VERMONT SPORTSCAR

THE MAJOR FORCE IN AMERICA’S RALLY EFFORT BY SUBARU.

Unless the Subaru blue-and-yellow team trucks and trailers are parked outside, Vermont SportsCar (VSC) headquarters in Colchester, Vermont, might be overlooked. Although inconspicuous in the office park near I-89 north of Burlington, VSC builds and fields highly competitive rally cars for the U.S. Subaru Rally Team and is steeped in the business of North American rallying, managing the Subaru Rally Support Program and the Subaru Rally Support Parts Truck.

FOUNDING FATHER LANCE SMITH

VSC was founded in 1988 by Lance Smith, an accomplished rally co-driver and car builder. Lance got his start helping North American rally champion John Buffum during the 1980s and into the early 1990s. At the same time, Lance apprenticed in classic/exotic car restoration.

At its founding, VSC focused primarily on building and maintaining rally cars. Lance Smith’s reputation for high-quality craftsmanship and attention to detail in the restoration business became hallmarks of VSC’s rally-car construction as well, positioning VSC as one of North America’s premier rally-car builders.

Lance and VSC helped create and manage the first official U.S. factory rally team for Subaru in 2001, coinciding with the launch of the WRX in the United States.

Today, VSC’s services include:

• Custom rally-car preparation
• Rally event support
• Rally car rentals
• Custom welding and fabrication
• Parts supplier for rally and street performance vehicles
• Classic and vintage car restorations

Most recently, VSC’s story focuses on driver Travis Pastrana – an established sports star in his own right, and now a rising star in rallying.

THE VSC SUBARU TEAM

The Vermont SportsCar Subaru Rally Team.

Travis Pastrana, #1 driver for Vermont SportsCar.

TRAVIS PASTRANA – #1 DRIVER

By age 21, Travis Pastrana was the world’s most popular freestyle and motocross rider. He started riding at age four, then hammered out a string of National Amateur Motocross titles, becoming World Freestyle Champion at age 14 and 125cc National and Supercross champion. For three years running, he took the gold in Freestyle at the X Games, inventing many of the sport’s tricks in the process. Meanwhile, Travis also managed to graduate from high school three years early.

In 2001, Travis had an opportunity to drive a Subaru World Rally Car in England as part of a “fun day” with the Subaru World Rally team. Although Travis wanted to pursue rallying, he couldn’t until late 2003 because of other commitments. Then doctors’ orders took him off his bike for several months to allow his accumulated injuries to heal.

At that time, VSC was testing X Games athletes to see how well their skills would transfer to rally driving. VSC gave Pastrana an intensive school/test session. After training with U.S. and British rally champion David Higgins and former U.S. champ and instructor Tim O’Neil, Travis impressed everyone.

In 2004, VSC entered Travis in three national rally events. In his first gravel rally, he drove to third in class and fourth overall – only seven seconds away from a podium spot overall and setting two fastest stage times. This type of speed and consistency without serious incident is rare in rallying. Years of experience are usually key to a driver’s success.

VSC raised additional support for Travis to run the full schedule in 2005. With help from Subaru, DC Shoes and Red Bull, Pastrana is running the entire program.

Travis Pastrana’s goals include driving in the World Rally Championship. The last and only American to be quick enough to tackle the WRC was rally legend John Buffum, who is part of the VSC team.

JOHN BUFFUM –

Sporting Advisor/Driver Mentor

• Driver mentoring and training
• Tire strategy

With Audi support in the 1980s, John Buffum was the most successful North American rally driver ever, winning 11 national titles and more than 115 rally victories. John is the only American to win a European Championship Rally and to mount a challenge in the World Rally Championship.

CHRIS YANDELL –

Marketing Manager

• Brings together the team sponsors
• Creates and manages team image
• Promotes the sport to new audiences and to the media

CLINT FAST –

Team Coordinator & Logistics

• Organizes the overall operation of several rally cars, two service trucks and more than a dozen crew members
• Books all travel
• Coordinates all movements of equipment and personnel
• Tracks all needed parts (replacement or otherwise) for the team
• Handles team registration for events

Team sponsor, partner and #2 driver, Ken Block.

KEN BLOCK –

Team Sponsor/Partner/#2 Driver
Eleven years ago, Ken Block co-founded DC Shoes in Vista, California, along with Damon Way. DC Shoes has been ranked consistently No. 1 in shoe sales since 1999.

Ken grew up skateboarding and now, at 37, is an avid snowboarder, motocross rider and rally-car racer. Following rigorous training by two former U.S. rally champions – John Buffum and Tim O’Neil – Ken competes with and against Travis Pastrana for VSC.

THE DRILL

TECHNICIANS

At the event: Each car has a #1 tech, who oversees everything concerning it. Two or three techs help the #1 with the car, with each tech assigned a separate corner.

When the car comes into service, the co-driver/driver tells the #1 about any problems, then the #1 delegates work to the other techs. The #1s are ultimately responsible for finishing all service (fuel, tires, etc.) and repairs within the allotted time.

In addition, a senior technician oversees engine, gearbox and electrical systems. He works alongside the #1s to keep the cars in top form.

At a rally, typical service lasts between 10 and 50 minutes. Quick, organized work is crucial. Sometimes techs practice service procedures for speed. For example, three to four VSC techs can change out a gearbox in less than 16 minutes.

Between events: Typically, each car requires 60 to 100 hours of re-prep after an event. Lists compiled for each car note items that were damaged or need checking or replacement. This list supplements the standard re-prep list, which includes such things as oil change and air filter replacement.

The #1 techs then generate master re-prep lists that all the team techs help to complete. They then set up the car’s alignment, suspension and other components for the next event.

DRIVERS

Drivers are responsible for staying fit and arriving promptly (usually two days prior to an event). Sometimes a rally has a shakedown (practice) stage. Shakedown helps the drivers accustom themselves to being back in the driver’s seat. With rallying, testing and practice between rallies is usually impossible – it’s just too cost-prohibitive. So a shakedown stage is essential.

Throughout the rally, drivers are managed by their co-drivers, who are responsible for where and when they must be during the event.

LOGISTICS

POST/PRIOR TO THE EVENT: Besides submitting team entry fees and paperwork, Clint Fast plans and books all travel and lodging. He helps oversee car re-prep and orders parts, fuel and tires. Some events require as many as 50 tires of varying compounds/tread patterns.

Clint also orders parts to restock the service trucks and Rally Support Parts truck.

AT THE RALLY: Clint oversees team registration, carrying a large binder containing all the required paperwork for the cars and team members. Next, he coordinates the service area, including where the team services and the layout of the trucks, tents and equipment.

MARKETING

After an event, sponsors require a full post-event report and a gallery of high-resolution photos.

Preparing for the next event, marketing sets up stories and media coverage to promote the Subaru effort and its rallying success. In addition, the effort to find and secure more sponsors never stops.

At each rally, Chris Yandell ensures that everything looks great – from graphics on the cars and trucks to the look and feel of the team’s service area. Chris also coordinates special appearances by the team prior to the event, usually at a Subaru dealership, and he hosts sponsors or potential sponsors during the event.