The World’s Fastest Cat Track Operation Automobile!
November 2, 2009 – Vista, CA – On the heels of Ken Block’s insane Gymkhana videos and the groundbreaking snowboarding/rally part to close out DC’s MTN.LAB 1.5 video, the DC Co-Founder and Rally Team Driver has joined with Subaru to make the world’s fastest cat track operation automobile for backcountry access for snowboarding. Dubbed the TRAX STI, a new teaser video from the test session for the highly-modified, snow-ready (to say the least) car is up on YouTube, and check out “0-60 Magazine’s” Web site for an interview with Block and photo gallery featuring the best photos from the session.
Ken Block's TRAX Subaru STI at the DC Mountain LAB
The TRAX STI is an experimental automobile that starts with Block’s competition-ready Subaru WRX STI before ditching the tires, adding snow cat tracks, and upgrading to some next-level suspension to create the ultimate backcountry shred car. Prepared by Vermont SportsCar, performance modifications include 400-hp and features Group N competition rally dampers made by EXE-TC and a KAPS 5-speed close-ratio dog-engagement gearbox. Under the hood sits a 2.5 liter, 4-cylinder, turbocharged and intercooled STI engine tuned with a MOTEC M800 ECU.
Ken Block's TRAX Subaru STI
Completing the TRAX STI is a sleigh to be pulled behind the car, designed to hold four snowboarders, their snowboards, and all their gear. The sleigh’s body is 100 percent custom designed and constructed of hand-laid fiberglass—though the sleigh is not seen in this teaser video, look for it in future videos next year. Altogether, this is one car ready for backcountry access and snowboarding.
“The TRAX STI is a very fun project for me,” said Block. “It combines a two of my favorite things in life: driving a rally car in the snow and snowboarding in the powder in the backcountry. Having a house in Utah (the DC MTN.LAB), I get to enjoy lots of sliding around on the snow, but this project takes that to a whole new level as I can now hit up the backcountry in the fastest snow cat ever. It’s incredibly fun having the ability to push the high-power Subaru on the slopes and to backcountry spots that normal cars could never go!”
Though the project was top-secret, the TRAX STI got blown up online way before it was supposed to—it was first caught and posted on YouTube in April 2009 by a random fan with a low-quality video recorder. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0akfZWNp2E
But that was just the beginning. The new video posted this morning shows what went down in just one day of testing and driving the car. It shows the car in all it’s high definition glory, as Block puts it through its paces up snow-covered mountains, down them, and even around un-expecting snowmobilers filmed at the DC MTN.LAB and Guardsman Pass, both in Utah. Stay tuned for more video to emerge as the car gets used more and more.
“0-60 Magazine’s” interview has all the behind the scenes on the TRAX STI, including the exclusive photos of the car. It’s the place to learn more about the car, how it performs, and why Block had the darn thing built in the first place. View it here: http://www.0-60mag.com/online/?p=20459. The next issue of the magazine will have a two page spread featuring the car.
Coordinating with the launch of this new video, DC is releasing new items from Block’s TeamWorks Collection. Added to the already wide assortment of product inspired by Block and his rally racing endeavors, new items include a puffy jacket and a leather jacket. View the fresh goods now in the DC Online Store at store.dcshoes.com. http://store.dcshoes.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=3631313.
View the teaser video today by following this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTDNLUzjkpg&feature=player_embedded
The high light of my night was seeing old friend and shredder Erik Christensen. E.C. is a dope homie I used to shoot with all the time. Turns out he got into a bad situation and had to spend some time in the clink.
Brace yourself – the new 2010 DC snowboarding site is now live.
It’s hard to get over your first time and that’s why we went back to Hana Beaman for another round of Guestbook action.
SNOWBOARDER Mag’s Womens Rookie of the Year Sarka Pancochova stepped up her game in web coverage with a little Secret Guestbook of Aspen action.
The Burton Am Series rolled into Winter Park CO for its third stop of the season and everything just clicked.
It’s no secret that Brooke’s a hooker, but Sage Kotsenburg has a few secrets up his sleeve and we’re here to spill ‘em.
Hana Beaman got Raewyn Reid to pause from hoarding gummy bears in the Winter X Games 14 riders lounge just long enough to sign The Secret Guestbook of Aspen.
TJ Schneider and friends have a good ole fashioned German jib fest.
Mike Ravelson, Brendon Rego, Dylan Dragotta, and Devon Gulick flowin’ through the Loon Mountain park.
Matty Mo, Parker Duke and Wyatt Caldwell get some sun in the park at Park City.
Once the Winter X Games 14 Slopestyle Event came to a close, The Winter X Games 14 were over. Eero Ettala took the gold and rookie Eric Willet snagged second and one Charles Guldemond deserved third.
While Eero Ettala traveled to Sapporo, Nicolas Müller stays after in the woods of Hokkaido. And takes “getting lost” to the next level.
Photos and results from Winter X Games 14 men’s and women’s slopestyle. Eero Ettala and Jenny Jones come out on top.
With the best female halfpipe riders in the world on tap in Aspen, all eyes are on Buttermilk to see who will take down snowboarding’s original Olympics. Also going down was the Big Air which returned to Aspen with a new format, new riders, and new excitement.
Here are a few shots from SIA day 2. Blue Montgomery, founder of CAPiTA Snowboards, invited key retailers, friends, and family to countdown to the 10th Anniversary of CAPiTA Snowboards.
Aspen is in full swing as of tonight. The Winter X Games 14 Halfpipe was the place to be this evening as Shaun White, Louie Vito, Kazu, Ipod, Greg Bretz, Lago, Aono, Steve Fisher, JJ Thomas and others went at it under the lights.
Men and Women’s Superpipe eliminations went down yesterday and the photos are in.
Travis rice's spin looked like the hardest one to me - was that frontside off the toes? Whatever it was, it was off the hook!
I'm gonna have to guess and say Travis Rice just becasue I think he can really pull this one off.
what the fuck? denco and word? being corked doesn'treally mean you have to go inverted, just off axis. to me, it looks much cooler the way tyler and sage do them compared to a double backflip 180..
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omg! that thing is awesome!