Shifting Gears with Aaron Kaufman (2018): Season 2, Episode 2 - Cage Match - full transcript

Kaufman:
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.

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."

THREE, TWO, ONE, GO.

TONIGHT, I CONTINUE TO
PUSH MYSELF HARDER

THAN EVER FOR
THE UPCOMING OLYMPUS RALLY.

HOW'D YOU FEEL ABOUT THOSE LAPS?

I THINK THEY WERE
ALL A BIG MESS.

IT'S BEEN A STRUGGLE
ON EVERY SINGLE THING.

Kaufman:
WE DROP OUR SUBARU OFF

FOR PAINT JOB
TO A FAMILIAR FACE.

WHAT, ARE Y'ALL SCARED
OF YOUR CAGE?

VERY.

WE HAVE TO HANDLE
THAT CAGE LIKE GLASS.

OKAY.



Kaufman: BUT WHEN WE PICK IT UP,

WE DISCOVER
SOME DEVASTATING NEWS.

DAVE, THEY'RE NOT WELDED
ALL THE WAY AROUND.

- OH, NO..
- SAME THING OVER HERE.

DUDE, THERE'S NO CHANCE IN HELL
THAT WILL PASS ANY KIND OF TECH.

OH, MY GOD.

Kaufman: AND OUR BUILDERS HAVE
A HEAVY WEIGHT TO BEAR.

AH, SON OF A BITCH, MAN.
I REALLY HATE DROPPING THE BALL.

OUR CAGE WON'T PASS TECH.

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

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

SO HERE'S WHERE WE'RE AT.

A FEW WEEKS AGO, I DECIDED
THE TEAM WOULD BUILD A RACE CAR,

AND I WOULD COMPETE
IN MY VERY FIRST RALLY.

THE FIRST STEP WAS FINDING
A SUBARU IMPREZA RS,

WHICH I BELIEVE
IS THE RIGHT CAR

AND APPROPRIATE
FOR MY LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE,

WHICH IS TO SAY, ALMOST NONE.

I HOPE YOU DON'T MIND TOO MUCH
WE'RE MAKING IT A RACE CAR.

NO, NO, NOT AT ALL.

ONE OF OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES
IS TO BUILD A RACE CAR

THAT CAN STAND UP TO
THE PUNISHMENT OF RALLY RACING.

I DECIDED THAT MY FIRST RACE
WOULD BE THE OLYMPUS RALLY,

A TWO-DAY EVENT WHERE DRIVERS,
WITH THE HELP OF A CODRIVER,

WILL COMPETE IN TIME-STAGED
RACES FOR A TOTAL OF 200 MILES

THROUGH THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN
OF WASHINGTON STATE.

MY JOB RIGHT NOW IS PRETTY
STRAIGHTFORWARD --

UPGRADE THE DRIVER.

AND THAT MEANS MORE TRAINING
AT RALLY READY.

AND THAT ALSO MEANS RELYING
ON MY MECHANICS BACK AT THE SHOP

TO KEEP THE SUBARU
BUILD ON TRACK.

AND COME UP JUST A LITTLE TOUCH.

- OW, MY FINGER.
- COME IN FOR THAT.

YOU DUMMY. THERE WE GO.

- THERE IT IS.
- FITS ON.

THAT IS GANGSTER.

WE GOT A LOT OF THINGS
DONE ON THE SUBARU

WHILE AARON HAS BEEN OUT
WORKING ON HIS DRIVING SKILLS,

THE BIGGEST AND THE MOST
TIME-CONSUMING OF WHICH

WAS THE FINAL WELDING
ON THE ROLL CAGE.

BASICALLY, IN ORDER TO GET
THE APPROVAL

NEEDED TO RUN THIS CAGE
IN AN OFFICIAL RALLY EVENT,

WE HAD TO WELD UP
A LITTLE WELD SAMPLE THEY SENT,

AND WE HAD TO SEND
THAT BACK PRIOR

TO BEING ABLE
TO WELD ON THE CAGE,

AND THE SAMPLE WAS APPROVED
WITH THE CONDITION

THAT THE ONE PERSON
THAT WELDS THAT WELD SAMPLE

IS THE ONLY PERSON ALLOWED
TO WELD ON THE CAGE.

BY CHANCE OF LUCK,
I WAS THE ONE THAT WELDED THAT,

SO I GOT STUCK IN ALL
THE AWKWARD POSITIONS,

WELD THE ENTIRE CAGE.

TOMORROW, WHEN AARON GETS BACK,

HE'S GOING TO GIVE IT
ONE LAST ONCE-OVER,

BUT I'M ACTUALLY NOT
TOO CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

I MEAN, IT'S PRETTY STOUT

AND SEEMS LIKE THERE
WON'T BE ANY ISSUE THERE.

BUT UNTIL THEN, WE GOT TO KEEP
THE BUILD MOVING FORWARD.

I'M GONNA GET ON FIXING
THAT LITTLE WRINKLE.

JEREMY IS GOING TO
MAKE SEAT BELTS.

ALL RIGHT.
WELL, I'LL FINISH PUTTING ONE

OF THESE HUBS TOGETHER.

GOOD GAME.

- WE GOT A COUPLE HOURS TODAY.
- MM-HMM.

WHAT ARE YOU FEELING?
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO WORK ON?

WHAT DID YOU SEE FROM
THE OUTSIDE

THAT I NEED TO WORK ON?

LAST I WAS WATCHING, WE'RE STILL
A LITTLE BIT TOO HANDSY.

- MM-HMM. YEP.
- SO JUST A LITTLE BIT, LIKE --

THERE'S A FEW TIMES
THAT WE'LL SEE YOU.

YOU'LL TURN IN.
THE CAR WILL START TO ROTATE.

YOU'LL COUNTERSTEER,
AND YOU'LL TURN IN,

AND YOU'LL COUNTERSTEER.
- YEAH.

Carapetyan: SO AARON CALLED ME
A FEW WEEKS AGO

AND ASKED ME TO
BASICALLY TEACH HIM EVERYTHING

I POSSIBLY COULD ABOUT
RALLY RACING BEFORE OLYMPUS,

SO I CALLED MY GOOD BUDDY,
BUCKY LASEK,

WHO HAS BEEN A PRO RACER
FOR A FEW YEARS,

TO COME HELP GET AARON
READY TO RIP.

YESTERDAY, AARON RAN A BASELINE
LAP HERE AROUND OUR POND LOOP

RALLY STAGE AT RALLY READY
AND PUT IN A TIME OF 49 SECONDS.

WATCHING AARON RUN THAT LAP,
I FEEL LIKE WE'VE DEFINITELY

GOT A LITTLE BIT OF ROOM
FOR IMPROVEMENT.

NOW THAT WE HAVE A BASELINE
WITH THE 49 FLAT,

LET'S JUST SEE, YOU KNOW,
PULL SOME TIME OUT OF THAT

AND WORK ON YOUR HANDS
JUST A LITTLE BIT.

Carapetyan: SO TODAY
AND OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS,

WHILE AARON'S DOWN HERE,
WE'RE GONNA TRY

AND FOCUS ON A HANDFUL
OF DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES

THAT'LL HELP HIM SHAVE
SOME TIME OFF AND IMPROVE

ON THAT 49-SECOND BASELINE.

LET'S GO DO IT THEN.

I'LL GRAB A HELMET,
AND I'LL HOP IN WITH YOU.

OKAY.

Carapetyan: EVENTUALLY,
AARON'S GONNA HAVE TO FIND

A PROFESSIONAL CODRIVER,

BUT FOR THE TIME BEING,
HE'LL HAVE TO PUT UP WITH ME.

OH, YEAH.
SHE'S A LITTLE DUSTY.

REACH WITH YOUR RIGHT.
HOVER WITH YOUR LEFT.

REACH WITH YOUR LEFT.
HOVER WITH YOUR RIGHT.

I'M JUST GONNA DO IT FOR YOU.

REACH WITH YOUR RIGHT.
HOVER WITH YOUR LEFT.

THERE YOU GO, EXACTLY, PERFECT.
STRAIGHTEN OUT.

STRAIGHTEN OUT. STRAIGHTEN OUT.
STRAIGHTEN OUT. STRAIGHTEN OUT.

STRAIGHTEN OUT. THERE YOU GO.

WE CAME INTO THE WEEKEND
REALLY FOCUSING ON HIS HANDS

AND FOCUSING ON
GETTING HIS TIMING EARLY.

BUCKY NOTED THAT HE SEEMED
TO BE REALLY LATE

ON A LOT OF HIS INPUTS.

YOU'RE TRYING TO GET
IN THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF WHEEL.

YOU'RE TRYING TO GET YOUR TIMING
ON THE TURNING OKAY,

BUT YOU'RE A LITTLE LATE
UNWINDING IT.

THE FIRST HALF, I'D SAY,
WHEN I GOT IN WITH HIM,

WE MADE
SOME IMPROVEMENTS THERE.

EASY ON THE BRAKE.

GOOD. THAT LOOKED BETTER.

LET'S JUST KEEP
THIS PARTY GOING,

AND I'M NOT GONNA TALK
TO YOU ABOUT YOUR STEERING.

YOU'RE JUST GONNA DO THAT.

I'M GONNA TALK TO YOU
ABOUT VISUAL CUES.

ALL RIGHT.

NOW WE REALLY DO NEED
TO START TO WORK ON

NOT JUST TIGHTENING UP
HIS INPUTS,

BUT STARTING TO LOOK AT WHERE
TO BE PUTTING THE CAR,

A LITTLE BIT MORE THE RACECRAFT
AND THE RACE-LINE STUFF.

LOOK AT THE NEXT CONES,

LOOKING ALL THE WAY
DOWN THE STRAIGHTAWAY.

I WAS SENDING VISUAL CUES
IN THE CAR WITH HIM,

SO AS WE'D COME
THROUGH A CORNER,

I WOULD POINT UP,
AND I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW,

"EYES ON THE FILM CREW.

EYES ON THE MINIVAN.
EYES ON THE OIL TRUCK."

EYES THROUGH THE CORNER
LOOKING AT THOSE BARRIERS.

SO HE WOULD UNDERSTAND
EXACTLY HOW FAR AHEAD

MY EYES
ARE WHEN I'M DRIVING,

AND THAT'S WHERE HE NEEDS
TO BE WORKING TOWARDS.

LOOKING AT BUCKY.

VISUAL CUES WERE HUGE FOR HIM,
I THINK.

PERFECT, ALL RIGHT.

EYES AND HANDS,
100 TIMES BETTER.

THAT FELT BETTER.
THAT MADE SENSE.

Kaufman: IT'S BEEN A STRUGGLE ON
EVERY SINGLE THING

THAT WE'VE TRIED TO LEARN.

ALL RIGHT.

Kaufman: I DON'T KNOW
WHAT PART OF MY BRAIN

THAT IS THAT CAUSES THAT,

OR IF IT'S, YOU KNOW,
AN ATTITUDE THING,

OR IF IT'S PHYSICALLY, MY BRAIN
IS JUST PROCESSING IT WRONG

OR NOT AT THE RIGHT TIME,
BUT I FEEL LIKE TODAY

THAT WE REALLY GOT ENOUGH THINGS
TO START TO CLICK.

I'M HAPPY, AGAIN,
WITH THE PROGRESS.

I DO THINK WE SHOULD DO
SOME TIMED LAPS FOR YOU NOW,

AND WE SHOULD BOTH BE
OUT OF THE CAR

'CAUSE I'M COMFORTABLE NOW.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW WHAT
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.

I THINK THAT SOUNDS
LIKE A GREAT IDEA.

SWEET-ASS, DUDE.

IF WE CAN BEAT A 49,
I'LL BE REALLY HAPPY

'CAUSE WE BEAT 49
WITH HIS HANDS SHUFFLING MORE.

- YEAH.
- IT'D BE GREAT.

Carapetyan:
AARON, YOU ABOUT READY?

GIVE ME A GOOD REV
IF YOU'RE READY TO GO.

YOU GUYS READY?

THREE, TWO, ONE, GO.

EASY IN THIS PART.
EASY IN THIS TIME.

HOLD IT A LITTLE BIT TIGHTER,
LESS SLIDING.

AND THERE YOU GO.

AND ACROSS THE LINE.

THAT WAS BETTER.

I WAS LIKE,
IF WE CAN GET HIM NEAR A 46 NOW,

THAT WOULD BE GREAT
BECAUSE HIS HANDS WERE A MESS,

AND HE'S STILL SO FOCUSED
ON HIS HANDS AND HE'S AT 44.

I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD PROBABLY
TELL HIM

THAT HE JUST RAN A 44.6.
- I AGREE.

WE'LL JUST WATCH HIM

IN HIS NATIVE HABITAT HERE,

OVERTHINKING EVERY INPUT WHILE
HE SITS AT THE START LINE

FESTOONING IN A POOL
OF HIS OWN THOUGHTS.

- SHOULD WE JUST SEND HIM NOW?
- YEAH.

'CAUSE I THINK WE SHOULD
JUST COUNT HIM DOWN.

I'M NOT GOING TO SAY ANYTHING,
JUST DO --

- JUST RIGHT NOW, READY?
- YEAH.

FIVE, FOUR, THREE,
TWO, ONE, GO.

YEAH, HE'S LIKE,
"AH! WHAT, NOTHING!"

YEAH, HE'S GOING TO --
THAT'S THE FINISH LINE.

- YEAH.
- EVERYBODY, IF WE COULD --

GET OFF THE FINISH LINE.

GOOD, TIGHTY, TIGHTY,
TIGHTY, TIGHTY, TIGHTY.

OH, THAT WAS PRETTY GOOD.

SO A SECOND SLOWER,
BUT THAT LOOKED REALLY GOOD

THROUGH THERE.

LOOK AT THAT.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL.

THAT LOOKS GOOD. NICE.
USE THE WHOLE TRACK.

HE'S LINKING THAT OVER THAT
CREST SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER NOW.

THERE WE GO.
THAT'S MORE LIKE IT.

BACK IN THE 44s.

LET'S HAVE HIM PULL BACK UP.
ALL RIGHT.

LET'S GO AHEAD
AND PULL IT ON IN.

HEY, A-A-RON.

HOW'D YOU FEEL
ABOUT THOSE LAPS?

I DON'T THINK ONE OF THEM
WAS WORTH ANYTHING.

I THINK THEY WERE
ALL A BIG MESS.

I'M OFF MY LINE.

I'M OFF MY PACE AND EVERYTHING,
AND SO I TRY

AND GET THE CAR SETTLED AGAIN,
LIKE, LONG RIGHT,

AND THEN FROM THERE, HE'S LIKE,
"COME TO THIS CORNER."

IT'S, LIKE, I MESS IT UP.

THAT LAP'S BAD.
I CAN'T RECOVER THAT.

I MEAN, I WOULD REALLY HATE
TO LIVE IN YOUR HEAD,

SEEMS LIKE
A REALLY ROUGH PLACE.

WHEN AARON COMES IN,
HE'S LIKE, "YOU KNOW, I JUST --

"MAN, I'M PRETTY SURE
I WAS 10 SECONDS SLOWER

"THAN ANYBODY EVER
AND PRETTY MUCH USELESS,

AND I PROBABLY SHOULD
NEVER DRIVE A CAR AGAIN."

SO LET'S JUST TALK LAP TIMES.

YOU'RE NOT FEELING REALLY GOOD
ABOUT YOUR RESULTS.

WHAT ARE YOUR GUESSES
FOR LAP TIMES?

47.5, 48, THAT RANGE.

MY FASTEST TIME TODAY
WASN'T RACE PACE.

MAYBE I'M HUSTLING
THE CAR HERE AND THERE.

MAYBE WE'LL GET SOME GOOD WORK
DONE, BUT IT AIN'T THAT SPEED.

I WASN'T ON THE LINE
ON ONE SINGLE CORNER,

SO I'D BE WILLING TO BE THAT
ONE OF THOSE WAS A PLUS 50.

I MEAN, I'LL JUST SHOW YOU.

PRETTY DECENT TIME.

THAT WAS YOUR LAST LAP.

YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.

IT DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THAT.

YEAH, SO REMEMBER
WHEN I TOLD YOU EARLIER --

IT DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THAT AT ALL.

REMEMBER WHEN I TOLD YOU
EARLIER ABOUT --

THIS IS, LIKE, WE NEED TO HAVE
A WHOLE SEPARATE COUNSELING SHOW

FOR THIS,
BUT THE PROBLEM, DUDE,

IS YOU'RE GETTING TO WHERE
EVERY LAP YOU'RE IMPROVING,

BUT THE PROBLEM IS,
ALL YOU'RE SEEING IS,

THIS IS WHERE YOU WERE,

AND THIS IS WHERE
YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD GET.

THE ONE THING THAT HAS JUST BEEN
ME MY WHOLE LIFE IS I'M REALLY,

REALLY AFRAID TO TELL MYSELF,
LIKE, "YOU DID OKAY," OR, LIKE,

"YOU'RE ON THE RIGHT PATH,"
OR "THINGS ARE WORKING."

I KNOW THAT WE CAN DO BETTER.
I KNOW I CAN GO FASTER.

I KNOW I CAN GET THIS BETTER,

AND IF I TELL MYSELF,
"YOU DID A GOOD JOB,"

LIKE, I DON'T WANT TO BE
COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.

YOU'RE DISCOURAGED BECAUSE
YOU'RE LIKE, "MAN, LOOK HOW MUCH

I CAN IMPROVE STILL."
- YEAH.

SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT
THIS BIG DISPARITY

AND THIS BIG DELTA
BETWEEN WHERE YOU ARE

AND WHERE YOU KNOW YOU CAN GO,
INSTEAD OF SAYING,

"HEY, WOW. I'M HERE,
AND I STARTED DOWN HERE."

HE'S GOT A HISTORY OF BEING
SUCH A HEAD CASE,

I THINK, IN THE CAR.

IT'S JUST GONNA BE --

YOU KNOW, I HAVE
TO JUST CONSTANTLY,

IT'S, LIKE,
CONSTANT AFFIRMATION THAT,

"HEY, LET'S NOT FOCUS ON
WHERE YOU AREN'T YET.

LET'S FOCUS ON WHERE YOU'VE
GOTTEN FROM WHERE YOU STARTED."

DO YOU THINK DR. PHIL IS
AVAILABLE AROUND OLYMPUS TIME?

I CAN TEXT HIM.

I'M EXCITED FOR YOU TO SEE

THAT YOU PULLED FIVE SECONDS
OUT IN TWO HOURS TODAY,

BASICALLY,
OR, I MEAN, AT LEAST TWO.

LIKE, I FEEL REALLY GOOD
ABOUT THE ADDING THE STUFF

AND THEN SEEING
A RESULT FROM IT.

AND, LIKE, AND QUITE HONESTLY,
I REALLY NEEDED TO SEE THAT

'CAUSE I FELT LIKE THOSE
WERE GOING SLOWER.

I FELT LIKE I WAS GOING
BACKWARDS REALLY BAD.

I PUT DOWN A MUCH, MUCH,
MUCH FASTER LAP TODAY,

AND I HATED THE LAP,
BUT ULTIMATELY, IT WAS FASTER.

THAT'S WHAT BREEDS
A RACE CAR DRIVER.

YOU CAN'T EVER GET COMPLACENT,

BUT DON'T FORGET TO TAKE
A DEEP BREATH

AND JUST BE PRESENT
IN THE SUCCESS PERIODICALLY.

AND SO THAT MAKES ME BELIEVE
THAT WE REALLY

ARE HEADED
THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

EVEN THOUGH I MAY NOT UNDERSTAND
MY OWN LEARNING CURVE HERE,

IT DOESN'T MEAN
THAT IT'S NOT WORKING.

LET'S FIGURE OUT
WHEN TO COME BACK.

LET'S GET THE CALENDARS, BOYS.

ALL RIGHT, PIVOTAL MOMENT,
DOES THE DRIVESHAFT FIT?

NO, IT DOESN'T. OH.

- SWEET PIECE.
- PIECE OF SOMETHING.

KC IS GONNA HANDLE
THE PAINT JOB FOR US.

WHAT, ARE Y'ALL SCARED
OF YOUR CAGE?

VERY.

WE HAVE TO HANDLE
THAT CAGE LIKE GLASS.

WE GOT FOUR DAYS
TO KNOCK THIS OUT,

SO WE'RE GONNA GET AFTER IT.

SOMEBODY HAS GOT TO PUT
A HAND ON IT

AND MAKE SURE SHE DON'T
SLIDE OFF AND ROLL OVER.

- OH, HEY, HEY.
- YEE.

DID THE CAGE GIVE Y'ALL
ANY TROUBLE AT ALL?

YEAH, I MEAN, IT FIT NICE.

WHEN Y'ALL DROPPED IT DOWN
AND PUT IT BACK UP IN THERE,

HOW SMOOTH DID THAT GO?
- GOOD.

- YEAH.
- OH, GOOD, GOOD, GOOD.

SO IN THE TIME
I WAS AWAY AT RALLY

READY TRAINING
FOR THE OLYMPUS RALLY,

THE GUYS BACK HERE AT THE SHOP

WERE MAKING HEADWAY
ON THE SUBARU BUILD.

AND THEN I WAS ABLE TO GET UP

IN THOSE POUCHES --
- I SAW THAT.

- ...PRETTY DECENT.
- I SAW THAT.

IT LOOKS GOOD,
LOOKS REALLY GOOD.

AND I TRUST THE GUYS
TO DO THINGS RIGHT,

OR I WOULDN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE
LEAVING THEM TO GO TRAIN,

BUT BECAUSE OF THE LENGTHY
MANUFACTURER'S APPROVAL PROCESS

THAT WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH
ON THE ROLL CAGE

AND THE FACT THAT IT
DIRECTLY AFFECTS MY SAFETY,

I DID WANT TO DOUBLE-CHECK
THEIR WORK.

NO, I THINK IT LOOKS GOOD.

I'M NOT CONCERNED
ABOUT IT ONE BIT.

I THINK IT'S GONNA WORK
REALLY WELL.

ROCK 'EM, SOCK 'EM.

ABOUT READY TO START
PUTTING SOME PARTS BACK ON.

SO THE GOOD NEWS IS, AARON SEEMS
HAPPY WITH THE ROLL CAGE.

THE BAD NEWS IS,
WAITING FOR THE CERTIFICATION

TO COME IN BACKED US UP
ON A LOT OF STUFF.

AND THE NAME OF THE GAME
RIGHT NOW IS TEST FITTING.

THE CAR IS SCHEDULED TO GO
TO PAINT IN TWO DAYS,

BUT BEFORE IT DOES,
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE

ALL THE MOUNTS AND BRACKETS
ON THE BODY

AND CHASSIS
ARE IN THE RIGHT PLACE

'CAUSE IN ORDER TO FIX
ANY OF THOSE ONCE IT'S PAINTED

MEANS DAMAGING THE PAINT JOB.

OH, MAN, THIS IS
LITTLE GUY SEATING.

SO WE'RE TEST FITTING
THE RACING SEAT

TO MAKE SURE OUR SEAT BRACKET
IS RIGHT, THE BUMPERS...

AY, YI, YI.

...TO MAKE SURE ALL
THE MOUNTING TABS ARE CORRECT.

GOOD. IT'S GOOD.

BASICALLY, ANYTHING THAT'S NOT
JUST A SIMPLY BOLT-IN JOB

NEEDS TO BE FABRICATED
BEFORE THE CAR GOES TO PAINT.

WE WERE AT LUNCH AND WE CAME
BACK TO SOME GOOD PARTS.

OUR DRIVESHAFT SHOWED UP.

OUR WILLIS IS MAKING NOISE
BACK THERE.

HE'S ABOUT TO GET FIRED,
AND WHAT HE DOESN'T KNOW IS,

I HAVE A KNIFE.

ORIGINALLY, WE HAD A TWO-PIECE
DRIVESHAFT IN THIS CAR.

I WANT TO SAY IT'S PROBABLY MORE
FOR COMFORT

IN THE FACTORY APPLICATION,

YOU KNOW, KEEPING NOISE
DOWN AND SUCH, VIBRATIONS,

BUT WE DON'T CARE
ABOUT THE NOISE LEVEL

OR A LITTLE BIT OF THE VIBRATION

THAT A ONE-PIECE DRIVESHAFT
MAY CAUSE

BECAUSE, OBVIOUSLY,
IT'S A RACE CAR.

GET ON MY DRIVESHAFT AND FLY.

THE BENEFITS OF A ONE-PIECE
DRIVESHAFT

ARE LESS PARTS TO GO WRONG
ON A ONE-PIECE DRIVESHAFT,

AND IT'S JUST
GENERALLY STRONGER.

THERE'S OUR FACTORY U-JOINT.

SEE HOW IT'S SMALL AND CUTE.

NOW IF WE GO OVER
TO OUR NEW DRIVESHAFT...

LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THAT.

IN THIS CASE, BIGGER IS BETTER.

YEAH, IS IT EVEN SERVICEABLE?

LIKE, THESE AREN'T
EVEN SERVICEABLE.

- NO, THESE AREN'T.
- THEY HAVE NO CLIPS IN THEM.

SO ANOTHER BENEFIT,
WE CAN CHANGE IT,

CHANGE THE DRIVESHAFT U-JOINT
WHEN BEFORE YOU COULDN'T.

YOU HAD TO CHANGE
THE WHOLE PIECE.

YEP.

- GET THAT CRAP OUT OF HERE.
- JUNK.

ALL RIGHT, PIVOTAL MOMENT,
DOES THE DRIVESHAFT FIT?

- NO, IT DOESN'T.
- OH.

WAY TO BE OPTIMISTIC.

WITH THAT ATTITUDE.

BUT NO, IT DOESN'T.

WEDGE IT.

HOW --
IS IT PRETTY FAR OFF?

IT'S LENGTHWISE IS --
IT'S WAY OFF.

THE FIRST PROBLEM THAT WE SAW
WITH THE DRIVESHAFT IS,

IT'S LONG.

WE ALSO NOTICED,
AFTER GETTING IT INTO PLACE,

IT HIT EVERYTHING.

I'M WORRIED ABOUT RIGHT HERE,
AND I'M ALSO WORRIED ABOUT THAT,

IF WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO OPEN
THAT RADIUS UP HIGHER.

SO AFTER DOUBLE-CHECKING
THAT IT'S SAFE TO DO...

WE CAN JUST PUT --

CHOPPED A HALF INCH OFF OF THIS,
I BET IT'LL --

YEAH, JUST RIGHT UP
TO THE SPLINES.

I'M ACTUALLY GONNA TRIM
A HALF INCH OFF OF THE PINION

SO THE DRIVESHAFT WILL FIT.

WHILE I'M DOING THAT,

JEREMY IS HAMMERING OUT
THE DRIVESHAFT TUNNEL

THAT RUNS DOWN
THE LENGTH OF THE CAR

TO OPEN UP SOME MORE CLEARANCE
AROUND THE DRIVESHAFT.

- WELL, IT'S IN.
- OKAY.

SO OUR LENGTH CLEARLY FITS NOW.

WE HAVE THE DRIVESHAFT IN PLACE.

I MEAN, IT'S GOT PLENTY
OF CLEARANCE NOW.

SO I'D BUY IT.

LET'S GET HER DOWN
AND CLEAN HER UP

SO SHE CAN GO OFF
TO PAINT IN THE MORNING.

Kaufman: YO, NATHAN, YOU GOING
TO PUT ME ON THE BALL?

TODAY IS THE DAY WHERE
THE LITTLE RACE CAR

THAT WILL BE
IS GONNA GO TO PAINT.

WE'VE BLOWN IT BACK DOWN TO,
LIKE,

ESSENTIALLY WHEN
WE FIRST STARTED,

WHEN WILLIS WELDED THE CAGE IN.

KC IS GONNA HANDLE THE PAINT
JOB FOR US ON THIS CAR,

AND HE'S SUPPOSED TO
KNOCK IT OUT IN FOUR DAYS,

SO GOOD NEWS FOR US,
BAD NEWS FOR HIM.

HE'S GOT TO PUT
IN A LONG WEEKEND.

OH, MY GLOVES.

KC AND AARON ACTUALLY
GO WAY BACK.

THEY WORKED TOGETHER
AT GAS MONKEY FOR YEARS.

- YOU'RE SMART.
- WHOO, DOGGY!

Kaufman: BUT KC HAS ACTUALLY HAD
HIS OWN SHOP FOR A WHILE NOW,

AND SINCE THIS IS THE FIRST CAR
WE'RE ACTUALLY PAINTING,

IT MADE SENSE TO GO
WITH SOMEBODY WE TRUST.

-HELLO, SWEET CHEEKS.

MY NAME IS KC MATHIEU.

WE'RE AT KC'S PAINT SHOP,

MY SHOP AND THE OWNER,
ME AND MY WIFE,

AND WE ARE A HOT ROD
RESTORATION SHOP.

SWEET PIECE.

PIECE OF SOMETHING.

SO WHEN I TALKED TO AARON,
HE HAD A VERY SHORT TIME FRAME

ON THIS CAR,
AND WE HAD JUST --

I THINK WE HAVE FOUR DAYS TOTAL
TO GET THIS THING KNOCKED OUT.

- YOU GOT A FORKLIFT?
- YEAH.

I DON'T WANT TO PICK IT UP.

I CAN PROBABLY REACH IN
WITH MY FORKS FROM THE SIDE

AND CATCH IT ON THE CAGE
OR SOMETHING,

JUST LIFT IT RIGHT UP.

WHAT,
Y'ALL SCARED OF YOUR CAGE?

VERY.

WE HAVE TO HANDLE THAT CAGE
LIKE GLASS BECAUSE IT'S --

- IT'S HOMOLOGATED.
- ...FIA, HOMOLOGATED.

SO WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME IS,

I CAN'T PICK IT UP
WITH A FORKLIFT,

BUT YOU CAN ROLL IT
OVER AND LIFT.

PRETTY MUCH.

ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GET IT OFF THERE.

- LET'S DO IT.
- ALL RIGHT.

IS THERE ANYWHERE
TO GRAB IT ON THERE?

OH, DAVE, I DIDN'T KNOW
YOU KNEW HOW TO MOONWALK.

OH, ON BONDO DUST,
IT'S REAL EASY, SUCKER.

WE CAN PICK THE FRONT END UP.

SLIDE UNDERNEATH IT.

PULL THAT PALLET OUT
AND THEN SLIDE ALL THE WAY.

WE'VE GOT FOUR DAYS
TO KNOCK THIS OUT.

WE'RE GOING TO PAINT THE OUTSIDE
JUST GLOSS WHITE.

THE PAINT ON THE CAR IS ACTUALLY
IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE.

IT'S JUST GOT SOME DINGS,

SO WE'RE GONNA FIX
THE COUPLE DINGS ON IT,

SCUFF IT DOWN
AND PUT IT IN THE BOOTH,

SEAL IT AND SHOOT IT WHITE.

ALL RIGHT, NOW, SOMEBODY HAS GOT
TO PUT A HAND ON IT

AND MAKE SURE SHE DON'T
SLIDE OFF AND ROLL OVER.

- OH, HEY, HEY.
- YEE.

Mathieu:
I'M JUST GONNA TAKE A TONER OFF

THE BANK AND SPRAY IT,
I'M NOT GONNA MIX ANYTHING.

THAT WAY, IF HE EVER
WANTS ME TO FIX IT,

I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT
MATCHING, AND ON THE INSIDE,

I'M GONNA DO A LOW GLOSS,
SO WHENEVER HE'S DRIVING,

HE DOESN'T GET ANY REFLECTIONS
IN HIS HELMET.

SOLID ENOUGH. ALL RIGHT.
LET'S DRAG IT TO THE BODY SHOP.

WE'RE WORKING ON THE WEEKEND.

I ASKED A COUPLE OF MY GUYS
TO COME IN.

EVERYBODY SAID "NO"
EXCEPT FOR TWO,

SO WE'RE GONNA GET AFTER IT.

WELL, THE SOONER Y'ALL
GET OUT OF HERE,

THE SOONER WE CAN START.

- OKAY, BYE.
- OKAY, BYE.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME
I'VE EVER DRIVEN

WITH A CO-DRIVER,
SO THIS WILL BE WILD.

WHY THE HECK AM I DOING THIS?

YEAH, I'M MOSTLY EXCITED THAT
WE HAVE AN ADULT ON THE TEAM.

ALL RIGHT! FINALLY!

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

OH, NO.

THEY'RE NOT WELDED
ALL THE WAY AROUND.

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

Kaufman: OUR CAGE WON'T PASS
TECH. IT'S UNSAFE.

THIS IS THE WORST SETBACK
I THINK I'VE HAD IN MY CAREER.

Man:
PORTLAND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY,

WORLD EPICENTER FOR MOTORSPORT.

THIS WEEKEND, THE ULTIMATE
IN ADRENALINE AND EXCITEMENT.

THOUSANDS OF FANS PACK
THE STADIUMS

FOR THE WORLD'S BEST DRIVERS

AT THE WORLD'S MOST INCREDIBLE
MOTORSPORT FACILITY.

WHO WILL BE THE ULTIMATE
CHAMPION, OREGON TRAIL RALLY?

OH, HANG ON.
I GOT TO TAKE THIS.

-OKAY.

WAIT A SECOND. HEY, KEN.

WHAT'S UP, MAN?
CAN I CALL YOU BACK?

I'M DOING A THING. OKAY.
I'LL CALL YOU.

- I UNDERSTAND.
- THANKS, BROTHER.

CHEERS.

Kaufman: I'M UP HERE PREPPING
FOR MY RACE AT OLYMPUS.

ALL OF THE RACING
I'VE BEEN EXPOSED TO,

NOT ONE BIT OF IT
HAS BEEN RALLY RACING,

AND SO I'M UP HERE TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT THE HECK RALLY IS,

AS WELL AS HOPEFULLY MEET
MY POTENTIAL CO-DRIVER.

SO DAVE HAS RECOMMENDED
THAT I MEET

A VETERAN CODRIVER,
KRISTA SKUCAS.

YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY MENTAL
FOR DOING THAT JOB

ON THE RIGHT-HAND SEAT.
- YEAH, YEAH.

- YEAH.
- I SECOND THAT.

WHEN YOU'RE IN IT, YOU'RE LIKE,
"WHY THE HECK AM I DOING THIS?"

"LIKE, MY LIFE IS
IN JEOPARDY RIGHT NOW.

I'VE GOT A MANIAC
AT THE WHEEL."

IF YOU DON'T DIE,
IT'S THE BEST DAY EVER.

THERE ARE NOT A LARGE AMOUNT
OF QUALIFIED CO-DRIVERS

IN NORTH AMERICA
THAT ARE AVAILABLE

FOR THE OLYMPUS TRAIL RALLY
AND GETTING TO KNOW HER HERE

IS REALLY A BIG STEP FORWARD
IN SORTING THAT OUT.

I'VE NEVER DRIVEN
WITH A CO-DRIVER,

SO THAT'S SOMETHING NEW THAT
I'M GOING TO HAVE TO ADAPT TO,

IS DRIVING BY THE NOTES
AND THEN INSTEAD OF DRIVING

BY WHAT I SEE,
DRIVING BY WHAT SOMEONE SAYS,

BUT I'VE HEARD THAT YOU CAN WORK
REALLY WELL WITH NEW DRIVERS,

SO I DON'T KNOW
IF THAT'S TRUE OR NOT.

-YOU TELL ME.

SINCE I'M SO NEW AT IT,
I JUST HAVE TO TRUST

THE INFORMATION
THAT I'VE BEEN GIVEN,

AND I'VE BEEN GIVEN
THE INFORMATION

THAT KRISTA KNOWS
HOW TO DO THIS JOB REALLY,

REALLY WELL, FURTHERMORE,

THAT SHE'S REALLY,
REALLY GOOD WITH NEW DRIVERS.

- I'VE HAD A FEW DRIVERS.
- YEAH.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST ADAPTING
TO PEOPLE'S PERSONALITY STYLE,

LEARNING STYLE,
AND HOW THEY REACT TO SOMETHING,

AND IT'S SOMETHING
THAT CO-DRIVERS

CAN READ THAT'S GOING ON
OVER HERE, TOO,

AND, LIKE,
CHANGE IT IN THE MOMENT.

IF WE WORK TOGETHER,
IT'S JUST,

LIKE, I'M GONNA EXPECT
THAT YOU TELL ME WHAT TO DO,

THAT WHAT YOU SAY TO DO
IS WHAT I SHOULD BE DOING.

- RIGHT.
- YEAH.

AND IT'S ALMOST,
LIKE, CHEAT DRIVING

BECAUSE
IF YOU'RE USED TO DRIVING

JUST WHAT YOU SEE,

IMAGINE IF YOU KNEW WHAT WAS
ALREADY UP AHEAD WITHOUT

EVEN BEING ABLE TO SEE IT.
SO...

SO IT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT

THAT WE GET
THE RIGHT CO-DRIVER,

AND KRISTA REALLY
SEEMS LIKE A GOOD OPTION.

I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO CO-DRIVE
WITH US.

YOU CAME INCREDIBLY
WELL-RECOMMENDED, SO I THINK --

- WHICH MEANS A LOT.
- HERE IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS,

WE THINK WE'LL HAVE A CAR
ON THE GROUND,

AND WE'LL TALK
THE FINER POINTS,

BUT WE'RE VERY HAPPY
TO HAVE YOU ON BOARD.

- STOKED.
- SO -- YEAH.

BECAUSE IT'S -- LIKE I SAID,
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME

I'VE EVER DRIVEN
WITH A CO-DRIVER,

SO THIS WILL BE WILD.
- YES.

I'M MOSTLY EXCITED THAT WE HAVE
AN ADULT ON THE TEAM.

ALL RIGHT! FINALLY!

ALL RIGHT. YEAH.

I THINK THAT WE HAVE
THE RIGHT CO-DRIVER.

I THINK WE'RE BUILDING
THE RIGHT CAR,

AND I THINK IN
A VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME,

WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER
THE RIGHT PROGRAM.

I'D HAVE TO SAY, AT THIS POINT,

I'M POSSIBLY THE ONLY VARIABLE
LEFT IN THE SITUATION.

- KRISTA, THANKS A LOT.
- YES.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU
IN TEXAS IN A FEW WEEKS.

- WE'LL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT --
- GOOD LUCK THIS WEEKEND.

...THE DETAILS ON THAT.

- YEAH.
- THAT'S GOOD.

- SEE YOU LATER.
- BYE.

THAT'S PRETTY GOOD. HE'S OPEN.

WE CAME UP HERE TO UNDERSTAND
HOW ARA RUNS AN EVENT

AND FIND OUT
WHAT EVERYTHING WAS LIKE

TO GIVE ME A SENSE OF WHAT
I'LL BE FACING AT OLYMPUS.

- OH, YEAH.
- YEAH!

COMING HERE HAS DEFINITELY
FILLED THE GAP

A COUPLE THINGS THAT
I WAS WORRIED ABOUT OR THINGS

THAT I THOUGHT
WOULD BE COMPLICATED.

- THAT'S ONE WAY TO DO IT.
- THAT'S A COOL CUT.

GOING WITH KRISTA
AS MY CO-DRIVER

BRINGS A LEVEL OF CALM
THAT I DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE.

THERE IS --
THAT PLACE WAS RESERVED

FOR A LITTLE BIT OF ANXIETY.

AH, DANG, THAT LOOKS FUN.

I DON'T GIVE A
HOW ANYBODY IS DRIVING.

THEY'RE ALL OUT THERE
DRIVING AROUND THE CARS,

AND GOD BLESS THEM FOR IT.
- YEAH.

BLESS THEM,
EACH AND EVERY ONE.

I THOUGHT I WOULD JUST BE
REALLY HAPPY TO SPECTATE.

I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY
WANT TO BE IN ONE OF THESE CARS.

I THINK THIS WAS A BIG STEP
IN GETTING READY,

ESPECIALLY IN MY HEADSPACE.

ALL I CAN SAY IS,
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

WHOO! ALL RIGHT!

WHY DON'T WE GO SEE KC?
HE'S GOT MY RACE CAR PAINTED.

ALL RIGHT. YOU HAVE FUN.

I'LL DO WHAT WE CAN.

WHILE I WAS GONE, THE GUYS
DROPPED OFF THE RACE CAR AT KC'S

AND GAVE HIM FOUR DAYS
TO GET IT PAINTED.

- BYE, GUYS.
- SEE YOU.

Kaufman: MY FRIEND, DAVE,
AND BOB BOILEAU,

WHO OWNS PIKES PEAK
INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY,

WHERE WE RACED OUR SEMITRUCK,
WERE BOTH IN TOWN.

OH!

Kaufman: THE THREE OF US
BECAME PRETTY CLOSE

RACING UP PIKES PEAK.

HOPE THEY GOT A BATHROOM HERE.

WE'LL GO FIND
SOME MORE BUMPY ROADS.

AND I THOUGHT
IT WOULD BE A LOT OF FUN

TO TAKE THEM TO GO
PICK UP MY RALLY CAR.

- KC, THIS IS DAVE.
- HEY, KC.

- HEY, DAVE.
- GOOD TO SEE YOU, MAN.

- YEAH.
- NICE TO BE HERE.

- KC, THIS IS BOB.
- BOB? NICE TO MEET YOU, GUYS.

- HOW DID EVERYTHING GO?
- WENT GOOD.

THAT TOTALLY LOOKS LIKE
A DANG OLD SUBARU.

IT LOOKS LIKE A REFRIGERATOR.

IT'S WHITE AS WHITE GETS.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF
REFRIGERATORS YOU GOT,

MAN, BUT MINE USUALLY GOT
LESS HOLES IN THEM.

WE DID GET THE CAR BACK FROM KC,
AND HE BUSTED HIS HUMP

AND HIS GUYS,
AND THEY GOT ME A CAR BACK,

AND SO I'M REALLY,
REALLY STOKED.

YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH I
APPRECIATE KNOCKING IT OUT, MAN.

THIS PUTS ME IN A REALLY
GOOD POSITION WHERE BEFORE,

I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING
TO BE QUESTIONABLE

WHETHER OR NOT WE COULD
REALLY GET THIS CAR DOWN

AND DO SOME TESTING
WITH MY CO-DRIVER AND STUFF.

NOW, I FEEL LIKE THAT
WON'T BE AN ISSUE.

WELL, COOL, DUDE.
AND WE'LL PICK IT UP LIKE THIS?

OH, YEAH.
WE CAN ROLL IT OUT THERE

AND PICK IT UP
AND SET IT ON THE TRAILER.

THE TRUNK'S STAYING DOWN,

BUT THE HOOD
STILL KIND OF FREAKS ME OUT,

SO IF WE CAN PUT IT
ON BACKWARDS, THAT'D BE AWESOME.

SO YEAH, I'M INCREDIBLY
HAPPY WITH IT,

AND ESPECIALLY FOR
BEING PAINTED OVER A WEEKEND,

I THINK IT'S INCREDIBLE.

HEY, LET'S GO GET YOUR TRUCK.

ALL RIGHT.

BAM.

-YEAH.

-BUT I KNOW ABOUT IT NOW.

HEY, DAVE. DAVE.
AREN'T THESE RALLY CARS?

WOULDN'T YOU WANT TO WELD
THIS HERE?

WOULDN'T YOU WANT TO STITCH
THIS STUFF TOGETHER?

OOH. I MIGHT WANT
TO FINISH THIS TUBE.

OH, YEAH.
THAT LOOKS NICE.

THAT MAKES ME A LITTLE NERVOUS,
THOUGH, THAT I WANT

TO GO CHECK THE REST NOW.
- YEAH, I WAS GOING TO SAY, YEAH.

OH, NO.
WE GOT SOME --

THAT'S A DENT
ON THIS SQUARE PANEL.

YEAH, SAME THING OVER HERE,
RIGHT DOWN HERE.

YEAH, SAME ON ALL OF THEM.

THEY'RE NOT WELDED
ALL THE WAY AROUND.

DUDE, THERE'S NO CHANCE IN HELL
THAT WILL PASS ANY KIND OF --

- LOOK AT THIS ONE DOWN HERE.
- OH, MY GOD.

IT'S THE SAME UP HERE.

- I KNOW.
- DUDE, IT'S EVERYWHERE.

I KNOW.
IT'S THE WHOLE CAGE.

THERE'S SOME TUBES
IN THERE THAT...

NEED SOME LOOKING AT.

EVERYTHING THAT'S HUGGED UP
AGAINST THE CHASSIS

ISN'T NECESSARILY, UM, YEAH.

SO BOB AND I WERE LOOKING
AT THE CAGE AND NOTICED

THAT SOME OF THE TUBES WEREN'T
FULLY WELDED ALL THE WAY AROUND.

IN A CRASH, THAT WON'T HOLD UP,

WHICH COULD QUITE LITERALLY BE
A LIFE AND DEATH ISSUE.

I'LL LET YOU TELL AARON
ON OUR WAY BACK.

OH, REALLY? THANKS, BUD.

- YOU'RE WELCOME.
- GOOD LOOKING OUT.

IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU,
BOB.

- YOU'RE WELCOME.
- YOU'RE THE BEST, MAN.

Carapetyan: WHEN THE AMERICAN
RALLY ASSOCIATION INSPECTORS

DO THEIR VISUAL INSPECTION
OF THE CAGE

TO MAKE SURE IT'S GONNA MEET
THE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

THAT THEY SPECIFY, I DON'T THINK
THERE'S ANY CHANCE IN HELL

THAT THIS CAGE WILL PASS.

AT THIS POINT,
THE SOONER AARON KNOWS IT,

THE SOONER THEY CAN
DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

WHICH ONE?

NO.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO EASY WAY
TO GET INTO THIS.

WE'RE RAPIDLY APPROACHING
THE TIME WE NEED

TO BE HEADED TO WASHINGTON.

WE JUST GOT BACK
FROM PRERUNNING,

CHECKING OUT OREGON TRAIL,
AND OUR CAGE WON'T PASS TECH.

SOME JOINTS WHERE THEY WERE
BUTTED UP

AGAINST THE BODY OF THE CAR,

THEY COULDN'T BE REACHED WITH
A WELDER, SO THEY'RE UNWELDED.

IT MAKES THEM PRONE
TO COMING APART.

SO IT'S NOT THAT
IT'S JUST NOT DONE. IT'S UNSAFE.

WE SCREWED UP.
WE SCREWED UP REALLY BAD.

I SCREWED UP.

WE'RE IN A PRETTY BAD SPOT,
AND THAT'S GONNA SET US BACK

THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
AND A WEEK OR MORE.

THERE'S SO MUCH UP IN THE AIR.

I'M SO DISAPPOINTED RIGHT NOW.

IT'S, LIKE, YEAH, ME AND KRISTA
NEED TO WORK, BUT RIGHT NOW,

I DON'T HAVE A RACE CAR.

I GOT SOMETHING,
BUT IT AIN'T A RACE CAR.

THIS IS THE WORST SETBACK
I THINK I'VE HAD IN MY CAREER.

HEY, NANDA, YOU CAN GO AHEAD
AND CUT THAT.

AH, MAN, I FEEL LIKE WE REALLY
JUST DROPPED THE BALL ON THIS.

- WE FAILED.
- SO LET'S FIX IT.

LET'S CUT THE BODY UP.

Krista: RIGHT THREE LONG.

THE HARDEST PART ABOUT RALLIES
IS THE RECCE.

CREST TO A LEFT TWO.

- AH, THAT'S A RIGHT TWO.
- YIKES!

DUDE, THAT'S A LOT
OF STUFF UP THERE.

YEAH.

DO YOU KNOW WHERE AARON IS?

IS HE IN HIS OFFICE
OR SOMETHING?

I HAVE NO IDEA.

MAN, THE MOOD AROUND HERE

HAS REALLY BEEN IN
THE LATELY.

AARON HAS BEEN IN A REAL FUNK

SINCE HE PICKED UP
THE CAR FROM KC.

- NO.
- OKAY.

COLLECTIVELY, WE FEEL LIKE
IT'S ALL OF OUR FAULT.

IT SUCKS, BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS,

AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT

WE ARE A LITTLE MORE FOCUSED.

AH, SON OF A BITCH, MAN.

I REALLY HATE, LIKE,
DROPPING THE BALL,

AND I FEEL LIKE WE REALLY
JUST DROPPED THE BALL ON THIS.

HEY, IT HAPPENED.
YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T DWELL ON IT.

WE JUST HAVE TO MAN UP,
GET THROUGH IT.

YEAH.

SO KIND OF A DISAPPOINTING DAY.

THIS IS ALL HIGH-STRENGTH STEEL.

IT'S ALL DESIGNED FOR THIS CAR
TO NOT GET CRUSHED,

AND WE DIDN'T WANT
TO DAMAGE THAT INTEGRITY,

AND WE JUST ALL KIND OF

WERE ON THE SAME PAGE
LIKE WE DIDN'T HAVE TO,

SO THAT'S BASICALLY
WHY WE DIDN'T.

WE 360 WELDED ALL THE MAIN
STRUCTURE OF THE CAGE

THAT WE KNEW WE HAD TO 360 WELD,
SO ALL THE MAIN STRUCTURE IS.

IT'S THE AREAS THAT ARE HARD TO
GET TO THAT AREN'T 360 WELDED.

THOSE, WHERE I KIND OF MARKED,
LITTLE DOTTED, I MEAN,

THAT WILL GET US IN THERE.
- MM-HMM.

THAT WOULD GET US INTO THAT
LOWER JUNCTION,

THE LOWER MARKS.
- MM-HMM.

WE'RE JUST TRYING TO COME UP
WITH A PLAN

TO BE ABLE TO CUT
THESE SECTIONS OUT

AND WELD FULLY AROUND
ALL THE TUBES

WITHOUT DESTROYING THE CAR.

WHATEVER WE DO,
IT'S GONNA BE --

IT'S GOING TO BE
VERY INTRUSIVE.

...A LOT OF BODY CUTTING.

YEAH.

WE FAILED.

IT IS WHAT IT IS,
SO WE'RE GONNA FIX IT.

WE'RE GONNA GET IT DONE QUICKLY

BUT ALSO MAKE SURE THAT
WE GET IT DONE RIGHT THIS TIME,

SO WE DON'T
HAVE TO BACKTRACK AGAIN.

DO YOU WANT TO SEE
THE SOMEWHAT GAME PLAN?

YEAH, I DO.

Bowman: SO NOW THAT
WE HAVE A PLAN OF ATTACK,

WE NEED TO GET AARON ON BOARD

AND HOPEFULLY EASE
A LITTLE OF THE STRESS

THAT'S BEEN FLOATING
AROUND THE SHOP.

THERE WON'T BE ANY ISSUE
GETTING AROUND THOSE PLATES

ALL THE WAY.
- YEAH.

AND THEN THERE'S
A VOIDED POCKET,

SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE
TO DO A PLATE.

- THAT MAKES A HUGE HERE POINT.
- I THINK IT'S FINE.

IT'S JUST A, TREMENDOUS
AMOUNT OF WORK,

BUT YOU GUYS SOUND COOL.
I'M COOL WITH THAT ONE.

DO WE HAVE
ANY OTHER SITUATIONS?

DOOR JAM IS KIND OF MARKED.

WE'RE JUST GOING TO CUT
THIS OUT,

AND THEN WE'LL GET THERE.

SO THE ONE THING IS,
IT'S SO IMPORTANT

THAT WE GET THIS RIGHT,
AND WE GET THIS RIGHT NOW.

WE CAN CUT ANY PART
OF THIS CAR APART.

TAKE ANYTHING YOU NEED OFF
THIS CAR TO GET THE JOB DONE.

ULTIMATELY, MAKE SURE YOU TAKE
A BIG ENOUGH PIECE OFF

THAT WE CAN GET
EVERYTHING WRAPPED UP.

THIS IS SINGLE-HANDEDLY
THE LARGEST EFFORT

I'VE EVER PUT FORTH
FOR ANYTHING,

AND SO LET'S GET THIS RIGHT,
AND, LIKE,

IF WE MAKE 100% RECOVERY,
WHAT WAS THIS,

A REALLY MOMENT, YEAH,
BUT ULTIMATELY --

- YOU MADE IT THROUGH.
- YEAH, SO LET'S FIX IT.

- LET'S CUT THE BODY UP.
- ALL RIGHT.

SO WE GOT THE GO-AHEAD
FROM AARON

TO START CUTTING THIS THING UP,
AND THE CLOCK IS TICKING.

SO WE'RE DETERMINED
TO FIX IT FAST,

BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO MAKE SURE
WE DO IT RIGHT,

SO FIRST, WE'RE GONNA REMOVE
THE PIECES OF THE CAR

THAT ARE BLOCKING ACCESS
TO THE PARTS OF THE CAGE

THAT WE COULDN'T GET TO BEFORE

SO WE CAN WELD THOSE TUBES
360 DEGREES AROUND.

IT'S HEARTBREAKING.

WE'RE CUTTING A FRESHLY
PAINTED CAR.

BUT THERE'S JUST WAY
TOO MUCH AT STAKE.

IN RALLY RACING,
DANGER IS ALWAYS LURKING

JUST AROUND THE CORNER.

AND ALL TOO OFTEN, RACE CARS
END UP IN DITCHES,

TREES OR TUMBLING END OVER END.

SO A SOLID ROLL CAGE IS A MUST,

AND WITH AARON AND KRISTA'S
SAFETY ON THE LINE,

THIS ISSUE HAS TO BE FIXED.

JEREMY CUT OUT ACCESS AREAS.

YOU CAN SEE THERE.

I'M JUST GONNA GO AHEAD
AND FINISH THE 1/2 INCH

WORTH OF WELD.

SO NOW, THIS TUBE WILL BE
SECURELY WELDED

360 DEGREES AROUND.

ONE DOWN, SEVEN MORE TO GO.
THAT'S IT.

AND WHEN THEY'RE DONE,
THEY SHOULD MEET

THE AMERICAN RALLY ASSOCIATION
STRICT STANDARDS.

OH, YEAH, IT'S COMING ALONG.

I THINK IT SHOULD SET US BACK
ABOUT A DAY AND A HALF TOTAL.

WE ORIGINALLY THOUGHT IT WAS
GONNA TAKE CLOSER

TO A WEEK OR MORE, SO THIS WAS
A PLEASANT SURPRISE FOR ONCE.

WE'VE BEEN SITTING HERE
FOR SEVERAL HOURS

READY TO ROCK AND ROLL,

JUST WAITING ON OLD BEARDED
HOLLYWOOD TO ROLL IN HERE.

SO...

I'M DRIVING MY PARTS CAR
BECAUSE THE RACE CAR ISN'T READY

DUE TO THE SETBACKS
WITH THE ROLL CAGE,

BUT IF I WANT TO STAND
ON THE PODIUM AT OLYMPUS,

WORKING WITH A CO-DRIVER
IS SUPER IMPORTANT.

SO I CAME DOWN HERE
WITH MY PARTS CAR

TO START BUILDING
MY RELATIONSHIP WITH KRISTA.

- HOW YOU DOING, MAN?
- WHAT'S GOING ON?

- HEY, AARON.
- HEY, HOW ARE YOU?

- GOOD.
- HOW WAS YOUR FLIGHT?

- GOOD TO SEE YOU.
- IT WAS GREAT, FABULOUS.

- GOOD.
- WELL, YOU GUYS WANT TO DO

SOME SCRIBBLING-NOTES STUFF?
- YEAH.

SEE WHERE WE'RE AT WITH THAT,
WHERE WE NEED TO BE.

MM-HMM.

Carapetyan: WHEN AARON FINALLY
MAKES IT TO THE OLYMPUS RALLY,

HE'S GONNA FACE OVER
200 MILES OF TWISTS

AND TURNS ON A PRETTY WILDLY
MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN,

AND THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO WAY

THAT HE CAN POSSIBLY
MEMORIZE IT ALL.

AND THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT
WE HAVE A CODRIVER,

SO I'VE GOT A WHOLE BUNCH
OF ROADS THAT WE USE OFF-SITE

FOR SOME OF OUR
CODRIVER-TRAINING STUFF

THAT THEY CAN GO DO
SOME RECCE ON IT.

LET'S GO CHECK IT OUT.

THIS THIS WILL BE THE FIRST
TIME WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER,

SO LET'S GO SEE HOW IT GOES.
- SWEET. SOUNDS GOOD.

- SEE YOU THERE.
- SEE YOU.

PEACE.

Kaufman: YOU'VE HEARD US
THROWING AROUND THE TERM RECCE,

WHICH IS JUST RALLY-RACING
SPEAK FOR RECONNAISSANCE

WHERE WE PRERUN A RALLY STAGE
AND WRITE OUT OUR COURSE NOTES.

I MEAN, WE COULD DO IT IN
A FRONT-WHEEL-DRIVE CAR,

REAR WHEEL DRIVE CAR,
ALL-WHEEL DRIVE CAR.

THE THINGS WE'RE WORKING ON
AREN'T CAR CONTROLLED.

WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON
IS THE COMMUNICATION

BETWEEN US AND THE CAR.

SO TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
HOW COMFORTABLE

YOU ARE
WRITING NOTES RIGHT NOW.

MY GAUGE ON CORNERS
IS PRETTY SOLID.

MY DISTANCES,
I'M OFF ON MY DISTANCES.

THERE ARE MULTIPLE ELEMENTS
TO WRITING

PACE NOTES WITH A CO-DRIVER.

THE FIRST THING THAT
WE HAVE TO DO

IS ASSIGN A NUMBER
TO EVERY CORNER,

RANGING ANYWHERE
FROM ONE THROUGH SIX.

THIS IS A...

RIGHT FOUR PLUS.

FOUR PLUS, I THINK SO, TOO.

THE LOWER THE NUMBER,
THE TIGHTER THE CORNER,

SO THAT A ONE IS A HAIRPIN,

AND A SIX IS BARELY
A CORNER AT ALL.

WE GOT A DISTANCE.
50, I GUESS?

OKAY, I WAS THINKING IT WAS
A LITTLE LONGER, BUT 50.

ON TOP OF THAT,
WE NEED TO CALL OUT

THE DISTANCES
BETWEEN THE TURNS.

AND THIS RIGHT HERE
IS A DIP TO --

WHAT DO WE CALL THEM?

RISE HILL...

- CREST, CREST.
- CREST.

AND WHETHER THE ROAD
IS CRESTING OR DIPPING.

SO WE'RE COMING UP
THE CREST HERE, AND SO IT'S --

WE'RE IN A LEFT,
AND THIS IS AN INTO RIGHT.

ALL OF THIS INFORMATION TELLS
THE DRIVER EXACTLY HOW FAST

THEY CAN ENTER AND EXIT
EACH CORNER OF THE STAGE.

YIKES!
DUDE, THAT'S A LOT OF STUFF.

YEAH.

AND ALL OF THAT TO MAXIMIZE
OUR SPEED

WITHOUT RUNNING OFF THE ROAD
OR INTO A TREE.

WE'VE DONE RECCE DOWN,
RECCE BACK,

AND THEN WE'RE GONNA PUT
A LITTLE BIT OF SPEED

TO THE NOTES
AND BOTH DIRECTIONS,

AND LET'S GET BACK
TOGETHER THEN.

OKAY, COOL.

WELL, I MEAN, YOU KNOW,
IT'S NOT EXCITING OR FUN,

BUT THE HARDEST PART
ABOUT RALLY,

A LOT OF TIMES,
IS THE RECCE PIECE.

LEFT SIX OVER CREST.

OPENS EXTRA LONG, 100.

IT'S VERY NERDY TO JUST SIT
IN A CAR AND WRITE NOTES,

BUT ONCE YOU NAIL
DOWN THE RECCE,

THEN YOUR RACE IS GONNA
GO A LOT BETTER

BECAUSE YOU FEEL CONFIDENT,

AND YOU FEEL GOOD
ABOUT THE ROAD.

RIGHT THREE LONG.

CREST INTO A LEFT TWO.

UH, THAT'S A RIGHT TWO.

- WAIT.
- NO, NO.

CREST ONE, NO.

OH, LET'S START OVER.

NONE OF THAT MADE SENSE.

Kaufman: SO THIS IS A LITTLE
TRICKIER THAN IT LOOKS.

TO WORK TOGETHER LIKE
A WELL-OILED MACHINE,

WE'VE GOT A LONG WAY TO GO.

SURE DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT UP
FAR ENOUGH.

MY CONCERN IS THAT THE CAR
IS NOT BOTTOMING OUT

NEARLY AS LOW
AS WHAT I ANTICIPATED.

I MEAN, I GOT
A THREE-FINGER GAP.

THAT SHOULD BE, LIKE,
NO-FINGER GAP.

Kaufman: WITH THE CONDITIONS
THAT WE'RE GONNA BE CRUISING

THIS THING THROUGH, WHO KNOWS
WHAT COULD HAPPEN TO IT.

YOU'RE GONNA TRY TO READ
THOSE PACENOTES TO ME.

THIS IS GONNA BE DIFFICULT.

LEFT TWO THROUGH GATE.

OPENS, CLOSES THREE,
OVER A BIG CREST.

I CAN DRIVE THE CAR BETTER
IF I UNDERSTAND

THE JOB
THAT THE CO-DRIVER HAS.

POND OUTSIDE, GRAVEL 30.

150 JUMP, TURN.

OH, WE'RE NOT THERE YET,
ARE WE?

- NOPE. HERE, RIGHT FOUR.
- HUH?

BUT WE'RE NOT EVEN ON --
WE AREN'T ON TARMAC AT ALL.

- LEFT FOUR.
- YEAH.

TURN. I SEE AN UP THREE.

CREST. I'M LOST.

DRIVE WHAT YOU SEE.

- PRICE.
- YES.

YOU FINISH UP THE ENGINE
HARNESS?

YEAH, THE HARNESS, BUT THERE'S
STILL HARNESS TO MAKE,

SO YOU CAN LEAVE THAT OPEN.

JUST THE AUXILIARY
CORRECT?

YEAH.

BUT THE ENGINE HARNESS
IS COMPLETE?

YEAH.

SO THE LAST FEW DAYS
HAVE BEEN A TOTAL BLUR,

JUST TRYING TO GET AARON'S CAR
READY FOR THE OLYMPUS RALLY.

AFTER WE FINISHED 360
WELDING THE ROLL CAGE,

WE HAD TO MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME,
SO WE GOT TO WORK ON THE SUBARU,

REINSTALLING THE FENDERS,

REHANGING THE BUMPERS,

AND MOUNTING
OUR FULLY REBUILT RACE MOTOR.

YOU LOOK GOOD ON THAT SIDE
AS FAR AS CYLINDER CLEARANCE?

- MAYBE.
- IT LOOKS OKAY.

OKAY, COME ON.

BUT WITH ONLY A FEW DAYS TO GO
UNTIL THIS CAR

HAS TO BE
ON ITS WAY TO WASHINGTON,

WE STILL HAVE A PRETTY
LONG LIST TO GET THROUGH.

FOR STARTERS, JASON IS
INSTALLING OUR NEW FUEL TANK,

COMPLETE WITH
A PROTECTIVE SKID PLATE.

Bowman: WE GOT THE FUEL TANK
UP IN THERE, STRAPS UP.

OUR KEVLAR-MOTORSPORT FUEL-TANK
SKID PLATE, SUPER STRONG.

YOU COULD SHOOT IT, BULLETPROOF,
YOU KNOW, STUFF, THE THINGS?

IT'S HARD.

THERE ACTUALLY WAS NOT A SKID
PLATE ON THIS FROM THE FACTORY.

THERE WAS JUST SOME LITTLE
PLASTIC SURROUNDS THAT GO ON IT,

SO YOU CAN'T REALLY
CALL IT A SKID PLATE.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS MORE
OF A ROCK COLLECTOR.

OBVIOUSLY, WITH THE CONDITIONS
THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE CRUISING

THIS THING THROUGH,

WHO KNOWS WHAT
COULD HAPPEN TO IT?

WE'RE ALSO INSTALLING
A SKID PLATE UP FRONT

TO PROTECT OUR HEADER
AND OIL PAN.

WE GOT J ROD WORKING ON
ALL THE AUXILIARY WIRING.

WE'RE ACTUALLY USING
ECU MASTERS DISTRIBUTION CENTRAL

FOR ALL OUR EXTERNAL
OR PRIMARY FUNCTIONS

LIKE OUR BIG LIGHTS UPFRONT,

OUR BETTER FUEL PUMPS,
THINGS LIKE THAT.

Bowman: AND JEREMY IS WORKING
ON A CUSTOM

INTAKE TO ALLOW FOR BETTER
AIRFLOW OVER THE STOCK SYSTEM.

I'VE JUST GOT TO MAKE A COUPLE
OF CUTS...

SOME ADJUSTMENTS.

GO AHEAD AND WELD THIS TUBE
TOGETHER,

AND WE'LL TRIM THIS DOWN TO SIZE
TO WHERE WE LIKE IT.

Bowman: THE MOST IMPORTANT THING
WE HAVE LEFT ON OUR LIST,

BESIDES MAKING SURE
THE MOTOR RUNS,

IS TO GET THE SUSPENSION
INSTALLED AND DIALED IN.

AARON IS GONNA BE
PUSHING THIS THING HARD,

DOWN SOME
PRETTY BRUTAL TERRAIN,

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
THIS THING HANDLES EVEN BETTER

THAN THE CAR
HE'S BEEN PRACTICING WITH

AND THAT IT CAN TAKE THE ABUSE.

IT LOOKS WAY LONG, YOU KNOW,
LIKE, WAY TOO LONG.

SO WE RAN INTO A BIT
OF A PROBLEM

WITH THE STRUTS
WE'RE GOING WITH.

BASICALLY, THEY'RE MUCH LONGER
THAN THE STOCK STRUTS

AND SEEM LIKE IT'LL NEGATIVELY
AFFECT OUR RIDE HEIGHT.

I THREW ON A STOCK WHEEL
AND COMPRESSED THE SUSPENSION

TO GET AN IDEA OF THE TRAVEL
ON OUR NEW SETUP.

THEY'RE LIFTING THE CAR UP
PRETTY GOOD NOW.

SO WE'RE AN INCH OF SHAFT
SHOWING ON FULL COMPRESSION,

IT LOOKS LIKE, ON THE STRUT.
- THAT'S FULL COMPRESSION?

AND FULLY COMPRESSED,
WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF SPACE

IN OUR WHEEL WELL.

SURE DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT UP
FAR ENOUGH,

- BUT I GUESS SO, ANOTHER --
- 14 AND 5/8ths.

...3/4 OF AN INCH.
- SITTING ON OUR HUB.

YOU WANT TO MOUNT A TIRE
ON OUR NEW METHOD RACE WHEEL

SO WE CAN CHECK THOSE?

SO RIGHT NOW,
MY CONCERN IS THAT THE CAR

IS GOING TO SIT A LOT TALLER
THAN WE ANTICIPATE IT TO SIT

AND WHEN THE CAR
FULLY BOTTOMS OUT,

IT'S NOT BOTTOMING OUT NEARLY
AS LOW AS WHAT I ANTICIPATED.

WHEN THE STRUTS COMPLETELY
BOTTOMED OUT,

WE STILL HAVE
A PRETTY HIGH RIDE HEIGHT,

WHICH ESSENTIALLY IS JUST, LIKE,
WASTING POTENTIAL WHEEL TRAVEL.

YOU READY TO TRY?

WE'RE AT FULL BUMP.

THIS IS THE WHEEL AND TIRE
WE'RE GONNA USE.

I HAVE FULL CLEARANCE
AS TO THE TIRE

NOT HITTING ANYTHING IN THE CAR.

OH, LOOK RIGHT HERE.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S -- I MEAN,
I GOT A THREE-FINGER GAP.

THAT SHOULD BE, LIKE,
NO-FINGER GAP.

SINCE WE CAN'T REALLY MODIFY
THE STRUT TOWERS

OR THE LOWER MOUNTS

DUE TO THE RESTRICTIONS
OF OUR CLASS,

WE'RE GONNA NEED
TO SOURCE SHORTER STRUTS.

WITH THE CAR NEEDING TO LEAVE
TO WASHINGTON IN TWO DAYS,

THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE WE'LL BE
INSTALLING THEM IN THE DIRT

AT RALLY HEADQUARTERS, THAT IS,
IF THEY SHOW UP AT ALL.

- NEXT WEEK...
- IT'S DONE. IT'S HERE.

Kaufman:
WE FINALLY MAKE IT TO WASHINGTON

FOR THE OLYMPUS RALLY.

-GO.

Kaufman: AND WITH MY SIGHTS
SET ON THE PODIUM...

Krista: LEFT THREE LONG.

Kaufman:
...I PUSH MY SKILL...

- FOUR.
- WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.

WHOA, WHOA.

...AND MY RACE CAR
TO THE VERY EDGE.

- AH, WE GOT --
- HEY, HEY! HEY, HEY, HEY!

OH, GOD.