Posts

Street Racing Illustrated | Mattia Conte’s 2005 Subaru STI

Street Racing Illustrated | Mattia Conte’s 2005 Subaru STI

Bred for speed

Story | Phillip Pratt

Photos | Gerry Burke & Phillip Pratt

důležité webové stránky

Street Racing Illustrated | Mattia Conte’s 2005 Subaru STI

Street Racing Illustrated | Mattia Conte’s 2005 Subaru STI

A large percentage of our genetic makeup comes from our grandparents. They say on average about twenty-five percent from each. Height, moles, complexion, eye and hair color can skip an entire generation and land smack-dab on an unsuspecting grandchild. Sometimes you get dealt a crown of raven-colored hair in a family of sandy-blondes. Maybe end up being a 6’5” giant with two 5-foot-something parents. Other times it’s not physical at all, and you get something completely different.  Like a love of cars and racing. That is exactly what 19-year old, third-generation, automobile enthusiast, Mattia Conte, was gifted with. Something his 2005 Subaru STI exemplifies from the front bumper to the rear.

Street Racing Illustrated | Mattia Conte’s 2005 Subaru STI

Street Racing Illustrated | Mattia Conte’s 2005 Subaru STI

A resident of Miami Beach, Florida, Mattia, grew up surrounded by great role models. Other than having a mother that’s into cars herself, Mattia’s grandfather, Massimo, (a former Formula 1 driver, Rallycross vet and owner of a 2.5L STI swapped 98’ GC) kept the future Blob-eye driver steeped in the horsepower lifestyle. “I grew up watching him race…” Mattia remembers. “I rode in almost all of his cars, but the [Subaru] was my favorite, so eventually, I wanted to have one for myself.” After saving up, Mattia successfully sourced his dream-ride from a Craigslist ad. Over the next couple of years, he meticulously gathered a who’s who-list of trusted Subaru aftermarket part manufacturers. This resulted in a Blob-eye STI that was as far away from stock as it could be.

Street Racing Illustrated | Mattia Conte’s 2005 Subaru STI

Street Racing Illustrated | Mattia Conte’s 2005 Subaru STI

The first thing you’ll notice about the STI is the color. Wrapped in battleship-gray it manages to both stand out among a row of cars and blend into the gray-asphalt below it. The color can be kind of low-key, so to break up any possible monotony, Mattia, installed AeroFlow V2 canards, a V-Limited front lip, C-Speed side-skirts, an Invictus Aero rear diffuser, Perrin wing-stabilizers and topped it all off with a 2007 WRX STI roof spoiler. The sheer amount of added aerodynamics might turn some tuners off but fret not. This isn’t an ‘all-show’-type of an Impreza.

Street Racing Illustrated | Mattia Conte’s 2005 Subaru STI

Street Racing Illustrated | Mattia Conte’s 2005 Subaru STI

After suffering some unfortunate (but Subaru-typical) engine failure back in February, Matter decided to turn it up a few notches. With help from well-renowned tuners/builders, the WRXperts, he replaced his stock engine with an IAG Stage-3 closed-deck block, built out with Manley pistons and Toda rods. It was then matted to 2007 STI V25B heads. Assisting with the rise and fall of the Ferret valves, are springs and a set of Kelford Stage-2 272 camshafts.

Street Racing Illustrated | Mattia Conte’s 2005 Subaru STI

If you can get past all that sweet-sweet music, you’ll pick up on the whistle of the legendarily-consistent Blouch 3.0XT-R Dominator turbo. Making all that charged air more palatable for combustion, while not sacrificing response time, is a Grimmspeed top-mount intercooler. None of these fine pieces’ matter if the engine management isn’t on point. Luckily, that’s not an issue. Highly recommended tuner, Mike Botti, of Fat Botti Tuning, massaged Mattia’s built EJ25 to safely belt out more than 400 notes of horsepower utilizing the tried and true Cobb Accessport.

Street Racing Illustrated | Mattia Conte’s 2005 Subaru STI

Attaching all this fine all-wheel-drive power to the ground are a set of 17×8 Enkei RPF1 racing wheels, wrapped in Bridgestone Potenza RE070 225/45 rubber. Raceland Ultimo coilovers help the Subaru flow over the pavement, while the factory provided Brembo calipers are lovingly stuffed with Hawk pads and are paired with a set of DBA drilled rotors, all the way around. The real beneficiary of Mattia’s excellent lineage is obviously his impressive Blob-eye. The end results of his build are definitely not reflective of his age. Sadly, these days many kids these days in the same position would be satisfied with an atmospheric blow-off valve, spiked lug nuts, and an obnoxious wrap-job. While Mattia admits to drawing inspiration from social media- it’s refreshing to see a tuner of this new-generation go down the right path.

Street Racing Illustrated | Mattia Conte’s 2005 Subaru STI

Street Racing Illustrated | Mattia Conte’s 2005 Subaru STI

The Breaking Down| 2005 Subaru Impreza WRX STI

Engine| IAG STAGE-3 CLOSED DECK EJ25 BLOCKS, 07’ V25B STI HEADS, KELFORD STAGE-2 272 CAMSHAFTS, FERRET: VALVES, SPRINGS & RETAINERS, DEATSCHWERKS 850cc FUEL INJECTORS, BLOUCH 3.0XT-R DOMINATOR TURBO, GRIMMSPEED TMIC, MISHIMOTO RADIATOR, GFB BLOW VALVE, COBB AIR-INTAKE, INVIDIA: N1 RACING EXHAUST & CATLESS DOWNPIPE

Engine Management| COBB ACCESSPORT; TURNED BY MIKE BOTTI OF FAT BOTTI TUNING

Transmission& Drivetrain| ACT STAGE-3 HEAVY DUTY CLUTCH, KARTBOY SHORT SHIFTER

Suspension& Chassis Mods| RACELAND ULTIMO COILOVERS

Braking| HAWK HPS PADS, DBA DRILLED ROTORS

Wheels| ENKEI RPF1 17X8 w/ 45MM OFFSET, 15MM SPACERS

Tires| BRIDGESTONE POTENZA RE070 225/45

Body Mods| BATTLESHIP-GRAY WRAP, AEROFLOW V2 CANARDS, V-LIMITED FRONT LIP, C-SPEED SIDE-SKIRTS, INVICTUS V2 REAR DIFFUSER, PERRIN WING STABILIZERS, 07’ STI ROOF SPOILER

S2000 at SRMS' Cars, Coffee, and Racing

Street Racing Illustrated | Cars, Coffee, and Racing 08/12/2018

“Auto-Xing actually becomes more fun when it’s raining!”- Mario Ojito

Story | Phillip Pratt

 

SRMS Cars, Coffee, and RacingStreet Racing Made Safe’s inaugural Car, Coffee, and Racing was everything that SRMS President, Mario Ojito, said it would be. Even a massive speed trap on the turnpike and forty-five-minute downpour couldn’t stop the meet and races. Despite the wetter circumstances of the end of the day, the beginning was effing flawless. The racers were blessed with sunny, clear, skies as prep began and walks of the track were allowed. This isn’t a go-kart track with a tiny lane and nearly unreasonable amounts of hair-pins. AMR Motorplex supplied racers with lots of stretches to open those throttles up and get some speed going. The rain that arrived halfway through the event slowed down the meet-section, but unlike on a drag-strip, water just makes the racing more engaging. It was easy to tell the first time Auto-Xers from the seasoned vets, but as this event grows, I expect to see skills and car engineering do the same. Auto-Xing times can be viewed here. Next event will be held on September 9th, 2018 at AMR Motorplex.

 

SRMS Cars, Coffee, and Racing

Subaru WRX STI RA Sets Record in Romania | Photos Courtesy of Subaru

Street Racing Illustrated | Mark Higgins Breaks Record on the Transfăgărășan

Mark Higgins and Co-pilot Darren Garrod set Time Attack Record in Romania

Story | Phillip Pratt

 

Subaru WRX STI RA Sets Record in Romania | Photos Courtesy of Subaru

Subaru and Mark Higgins Set Record in Romania | Photos Courtesy of Subaru

 

Mark Higgins and Co-pilot Darren Garrod set a new Time Attack record on the famous Transfăgărășan road course in Southern part of Carpathian Mountains of Romania. The road was originally built in the 1970s as a military route to connect Transylvania and Wallachia. Yes. Transylvania. And with over six-hundred twists and turns, the Transfăgărășan is just as scary. The fact that the weather was as hairy as a Miami afternoon in July, didn’t make those roads any tamer. The 600HP and 447lb-ft of torque equipped Subaru WRX STI was able to cut up the 52.4 miles of damp pavement in 40-minutes, 58.8 seconds with an average speed of 76.69 miles per hour!

 

Subaru WRX STI RA Sets Record in Romania | Photos Courtesy of Subaru

Subaru and Mark Higgins Set Record in Romania | Photos Courtesy of Subaru

Street Racing Illustrated | The WRXperts

Rodrigo and Juan of the WRXperts turn adversity into opportunity.

Story & Photos | Phillip Pratt

 

The WRXperts

The WRXperts

 

There’s an old saying about ‘opportunity’, well there are several dozen, but two stick out the most to me; the first being “When Opportunity knocks, you’d better answer it” and the next “Opportunity knocks but once”. While I unequivocally agree with the first, the second isn’t always true. Sometimes opportunity doesn’t just show up once and then walk away. Like a Jehovah Witness on a Saturday, it can be persistent and either bang on the door until someone answers, or just keep coming back. Both of these proverbs describe the journey of South Florida’s WRXperts, Subaru Specialists, to the proverbial “tee”.

 

The WRXperts

The WRXperts | JC of The WRXperts

 

Individually, the two halves of the WRXperts, Rodrigo Ruiz, and Juan Cardentey, were already accomplished mechanics before they decided to work together. It wasn’t until Rodrigo needed a job done, using a particular set of tools he didn’t possess, did the two meet through a mutual acquaintance. After the work was completed, Juan and Rod found themselves continuously running into each other on the street. Turned out they lived within just five minutes of each other. After fate pushed them together on several occasions, they finally exchanged numbers at a local supermarket, of all places. A little while later, Rod injured his hand and was unable to complete a job he’d begun. During a couple of all-nighters, Rod and Juan decided to join forces and pool their talents to create what would later be called WRXperts… I say “later” because for the briefest of moments they were going by the hilarious moniker “FAH Q Motorsports”, a holdover from Rodrigo’s solo days.

 

The WRXperts

The WRXperts | Rodrigo Ruiz and Juan Cardentey

 

After being a mostly mobile service, and when necessary doing work out of Rod’s Pembroke Pines home (which was becoming a hassle with HOA and the City applying pressure for them to “cease and desist”), in late 2013 the two were able to secure a space in a body shop in Miami called Perfection Paint & Body. “We were busy. Every day of the week, and then the weekends. It got so busy I ended up quitting my job of fifteen years” Juan recalled, “We needed somewhere to wrench”. The workload was consistent enough that Rod too left his employment. Eventually, they even brought on other mechanics, JC and then Andy. With just enough space to squeeze in two lifts and their tools, they made it work for over four years. A tribute to their reliable and fast work, the WRXperts built-up a steady clientele, despite not being in the most convenient of locations. The best route to their shop was via a multi-lane, perpetually under-construction highway named the “Palmetto”. A notoriously slow-moving route during the day, aka business hours. “We’d get photos sent to us from customers stuck in traffic, but they’d still make the trip, and we’re grateful for the loyalty.”

 

The WRXperts

The WRXperts | Multi-generational knowledge base

 

For those not familiar with the layout of South Florida; the area the WRXperts relocated to after leaving Rod’s house in Pembroke Pines is roughly twenty-three miles South, in the heart of Miami. Twenty-three miles may not seem like a big deal, but once morning traffic kicks in, a customer could easily be in for a forty-five minute to an hour of driving, and then some! And that’s assuming they were coming from the South Broward area. There are customers that routinely made the trip from as far north as West Palm Beach. Now that’s loyalty.

 

Photo Courtesy of Rodrigo Ruiz' Facebook Page

The WRXperts | The WRXperts and friends moving out of their starter home in Miami

 

Even with a steady stream of Subies coming in and a rock-solid rep, the WRXperts were bound to hit some tumultuous weather. The owner of the shop they occupied sold the building to a land developer who had plans to level it. With only nine-days’ notice, they had to move out whilst in the middle of projects ranging from oil changes to full engine builds. “Even with offering mobile services and finishing builds at customer residences, we lost a lot of business in the transition…” Rod lamented “probably around four to five [thousand dollars] of work.”

 

Photo Courtesy of Rodrigo Ruiz' Facebook Page

The WRXperts | WRXpert Andy doing some in-home service during their transition

 

After searching many of the industrial areas of South Florida from Bird Road all the way up to Opalocka, Juan finally came across an online listing for a shop in West Park, a city just north of Miami-Dade County. He was unfamiliar with the area despite the fact it neighbored his city of residence, Miramar “I didn’t know where the hell West Park was! I never heard of it” Juan remarked with a laugh “It was right off Miramar Pkwy and 441! I was like, ‘sweet, its close by!’” Sweet indeed. The shop is in between all the major highways, a few blocks South of a Subaru dealer, and even has an auto parts store immediately next door.

 

The WRXperts

The WRXperts | All four lifts getting some love in the WRXperts new home

 

Opportunity didn’t just knock on these guy’s door; it kicked it down and ground its muddy platforms on their white couch. With help from friend/customer/Realtor, Michael Liming, the guys jumped on it and struck a deal. With more room than they ever thought they’d have, the WRXperts have five lifts at their disposal with space to spare, including a room dedicated exclusively to engine builds and get this… a waiting room. With chairs! Only loyal customers will under the ramifications of that. With a new centrally located, larger space and a base of faithful customers at their backs, there is only room to grow for the guys. As far as their relationship with good old opportunity, well, I doubt that this will be the last visit.

 

The WRXperts

The WRXperts | (left to right) Juan, JC, Rodrigo and Andy

 

 

Instagram: @wrxperts

Phone: 786-985-6094

Address: 5642 SW 25th Street, West Park, FL 33023

Street Racing Illustrated | 2018 SoFloSubies Annual Cruise

The annual SofloSubies cruise and meet at Okeeheelee Park in Palm Beach.

Story & Photos | Phillip Pratt

Let’s start out with an admission on my part. I’m a Subie-guy. I drive a 2002 bug-eye Impreza WRX. I’m a member of SoFloSubies and a loyal customer of the WRXperts. I’m biased. Now that that’s out of the way, onto the beauty that is the 2018 SoFloSubies Annual Cruise to Okeeheelee Park, in Palm Beach County, Florida that took place on Sunday February 25. Maybe not that much of a “cruise” for local Subaru enthusiasts (hard to believe, but people do actually live in Palm Beach, its crazy, I know), it’s roughly a fifty-five mile or forty to fifty-minute drive if you’re like me and coming out of Broward County. Add about ten to fifteen miles or twenty minutes to the trip if you’re a denizen of Miami, proper. After meeting up at one of two of our local spots, we caravan North to the midway point, that being the Pompano Beach Service Plaza. While we gather in numbers that more oft than not eclipse three digits, we try our best to avoid blocking-in the openly annoyed truckers attempting to get on with their lives. I don’t even want to know what the ones sleeping in their cabs think about the ruckus we make. We don’t generally spend any more than a half-hour there before we get underway with the final leg of the trip. Barring any unforeseen circumstances and/or official set-backs (a Trooper seemingly escorted us one year… good times) it takes about thirty-five to forty minutes, the fastest route taking us through a laughably quiet suburban neighborhood. Once we arrive at the park and start unwinding from the drive, it turns into a big meet; except with food and a reserved shelter provided by the event’s many sponsors. As the day comes to an end there’s a 100% legit raffle that typically one-person wins 30% of the prizes (seriously what the @#$%?! This has happened at least twice. I want a #%#@%$# key-chain too!), trophies for “best ________”, and a group picture to cap it all off. If you are in the South Florida area, and a Subie-driver, you need to experience this event. There really is nothing else quite like it. Make the time.

 

SoFlo Okeeheelee Park Meet

SoFloSubies Annual Cruise 2018 | Mean BRZ

SoFlo Okeeheelee Park Meet

SoFloSubies Annual Cruise 2018 | Okeeheelee Park Line-Up

SoFlo Subies Okeeheelee Meet

SoFloSubies Annual Cruise 2018 | WRXperts’ Multi-Gen Knowledge-base realized

SoFloSubies Okeeheelee Park Meet

SoFloSubies Annual Cruise 2018 | Won the best STI of the Cruise

SoFloSubies Okeeheelee Park Meet

SoFloSubies Annual Cruise 2018 | Delicious STI from Machines Gone Wild in Miami

SoFloSubies Okeeheelee Park Meet

SoFloSubies Annual Cruise 2018 | Clean, right-hand drive GC

SoFloSubies Okeeheelee Park Meet

SoFloSubies Annual Cruise 2018 | Israel shows off his immaculate 03′ Bugeye WRX

SoFloSubies Okeeheelee Park Meet

SoFloSubies Annual Cruise 2018 | Trophies for the day

SoFloSubies Okeeheelee Park Meet

SoFloSubies Annual Cruise 2018 | White Hawkeye STI getting a wipe-down after the drive

SoFloSubies Okeeheelee Park Meet

SoFloSubies Annual Cruise 2018 | David Bazooka Money-pit

SoFloSubies Okeeheelee Park Meet

SoFloSubies Annual Cruise 2018 | Beautiful Community of Subaru

SoFloSubies Okeeheelee Park Meet

SoFloSubies Annual Cruise 2018 | Sick stance on this one

SoFloSubies Okeeheelee Park Meet

SoFloSubies Annual Cruise 2018 | Rolling into the meet

SoFloSubies Okeeheelee Park Meet

SoFloSubies Annual Cruise 2018 | Got to love the taste of Subie drivers

SoFloSubies Okeeheelee Park Meet

SoFloSubies Annual Cruise 2018 | Sittin’ pretty

SoFloSubies Okeeheelee Park Meet

SoFloSubies Annual Cruise 2018 | Perfect weather for the meet

SoFloSubies Okeeheelee Park Meet

SoFloSubies Annual Cruise 2018 | Beware Dave’s octopus

Street Racing Illustrated | Wekfest Florida 2017

Wekfest Florida 2017

Event coverage from the Wekfest show hosted in West Palm Beach

Story | Phillip Pratt

Photos | Phillip Pratt

 

If you’ve ever been to a Wekfest car show, you know it’s just that. A car show. Not a 2 – step competition, B-boy contest, freestyle rap battle or a “fashion show” (which inevitably involves bottles of water. Cold bottles of water). It’s an event that puts the cars at the center of attention at every step of the way. It’s become a yearend show in South Florida that brings in cars from all over the state, and from each subculture within the hobby. Enthusiasts break themselves for days in preparation and it shows as each vehicle on the floor is lovingly and meticulously detailed until the convention center’s LED lighting fixtures blindingly glisten off fresh paint and the well-oiled surfaces of low-profile tires. This year’s offering wasn’t anything less than awe-inspiring as the room was crammed wall-to-wall with some of Florida’s (and beyond) best.

 

Toyota Supra

Ultimate Performance EG Hatch

Wekfest merch table and DJ

BMW

Nissan Z

Disruptive RX-7

S2000

Old School

Skyline GTR

RB26DETT

Nissan Silvia S14

DC2 Integra

Lexus IS300

Lexus Row

Aisha’s 97 Hatch

Blob-eye STI