Shifting Gears with Aaron Kaufman (2018): Season 2, Episode 1 - Rally Time - full transcript

I'VE BEEN BUILDING CARS
FOR OTHER PEOPLE

FOR FAR TOO LONG.

NOW I'M TAKING THINGS
IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.

AT MY NEW SHOP,
ARCLIGHT FABRICATION,

I'M DESIGNING
AFTERMARKET TRUCK PARTS,

BUILDING UNIQUE VEHICLES THAT
I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO BUILD,

AND I'M HAVING MORE FUN
DOING IT.

I'VE HANDPICKED
A TEAM OF THE BEST BUILDERS

FROM ACROSS AMERICA TO JOIN ME.

JONATHAN MANSOUR AND I
HAVE BEEN FRIENDS

SINCE BEFORE
WE WERE OLD ENOUGH TO DRIVE.



HE'S THE BEST PARTS GUY I KNOW,
BUT A TERRIBLE MAGICIAN.

THREE OF CLUBS.

WRONG!

EX-AIRCRAFT MECHANIC
TURNED CLASSIC CAR FABRICATOR,

JASON BOWMAN
IS AN ENGINE EXPERT

AND THE CORONA HIGH SCHOOL
MOONWALK CHAMPION OF 1987.

JEREMY WEBSTER IS AN INCREDIBLY
TALENTED SHEET METAL WORKER.

HE'S WORKED ON CARS
SINCE HE WAS 13 YEARS OLD

AND HAS BEEN ATTEMPTING
TO TRAIN CATS FOR JUST AS LONG.

SIT. UNH-UNH, STAY.

AH!

A SELF-TAUGHT
ELECTRONICS MASTER

WITH MORE THAN 15 YEARS
IN THE INDUSTRY,

JON RODRIGUEZ CAN HACK ANYTHING
WITH A CIRCUIT BOARD.



BUILDING THESE CUSTOM VEHICLES

WILL CHALLENGE OUR SKILLS
AND EXPERIENCE ON EVERY LEVEL,

AND WHEN THEY'RE DONE,
WE'LL PUT EACH ONE TO THE TEST.

I'M AARON KAUFMAN,
AND THIS IS "SHIFTING GEARS."

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

TONIGHT...
I HAD AN IDEA.

I THINK YOU'LL HAVE
A GREAT TIME

LEARNING TO DRIVE A CAR
SIDEWAYS IN GRAVEL.

MY BUILDERS AND I EMBARK
ON A NEW ADVENTURE.

JUST SQUEEZE THE BRAKES.
THE BRAKES MAKE YOU TURN.

-THAT'S AWESOME.

I THINK THIS IS THE PERFECT
PLACE TO RACE IN THE DIRT.

WHOO-HOO!

DAVE AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING
ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY

OF GOING AND RACING A RALLY CAR
IN WASHINGTON STATE,

AND WE'RE GOING TO BUILD
A RALLY CAR.

WHOO!

I THINK THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY

BUILD THIS CAR
PRETTY QUICKLY, PRETTY SIMPLY.

THAT BEING SAID, THOUGH,

THERE COULD DEFINITELY BE
SOME PLOT TWISTS.

-WHOA! GOT HIM!

BIG KID
ON A LITTLE BIKE.

STUPID.

WILLIS IS A FABRICATOR
FROM ARIZONA, OBVIOUSLY,

WHERE I'M FROM.

HE WANTED TO LEND A HAND,
SO WHO ARE WE TO TURN HIM AWAY?

-YEAH. YEAH.

ALWAYS GOT TO COME IN MAKING
ALL THAT NOISE?

SO... THE SEMI WAS
A PAIN IN THE REAR,

THAT'S FOR SURE. WASN'T ANY
SLEEP INVOLVED IN THAT.

NO.

WE ALL HAVE A LOT OF HOURS
IN THAT TRUCK.

YEAH. I KNOW.
HEY, YOU KNOW, AND THE SCOUT,

WHAT A BIG BUILD.

DEFINITELY
A HARD FIRST BUILD.

GOING TO HAMMERS
AND EVERYTHING.

- YEAH.
- SO I HAD AN IDEA,

AND I THOUGHT MAYBE WHAT WE'D DO
IS HOP DOWN TO AUSTIN TONIGHT.

Y'ALL KNOW MY FRIEND DAVE HAS
A RALLY READY RANCH DOWN THERE.

COUPLE THINGS. A -- I THINK
Y'ALL DESERVE IT.

I THINK YOU'LL HAVE
A GREAT TIME

LEARNING TO DRIVE A CAR
SIDEWAYS IN GRAVEL.

NEXT THING IS,
I KNOW THAT MY DESIGNS,

MY THEORY ON BUILDING, CHANGED
WHENEVER I STARTED DRIVING FAST

BECAUSE I WAS ASKING MORE
FROM THE VEHICLE,

SO I STARTED DESIGNING AROUND
WHAT I WAS GOING

TO BE ASKING OF THE VEHICLE,

AND I THINK THAT IF NOTHING
ELSE, IT WOULD BE FUN,

BUT IT MIGHT BE EDUCATIONAL
FOR YOU, TOO.

SO IF Y'ALL ARE READY,
LET'S HEAD TO AUSTIN.

- LET'S ROCK AND ROLL.
- COOL.

- LET'S GO.
- YEAH, I'M READY.

- LET'S GO.
- SEE YA!

ALL RIGHT. WHERE WE GOING?
WHO'S DRIVING?

I'LL DRIVE.

NOW THESE GUYS
ARE ABOUT TO GET

THEIR FIRST TASTE OF
RALLY RACING.

IT'S A GLOBAL SPORT
THAT ORIGINATED IN EUROPE

AND NOW ATTRACTS MORE
THAN HALF A BILLION VIEWERS.

MAJOR RALLIES SUCH AS
CORSICA AND MONTE CARLO

INVOLVE TIMED STAGES
THAT TAKE PLACE

OVER A GRUELING 2 TO 3 DAYS

OVER A VARIETY OF UNEVEN
SURFACES AND PRECARIOUS ROADS.

A CO-DRIVER IS
ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL...

OVER CREST
INTO A RIGHT SIDE DOWN.

...AS DRIVERS NAVIGATE GRAVEL,
SNOW, OR ASPHALT

WITH ABSOLUTELY NO GUARDRAIL
TO PROTECT THEM.

THE CONSEQUENCES
ARE VERY, VERY HIGH.

IT'S LIKE YOU GO UP THERE
AND MAKE A MISTAKE,

YOU MIGHT COME HOME
IN A PINE BOX.

ANYBODY GOT DIBS
ON ANY OF THESE?

WE'VE COME OFF
OF TWO VERY DIFFICULT BUILDS.

I FELT THERE WAS A LOT
OF PRESSURE IN THE SHOP,

AND WE NEEDED A RELEASE.

WE NEEDED TO GET THE ENERGY UP
IN THE SHOP,

AND I REALLY WANTED
JUST AN INCREDIBLE

TEAM-BUILDING EXERCISE.

AND SO IN THE U.S., THERE ARE
ONLY THREE RALLY SCHOOLS.

- WHAT'S COOKING, GOOD-LOOKING?
- NOT MUCH, SIR.

RALLY READY IS, UH...

I THINK THIS IS THE PERFECT
PLACE TO RACE IN THE DIRT.

- HOW ARE YOU?
- GOOD TO SEE YOU, BROTHER.

- GOOD TO SEE YOU.
- YEAH! COME ON IN.

MY NAME IS DAVE CARAPETYAN.
FRIENDS CALL ME "TEXAS DAVE."

MY ENEMIES CALL ME THE WORST,
OF WHICH I HAVE MANY.

I'M THE OWNER AT
RALLY READY DRIVING SCHOOL,

JUST OUTSIDE OF AUSTIN, TEXAS.

MET AARON AT PIKES PEAK,
JUST, YOU KNOW,

"HEY, YOU'RE FROM TEXAS?
MAN, ME, TOO. THAT'S BADASS."

I WAS LIKE, "YOUR BEARD
IS BETTER THAN MINE."

HE WAS LIKE, "YOUR CAR
IS COOLER THAN MINE."

AND I WAS LIKE, "DID WE JUST
BECOME BEST FRIENDS?"

HELMETS, WE'VE GOT
A HANDFUL HERE

AND A HANDFUL
IN THE OTHER ROOM.

THEY'RE VAGUELY MARKED FOR SIZE.

JUST START SQUEEZING
YOUR HEAD INTO SOMETHING

UNTIL YOU FIND ONE
THAT YOU LIKE

YOU GUYS READY TO DO THIS?
- THIS IS GOING TO BE SO FUN.

ALL RIGHT.
SO WHO WANTS TO GO FIRST?

- I'M DOWN.
- YOU WANT TO GO FIRST?

- SURE.
- WHOO! THIS IS IT.

ALL RIGHT. HOP IN.

THE UNIQUE THING WE'RE GONNA DO
FOR THESE GUYS

THIS TIME AROUND IS,

WE'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY
LET THEM DRIVE THE TRACK

BEFORE WE'VE DONE ANY TRAINING,
WHICH IS TOP FIVE WORST IDEAS

I'VE HAD THIS WEEK, AND I'VE HAD
A LOT OF BAD IDEAS THIS WEEK.

BUT THE GOAL IS GET A BENCHMARK
EARLY ON WITH OUR INSTRUCTORS,

AND THEN WE'LL GO BACK
TOWARDS THE END OF THE TRAINING.

WE'LL LET THEM DO ANOTHER LAP,
AND WE'LL SEE IF THEY IMPROVE.

- HERE WE GO.

THREE, TWO, ONE, GO!

I NEVER SAT FOOT
IN A ALL-WHEEL DRIVE CAR

ATTEMPTED TO PUSH IT
AROUND A CORNER SIDEWAYS.

TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS, I DON'T
HAVE SOME OF THESE SKILLS,

AND THAT'S WHY WERE HERE,
IS TO GROW THEM.

OH, COME ON! COME ON!

AND ACROSS THE LINE.

ALL RIGHT,
HOW DID THAT FEEL?

UH, SLOPPY.

YEAH, NOT BAD.
A LITTLE SLOPPY.

AARON'S SORT OF A BLANK SLATE

IN TERMS OF HIS EXPERIENCE
WITH RALLY.

HE'S GOING TO KIND OF
HAVE TO RELEARN

AND TAKE
A WHOLE DIFFERENT APPROACH.

MOSTLY WHAT RALLY DRIVING IS,
IS IT'S DRIVING.

IT'S CAR CONTROL
BEYOND THE LIMIT.

GOOD LUCK!

SO WE'RE GOING TO TEACH AARON
AND HIS GUYS EVERYTHING WE CAN

ABOUT LEFT-FOOT BRAKING
AND CAR CONTROL

AND GET THEM COMFORTABLE
DRIVING A CAR

UP TO AND BEYOND THE LIMIT.

ALL RIGHT. I'M GONNA ASK YOU
SOMETHING REALLY CRAZY.

I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO BRAKE
WITH YOUR LEFT FOOT.

WE USE LEFT-FOOT
BRAKING TO ADJUST THE ATTITUDE,

THE ANGLE,
AND THE SPEED OF THE CAR,

AND THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT
IS BY HAVING

YOUR LEFT FOOT OVER THE BRAKE

AND YOUR RIGHT FOOT
ON THE THROTTLE ALL THE TIME.

AND BRAKE ON TOP OF THE GAS,
BRAKE, BRAKE, BRAKE.

SO NOT ONLY
IS THE TIMING FASTER,

BUT ALSO YOU'RE ABLE TO MAKE
SMALLER ADJUSTMENTS.

TRANSITION.
BRAKE, BRAKE, BRAKE.

- NO!
- THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

- HE'S OFF THE TRACK.
- UH-OH.

THE LIST OF EXERCISE
THAT WE GO THROUGH,

WE START WITH
THE STRAIGHT LINE BRAKING,

WHICH IS JUST TEACHING PEOPLE

HOW TO USE THEIR LEFT FOOT
ON THE BRAKES.

LEFT FOOT ON THE BRAKE.

THEN WE WENT WITH A SKID PAD,
WHICH IS TEACHING PEOPLE

HOW TO LEFT-FOOT BRAKE
THROUGH A CORNER.

ALL RIGHT.
SO SQUEEZE THE BRAKES.

THE BRAKES MAKE YOU TURN.

- OH, THAT'S AWESOME.
- THEN MOVE INTO A FIGURE EIGHT,

WHICH IS, LIKE, THE SAME THING
WITH A CROSSOVER IN THE MIDDLE,

WHICH IS LOW SPEED
LINKING CORNERS TOGETHER

WITH LEFT-FOOT BRAKING.

- WHOO!
- THEN WE MOVE INTO THE SLALOM,

WHICH IS HIGH SPEED
LEFT-FOOT BRAKING.

EYES UP DURING THE BRAKE.

GO LEFT, STAY ON THE GAS
AND BRAKE.

GET ON BRAKE, STAY IN IT.

GAS, GAS, GAS.
THERE WE GO.

THAT'S WHERE THESE GUYS
ARE REALLY GOING TO START

TO GET THE BACK TO COME AROUND,
START TO FEEL THOSE BIG SLIDES.

WHOO-HOO!

TO GET TO BRING NEW FOLKS IN
AND WATCH THEM PROGRESS,

THAT'S WHAT
IT'S ALL ABOUT FOR US.

LITTLE TOUCH OF BRAKE
TO GET IT TO TURN BACK IN.

BEING TAUGHT TO
ACTUALLY STEER WITH THE BRAKES,

IT'S MIND-BENDING, HONESTLY.

EVERY TIME YOU FEEL
THE FRONT-END WASH,

JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BRAKE.

THE THINGS THAT THEY HAVE
TAUGHT US HERE

WILL ALLOW US TO CONTROL
THE VEHICLE AND BE ONE WITH IT.

LET ME TELL YOU
HOW MUCH FUN SLALOM IS.

BRAKE, ALL BRAKE.
TURN AND BRAKE.

QUICKER ON YOUR STEERING.
- YEAH.

IT'S REALLY COMPARATIVE
TO SLALOM SKIING.

SO YOU'RE HERE, THEN YOU'RE
HERE, THEN YOU'RE HERE,

THEN YOU'RE HERE,
AND IT'S ALL BRAKE.

THIS THROTTLE PEDAL
IS SMASHED TO THE FLOOR.

BALANCE WITH
THAT THROTTLE --

MORE THROTTLE
TO MAKE IT ROTATE MORE,

LESS TO STRAIGHTEN IT UP
A LITTLE BIT.

YOU KNOW, YOU START LISTENING
TO YOUR INSTRUCTOR

AND THINGS START TO CLICK.
IT WORKS.

DAVE HAS
SUCH AN AMAZING CREW.

THEY'VE TAKEN MY GUYS FROM NEVER
HAVING DRIVEN A CAR SIDEWAYS

TO, QUITE FRANKLY,
I THINK PUTTING DOWN

SOME REALLY NICE LAPS
OUT HERE IN THE DIRT.

DID YOU GUYS HAVE SOME FUN?

- ABSOLUTELY.
- THAT WAS AWESOME, MAN.

COOL. WELL, WHO WANTS
TO EAT SOME FOOD?

THAT SOUNDS GREAT TO ME.

- THE FIESTA!
- AY, FIESTA! LET'S GO!

WOW, I LOVE LEBANESE FOOD.

LITERALLY EVERY
BITE OF THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE.

I LOVE IT.

YOU KNOW, MY GUYS, YOU KNOW,
ONE OF THE REASONS WE'RE HERE,

A, THE LAST TWO BUILDS
WERE DIFFICULT,

AND WE PUNCHED THROUGH IT,

AND SO I WANTED Y'ALL
TO HAVE A GOOD TIME.

I LOVE BEING DOWN HERE,
AND DAVE AND I HAVE BEEN

TALKING ABOUT
THE POSSIBILITY OF GOING

AND RACING A RALLY CAR
IN WASHINGTON STATE.

IT'S COMING UP PRETTY QUICK.

I DON'T HAVE A LOT
OF EXPERIENCE,

SO WE'RE GOING TO TEAM UP

AND TRY AND GET MY EXPERIENCE
LEVEL, GET MY SPEED UP,

AND WE'RE GOING TO BUILD
A RALLY CAR.

THIS IS A BIG CHALLENGE.
I'VE NEVER DONE IT BEFORE.

NOW, I DON'T WANT US
TO JUST BE INCLUDED

AND BE HAPPY
THAT WE MADE IT THERE.

I'D ACTUALLY LIKE TO SEE HOW
CLOSE WE CAN GET TO THE PODIUM,

IF IT'S EVEN POSSIBLE
TO GET ON IT.

WELL, WHAT DAVE SAID,
WE'LL BE BUILDING THE CAR

AND I'LL BE COMING DOWN HERE
AND DOING INCREASED TRAINING

AND TRYING
TO GET FASTER IN IT

BECAUSE RIGHT NOW,
I THINK I'M FAST ENOUGH

TO HAVE A GOOD TIME
AND PUT A SMILE ON MY FACE,

BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S
ANYWHERE NEAR THE PODIUM,

AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT
WE'RE GOING TO SHOOT FOR,

IS TO SEE HOW WELL WE CAN DO,
AND IT'S FROM ALL SIDES.

WE HAVE TO BUILD
THE RIGHT CAR,

I HAVE TO LEARN HOW
TO DRIVE IT,

AND THEN WE HAVE
TO PUT TOGETHER AN EFFORT

IN A VERY SHORT
AMOUNT OF TIME

AND THEN TAKE IT HALFWAY
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THAT MAY BE STUPID,
IT MAY BE JUST AMBITIOUS,

BUT IT IS, FOR A FACT,
WHAT WE ARE DOING.

IN JUST 6 WEEKS,
WE'RE GOING TO TRAVEL

OVER 2,000 MILES
TO SHELTON, WASHINGTON,

TO COMPETE AT THE OLYMPUS RALLY.

COMPETITORS FROM ALL OVER
THE WORLD TAKE PART

IN THIS 2-DAY EVENT FEATURING
13 STAGES OF RALLY RACING,

WHERE I'LL BE MEASURING MY CAR
AND MY DRIVING ABILITY

AGAINST FAR MORE EXPERIENCED
COMPETITORS.

I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE
WHO ARE EXCITED

TO SEE GO RALLYING,
SO ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO HELP.

I THINK WE'VE GOT THE RIGHT TEAM
ON BOTH SIDES

TO MAKE THAT A REALITY.
- YEAH.

IT'S ALL ABOUT DRIVING
AND HOW MUCH PRACTICE

HE DOES IN ORDER TO GAIN
THAT SKILL LEVEL IN ORDER

TO BE PART OF THAT, YOU KNOW,
1, 2, 3 PLACEMENT.

- THAT'S RIGHT.
- IT'S OVERWHELMING.

THIS ISGOING TO BE CRAZY,
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING FOR.

SUBARU HAS
A STRONG LEGACY IN RALLY.

IT'S JUST THE OBVIOUS CHOICE.

MIND IF I TAKE IT FOR A DRIVE?
- NOT AT ALL.

BROOKS AND I BLASTED
AROUND THE STREET A LITTLE BIT.

-WHOO!

YOU KNOW WHAT? THIS IS ACTUALLY
A SOLID LITTLE CAR.

JUST KIND OF START METHODICALLY
PULLING STUFF OFF HERE.

OH, MAN. LOTS OF RUST.

THE DEAL IS,
WE'RE GONNA BUILD A GREAT CAR,

AND THEN MY JOB
IS GO FAST, DON'T DIE.

THERE'S DRIVING ON GRAVEL,
DRIVING ON DIRT

IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
MEDIUM,

AND THAT'S ALSO THE DANGER.

HAVE YOU BEEN PRACTICING
YOUR LEFT-FOOT BRAKING?

-YEAH, I HAVE.

AFTER GETTING
SOME IN-CAR INSTRUCTION

FROM DAVE AND HIS TEAM
OUT AT RALLY READY,

I STARTED SEARCHING
FOR A SUITABLE CAR

TO BUILD AND RACE UP AT OLYMPUS.

I NEEDED A CAR THAT FIT
MY EXPERIENCE

AND WOULD BE IDEAL
FOR THE CLASS I'D BE RACING IN.

THAT LOOKS LIKE IT RIGHT THERE.

YES, SIR.

I LOCATED A SUBARU IMPREZA 2.5RS
THAT FIT THE BILL.

- DOESN'T LOOK HALF BAD.
- DON'T LOOK BAD AT ALL.

AND AT 3 GRAND, IT
SOUNDS LIKE A FAIR ASKING PRICE.

SO BROOKS AND I THOUGHT
WE'D COME CHECK IT OUT.

- HOWDY. AARON.
- HEY.

NICE TO MEET YOU, AARON.
- THIS IS BROOKS.

- HEY.
- WHAT'S UP, BROOKS?

WE CALLED YOU EARLIER ABOUT
COMING TO CHECK OUT THE SUBARU.

CAN WE GO AHEAD
AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT?

YEAH. LET'S GO FOR IT.

SO I AM BRADY HOLT.

IT WAS A LITTLE HARD TO GET
THE CAR SEAT FOR MY LITTLE MAN

IN THE BACK OF A 2-DOOR COUPE,

SO BASICALLY, IT WAS JUST TIME
FOR ME TO SELL THE CAR.

I'VE GOT TO BE HONEST,
IN THE PICTURE YOU SENT,

THE RUST IN THE BACK
REALLY HAD ME FREAKED OUT.

IT IS PRETTY BAD.

THE RUST
REALLY KIND OF SCARED ME OFF.

IT'S GOT OBVIOUS RUST
AND THE TAIL PAN.

THE TAIL PAN IS EAT UP.

IT'S GOT RUST IN THE REAR
QUARTERS THAT'S PRETTY BAD,

BUT ALL IN ALL, THIS IS PROBABLY
THE CLEANEST ONE I'VE SEEN.

WELL, DO YOU MIND
IF I TAKE IT FOR A DRIVE?

NOT AT ALL.

BROOKS AND I BLASTED
AROUND THE STREET A LITTLE BIT,

JUST TO MAKE SURE
THAT EVERYTHING'S

AS FUNCTIONAL AS IT CAN BE.

SHOCK ABSORBERS MAY HAVE SEEN
THE END OF THEIR USABLE LIFE.

-YEAH.

BUT ULTIMATELY, WHAT
I'M TRYING TO DO IS FIND OUT

IF EVERYTHING WORKS WELL ENOUGH
TO IMPROVE ON IT,

TO BUILD FROM HERE.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
I THINK IT DOES.

THAT'S NOT A BAD TRACK.
- THAT'S NOT A BAD TRACK.

WELL, WHAT IT DOESN'T HAVE
IN POWER IT MAKES UP FOR IN FUN.

-THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS

THAT WERE A LITTLE ROUGHER
THAN I EXPECTED.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ROOM
ON $3,000 AT ALL?

I'VE GOT
QUITE A FEW PEOPLE, LIKE,

LINED UP AFTERWARD TO COME.

YOU GUYS WERE JUST
THE FIRST ONES.

I BELIEVE YOU.
I BELIEVE YOU DO.

THIS GUY'S ASKING $3,000 FOR IT,

SO IT'S NOT EVEN WORTH
ARGUING OVER IT.

$3,000 CAR? PRETTY CHEAP.

YOU KNOW, I LIKE THE CAR.
LET'S JUST DO IT.

OKAY, COOL, MAN.
I APPRECIATE IT.

IT IS THE CAR WE NEED.
THE PRICE IS RIGHT.

ONLY THING WE'VE GOT TO GET NOW
IS GET HOME.

I'VE ALWAYS KIND OF HAD
AN INTEREST IN SUBARUS.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS BECAUSE
THEY'RE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE

OR THE AWKWARD STYLING
COMPARED TO EVERYTHING ELSE,

BUT I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT
THEY WERE COOL.

BUT ULTIMATELY, THIS IS
REALLY, REALLY DIFFERENT

THAN ANYTHING WE'VE DONE BEFORE.

IT'S A NATURALLY ASPIRATED
4-CYLINDER BOXER ENGINE.

THE PISTONS FACE AWAY
FROM EACH OTHER.

ALL-WHEEL DRIVE WITH THE MOTOR
ALL THE WAY IN THE FRONT.

AND LET'S BE FRANK, THIS IS
A LATE MODEL JAPANESE CAR,

SOMETHING THAT WE DEFINITELY
DON'T DO MUCH OF.

SO THAT BEING SAID, THIS BUILD,

I KNOW WE CAN
KNOCK OUT OF THE PARK.

ON TOP OF THAT,
WE HAVE TO GET ME TO A POINT

WHERE I CAN ACTUALLY DRIVE
THE CAR AT A COMPETITIVE LEVEL,

AND THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN DRIVE A CAR

AND DRIVE A CAR
AT A COMPETITIVE LEVEL.

AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS

THAT I'M REALLY
MOST EXCITED ABOUT.

-WHOO!

ALL RIGHT, THIS IS ACTUALLY
A SOLID LITTLE CAR.

IT'S WAY NICER THAN
I EXPECTED.

YEAH, IT IS.

I THINK THAT WE CAN

ACTUALLY BUILD THIS CAR
PRETTY QUICKLY,

PRETTY SIMPLY,
AND ON A REASONABLE BUDGET,

ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WE HAVE
A ROAD MAP HERE.

WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA
RUN THIS IN A RACE

WHERE THERE ARE
A SET OF STANDARDS.

THERE IS CLASS RULES, AND SO
THAT'S HOW WE BUILD THE CAR.

THAT BEING SAID THOUGH,
THERE COULD DEFINITELY BE

SOME, YOU KNOW,
SOME PLOT TWISTS.

IT'S JUST WE KNOW THAT,
YOU KNOW, SOME OF THEM

ARE SUPER AWESOME,
AND SOME OF THEM

ARE A LITTLE PRECARIOUS.
- YEAH. YEAH.

BUT ULTIMATELY TODAY, MY GOAL
IS TO GET THIS THING BROKE DOWN

TO ITS BASE COMPONENTS,
DRIVELINE COMPLETELY OUT

AND INSPECTED
FOR UNANTICIPATED DAMAGE

SO THAT WE KNOW
WE'VE GOT THOSE COVERED

AND NOT JUST HOPE THAT
BY THROWING NEW PARTS AT IT,

WE END UP FIXING THEM.
- YEAH.

- YEP.
- LET'S IDENTIFY...

THE BIGGEST RISK HERE
IS THAT WE OVERBUILD THE CAR.

THE CAR ENDS UP TOO FAT,
TOO HEAVY,

AND DOESN'T MAKE ENOUGH POWER.

NONE OF US ARE EXPERTS
ON THAT MOTOR.

NO.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT
THE WEAK SPOTS ARE.

WE DON'T KNOW
WHERE THE BREAKOVER POINT IS

HEN IT STARTS BECOMING
JUST A BIG MESS.

IT'S GONNA BE
A LEARNING CURVE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE,
"DO WE BUILD CARS?

YEAH. DO WE BUILD THIS CAR? NO."

IT'S LIKE, "WE MIGHT NOT
BE EXPERTS NOW,

BUT ABOUT A MONTH FROM NOW,
WE MIGHT BE."

SO THE PLAN IS TO, OF COURSE,
LIGHTEN THE CAR DRAMATICALLY.

IT CURRENTLY PUTS OUT ABOUT
120 HORSEPOWER AT THE FLYWHEEL.

I'M HOPING TO GET
ANOTHER 50 OR SO OUT OF IT,

BUT THE BIGGEST THING IS GOING
TO BE BUILDING

A SOLID ROLL CAGE.

WE'RE TRYING TO BUILD
THE MOST EFFECTIVE CAR

AND BUILD IT
AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.

THE FASTER WE GET
THIS CAR BUILT,

WELL, THE MORE TIME
WE GET TO PRACTICE WITH IT.

THAT MEANS THE BETTER
I GET DRIVING THIS CAR

AND THE BETTER THIS TEAM
GETS IN BLOWING THE CAR APART

AND PUTTING THE CAR
BACK TOGETHER.

THE DEAL IS, WE'RE GOING
TO BUILD A GREAT CAR,

AND THEN MY JOB
IS GO FAST, DON'T DIE.

- MM-HMM.
- IT'S TRYING TO DELIVER THIS CAR

AND ALL THE EFFORT
ALL THE WAY TO THE FINISH LINE

AND HOPEFULLY FASTER
THAN ANYONE ELSE.

- MM-HMM.
- BUT THAT'S IT, GUYS.

IF Y'ALL ARE READY, I'M READY
TO BLOW THIS BOOGER APART.

- LET'S BEGIN.
- ROCK AND ROLL.

SO WHAT I'VE GOT OVER
MY SHOULDER HERE

IS A 2001 RS 2.5 SUBARU IMPREZA.

JUST KIND OF START METHODICALLY
PULLING STUFF OFF HERE,

GETTING FLUIDS OUT.

- GOOD JOB, WILLIS.
- YAY.

THAT'S ONE WAY TO DRAIN IT.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE JUST NOW STARTED
TAKING IT APART,

SO WE'RE REALLY GETTING
A FIRSTHAND LOOK

AT EVERY INCH OF THIS CAR.

-OH, MAN.

OFF OUR SHOCK TOWER.

LOTS OF RUST.

WE'RE HAVING TO DO
SOME RUST REPAIR,

SOMETHING I DON'T WANT TO DO,
BUT ULTIMATELY,

FINDING THE RIGHT CAR
CAME ALONG WITH THAT BURDEN,

SO IT'S ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS
WE'RE DOING.

COME HERE, WILLIS.
DO, LIKE, A TOUGH FACE.

SHUT UP.
COME MAKE A TV SHOW WITH ME.

OH, ARE WE REALLY DOING
THAT INTERVIEW?

- BRO, YEAH.
- OH.

SURE 'NUFF.

THE RUST IS IN THE CAR.

YOU KNOW, WE FOUND
QUITE A FEW RUST SPOTS,

AND A LOT OF THEM
ARE REAL STRUCTURAL TO THE CAR.

IT DEFINITELY HAS TO BE
ADDRESSED,

SO NOW WE KIND OF HAVE
TO DO DOUBLE WORK.

WE'VE GOT TO CUT THAT OUT,

PLATE IT, AND THEN
PLATE IT AGAIN.

WE BUILT THE SCOUT
AND THEN WE BUILT THE SEMITRUCK,

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT
THIS TINY, LITTLE CAR HERE.

IT'S PROBABLY THE SMALLEST CAR
WE'VE HAD THROUGH THE SHOP YET.

OH, THIS THING IS SO CUTE.

YOU SEE THE SIZE
OF THIS SWAY BAR?

IS THAT 3/8ths?

I THINK IT MIGHT BE HALF-INCH.

YEAH, YOUR WIFE WOULD THINK
THAT'S A LITTLE BIGGER

THAN 3/8ths, MAYBE.
- EXCUSE ME?

-I'M SORRY.

STOP PUNCHING ME!

I ACTUALLY FIRST MET WILLIS
WHEN HE CAME HERE TO THE SHOP.

WE INSTANTLY CLICKED.

HEY, DO YOU NOT LIKE
IMPACTS OR...

SEE, WELL, NOW YOU JUST
BROKE IT UP, DUMBASS.

WE RIB THE CRAP OUT OF EACH
OTHER ALL THE TIME,

BUT WE NEVER LET IT GET
IN THE WAY OF OUR WORK.

-OH!

- ARE YOU SCARED?
- YEAH, LITTLE BIT.

ME, TOO.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE DROPPING
THE 2-PIECE DRIVESHAFT.

-OH, HEY, HEY.

- GOT HER.
- WHAT THE HELL?

HEY, GUYS, YOU CAN
JUST CALM DOWN.

WE'LL REPLACE IT LATER
WITH THE 1-PIECE DRIVESHAFT

THAT'S STRONGER
AND LESS MOVING PARTS TO BREAK.

DROP HER DOWN
AND START DISMANTLING THE...

- YEAH, THE TOPSIDE OF THE MOTOR.
- TOPSIDES.

WE'RE ALSO PULLING THE MOTOR
SO IT CAN BE COMPLETELY REBUILT.

OKAY, LET'S NOT BREAK IT.

I REALLY THINK WE HAVE
A GOOD ROAD MAP,

WE'VE GOT A GREAT TEAM,

AND I THINK THAT WE CAN BLOW
THROUGH THIS CAR REALLY QUICKLY.

- Y'ALL GOOD?
- YEP, CLEAR. KEEP GOING.

EVEN IN THE LAST YEAR,

WE'VE KNOWN WHAT THE DATE WAS
TO GET A CAR BUILT BY,

AND WE'VE STRUGGLED TO MEET
THAT DATE.

IF WE DELIVER THIS CAR LATE,

THEN I DON'T GET
ANY TESTING IN IT.

THE IDEA IS IN 4 WEEKS,
I'D LIKE TO SEE THIS CAR

RUNNING, DRIVING, RACE READY,
GRAVEL DAMPERS,

WHEELS, TIRES, BRAKES ON,
CAGE IN, SEATS IN,

HARNESS IN, ELECTRONICS DONE,
DASH BACK IN IT,

READY TO ROCK AND ROLL,
MAKING NOISE.

OKAY. THAT'S IT.

UH, HOW ABOUT DINNER?

GOOD JOB, GUYS.

THAT'S THAT.

SO REALLY, WE'RE KIND OF WAITING
FOR APPROVAL ON PICTURES.

IT'S KIND OF A BIG WAITING GAME.

BROOKS IS OUT HERE TO TAKE MORE
OF THESE ADDITIONAL BARS

JUST IN CASE THEY SAY,
"HEY, WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT?"

OH, I WOULD WAIT ON THAT, TOO.

HOPEFULLY GET OUR APPROVAL
TO GO AHEAD

AND WELD THIS CAGE TOGETHER,

BUT IF WE DON'T HEAR BACK
FROM THEM SOON,

THAT COULD BE
A REAL SETBACK FOR US.

WE'RE RACING
AN OPEN LIGHTS CLASS.

WE HAVE THE ROOM TO DO
ANYTHING WE WANT

EXCEPT FOR ADD A TURBO
OR SUPERCHARGER TO THE MOTOR.

WE'RE ESTIMATING
THIS CAR WILL MAKE ANYWHERE

FROM 180 TO 200 HORSEPOWER.

THE BIGGEST THING FOR US
IS WEIGHT.

ANYTHING COUNTS
OR EVERYTHING COUNTS.

WE NEED TO SHAVE ALL
THE WEIGHT THAT WE POSSIBLY CAN,

BUT WE STILL HAVE TO FIT
IN OUR WEIGHT CLASS.

I THINK IT'S 2,600 POUNDS, SO WE
CANNOT GO BELOW 2,600 POUNDS,

BUT WE WANT TO BE
AS CLOSE TO THAT AS POSSIBLE.

LACK OF WEIGHT IS
A PERFORMANCE GAIN.

THE LIGHTER THE VEHICLE IS,

THE EASIER IT IS FOR THE MOTOR
TO ACTUALLY DO ITS JOB.

WE'VE TAKEN IT ALL APART

BECAUSE WE DON'T NEED
UPHOLSTERY.

WE DON'T NEED THE INTERIOR
TO HAVE A RACE CAR,

AND WE'RE BUILDING A RACE CAR.

YEAH, SO ONE THING WE WANNA DO

IS REMOVE ALL
THE SOUND DEADENING.

SOUND DEADENING IS A MATERIAL
IN THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE

THAT HELPS KEEP ROAD NOISE
AND ENGINE NOISE

OUT OF THE CABIN AREA.
SO WE START SCRAPING IT OUT.

REALLY, IT WAS TAKING
A LOT LONGER THAN WE THOUGHT.

SO AT ONE POINT,
I GUESS WILLIS AND JASON

CAME ACROSS THIS DRY ICE METHOD

TO GET RID OF
THE SOUND DEADENING EASIER,

SO I THINK WILLIS
WATCHED A YouTube VIDEO

- OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
- WHAT'S UP, GUYS?

TODAY I'M GOING TO BE REMOVING
SOUND DEADENING IN THE M.P.

SO AFTER YOU THINK YOUR DRY ICE
IS KIND OF SETTLED IN THERE,

YOU JUST WANT TO GRAB
THE SCREWDRIVER...

HEY, APPARENTLY, YOU'RE NOT
SUPPOSED TO EAT THIS STUFF.

OH,.

SO THE PLAN IS, WE'RE GOING
TO TAKE THE DRY ICE,

POUR IT ON THE SOUND DEADENING,
LET IT SIT, AND IT'LL ACTUALLY

FREEZE THE SOUND DEADENING
OFF OF THE CHASSIS

AND JUST BE ABLE
TO PEEL IT RIGHT OFF.

THE SCIENCE EXPERIMENT
IS ABOUT TO BEGIN.

IT'S COLD!

EVERYTHING IS SO COLD!

EXTREME FROSTBITE,
I READ THAT SOMEWHERE.

DRY ICE MADE A NICE LITTLE
SCIENCE PROJECT,

A BUNCH OF SMOKE.
IT WAS PRETTY COOL.

HEY, I'M TRYING TO CREATE SOME
CINEMATOGRAPHY FOR YOU GUYS.

YOU KNOW, SCRAPE THAT
WHILE THAT'S STILL COLD.

AND IT ACTUAL HELPED.

OHH! DAMN!

SAY, BRO, THAT WORKS REAL GOOD.

IT ALLOWS IT JUST TO
BASICALLY CHIP OFF,

JUST AS GOOGLE SAYS, YouTube.

WOULD YOU BELIEVE
THEY'RE ACTUALLY CORRECT?

OH, DUDE, YOU SEE THAT?

DID YOU ALREADY GET THAT OFF?

YEAH, IT JUST, LIKE,
CAME RIGHT OFF.

IT HAS TURNED OUT VERY WELL.

THE DRY ICE COST US AROUND $80,
I BELIEVE, FOR WHAT WE USED.

SO MONEY WELL-SPENT,
TIME WELL-SPENT.

IT WAS A LOT LESS
AGGRAVATING FOR US.

IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A BLACK
PLASTIC BAG OF SOMETHING.

- IT LOOKS DANGEROUS.
- CAGE IN A BAG?

CAGE IN A BAG.

WE TALK ABOUT DOING THE CAGE.

YOU THINK, WELL, WE BEND
AND COPE AND CUT METAL.

WHY DON'T WE DO IT HERE?

GOOD ENOUGH.

BUT WHAT WE FOUND OUT
WAS THAT SINCE THESE CARS

RUN UNDERNEATH
SOME FIA STANDARDS,

THE HOMOLOGATED CAGES
THAT ARE PRODUCED

AS KITS ACTUALLY CAN BE PRODUCED
MUCH LIGHTER

THAN IF WE BUILD OUR OWN.

NOW, HOMOLOGATED IS A BIG WORD
THAT BASICALLY MEANS

THAT THE CAGE MEETS
THE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

SET UP FOR RALLY RACING --
THAT IS, IF IT'S BUILT RIGHT.

TO ENSURE THAT, THE FIA REQUIRES
TO SEND A SAMPLE WELD AND PHOTOS

TO THE CAGE MANUFACTURER
IN EUROPE FOR APPROVAL.

SO WE'RE HOPING TO SAVE 100
OR MORE POUNDS

BY USING HOMOLOGATED CAGE.

THAT 100 POUNDS IS...
WAS THAT 10 HORSEPOWER?

THIS IS THE SAME CAGE
THAT'S IN DAVE'S WHITE CAR

THAT AARON DROVE
WHILE WE WERE DOWN AT THE RANCH.

WE KNOW IT WORKS,
AND THIS SAVES US A TON OF TIME.

SO JUST PULLING THE CAGE OUT
AND DOING A TEST FIT,

BUT THE HALO ACTUALLY FITS VERY,
VERY WELL.

SO THE AMERICAN RALLY
ASSOCIATION SETS THE RULES

FOR ALL THE RACES THAT
TAKE PLACE IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE RULES STATE THAT WE CAN'T
WELD THE CAGE IN PLACE

UNTIL IT'S BEEN APPROVED.

SO FOR THE TIME BEING,
WE'RE JUST GOING TO USE TAPE,

MAGNETS, AND GRAVITY
TO HOLD IT TOGETHER.

ACTUALLY,
I'M PRETTY HAPPY WITH IT.

IT FITS SO MUCH BETTER
THAN I EXPECTED.

YEAH.

ONE HICCUP IS WE HAVE
TO GET SOME WELDS CERTIFIED,

AND THAT MEANS WE'VE GOT TO SHIP
BASICALLY A SMALL WELDED PIECE

ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE POND
AND THEN GET CERTIFICATION,

AND THEN WE CAN
BEGIN WORK ON IT.

THIS IS THE TEST WELD
THAT I DID.

- YEAH.
- IF YOU'RE OKAY WITH THAT,

WE CAN MAIL THAT IN.

YEAH. I THINK THEY'LL PASS IT.

YOU MAY SAY, "WHY ARE YOU
BUILDING IT THIS WAY?"

BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN VERIFIED
AND CERTIFIED

TO WORK IN THIS CAR.

THEY SAY IN AN IMPACT,
IN A ROLL, IN THESE TYPE

OF OF RACING SITUATIONS
THAT YOU'RE GOING TO EXPERIENCE.

THERE'S DRIVING ON GRAVEL.

DRIVING ON DIRT IS
A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT MEDIUM,

AND THAT'S ALSO THE DANGER.

I THINK THAT HAVING A TRACK

THAT YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO SEE
THE SAME CORNER AGAIN REALLY,

REALLY REALLY DOES RAISE
THE LEVEL OF RISK.

SO THAT BEING THE CASE,

THEY MANDATE THAT WE RUN BIGGER
TUBE ON IT AND THICKER WALLS.

RIGHT NOW, HE'S TAKING
INDIVIDUAL PICTURES

OF ATTACHMENT POINTS
ON THE FLOOR,

DIFFERENT POINTS
IN THE CAGE.

ONCE WE GET THESE PHOTOS,
WE'LL SEND THEM OFF

AND TRY TO GET CERTIFIED.

PROBLEM, IS THOUGH, WE'RE GOING
TO HAVE TO WAIT ON CERTIFICATION

BEFORE WE CAN
START WELDING IT,

AND SO WE'VE GOT
A LITTLE BIT OF A HOLDUP THERE.

WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF PARTS
FOR THE CAR.

WE'VE ORDERED IT, BUT AS RALLY

IS KIND OF OBSCURE HERE
IN THE STATES,

IT'S REALLY HARD
TO GET A HOLD OF PARTS.

SOME OF THE PARTS
COME OUT OF COUNTRY.

THE PARTS THAT ARE HERE,
PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ON THE SHELF.

THEY WAIT TO BUILD THEM
UNTIL THERE'S AN ORDER,

AND SO ONCE AGAIN
WE ARE WAITING.

BUT WHEN PARTS LIKE THIS MASTER
CYLINDER KIT DO COME IN,

IT'S MADE SPECIFICALLY
FOR THE CAR,

AND WE DON'T HAVE TO DO
MANY MODIFICATIONS.

IT PRACTICALLY PUTS ITSELF
TOGETHER.

UH, THAT FIT PRETTY GOOD.

YEAH, IT LOOKS LIKE IT COMES
RIGHT THROUGH

OVER HERE REAL WELL.WHILE
WE HAVE TO BUILD THE CAR,

WE ALSO HAVE
TO BUILD THE DRIVER.

SO I'M HEADED BACK DOWN
TO RALLY READY,

AND I JUST WANT TO GO OVER
A FEW THINGS

WITH THE CREW BEFORE I HEAD OUT.

WHAT I WANT IS, I WANT
THE STEERING TO BE NO CLOSER

TO THE COLUMN THAN THE ORIGINAL
STEERING WHEEL WAS.

PAST THAT, JON SHOULD HAVE
IN HIS POSSESSION SEATS

IN THE SPUD TODAY FOR THAT,
SO I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT,

AND WE COULD WORK ON THE FLANGE
AND THE FIREWALL.

OH, YEAH, WE COULD START
A FIREWALL SHEET.

YEAH, AT LEAST
THE TEMPLATE ON IT,

AND THEN MAYBE
GET MATERIAL ORDERED

AND THEN KIND OF WORK
ON A GENERAL LAYOUT.

SO WE'VE GOT THE CAGES
COMPLETELY ASSEMBLED IN IT.

EVERYTHING LOOKS GREAT.

WE'VE GOT THE STRUT TOWERS
WELDED UP AND BOXED,

AND SO NOW, REALLY, IT'S WELDING
AND FINISHING THE CAGE,

ONCE IT GETS APPROVED.

SO REALLY, WE'RE KIND OF WAITING
FOR APPROVAL ON THE PICTURES.

BROOKS IS OUT HERE TO TAKE
MORE OF THESE ADDITIONAL BARS

JUST IN CASE THEY SAY,
"HEY, WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT?"

OH, I WOULD WAIT ON THAT, TOO.

IT'S KIND OF A BIG WAITING GAME.

SO MANY OF THESE PARTS
COME FROM OUT OF COUNTRY.

WE'RE STARTING TO GET PARTS
IN SLOWLY.

NEXT WEEK WILL BE A BIG WEEK,

AND IF WE FINISH
ALL THE FAB RIGHT NOW,

THEN WE MIGHT EVEN HAVE A CAR
BY THE END OF NEXT WEEK,

AND THAT'S REALLY THE BIG GOAL.
THAT'S IT.

SO, I MEAN, IT SOUNDS LIKE
A BUNCH OF NOTHING,

BUT ULTIMATELY, IT'S ALL STUFF
THAT'S GOT TO GET DONE.

- NAH, THAT'S BUILDING A CAR.
- YEAH.

JUST GETTING A PLAN
TOGETHER FOR THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS

WHILE HE'S GONE TO DO
SOME MORE TRAINING,

WHICH IS MUCH NEEDED.

WE'VE GOT SOME FIREWALL PANELS
TO MAKE AND SOME PACKAGE TRAY

AND CLOSE-OUT PANELS
FOR THE REAR.

HOPEFULLY GET OUR APPROVAL
TO GO AHEAD

AND WELD
THIS CAGE TOGETHER,

BUT IF WE DON'T HEAR BACK
FROM THEM SOON,

THAT COULD BE
A REAL SETBACK FOR US.

I PRIDE MYSELF ON BEING ABLE
TO LEARN VERY QUICKLY

AND PICK THINGS UP PRETTY FAST.

IT'S REALLY KIND OF BEEN
A BIT OF A GUT CHECK.

UH, THE HIT THE FAN,

I BELIEVE IS,
WHAT THEY SAY THERE.

FEEL LIKE THAT NEEDS TO BE
UP HERE NEXT TO THIS BIN, RIGHT?

THERE AIN'T NO WAY THAT'S
GOING TO FIT UP THERE.

- WELL, NOT IN THE BIN.
- YES, THAT IS.

...IN THE BIN.

OH, YEAH? OKAY.

-ISN'T IT?

-GET THAT NARRATED.

ALL RIGHT. WELL,
THE DASH BAR IS ALL YOURS

'CAUSE I'VE GOT TO DEAL
WITH THE SUNROOF.

SO WHILE AARON'S OUT
AT RALLY READY

PRACTICING HIS DRIVING SKILLS,

HE LEFT US A LAUNDRY LIST
OF THINGS TO DO

TO GET DONE ON THE SUBARU.

STILL WAITING ON
THE MANUFACTURER'S APPROVAL

FROM THE U.K.
TO ACTUALLY WELD THE ROLL CAGE.

WE'RE GOING TO DO
A FEW EXTRA THINGS ON THE LIST.

I'M CUTTING SOME NEEDLESS WEIGHT
FROM THE CAR

BECAUSE THE ROLLS KEEP US FROM
ADDING ANY POWER TO THE ENGINE.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO BE AS LIGHT

AS WE POSSIBLY CAN
IN THIS SITUATION.

WELL, THE IMPREZA HAD A SUNROOF,
AND THE SUNROOF ADDS WEIGHT.

THIS PROBABLY WEIGHS...
HMM, I DON'T KNOW,

ROUGHLY 25 POUNDS
OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT,

SO WE'RE GONNA GET RID OF IT.

I'M GONNA MAKE THIS FLANGE.

IT'S GOING TO ALL THE WAY AROUND
THE OPENING ITSELF.

I'M GOING TO COPY
THE OLD SUNROOF.

ONCE I GOT A SHAPE
THAT I'M HAPPY WITH,

THEN WE'LL WELD IT TOGETHER.

THIS IS A BEAUTY. I LIKES.

ONCE I'M SURE THE FRAME
WILL FIT,

NEXT STEP, I'M GONNA START
MAKING MY TOP PLATE.

SO I GOT THIS PREPPED

AND I AM READY
TO TEST FIT IT INTO PLACE.

ALL RIGHT!
IT FITS PERFECTLY.

THERE WE GO.

THIS WILL GO BACK ANOTHER
3/8ths OF AN INCH,

IT LOOKS LIKE.

SO WE RAN INTO
A LITTLE BIT OF AN ISSUE.

WE WANT TO USE THE STOCK DASH
IN OUR RALLY CAR,

BUT WHEN WE TRIED TO PUT
THE STOCK DASH BAR

IN THE CAR, IT HIT THE CAGE.

SO IN ORDER TO
NOT MODIFY THE CAGE

BECAUSE OF THE FIA RULES,
WE WENT AHEAD

AND NOTCHED THE FACTORY DASH BAR
IN ORDER TO FIT IN THE CAR,

AND THEN WE COULD PUT
THE STOCK DASH BACK IN THE CAR.

WE CAN COME BACK TO IT.

- YEP.
- YEP. OKAY.

NOW THAT ALL THIS IS
NOTCHED ALL TOGETHER,

THE FACTORY DASH PAD
WILL FIT IN HERE.

CAGE IS TIDY,
WHERE IT'S SUPPOSED TO GO.

I'LL BUY THAT FOR A DOLLAR.

EVERYTHING SHOULD WORK OUT.

SO WE'LL GO FROM THAT NIPPLE
TO THIS SIDE AND JUST SHEAR IT

AND THEN MEASURE DOWN
TILL YOU'RE SQUARE.

WILLIS AND I ARE
WORKING ON MAKING

A REAR FIREWALL FOR THE CAR.

I'VE NEVER REALLY DONE THIS
BEFORE, SO WILLIS HELPED ME,

KIND OF GAVE ME POINTERS
ON WHAT TO DO.

DUDE, GO OVER TO
THE SHEET METAL SHEAR

AND JUST SHEAR IT ON THAT.

WE BASICALLY
USED CARDBOARD TO CUT A TEMPLATE

FOR THE SIZE AND SHAPE
THE REAR FIREWALL NEEDS TO BE.

THIS SHOULD BE HALF
OF YOUR PANEL

IF YOU WANT
TO DOUBLE-CHECK THE FIT.

I FITTED THE CARDBOARD.
THE CARDBOARD FITS PRETTY WELL.

THAT DOES LOOK PRETTY GOOD.

SO NOW, I TAKE THE TEMPLATE
AND USE IT TO CUT

THE ACTUAL FIREWALL OUT
OF SHEET METAL.

THE AVERAGE CAR TODAY
WITH A FRONT ENGINE LAYOUT

DOESN'T HAVE A REAR FIREWALL

BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING
IN THE TRUNK

THAT'S ACTUALLY A FIRE RISK.
BUT IN OUR RALLY CAR,

WE'RE MOUNTING A FUEL CELL
IN THE TRUCK,

AND THE RISK OF WRECKING
AND PUNCTURING THAT FUEL CELL

IS MUCH HIGHER ON A RALLY STAGE

AS OPPOSED TO
THE AVERAGE RACE TRACK,

SO THIS SHEET OF METAL SHOULD
PROTECT AARON AND THE CO-DRIVER

JUST IN CASE ANYTHING BAD
SHOULD OCCUR.

J-ROD MADE THESE PANELS FOR US,

BUT WE NEED TO PUT SOME
ACTUAL STRUCTURE IN THEM.

IT'S REALLY, REALLY THIN.

WE DON'T WANT IT TO DO THAT
WHILE WE'RE GOING DOWN THE ROAD,

SO I'M GOING TO DO
SOME BEAD ROLLS IN IT

WHICH ARE RIGID LINES
IN THE SHEET METAL

THAT ARE ACTUALLY DECORATIVE,
BUT THE REAL PURPOSE

IS THAT IT WOULD ACTUALLY
GIVE THE PIECE RIGIDITY,

THAT WAY IT DOESN'T
ACTUALLY WOBBLE.

THESE REALLY THIN LINES,
IT'S MAKING MY EYES CROSS.

SO THE LAST THING WE NEED TO DO

WHEN THE PIECES BEAD ROLL
IS TO RIVET IT IN PLACE,

EXCEPT WE CAN'T DO THAT
UNTIL WE FINISH THE ROLL CAGE,

WHICH WE CAN'T DO UNTIL WE GET
APPROVAL FROM EUROPE,

WHICH HASN'T COME IN YET.

SO WE'RE BASICALLY
IN A HOLDING PATTERN

UNTIL SOME EUROPEAN
MANUFACTURER

GIVES US THE THUMBS-UP,
OR WHATEVER THEY DO IN EUROPE.

YOU GOT TO GET
MORE WILD ON THE ENTRY.

- YEAH.
- I MEAN, YOU'LL GET MORE

CRAZY ENTRY, AND THEN THIS
WILL BE EASIER TO GAUGE.

BUT, YEAH, WE WANT TO MAKE
THE MAGIC HAPPEN BACK HERE.

I'M BACK HERE AT RALLY READY

FOR MY SECOND ROUND
OF DRIVER TRAINING,

AND IT'S REALLY COOL
TO HAVE BUCKY LASEK

PITCHING IN AS AN INSTRUCTOR.

BUCKY IS
AN ACTION SPORTS LEGEND.

CURRENT PRO SKATER,
THIS GUY DRIVES RALLYCROSS,

GRC STAGE RALLY STUFF.

THIS GUY --
HE IS A RACE CAR DRIVER.

WE HIT A COUPLE ROCKS,
BUT THE OLD GIRL'S HOLDING UP.

BUCKY'S GOT
A WHOLE LOT MORE EXPERIENCE

WITH SUBARUS THAN I DO,
AND I THINK THE THREE OF US

CAN PUT TOGETHER SOMETHING
REALLY EXCEPTIONAL.

ALL RIGHT.
YOU GUYS WANT TO SEND IT?

I'M READY TO GET TO IT.

NOW, BEFORE RACE DAY,
I'LL HAVE TO FIND A CO-DRIVER.

BUT FOR THE TIME BEING,

DAVE AND BUCKY ARE SITTING IN TO
TEACH ME EVERYTHING THEY KNOW.

WE'RE GOING TO GO RIGHT INTO
STRAIGHT-LINE BRAKING,

WHICH IS OUR FIRST EXERCISE
WE USUALLY DO.

IT'S MOSTLY JUST GOING TO
GET HIM LIMBERED UP,

COMFORTABLE IN THE CAR AGAIN,
FEEL THE INPUTS.

REMEMBER THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL
IS STIFF AS A ROCK.

OKAY, THAT WAS GOOD.

HOW DID IT FEEL?

BETTER.
ONCE HE GETS UP TO SPEED,

AND HE'S STARTING TO FEEL
COMFORTABLE IN THE CAR,

WE'LL GO RIGHT
INTO THE FIGURE EIGHT

AND JUST GET HIM
COMFORTABLE

STARTING TO DO A LITTLE BIT
OF LOW-SPEED WEIGHT TRANSFER,

START SLIDING
THAT CAR AROUND AGAIN.

WE'RE MAKING SOME IMPROVEMENTS
AND SOME STRIDES

IN TERMS
OF HIS CAR CONTROL SKILLS.

I'VE SEEN THOSE HANDS.

ALL THUMBS OVER HERE, AND ZOOM,
ZOOM! NOW, WE'RE STEERING!

ONCE HE'S UP TO SPEED,
AND HE'S FEELING COMFORTABLE,

AND HE LOOKS LIKE HE'S A LOT
MORE KIND OF ON THE LINE,

THEN WE'LL MOVE
INTO THE SLALOM.

FROM THE LAST TIME I SAW YOU
DRIVE THIS TO NOW

IS, LIKE, NIGHT
AND DAY ALREADY.

THE WEIGHT TRANSFER COMING
INTO CORNERS LOOKS AWESOME.

LET'S TAKE EVERYTHING
YOU'RE DOING NOW

AND PUT IT ON THE SLALOM
WHERE IT'S GOING TO GIVE YOU

THE RESULTS
THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.

- ALL RIGHT.
- YOU'VE PASSED THIS TEST

WITH FLYING CARPETS.

OKAY, GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN.

I PRIDE MYSELF ON BEING ABLE
TO LEARN VERY QUICKLY

AND PICK THINGS UP PRETTY FAST.

YEAH.

THIS HAS REALLY BEEN KIND OF
A GUT CHECK OVER HERE.

IT'S LIKE, "MAYBE YOU DON'T
PICK THINGS UP AS FAST

AS YOU THINK YOU DO."

EVERYTHING ON THAT WAS BAD.

HE'S HAVING
A REALLY HARD TIME LETTING GO

AND JUST LETTING IT
HAPPEN, RIGHT.

LIKE, JUST DEVELOPING THE MUSCLE
MEMORY AND JUST BEING CHILL

AND LETTING THE CAR CONTROL
PART KIND OF COME NATURALLY.

HE'S, LIKE, MY TIME IS METERED.
AND MY LAP IS METER.

I NEED EVERY EVERY LAP TO BE...
TO COUNT.

I NEED TO GET BETTER AND BETTER
AND BETTER.

SO YOU'LL NOTE HERE,
HE WAS COMING TOWARDS US,

SO THE FRONT OF THE CAR
WAS FACING US BEFORE,

AND NOW AS YOU'LL SEE,
THOSE ARE THE TAILLIGHTS.

THE HIT THE FAN,

I BELIEVE IS
WHAT THEY SAY THERE.

THERE'S NO SUCH THING
AS A PERFECT CORNER

IN ANY MOTOR SPORT EVER,
I DON'T GIVE A

WHAT ANYBODY SAYS,
BUT ESPECIALLY NOT IN RALLYING

AND ESPECIALLY NOT ON THIS
ROUGH-ASS SLALOM RIGHT NOW.

MOST RACERS SEE THE SAME CORNER
A THOUSAND TIMES,

A RALLY DRIVER SEES
A THOUSAND CORNERS ONCE.

SO BECAUSE OF THAT, WHEN YOU
BLOW A CORNER, IT'S GONE.

PLAN FOR AARON NEXT TIME?

- PROBABLY MORE FISHING.
- WE'RE GOING TO DO A LOT MORE

FISHING NEXT TIME.
- DEFINITELY.

CAUGHT -- HOW MANY FISH
DID HE CATCH THIS TIME?

- HE DIDN'T GO FISHING.
- OH, YEAH, THERE'S YOUR PROBLEM.

YEAH.

WELL, HERE'S THE DEAL.

OUR PLAN FOR AARON NEXT TIME,
WE'RE GOING TO GET HIM...

NEXT TIME AARON GETS HERE,
OUR PLAN IS TO TRANQUILIZE HIM,

PUT HIM
IN THE BEDROOM UPSTAIRS,

SHAVE HIS BEARD,
AND THEN SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

- CUT.
- THAT'S ALL WE GOT.

- ALL RIGHT.
- I GOT NOTHING LEFT.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
SOME FUN TODAY.

- YOU MEAN, YOU ARE.
- YEP, YES, SIR.

SO A WEEK AGO WE SENT OFF
OUR WELD SAMPLE FOR THE CAGE.

WE ALSO SENT OFF PHOTOS
OF THE CAGE ASSEMBLED TO EUROPE

TO GET OUR FULL GREEN LIGHT

SO THAT WE CAN
FULLY WELD THE CAGE.

THE PURPOSE OF THE WELD SAMPLE
IS TO ENSURE

THAT WHOEVER WELDS THE CAGE
KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE DOING,

MAKE SURE THAT THE WELD'S
SUBSTANTIAL IN CASE

WE WRECK, IT WON'T FAIL.

WELL, WE FINALLY GOT
THAT APPROVAL IN BECAUSE

I'M THE ONLY ONE THAT DID
THE WELD TEST FOR THESE GUYS,

SO I'M ONLY ONE THAT'S ABLE

TO ACTUALLY WELD
ON THE CAGE ITSELF.

WE'RE GOING TO WELD ALL
THE LOWER OF THE UPPER TUBES

SO THAT WE CAN STRAP
THE CAGE IN, NOTHING WILL MOVE.

THEN WE CAN WELD THE UPPERS,
BRING THE CAGE BACK UP,

ADD IN ALL THE CROSSIVE PARTS
AND GET ALL THOSE WELDED IN.

- YOU'RE SO SHAKY.
- I KNOW.

I'M SUPER SHAKY RIGHT UP HERE.

WE'VE REACHED THE POINT WHERE
WILLIS HAS WELDED

EVERYTHING UNDERNEATH
THAT WE NEED

TO WELD FOR THE CAGE
TO HOLD ITS STRUCTURE.

NOW, IT'S TIME TO WELD THE TOPS,
THEN WE CAN PUT IT BACK IN,

WELD THE FLOOR UP

AND START PUTTING
THE REST OF THE TUBES IN.

THIS KIND OF SUCKS
TO SIT SIDELINES.

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I'VE
ACTUALLY SIDELINED SOMEBODY

AND BEEN THE NURSE.

I HELP HIM WHEN HE NEEDS IT,
SHARPEN A TUNGSTEN

OR HAND HIM FILLER ROD
OR HELP HOLD

IN THE REST OF THE TUBES
THAT NEED TO BE HELD IN PLACE,

SO HE CAN TACK THEM
AND START WELDING THEM.

THIS HAS BEEN ROUGHLY 20,
30 HOURS WORTH OF WELDING.

IT IS EXCITING.

IT FEELS GOOD TO BE
NEARING THE END.

- SO THAT'S THE END OF, HUH?
- SURE, THAT'S A WRAP, SON.

- THAT'S IT!
- NOW WHAT?

WHY NOT TAKE SOME PICTURES
OF YOUR WORK?

CAN'T TAKE PICTURES.

I THINK AARON WILL BE HAPPY.
I THINK YOU DID A KILLER JOB.

GOOD JOB, HOMIE.

IF AARON WRECKS IT,
I THINK HE'LL BE SAFE.

IF ANYTHING, I THINK WE TOOK
MORE PICTURES THAN...

THEY REQUIRE 8,
WE TOOK PROBABLY 80.

WITH THAT DONE, WE CAN FINALLY
FOCUS OUR ATTENTION

ON OTHER ASPECTS
OF THE CAR THAT NEED WORK.

SEATS, STEERING WHEEL.

SUSPENSION, MOTOR,
FUEL SYSTEM.

I JUST HOPE THAT AARON WILL BE
HAPPY WITH

THE PROGRESS THAT WE MADE.

ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT'S THE HARDEST

FOR NEW DRIVERS TO ADAPT TO IS,

ESPECIALLY YOU, I THINK LIKE
WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE.

YOU'RE SO ANALYTICAL

WITH THE WAY
YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT THIS.

EVERY PART OF YOU IS LIKE,
"OH, THIS AND THAT, X AND Y"...

SO LET ALL THAT GO.

THERE'S NO SUCH THING
AS A PERFECT CORNER

IN ANY MOTOR SPORT EVER.

I DON'T GIVE A
WHAT ANYBODY SAYS,

BUT ESPECIALLY NOT
IN RALLYING

AND ESPECIALLY NOT ON THIS
ROUGH-ASS SLALOM RIGHT NOW.

THE GOAL TODAY IS
JUST

AS MANY TIMES AS YOU CAN IN
AS MANY WAYS AS POSSIBLE.

IN RALLYING THERE'S
AN OLD SAYING...

MOST RACERS SEE THE SAME CORNER
A THOUSAND TIMES.

A RALLY DRIVER SEES
A THOUSAND CORNERS ONCE.

SO BECAUSE OF THAT, WHEN YOU
BLOW A CORNER, IT'S GONE.

PARK IT.

SURE, LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKE,
BUT WE'VE GOT TO KEEP MOVING,

AND FOR AARON, HE SORT OF STARTS
TO GET IN THIS LOOP.

YOU KNOW, HE'LL PICK SOMETHING
AND JUST START TO KIND OF

GET STUCK ON IT.

FOR ME, IT'S LIKE,
I REALLY KIND OF...

MY WORST CRITIC AND GET SO DOWN
ON MYSELF AND GET SO BENT,

GET SO UPSET WITH EVERYTHING

THAT IT REALLY JUST KIND OF...
LIKE, IT JUST GOES DOWNHILL.

SO I WANT TO
ADD IN THE INFIELD,

BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THIS GETS
REALLY STRESSFULLY SATURATING,

AND WHEN ALL YOU'VE DONE
IS THIS,

YOU START TO BE LIKE,
"MAN!"

IF YOU HAVE THE WHOLE REST
OF THE TRACK, THEN YOU GET...

IT'S SORT OF LIKE A CHANCE TO
DECOMPRESS, ADD IN NEW ELEMENTS.

CLEAR THE PALATE.
- EXACTLY.

I SAY THE THREE OF US GO OUT,
AND LET'S JUST WALK IT

AND SET CONES TOGETHER.

SOUND GOOD?

I WANT TO DO THREE
ON THE INSIDE HERE.

WE'RE SETTING UP THE CONES
SO THAT AARON IS

GOING THROUGH BASICALLY
WHAT WE'D CONSIDER

SORT OF A GENERIC RALLY STAGE.

IT'S BIG AND WIDE-OPEN.

THE REASON IT'S SO WIDE-OPEN IS
BECAUSE WE CAN MOVE CONES AROUND

AND WE CAN SORT OF CREATE
A MILLION DIFFERENT TRACKS

OUT OF THIS BIG WIDE-OPEN AREA,

SO WHAT WE'LL DO IS, WE'LL HAVE
FOLKS ALL OVER THE TRACK,

AND WE'LL BE MOVING
THOSE CONES AROUND PERIODICALLY.

THE IDEA THERE IS AARON

SHOULD REALLY NEVER DRIVE
THE SAME COURSE TWICE.

IN A RALLY STAGE,

YOU NEVER REALLY SEE
THE SAME CORNER TWICE,

SO IF HE'S REALLY COMFORTABLE
ON A CORNER,

I WANT TO CHANGE THAT CORNER
UNTIL IT'S SOMETHING THAT LOOKS

AND FEELS WEIRD TO HIM,
SO HE'S FORCED TO ADAPT.

SO NOW, WE'LL TAKE ALL
THE CONES THAT ARE HERE.

WE'LL HAVE YOU DRIVE IT.

WE'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE FEEDBACK
FROM OUT OF THE CAR,

AND WE'RE JUST GOING
TO MOVE STUFF AROUND.

I MIGHT EVEN
STAND OUT HERE MYSELF LIKE THIS.

- OKAY.
- YEAH.

-LIKE THIS.

YEAH.WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW

IS REALLY TYING IN THE SLALOM
STUFF THAT HE DID EARLIER

WHERE HE WAS REALLY STARTING
TO KIND OF GET IN HIS HEAD.

WE'RE PUTTING HIM INTO
A MORE DYNAMIC ENVIRONMENT

WHERE HE CAN START
TO JUST FEEL THE CAR,

AND HE'S NOT HAVING
TO WORRY SO MUCH

ABOUT GETTING EVERYTHING PERFECT

ON SOMETHING HE'S DONE
OVER AND OVER.

I LIKE -- THERE WE GO.

HE'LL GO THROUGH.
HE'LL DO A LAP OR TWO.

WE'LL MOVE A CONE A LITTLE BIT
ONE DIRECTION OR THE OTHER.

IF HE'S NOT PAYING ATTENTION,
IF HE DOESN'T KEEP HIS EYES UP,

HE'S NOT GONNA SEE THAT COMING.

HE'S GOING TO
TRY AND DRIVE THE TRACK

THAT HE THINKS HE KNOWS,
AND IT'S GOING TO CATCH HIM OUT.

OH! GOD!!!

-WE GOT HIM.

NEXT WEEK,
WE VISIT A FAMILIAR FACE...

- Y'ALL SCARED YOUR CAGE?
- VERY.

WE HAVE TO HANDLE
THAT CAGE LIKE GLASS.

OKAY.

...AND DISCOVER
SOME DEPRESSING NEWS.

DAVE, WOULDN'T YOU WANT
TO WELD THIS HERE?

WOULDN'T YOU WANT TO STITCH
THIS STUFF TOGETHER?

- OH, OH, NO, WE'VE GOT SOME...
- SAME THING OVER HERE.

DUDE, THERE'S NO CHANCE IN HELL
THAT'LL PASS.

OUR CAGE WON'T PASS TECH.

THIS IS THE WORST SETBACK
THAT I HAVE HAD IN MY CAREER.