World's Quickest EJ20 WRX

Demonium · Post by **Demonium** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 12:26

World's Quickest EJ20 WRX

was in the media center at Sonoma's Infineon Raceway reading the schedule for the NHRA Tuned By Matrix Sport Compact Nationals when a red blur caught my eye. It was the Easy Street WRX flying down the strip. I stood up to see the car go from about half track to the traps as the others around me noticed I was paying them no attention whatsoever. Then 10.57, 140 mph flashed on the board and I hurriedly excused myself. The chase was on.

I quickly learned a lot about the WRX and the force behind its world-record charge down the 1320. Easy Street Motorsports is the brainchild of Ali Afshar. Ali, an actor by trade, got into the drag scene in 1991 when he won a high school drag race at Sears Point, turning a 13.9 in his Camaro RS. He was bitten and built some mean domestics, including a grip of Buick Grand Nationals.

Ali's cars were fast. People started seeking him out to build speed into their rides, which kept him wrenching through high school and college. "Easy Street Motorsports came about because I was making too much money on the side," says Ali. "The bank called and said that the deposits would raise a red flag with the IRS, so I got my business license and things took off."

Fast forward to 2001. The WRX caught his eye because of its similarity to the GN (factory turbo, intercooled, EFI). Ali was hooked hard this time. "I used the same recipes that worked on the GN and the Subaru responded" says Ali. "We went from mid 14s to mid 12s and the exposure we got jumpstarted our WRX program."

Ali wanted to step it up so Easy Street contacted Tony Rigoli Performance (TRP) out of Australia to acquire one of its power-tuned EJ20 engines. In true import racing fashion, the engine arrived from Australia the night before the August 10, 2002 Battle of the Imports event in Bakersfield, Calif.

Luckily, the EJ20 also arrived with two Rogoli brothers handcuffed to it. Before you get visions of the Sopranos, remember these guys are from Down Under; twin Crocodile Hunters, if you will. Anyway, some crazy wrenching ensued and the Scoobie miraculously made the show. The WRX proved it was full of surprises as it bolted down the strip in 10.7 seconds at 135 mph and into the record books.

This brings us to the most interesting aspect of the Easy Street story--the ESX concept. Through partnerships and hard work Ali has developed a series of staged performance modifications that can be ordered, along with a brand new WRX through Big Valley Subaru in Van Nuys, Calif.

Of course, the packages can be ordered for WRXs already on the road. Under the ESX banner, customers can select handling, interior, exterior mods and three stages of engine tuning via TRP to meet their frenzied WRX power and comfort needs. The exact specs of the staged mods can be gleaned from the accompanying chart.

The red rocket pictured here is running in ESX 740 trim. The Tony Rigoli engine in the Easy Street flagship has been stroked and fitted with a Turbonetics T66 turbocharger, ESX front mount intercooler, Microtech LT-8 engine management system and a nitrous set-up from NOS.

Additional mods include an ESX exhaust system, a five-gallon fuel cell and a TRP Dog Box five-speed tranny. The engine runs stock headers but utilizes an ESX up-pipe to increase flow. Tony Rigoli Performance has power tuned a number of mean Impreza WRXs in its native Australia, generating numbers like 551, 521 and 499 whp on strictly street-going versions. So the ESX package has a stout engine program behind it.

At Sonoma, Ali was on a mission. His 10.57 run was at 30 psi and did not use the 60-shot nitrous system. The Sonoma run was also the first time the car ran BFGoodrich drag radials. Ali was planning to really swing for the fence by upping the boost to 32 psi, airing down the BFGs and pumping the laughing gas.

But the party was brought to a halt because the Subaru broke two axles simultaneously at the flash of the green. Oddly, the victims were one front axle and one rear axle. Remember the racer's credo: If you're not breaking parts, you're not trying hard enough.

Prior to the race build-up the Easy Street WRX was involved in an accident during a test drive at Big Valley Subaru. The crew took the opportunity to develop its line of styling components; this mishap changed the car's fate and eventually led it to the track.

The ESX body tuning program features a Gruppe-S JUN replica front fascia, proprietary ESX spoiler riser and reverse hood scoop treatments. The repair, body armor installation and coating of red paint was performed by Steve's Autobody, resulting in one eye-catching Impreza that is truly hard to catch. The ESX can be ordered custom painted red or yellow, both of which have substantially more visual impact than the Subaru factory offerings.

Having the looks is one thing, but having the moves to match is the difference between a player and a poseur. The Easy Street WRX has the footwork to play tag up a canyon road or catch-me-if-you-can down the strip. Golden-hued Volk Racing aluminum is joined by BFGoodrich drag radials at the corners while JIC coil-overs provide proper dampening. A Brembo GT-series brake upgrade reduces speed prior to turn-in and adds a touch of style with its bright red calipers.

Inside, a custom Rags-2-Riches suede-enhanced interior and ESX/Billetworks six-point roll bar adds rigidity, safety and style. The center gauge cluster has been swapped in favor of an Auto Meter-based, race-ready display complete with custom aluminum surround. A five-point RJ harness adds a race aura but all the stock stuff inside, including the factory stereo, confirms the Subaru's street car status.

No doubt this WRX is on the extreme side but it's clear that it is 100 percent street car. Ali plans to be back at the strip but with an automatic transmission. The slush box will allow him to pre-load the driveline and take some of the shock out of launching the car. The target is single digits on street tires in street trim. With that kind of potential, isn't it easy to see yourself on easy street?

Demonium · Post by **Demonium** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 12:28

Power Technik

Car 2002 Subaru WRX
Engine EJ20
Pistons TRP
Rods TRP
Heads TRP port/polish
Valvetrain TRP stainless valves, retainers, springs
Camshafts TRP
Fuel Pump Bosch Motorsports
Injectors 800cc
Turbo Turbonetics T66
Max Boost 30 -38 psi
Wastegate Turbonetics Racegate
Engine Management Microtech LT-8
Transmission TRP Dog Box five-speed
Shocks JIC Coil-overs
Wheels Volk Racing
Tires BFGoodrich drag radials

ESX Engine Tuning Packages
ESX 344 hp
Ball Bearing Turbo Upgrade Blow-off Valve
Injen Cold Air Intake Piggyback Tuning
3-inch Downpipe Up-Pipe
3-inch Exhaust Performance Pulley Set
Top-Mount MRT Intercooler Upgraded Inlet Hose
ESX 500 500 hp
TRP Stroked Engine Front-Mount Intercooler
TRP Rods Tranny Upgrade
TRP Pistons Performance Clutch Set
MircoTech Engine Management Fuel Pump
ESX 740 740 hp
Same as ESX 500 Package Plus...
Added Stroke Cylinder Sleeves
Nitrous Kit Dog Box 5-spd. Tranny
Injector Upgrade Bigger Turbo

ESX Handling Packages
Stage 1
17-inch Alloy Wheels
ZR-Rated 225 Tires
Performance Springs
Stage 2
Front/Rear Strut Tower Bars
Front/Rear Anti Sway Bars
Anti Sway Bar End Links
Motor Mounts
Anti-Lift Bar
Stage 3
Brembo GT Caliper/Rotor JIC Coil-overs
Stainless Steel Lines Performance Pads

ESX Interior Package
Suede Seat Inserts
Suede Door Panel Inserts
ESX-Embroidered Headrests
Momo Shifter
Carbon Fiber Dash Inserts
ESX Body Tuning
Carbon Fiber Rear Spoiler Risers
STi Grille Insert
White Front Side Marker Lights
Canary Yellow Paint
Racing Red Paint

Demonium · Post by **Demonium** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 12:30

The Subaru'S EJ20 has been stroked, fitted with ported heads, a front-mount intercooler and a hard-hitting Turbonetics T66 turbo. A Microtech LT-8 engine management system conducts fuel and ignition events. Tony Rigoli Performance in Australia built the engine and helped tune it.

The trunk is home to a five-gallon fuel cell and a big blue NOS bottle. The cell feeds 800cc injectors while the bottle powers a 60-shot spool-up kit.

The interior is super sporty but sacrifices no creature comforts. The gauge cluster is really wild but Ali plans to add a single LED Stack set-up before the car's next strip attack.

Demonium · Post by **Demonium** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 12:32

The ESX/Billetworks roll bar really adds a performance flair to the Subaru while providing rigidity and safety on the street and at the track.

Easy Street's Ali Afshar is an actor by trade, but his passion for performance runs deep. He would like to thank TRP, R-T Tech and Christina Moore for their support in making Easy Street Motorsports a success. " The Easy Street WRX sports a number of tuning packages that can be ordered through participating dealerships. There are three engine packages and three stages of suspension tuning to choose from.

The Easy Street WRX sports a number of tuning packages that can be ordered through participating dealerships. There are three engine packages and three stages of suspension tuning to choose from.

Demonium · Post by **Demonium** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 13:03

The ESX Stage 3 suspension package includes these race-bred Brembo GT-series brakes.

The record-setting Easy Street flagship runs Volk Racing wheels but Ali credits BFGoodrich's drag radial for helping propel the WRX to its crazy 10.57-second, 140-mph timeslip.