get some more seat time!  The day went well, the car ran great even despite the body damage from Subiefest!  On my last session, it happened.  While following a Porsche GT2 on the front straight as speed well over 145mph, something from under the porsche flew up and demolished my hood and scoop!  The damage was so bad that this too needs to be replaced, but once again, i’m grateful because it could have been worse.

Within two consecutive events, I have now destroyed a hood, front bumper, side skirts, and front fenders.  Am I upset about this?  Of course!  Is this going to cost me?  You bet!  But hey…that’s racing!  I knew this when I got into it…and have to take it as it comes.  What’s next?  Well, I’ve been fortunate to receive some help from new sponsorships and acquired all of the necessary parts to replace the damage.  The car is at the bodyshop now getting repainted and put back together in time for this year’s SEMA show and Subie Invasion!  The following week, we will be competing at the Super Lap Battle Finals to be held at Buttonwillow Raceway.  Is there a possiblity that I can do more damage???  Absolutely!  Does that make me crazy?  Nope!  I’m a race car driver…it’s what I do.

Scott VanderHeide

Driver — EDO Performance STi

As the new driver representing EDO Performance, I wanted to make my first blog entry an introduction of myself, where I’ve been, how I’ve come to do what I do, and where I plan to go from here.  I get lots of questions on a regular basis on how to get started in racing and for those that were curious, here’s my story:

My intoxication with motorsports started with my first job out of college.  I was hired by a company called Off Track Management to run a racing simulator promotion for Marlboro Team Penske and C.A.R.T. following the circuit from city to city at local bars.  This led to more responsibilities including trackside support for the hospitality crew in the paddock area at all U.S. races.  After two years of working as a bar night promotions manager and trackside suport staff, Philip Morris Inc. decided to broaden their marketing efforts by creating the “Marlboro Racing School”.  This national sweepstakes took hundreds of people per year through a 5 star 3 day racing school at various professional race venues which consisted of driving Formula IROC cars on the oval tracks, Formula Van Diemens on the road courses, and Ford Mustangs on the autocross.  I was asked to work at the racing schools as a full time staff member while simulataneously flying back and forth between C.A.R.T. series events.  It was at these racing schools that my passion for racing began.  I surrounded myself with the driving instructors at work where I was given the opportunity to go through the schools as a student with professional instruction.  I was befriended by the instructors and complimented on my natural driving abilities and was told that with some formal instruction could become a very competent driver.  Many evenings were spent talking about the driving lines, techniques, theories, and quite often spent visiting local karting facilities around the country battling it out for bragging rights at the track.  I quickly learned and began to beat some of our instructors at their own game.

After Leaving my job with the racing team, I was given the opportunity of a career in real estate.  Although I had left the racing team behind me, I was unable to shake the racing “bug”.  In late 2004, I purchased a 2005 Subaru WRX/STi.  My intentions were to compete in SCCA autocross as my friends from the racing team said it would be a great way to gain experience and skill.  After several events, I found it just wasn’t enough for me and I was introduced to track days or HPDE’s.  For just a little more money, I was able to drive my car faster, harder, and longer.  I quickly fell in love with the sport and found myself attending track days at least once per month.  Just as my skill on the track became apparent that I  was usually one of the faster guys in the sessions, Time Attacks started to show up here in the U.S.  I found that the same track day companies I ran with were now creating competitions and giving trophies for fast times of the day.  I found that as I kept racing in these Time Attacks, I was consistently finishing near the top of my class.

As the sport began gaining attention, the media became more involved.  As the media became more involved, sponsorships and tuning shops showed their presence.  At this point, in order for me to stay competitive, I really needed to build my car to keep up with the new found “big boys”.  Financing came from myself and countless hours were spent with friends building the car.  At the track, you’d usually find me with my toolbox, a jack, and a lot of hope that something didn’t go wrong because I had to drive the car home that night and to work the next day.  My driving has since improved by leaps and bounds, the car looks a lot different, but my drive and heart are still the same.  The “Time Attacks” are completely different now, so it’s a lot of work to stay competitive and I do whatever it takes to succeed.

Currently, I’ve left my job as a real estate agent to pursue the opportunity to help build the business of one of my sponsors.  It’s amazing what happens when you pursue your dreams.  It can really change your life!  I’ve always told myself, the minute you start disliking what you do…you need to do something about it.  My Start of driving as a hobby has now turned into a career in motorsports, a few magazine spots, a couple of tv spots, and now the faith and support from my current sponsors. 

I have since teamed up with EDO Performance as my primary sponsor.  With a few events already under our belts as a team, we are expecting great success for the 2009 season.  Keep your eyes peeled as you’ll be seeing quite a bit of us!

As the cartoon character “Cartman” from the animated tv series Southpark says, “Live your dreams…I am living proof!”  I really am living a dream…and I sure hope I don’t wake up anytime soon because I’m enjoying every minute of it!!!!

Scott VanderHeide — EDO Performance/Robispec STi

Marlboro Racing School -- where I learned the ropes!

EDO Performance was proud to present Subiefest 2008, the largest Subaru gathering in America! EDO was there both days as Subaru enthusiasts gathered to watch the best of the best go head to head in an all out blown Subaru Time Attack! Aside from the excitement on the track attendees welcomed tons of vendors, live music, test drives in the new 2009 WRX/STi and much more!

Saturday started off with EDO in full force! We had our tent set up and products out for display for the many gathering Subaru fans. Some coming from as far away as Oregon! There was an array of cars on the track, not just Subaru, demonstrating their skill and abilities. EDO had 3 cars that day, preparing for Sunday’s big event. Thomas Smith was out representing EDO and Flat 4 Las Vegas in his 2006 Subaru WRX. Scott VanderHeide was present in his RobiSpec/EDO 2004 STi. EDO even resurrected our EDO/EAT Motorsports 2006 STi for this event; driven by Nikki and RJ of Acutech Autos. Also there Saturday was DC shoe founder and Rally Racer himself Ken Block out on the track taking his Monster STi for a spin and signing autographs throughout the day.

Sunday proved to be the big day as even more fans gathered to watch the all Subaru Time Attack event! There was tons of competition out but in the end EDO performed well! Congrats to Scott VanderHeide for finishing in the top 5 in Modified class. Another congratulations to Thomas Smith for taking 2nd in the Stock class with the Crawford 2008 STi just edging past him! Congratulations to Mike McGuinness and his wagon for taking best in show at Sunday’s car show. All in all it was a great showing despite the heat, oil spills and wipeouts. EDO Performance is grateful to have hosted Subiefest 2008 can’t wait for next year’s event. A special thank you to those who supported EDO: our drivers Thomas Smith, Scott VanderHeide & Niki Tam, as well as Acutech Autos, EAT Motorsports, Auto HQ, Flat 4 & Subiesport magazine. Finally, thank you to all the fans, supporters and enthusiasts who came out to watch Subaru’s do what they do best, perform! We hope to again, play a supporting role in Subiefest 2009.

Here’s some of the action from last year…

And this year North America largest all Subaru event is going to be bigger and badder than ever; with live bands, all night parties, celebrities, and of course the fastest Subaru’s in the world dueling it out for top honors.

Subiefest 2008 was recently featured on cardomain.com, http://blog.cardomain.com/blog/2008/09/subiefest.html

And don’t forget the official site at http://www.subiefest.com/2008/

We’ll see you guys on the track!

Subiefest 2008 will be an amazing gathering of Subarus from all over the country.  The Las Vegas Flat4 club will travel all the way out from Nevada to support the event and have a great time.  Racing classes for the day will include Street Modified, Pro Race and HPDE Only so there will be plenty of different classifications for everyone who wants to participate.  This is going to be an awesome event so mark your calendars everyone and we’ll see you there!

Subiefest 08