PPG Pace Car - The real Deal!

[ensteele]

The Reading X “SPECIAL APPEARANCE”

This has been a year in the making, with countless phone calls, emails, introductions to many people I would never have met, and nice surprises all along the way.

As you all know, SSRTPhoenix, with the cooperation of Subaru of America, is bringing one of their Subaru Road Racing Team Road Race Cars; a fully-prepared Legacy 2.5GT Spec.B. Built by Phoenix Performance, the car will be on display through the rest of Friday and all day Saturday.

It was brought from Phoenixville, PA in an enclosed trailer that is used to transport the 2-car Racing Team around the country, even though only one of these cars is available (car #111)



But bringing that large, half-empty enclosed trailer all that way to Reading seemed to be sort of a waste of space…

....and although we drive a Subaru...
.... and this meet is based upon the love and appreciation of one of Subaru's finest vehicles...
....and we have true motorheads in attendance who are really going to appreciate the latest technologies in the spec.B, there are many of us who are not interested in anything outside of the SVX.

Reading has historically had “something for everyone”. Tech sessions, rallies, scenic drives, trips to outlets, museums and other points of interests divided people based on their particular interests. Many pursued these activities; many just hung out in the parking lot and enjoyed doing nothing. We all reunited in the evening for other events, most recently the raffles. So in this 10th Anniversary milestone, how do we unite everyone with one common area of interest?

Remember that half-empty transport? It really was impractical and inefficient to not utilize its capabilities to the fullest, so what do we do?

We bring the PPG SVX PACE CAR TO READING X!!!

That's right! Direct from the "Performance Attic" at Subaru of America in Cherry Hill. The PPG SVX Pace Car, in all of her silver/purple glory, will be making it’s first-ever appearance at a private event and will be here for Friday and Saturday. Lots of photos will be taken and posted by the end of tonight I am sure.

But how did this all come to be and how were we able to pull it off? Attached is a Word Document “How the SVX PPG Pace Car Came to Reading X” It is a long document (29 pages), similar to the “History of Reading”, and a fascinating read.

It is basically a compilation of emails and short narratives, sent and received over a year. The first of these was sent to DrivePerformance Magazine by Diana "green_eyed_lady, who just wanted to make Reading 9 a little more special…

Read their initial reply and and enjoy the ride. There are a lot of unexpected surprises along the way which led me to people I never would have met.

The SRRT cars were an afterthought and were suggested by Subaru in a “would you mind if we brought”…


This has been the hardest thing to keep secret that I can remember having to do in many years.


.

[cozykat]

This has been the best SVX Meet ever!
Thanks Earl, John and Diana!




Look our admin Chris!


Video of John pushing the Pace Car!

The unloading (from Shaun camera phone):

[K_Dub]

And I'm sitting at work over 2500 miles away?

At least I've got my new ECUTune 2V7f to keep me busy this weekend, but it looks like I'm missing one heck of a show. Keep those pics coming, and have fun everybody. I'll see you all next year.

[K_Dub]

I've watched the videos; where's the roll cage I've heard so much about? Any chance of some good close ups of that taillight bar? I want to know everything! Can I just teleport there to see it for myself? Maybe I can just live vicariously through your posts and pics. Keep 'em coming.

[processengr]

Originally Posted by K_Dub

I've watched the videos; where's the roll cage I've heard so much about? Any chance of some good close ups of that taillight bar? I want to know everything! Can I just teleport there to see it for myself? Maybe I can just live vicariously through your posts and pics. Keep 'em coming.

What he said (+1)

[redlightningsvx]

The roll bar is VERY well hidden within the headliner and interior.

[K_Dub]

I've been looking through Kozykat's photobucket page (thank you ma'am) and have some questions for ya'll.

First off: 3K miles? Kinda high for a lifetime carpet queen isn't it? We're those all pre-race or just being pushed on/off trailers since?

I thought that was the taillight diffuser mod (hence the request a couple posts ago). Does it have an opaque but not textured diffuser, or is it just clear over bulbs?

VIN 000002? Was #1 the concept car, or is it stashed away in a warehouse somewhere?

Is that a horizontally mounted tranny cooler under the fans at the front of the engine? (Image DSC00731.jpg) Kind of hard to see.

Lastly: That Legacy has an amazing, not very well hidden roll cage. WOW! How hard is it to get in and out of that thing? I imagine it's hard to get out even without the cage, you just want to drive off in it.

Thanks again for the great pictures. Don't ya just love the internets? It's like I'm there... but I'm here.

[K_Dub]

Oh yeah, and a big thank you to Earl, John and Diana. Getting these pics benefits us all, even those not fortunate enough to be there in person.

[subi-crosser]

Originally Posted by K_Dub

Oh yeah, and a big thank you to Earl, John and Diana. Getting these pics benefits us all, even those not fortunate enough to be there in person.

WAAAAAHHHH!!!! I want to be there!! I have to report for work at 7:30 am on sat!! By the time all the goodies are loaded, I will be punching the clock!

(I am over 2 hours away).

WHILE you have their attention, ask them if they would be interested in using Cumberlands AIRPORT for the 'Mid Atlantic Subi Challenge' that DIDN'T happen last year!! HINT, HINT!! WE would WELCOME the traffic and related tire marks on the tarmac!!

THANK you!! (For all that was involved in this 'surprise'!!)

[redlightningsvx]

Originally Posted by K_Dub

I've been looking through Kozykat's photobucket page (thank you ma'am) and have some questions for ya'll.

First off: 3K miles? Kinda high for a lifetime carpet queen isn't it? We're those all pre-race or just being pushed on/off trailers since?

I thought that was the taillight diffuser mod (hence the request a couple posts ago). Does it have an opaque but not textured diffuser, or is it just clear over bulbs?

VIN 000002? Was #1 the concept car, or is it stashed away in a warehouse somewhere?

Is that a horizontally mounted tranny cooler under the fans at the front of the engine? (Image DSC00731.jpg) Kind of hard to see.

Lastly: That Legacy has an amazing, not very well hidden roll cage. WOW! How hard is it to get in and out of that thing? I imagine it's hard to get out even without the cage, you just want to drive off in it.

Thanks again for the great pictures. Don't ya just love the internets? It's like I'm there... but I'm here.

The taillight is actually a custom orange plastic piece.
The #1 is the prototype stashed away in JAPamunder the fans
Yes, it is the tranny cooooler

[Earthworm]

I'm sure you will see over a thousand pictures of the pace car over the next week or so. I probably took 100+ myself.

[SvXit]

I can hardly wait to lay eyes on the PaceCar. See youse guys tomorrow!!

[ensteele]

Thanks to SOA for this special treat! This is the first time ever, that the pace car has been shown to a private group or organization!

[crazyhorse]

So was there a distinkt smell in the air as the Pace Car was rolled out?

I say this 'cause I bet everyone very nearly crapped thier pants!

[NeedForSpeed]

Wow, an understatement, wish I could have made it from SoCal. All my favorite cars, all my favorite car owners!, which is anyone with an SVX.

One of the Legacy race cars was at SEMA last November, notice the mirrors are different color, etc., to help differentiate 'em on the race track.

I swapped the rear torsen from that Legacy into our jdm r180 4.44 rear diff, Bill, did you get that? The other Torsen is reserved for another project. The racers run aftermarket diffs.

Let's hope SOA takes the SVX to Las Vegas SEMA next year! Those getting to see the Pace Car up and close, awesome!!