Back Roads Blogging – 48HRS of Tristate, Part 3

Attempting to keep more than 80 participants together on a cruise of approximately 1,000 miles through winding roads in the northeast would have been a logistical nightmare. With this in mind, Mike Toricelli and the other organizers smartly broke everyone off into two separate groups for the start of the event.

 

Erik Mathisen and Drive Performance Editor Ric Hawthorne joined up with group one on the quicker path in a 2010 Legacy 3.6R, while I took my modified 2004 WRX up the scenic route with the second group.

 

My Impreza is equipped with Tokico struts, RCE springs, a beefed-up tranny mount, Whiteline steering rack bushings, and upgraded brake calipers, pads, and rotors. For some added power, it’s also running the three-inch exhaust and Cobb Stage II engine management.

 

With the route and my Subaru set, everything seemed good to go. Unfortunately, even the most carefully laid plans couldn’t keep everyone together. Less than 10 minutes away from Subaru headquarters, my group was scattered as we got stuck at multiple red lights.

 

As everyone began to regroup on Interstate Highway 95 in Philadelphia, I heard a loud click. My eyes quickly confirmed what I had inferred from the sound: My hood had popped open. Cruising at 65 on the interstate is not a good time for that to happen. I was able to throw on the four ways and pull over before the hood flew open. (Thanks to John and Sean in the pink-taped Breast Cancer WRX for waiting up to make sure I was all right.) In what could only be described as an amateur move, I had not completely clicked the hood closed after I topped off my windshield washer fluid earlier Friday morning. Good thing I prepared for this thing, right?

 

After my co-drivers (girlfriend/photographer Jess and buddy Mike) were done laughing at my foolishness, we were off again. Eventually we left the interstate behind and made our way through back roads and small towns throughout New Jersey and New York. More than a few heads turned upon hearing the low rumble of boxer engines revving up as our convoy cruised by. We even caught a few excited smiles from onlookers as we idled at red lights before roaring off.

 

My favorite part of the trip, however, was easily the single-lane back road we took through the mountains. Full of tight turns and huge potholes, this road gave me a great chance to see what my car’s new suspension could handle. My WRX performed great as I banked back and forth to avoid the potholes, and it gripped the asphalt as our convoy zipped around the turns. I had such a great time driving with other Subaru enthusiasts that it got me thinking about my next mods – sway bars and an anti-lift kit.

 

I had a really fun time on the drive, and I’d recommend it to any Subaru enthusiast in the Northeast. Give it a try next year.

 

– Nick Santangelo