WHY is everyone so up in arms about the death of the Evo? Truly, the Evo died six years ago, when the last 4G63-powered Evo IX rolled off the assembly line at Mizushima. The Evo X, for all its rally-inspired finery, has more in common with a Galant VR4 (to the extent it’s been built on the Galant platform since 2005), and many of us only got those for a few years before they were deemed too fat/heavy to be competitive.

IS IT BECAUSE we’ve lost confidence in our ability to turn our own wrenches, keeping our cars on the road in the absence of a factory warranty (which, generally speaking, we voided as a matter of principle)? This author’s two GVR4s are 19 and 20 years old, respectively, and he’s not afraid. How many more Evo-inspired Mitsubishis are still up to their usual shenanigans, making owners of vehicles costing two and three times the price second guess their their decisions?

IS IT BECAUSE we identify with and believe in Mitsubishi, thinking they’re doomed (and we, in turn)? Maybe other manufacturers buy and sell subsidiaries left and right, but Mitsubishi plays their cards close. They still build cars, trucks (some of the best), trains, airplanes, air conditioners, televisions, lasers, and nuclear power plants. They have their own bank (which didn’t get bailed out, and actually contributed $9B toward the bailout of Morgan Stanley, by the way), as well as mining operations which support the automotive industry as a whole.

IS IT BECAUSE we don’t want to admit we’re all going to be driving hybrids/EVs or taking the bus in the not too distant future, turning a blind eye to the ridiculously-escalating price of gas? “Oh,” you say, “Another Toyota, Honda, or Nissan.” Aside from the Nissan Z, what sporty cars have any of them made recently? The R35 Skyline (MSRP $80K+)? The Lexus LFA (MSRP $375K+)?

Gone are the Type R, DC5, NSX, Silvia, and Supra. And how long since the Civic Si, Celica, or even RX-8 have been truly relevant? Seriously. Let’s rub a little salt in our wounds for a moment and consider the MX-5 Miata is probably the last uncompromising sports car within reach of those without trust funds. Oh sure, the Corvette, Camaro, and Mustang solider on, but at what cost? And how many badge-engineered fleet turds subsidize their very existence?

MAYBE IT’S BECAUSE we’re gearheads, and we’re sad to learn of yet another fun-to-drive model being relegated to the history books. In truth, the death of the Evo hurts because it reminds us we exist on the fringes of automotive irrelevance ourselves; it stands as the last bastion of unbridled performance available to the everyman.

We are the scrappy underdogs for whom the potential to build a world class giant killer with our own two hands has just been diminished. If we could spend upwards of $50K on a sport sedan, we’d all be driving M3s and S4s (and we know it). With the passing of the Evo, our options will be further limited.

THIS IS NOT a day to resign ourselves to cookie-cutter, hybrid-driving mediocrity, or to farty-sounding Subarus (just kidding, you know we love you guys), but to remember, fondly, the Evolution which symbolizes who we are and that for which we stand. We are gearheads. Form follows function; luxury and refinement should take a backseat to acceleration and lateral grip. Cars should be designed for drivers, mindless consumer cattle operators and their coddling, ancillary convenience features be damned.

THE EVO played a significant role in making many us who we are today, but we will not fade away with this model. We will not go quietly into that good night. We will continue to see the value in continuous incremental improvement over the status quo – to evolve – as Mitusbishi did – and will continue to do – no matter the platforms in our future. We are gearheads.

Go fast with class.

What’s your real name? (What’s your screen name?)
Andy Smedegard (known on most forums as “Dizmm”)

What do you do for a living and where do you live?
I live in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. I do IT support for several local small and medium sized businesses.

What Mitsubishi(s) do you drive? How long have you had it/them?
I have an 03 Evolution VIII. I’ve had this specific Evo for a bit over a year now.

Photo by Justin Lacerte

What’s your build philosophy/goals for your Mitsubishi? How do you use it?
My philosophy for my builds is reliability. My stuff tends to be closer on the stock side. I do mostly road course, auto-x, and ice rally events and I hate when by car breaks leading to less/no seat time. Not to mention, coming from the DSM world I quickly became annoyed with wrenching on cars. It’s MUCH more fun to drive. I also like to put more focus into suspension and handling rather than peak power.

What originally attracted you to the Mitsubishi? What keeps you going today?
It all started with a 92 Talon TSI AWD. I’ve owned about 15 different DSM’s, and when Evo’s become more affordable, I had to get one.

What got you into racing your Evo on ice?
I started ice racing about 6 years ago with my little Honda civic. A friend talked me into going. At the first event, I quickly realized ice racing is a great way to improve driver skill. Loads of seat time with little to no cost and hardly any wear and tear on your vehicle. I encourage everyone to give it a try. You’ll learn how to drive right on the edge of the traction circle with little to no negative results when you exceed the limits and spin out.

Photo by Justin Lacerte

Tell us about something really exciting you’ve done with other Mitsubishi owners.
Several buddies around town have Evo’s, and we try to attend big track days together. It’s always fun to have a group of 7-9 Evo’s show up at the track all chasing each other down.

What’s the best part about being a Mitsubishi owner? The most challenging?
I love beating up on big American v8 muscle cars. The more challenging part is dealing with the fuz. These big wings and fart can looking exhausts seem to be a magnet.

Photo by Justin Lacerte

What excites you about the coming year? (Your Mitsu and your community)
Driving! And chasing a few of the other Evo buddies around the track. It’s kind of like the go karts when you were a kid, except faster.

How often do you get together with other Mitsubishi owners in person?
Our local car group extends beyond cars. From our Taco Tuesday’s at Taco Johns to some pickup basketball games.

How do you want your community to benefit Mitsubishi owners? What steps are you taking to make sure that happens?
Our Evo community is pretty close. We all help each other when we need it. If someone needs help taking out a tranny for a new clutch, there’s always someone there to help. It’s really neat to have such a dedicated group of guys to help you out when needed. We all kind of have our own area of expertise as well. I’ve been doing most of the suspension and alignment area as well as tire changes (I’ve got my own tire changer/balancer).

How do you feel building a Mitsubishi compares to building a Mitsubishi community?
The small details can make a big difference.

What’s next for your Evo?
I may switch up some suspension stuff, but otherwise just tires and brakes will be about it. Oh and a lot of seat time!

What’s next for WI-DSM.com?
WI-DSM.com is now more than just DSM’s, we have several Evo guys/gals on the forum. We hope to continue to build the Mitsubishi community and get more people involved. I hope to get more DSM/Evo guys behind the wheel instead of in the engine bay. A bit beyond WI-DSM.com, me and a few buddies started an official local car club (Central Wisconsin Sports Car Club Inc.) where we host several auto-x, lapping days, and ice rally events in the area.

Who has helped you the most along the way with the car? With the community?
There are several people I could thank, but most come from the WI-DSM.com forum as well as the CWSCC.com forum.

Photo by Justin Lacerte

Were you inspired by any other Mitsubishi community organizers? Who? Why?
There were a few on the DSMtuners board. That’s where I started and learned most of my car knowledge. I read countless stories and build threads and that motivated me the most.

Who do you look up to in the Mitsubishi community?
Not a specific person, but those that seem to have the full pit crew, big car trailers, fully gutted and modified race cars and unlimited stacks of tires. I’m more jealous but hopefully someday I can do that.

Is there a particular shop you’d like to recommend? Want to thank any sponsors?
I tend to do most of my own work. I’ve had good experiences with ExtremePSI and MAPerformance. I’d like a sponsor.

Other than your own, do you spend time on any Mitsubishi sites? Which ones?
The EvoM forum, mitsu-media, and a few other local forums.

Are you on Twitter? Facebook? How can people find you online?
Facebook: Andy Smedegard or my website: www.smedegard.com

What’s your real name?  Where do you live?
My name is Ryan Gates and I’ve lived in Minneapolis, MN, my entire life.

What do you do for a living?
I drive across the country to drive my car… listening to music a lot.

Image: rkcreative, inc.

Your website prominently states, “Follow you dreams, to the max!” What is your dream?
Haha, glad to see that someone noticed! That’s actually a quote from ‘Party Down’, the quote is something I really try to live by. My dream is to be happy, live well, and surround myself with my favorite people while doing what we all love. My main focus is on racing and driving fun cars, but there are a lot of other things I dream of doing… one of them is to live New Zealand with time to explore.

What originally attracted you the Evo X? How did you come to own yours?
Before I picked up the Evo X, I had a Wicked White Evo IX MR. It was my daily driver that I would occasionally take to the track. When the Evo X was announced, everyone was skeptical, usually pretty negative about it too, and I just kept thinkin’ there is no way Mitsubishi would make an Evo that’s worse. When Brookdale Mitsubishi up here in MN got their first Evo X in February 2008, I went and looked at it for awhile. That night I decided on a whim to put my Evo IX up for sale. In under 26 minutes, the car was sold – locally – for cash! That was it. I was getting an Evo X now, haha. The next day, Valentine’s Day, I had a new Octane Blue Evo X w/SSS back home in the garage. Pretty much fate ever since!

What’s your selection criteria for the events you run?
In the past, I tried to run the entire series of Redline T/A mainly to get out there as much as possible. In 2009 that worked out really well, but after a pretty disastrous and extremely stressful year in ’10, my thought process has changed a bit. From now on, I’ll be using the car for what I originally intended, fun! For 2011, you’ll see the car out competing for sure, but only at events I really want to attend… not limited to just Time Attack either.

What makes/models represent your closest competition? How does the Evo compare?
The obvious competitors are other Evos and STis, but in 2010 there were a few Nissan GTRs that stepped up and were quick. There are other cars out there too, some very fast BMWs and Audis, but those aren’t as common. I’d like to see more variety in my competition, look for that in 2011.

Tell us about a time something broke and what it took to fix it.
Well I have plenty of different situations I could give you here… haha. I’ll go with the latest story though – Super Lap Battle Finals 2010.

After spending over a month with the car cleaning, upgrading, rebuilding, restoring, etc., I took the car out to SLB feeling really good about finishing the year off with a great result. I didn’t make it out for Saturday practice, which was fine, because I spent the day going over all the little details on the car; making sure it’d be perfect for Sunday. So then Sunday morning Warm Up session comes around and I head out on a warm up lap before going all out to test the car.

Without even completing that warm up lap, the car just died… while cruisin’, too. So I coasted to a stop, got towed in, and then went to work in the garage to diagnose. My first thought was something electrical because it shut off so suddenly without any noise, but it turned out to be so much worse. I took the valve cover off to find the timing chain sitting there completely off the gears. It was laying there limp. The day was done, the guys at AMS confirmed that after they took a quick look over the car at the track. So now my Evo is currently at AMS getting fixed – new valves, pistons, headwork, etc.. There’s a quick look into my 2010 season, haha.

What is your embarrassment moment – a time you made a stupid mistake?
The first time I met Bryan from JRZ Suspension back in early 2009. Probably the most embarrassing moment I can think of. We were at Buttonwillow to get the baseline testing done on my new JRZ Triples. I was extremely under prepared. So much so, I had to run the car on track without harnesses and only two bolts holding my seat in place. Luckily Bryan is the best person I’ve had the opportunity to work with. He wasn’t quick to judge and we ended up winning that weekend!

What is your finest hour – a time you saw everything come together perfectly?
Hasn’t happened yet.

What’s the best part about sponsored racer?  The most challenging?
My favorite part is working with these huge companies! It’s always fun to see how well I can help them reach their goals, whatever they may be. You can use the same answer for the 2nd part of the question too, haha.

What keeps you going; keeps you motivated?
I dream huge so I’m constantly working to make it all happen. That, and I really enjoy cars… and hate failing. And a Guards Red GT2RS.

Image: Canibeat

What’s next for your Evo? Your team?
A lot of fun! Like I mentioned, after 2010 I’m really looking to get back to the root of all of this, fun. I’m working with a great film crew – Film Matters – to finally turn some of our ideas into a reality. These guys are great, so look for some cool content featuring the Evo and my Ralliart Sportback over the winter and throughout 2011. Beyond that, you may see me racing in a different series driving something with an engine in the back. Maybe.

Who has helped you the most along the way with the Evo?
My family has been huge. Always there for support and they’ve helped me with a lot of decisions over the past few years. Car wise… AMS Performance has always been there for me. Without them, the car would be no where near its current level of performance… it’s just so fast. This season, we developed the car on the fly, and with that there were a lot of little problems at each event. I can’t wait to show what the car can really do!

What aspects of competition are most interesting to you?
Winning.

Who are your sponsors and how have they helped?
I’m very lucky to have a good group of sponsors that all help out in different ways. The main thing my sponsors help with is car development. I push this car as hard as I possibly can, and anytime an upgrade is needed it’s the sponsors that step up with a new and/or upgraded part. Also, companies like etnies, Film Matters, Andy Blackmore Design, etc. keep it interesting for me. They’re they creative side to all of this and it’s cool to work with them to turn ideas into reality. Pretty soon here you’ll have a better understanding to what I mean by that.

Nitto Tires | AMS Performance | etnies | K&N | JRZ Suspension | RAYS | Girodisc | Carbonetic | JE Pistons
Evasive Motorsports | Mitsubishi Motors | Andy Blackmore Design | Film Matters | Cinesthetics | Phenom Global | Aeromotions

How did you get into the industry? That is, how were you able to cross over into the realm of being able to make a living as a wheel man?
It’s pretty simple… I just bought my Evo X and went to the track. Timing had a lot to do with my jump into the car industry, the Evo X was just coming out and people were really curious to see what it could do. I was lucky enough to grab the car early and start proving it’s worth to the masses with unique coverage online.

What advice would you give to those who would like to follow in your footsteps and race for a living? How do we go about doing that? What kind of role do sponsorships play and what tips could you share to help others achieve their dreams to that end?
The best advice I could give is to do it all for fun, be nice to people and provide something genuinely unique to your target audience. If you’re out there with the sole intent to make money, you might end up discouraged quite quickly. It’s extremely hard to legitimately make money while racing, especially if you’re starting from scratch. Like I mentioned earlier, I had timing on my side and there was a window of opportunity for me to prove what this new platform could do. I took full advantage of that, and did it for the right reasons, and thankfully things are starting to pay off.

We’ll be looking forward to seeing just Ryan – and his sponsors – come up with in 2011. Sounds like some exciting, right-brain thinkers have some big ideas. Big ideas rule.

Special thanks to Ryan for sharing his stories and advice and, again, to our friend Nathan at Mitsubishi for steering us in Ryan’s direction. None of us can do any of this alone, right?

How about you?

• What are your automotive dreams?
• How confident are you that you’re on-track to achieve them?
• How can the Gearbox community help you achieve them?
  

As December is looking to be all Evos – and we still hadn’t found one owner to interview – necessity proved herself the mother of invention. A quick visit to the Mitsubishi Lancer Register later, and we had the bait in the water. As we left Phoenix for Long Beach for the American Thanksgiving holiday weekend, we wondered, would anyone bite?

We asked Evo VII owners on MLR to share pictures of their VIIs and brief stories about their fondest memories as owners. Here’s their answers.

cpt JackSparrow

Best memory was when I went, with intent to buy the car, and took it out for the test drive… ALONE… with some nice back roads that I could play on, and just saying to myself out loud, “OMG I’m actually in an Evo at last, this baby is coming home with me… today!!!!!!!!”

P1CK4D

I had only owned the car a few months and was still getting to grips with using it properly. After a fantastic weekend at Santa Pod filled with racing (even though my 1/4 mile time was crap), alcohol and lap dancers, I got home to find out I had somehow actually won in my class! Perfect weekend tbh [to be honest] and a fantastic experience in my VII.

Here’s a link to P1CK4D’s victory. (We particularly like this shot of P1CK4D’s VII trouncing a Skyline out of the hole.)

V5_STV

Been so many favourite times with my VII. Watching it being transformed from a standard VII to a full on 2002 WRC replica was fantastic. Then eventually taking it on track after spending 2 years modifying it and having it re-mapped was very exciting. Puts a smile on my face every day.

Raptor

Well I can say, I love my EVO 7s, after all I’m on my third. So far I’ve had silver, white and now Eissen Grey. Think I might have to wrap it every 6 months in the remaining colours. I think the best time I’ve had in any of them so far was a driver training day at Millbrook. Not a hardcore trackday driver, but enjoy the road going experience. Able to point and press with more confidence and a big grin above me chin.

rawkus

I’d say driving my VII at Sebring International Raceway in Florida and taking the class win and setting the class record was pretty amazing.

Special thanks to the Evo VII cpt JackSparrow, P1CK4D, V5_STV, raptor, and rawkus for taking a little time to share some of the reasons why they love their Evo VIIs with the world!

• Do you have an Evo VII?
• What’s your favorite memory as a VII owner?
• Where can we see some pictures of your VII?
  

What’s your real name?  Where do you live?
Hi, I’m Andrew Tharia from Lancashire in England.

What do you do for a living?
A self-employed decorator, I also troubleshoot and fix PCs.

What Mitsubishi(s) do you drive?  How long have you had it/them?
Presently, an Evo 9 GT Wagon. (Owned it for less than six months.)

Aren’t the Evo Wagons on the rare side? What should people know about them?
They are, only 2500 were ever made. All were JDM only. I believe there may be only another ten, or so, in the UK.

There are two versions, a GT and a GTA. The latter is a 5 speed Invecs II, automatic (similar to tiptronic box.) The GT wagon is almost identical to a JDM Evo 9 GT. LSD front and rear, same running gear etc., although it is  equipped with a 6 speed manual gearbox instead of the saloon’s five speed. It has the MIVEC engine and an 80 series turbo, too.

What originally attracted you to Mitsubishi?
A friend turned up to a race-meeting (r/c nitro, off-road) in his red, Super VR4 Legnum. I commented that it looked pretty beefy as well as smart. He proceeded to pop the hood for me and I was gob-smacked at the sight of the 24 valve, quad-cam, V6, twin-turbocharged motor. ” I want one!” I gasped.

A week later, I picked up a silver VR4 Legnum and loved it.

How do you use use your Mitsubishi?
It is my daily drive. I use it for transporting my dog around as well as for work. You should see some of the reactions it receives from people at builder’s merchants when I load up with timber and painting materials. They often ask if I’m really going to use it to carry timber in. Of course I am, it is a wagon, after all!

Obviously I take care care with it, put covers down, etc.

I have also taken my car onto racetracks, which is a lot of fun.

What are your goals for your Mitsubishi?
To enjoy owning and driving it as long as possible. It’s not like I’m able to upgrade to a newer one. As far as mods go, I’ve put a few carbon-fibre parts on and had a remap. It now runs at just over 400/400 (bhp/ft.lbs torque).

Considering your goals, can you tell us about a couple of your favorites and how they help you towards realizing the goals you’ve set for the vehicle?
Inside, there’s a Kenwood DVD/sat-nav, under-seat subs, upgraded speakers all round, and the boot has a Rockford Fosgate Punch 12″ (skinny) speaker, powered by a JL Audio 500.1 amp. They all help for long journeys.

How often do you get together with other Mitsubishi owners in person? What do you do?
I’ve attended a few meets so far, two were on the track. One was for charity.

Tell us about something really exciting you’ve done with other Mitsubishi owners.
One meet was a guest spot of 50 Evos at a Subaru charity meet. There were in excess of 2500 Scoobies present but the overall winner of the ‘show & shine’ competition was a gorgeous, red TME Evo!

Tell us about a time something broke and what it took to fix it.
I went to visit my parents for my Mum’s birthday celebrations. On the 200 mile journey to Wales, my clutch started to slip. I made the rest of the journey, though. I had to tap my Dad up to lend me £1400 so I could get a new one fitted, otherwise, I threatened, he’d be stuck with me!

What is your embarrassment moment – that time you made a stupid mistake?
At Anglesey racetrack, overcooked a corner and span and span and span . . . Dohhh!

What is your finest hour – that time you saw it all come together perfectly?
Driving home, immediately after buying the car, felt pretty good.

Which Mitsubishi communities do you frequent most and why? (What’s your screen name?)
As well as ClubVR4, the MLR (Mitsubishi Lancer Register).

Both sites have provided a wealth of information and have numerous helpful members. On both, I am  ‘WizardKing.’

How have you benefited from your involvement in these communities?
Learned a lot about how to tackle various tasks on my cars from them.

How do you try to give back to these communities?
By sharing my own experiences, tips et. al.

What keeps you going; keeps you motivated to pick up your wrenches?
Just as necessity is said to be the mother of invention, the same could be said regarding maintenance.

What’s next for your Mitsubishi?
Hopefully, just the usual; a wash and wax. I’m pleased with her as she is, really.

Who has helped you the most along the way with the car?  Any mentors?
My grandfather and parents have been invaluable to me.

Is there a particular shop you’d like to recommend?
There are two, actually. The Racing Line, based in Halifax, and Indigo GT, South Wales.

Are you on Twitter?  Facebook?  Where can people find you online?
On the MLR, Mitsubishi Lancer Register!!

Thank you for sharing your super unique Mitsubishi with us, Andy!

What Mitsubishi(s) do you drive?  How long have you had it/them?
I drive a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 8 260 GSR, Dandelion Yellow.  This entry level Evo 8 was created by Mitsubishi to meet the motoring industry’s homologation requirements for the European market and, as such, the Evo 8 260 in its OEM state is a little under powered at 260BHP.  A little less BHP than the rest of the Evo 8 range.

What’s your build philosophy/goals for your Mitsubishi?  How do you use it?
My philosophy from the first week of ownership for the Evo 8 260 has been this: when it’s broken, how can I make it stronger, and in doing so will I make it faster? This philosophy has seen the removal of many OEM parts from my Evo over time in favour of the leading aftermarket brands as things required to be replaced. Over time the modifications have made my Evo stronger and in turn the BHP and boost figures are on the rise to see the Evo currently running 357.4 BHP/344.2 lb ft of torque on standard cams and the restrictive turbo with its 9.8 hot side.

What originally attracted you to the Mitsubishi?  What keeps you going today?
I think it was the colour first. How could you not notice it? On a serious note though, I had been the owner of a few performance oriented cars such as the Renault ClioV6 with its 3.0 V6 24V engine. It broke down – a lot! So I went for the more reliable Subaru Impreza. It would only be a matter of time as a Subaru owner that curiosity, as to what Evo ownership was like, would get the better of me and so I naturally progressed from the Impreza to the Evo.

What keeps me going today you ask? Well it was not long after the purchase of my pride n joy that I met an Mitsubishi Lancer Register (MLR) member at a show. I was encouraged to get online.  I joined the MLR and now, as a Regional Organiser for the MLR in Northern Ireland, my Evo ownership has brought a whole new social life that did not exist for me previously. It is the spirit and enthusiasm of MLR members that keeps me going. I organise meets for like-minded Evo enthusiasts here in Northern Ireland and attend a whole range of events from shows to drag racing events and track days. Although I have never dragged or tracked my own car it is amazing to see these cars being put through their paces as that is what they were designed for.

Got a favourite story about your Mitsubishi?
Yeah, one of my favourite stories is the one where the tuner I left my car into because it had over fueling issues, phoned me up an hour after dropping the car off and told me I needed a whole engine rebuild. I can still recall the sinking feeling and the life draining out of me during the phone call. Compression and leak down tests highlighted a loss of compression in chamber 1 and by the end of that day the head was off and the engine was in bits.  Momentum Motorsport completed the rebuild in 4 days for me and now, as the engine was forged, the car was good for some real BHP figures down the line.

What are your goals for your Mitsubishi and how close are you to achieving them?
I would like to achieve a sensible 400 BHP /400 lb ft of torque for everyday road use. My goal is to turn the entry level Evo into an Evo that commands real respect from the Evo community here in Northern Ireland. Most of the modification work to realise this has been completed.  I would need cams replaced and a turbo upgrade to reach these figures.

My long term aspirations for the car are, once I’ve paid the car out in full and I’m in a position to retire the Evo as the main driver and enjoy it as a second car,  then I will  have a go at a few track day events.  At present it’s my everyday driver and I depend on it for transport. We all know it’s all too easy for things to go wrong mechanically or for a car to get damaged through driver error. So, for the next while I’m happy to spectate from the trackside.

What was your favourite modification and why?
Well my favourite modification to date is two things really.  Firstly, the Greddy RS dump valve and secondly my HKS Racing suction kit. I just love hearing the engine audibly breathe deeply in on full throttle and the dump valve expel air from the system. The chatter that the two modifications can create sounds that are just fantastic.

Your mod list:
Engine
Wiseco 85mm pistons, Eagle rods, ARP header studs, ACL Race big end bearings, Cometic steel head gasket, HKS Super Fire spark plugs, HKS Racing Suction Induction Kit, AMS Fuel Rail, AMS cast end intercooler, AMS plug cover, Greddy Type RS blow off valve. DC Sports titanium strut brace, ARC titanium heat shield, Spec R polished fuse cover, Ralliart oil cap, Ralliart rad cap, Rexspeed carbon fibre bonnet, Risers cone breather filter, Walbro 255 fuel pump

Exhaust
Milltek Sports 3inch front pipe, East Coast Customs centre decat pipe, HKS Super Dragger cat back

Styling Exterior
Rota Fighter Drifts 18 x 9.5 alloys with Toyo T1Rs 235/45 R18s, Evo 9 rear spoiler with carbon fibre blade, Mitsubishi vector generator spoiler, DO Luck carbon fibre front splitter, Rexspeed carbon fibre exhaust trim, Evo 9 MR tail lights black chrome, black genuine Mitsubishi tail gate decals

Styling Interior
AMS Gear Knob, Ralliart carbon fibre effect shift panel, Ralliart titanium pedal set Evo 8  MR, Gizzmo Ltd Edition boost  controller, R Spec 2 bar mechanical boost gauge – steering coil pod mounted.

Tell us about something really exciting you’ve done with other Mitsubishi owners.
All the MLR events we attend are exciting. Some I’ve mentioned already and the occasional rolling road days are always good craic  to see if the big BHP figures that Evo drivers claim really exist, but for me as an RO there is nothing more exciting than the sight of 15 – 20 Evos in your rear view mirror making their way to a show. One meet here saw 30+ Evos at a meet.

Tell us about a time something broke and what it took to fix it.
The rear diff blew as I was cruising on a dual carriage way at 65MPH. Thankfully, the case held together but boy did it make a hell of bang. That sinking feeling returned that I experienced in the engine build phone call. Luckily I rolled into a lay by, at first  not sure what had just happened. I couldn’t see anything wrong mechanically under the bonnet but as I tried to roll the car forward, the rear wheels locked and crunched very nicely with each wheel rotation.  The Evo was recovered on a flat bed lorry and was collected the next day by my local Tuner, East Coast Customs. The rear diff was replaced that day.  It took £700 to fix it with a second hand diff replacement.

What’s the best part about being a Mitsubishi owner?  The most challenging?
How the general public react to these machines when on display at shows or out on the road. You feel you’ve got the car of your childhood dreams.  It never fails to amuse me when young lads react by pointing whilst shouting to their mates “Look at the Evos”, or the less informed one who shouts “look at the Scoobys”, whilst his mate makes the international arm rotation sign for – Go on light it up. I have to admit I still feel like a bit of a lad myself sometimes and will occasionally oblige them.

What excites you about the coming year?
Meeting new MLR members.

How often do you get together with other Mitsubishi owners in person?
We hold a Bi Monthly MLR meet and then all the shows and events fill the calendar here, so, on average 2 or 3 times a month.

Your thoughts on those who part out otherwise salvageable cars?
We all need parts and if the person decides to part out a car I’m always on the look- out for my next purchase.

How do you feel building a Mitsubishi compares to building a Mitsubishi community?
I treat them with the same respect I guess. I have been developing my Evo for the past two years now and the best has yet to come. The same can be said for my role as MLR Regional Organiser. Through the club’s growing presence at major shows in Ireland new members are coming on board and we regularly have members attending their first meet. All in all, both the Evo and the Evo Community are growing with equal pace.

How has your Mitsubishi build benefited from your involvement in the community?
MLR members are always on hand to offer excellent advice when it’s required – usually at times of great difficulty.  I tend to take advice – not give it when it comes to mechanical matters so I have relied heavily on the good nature of MLR members.

What’s next for your Mitsubishi?
Brake Discs and Pads

Who has helped you the most along the way with the car?  Any mentors?
All the MLR members generally but in particular I would thank Carl Jones aka Jones the Boost.  He is an all round great guy and what he doesn’t know about Evos is not worth knowing.

How have you paid this forward and mentored others?
My strength lies in my organisational skills which I use in my role as Regional Organiser.

Is there a particular shop you’d like to recommend?
East Coast Customs, Momentum Motorsport

Do you spend time on any Mitsubishi sites?  Which ones?
Mitsubishi Lancer Register (MLR)

Are you on Twitter?  Facebook?  Where can people find you online?
No but usually I can be found on the MLR.

Thank you for sharing your point of view with the global Mitsubishi community, Martin. We really appreciate it. We also appreciate your giving of your time and energy to organize events for your regional Mitsubishi community. That’s really going fast with class!

Those following our Evolutions coverage this year might have noticed we jumped from Evo V to Evo VI to Evo VIII. We’re tracking down a VII, the story just isn’t ready yet. No worries! In the meantime, have you ever lost your rear diff or got one of those terrible phone calls that your Mitsubishi is done for and needs a new engine?

There was no way we could meet everyone in attendance, and we’re sure we missed a few cars and events, but we wanted to roam the lots and snap a lot of pictures to share with our brothers and sisters who couldn’t attend. It sucks that the little point and shoot Nikon we used to get these pictures added the date to all of them, but our resident photog is currently on vacation in Colorado so we had to improvise.

Note: Gallery displays 20 images in each batch. There are something like 150 here. Don’t miss the gallery pages beneath the following thumbnails to see more images.

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MOD was a great time as usual. BIG TIME THANK YOU to everyone at Mitsubishi who gave up their Saturday (and likely many more days) to make such a special day for all of us. There are two more MOD events in the US this year – at the factory in Normal, Illinois (September 18), and at the Mitsubishi Motors North America Eastern Zone HQ in Swedesboro, NJ (October 16). Your fellow Mitsubishi owners want to see your Mitsu there. Plan on attending.

More info on MOD can be found on the MOD home page.
Are you a fan of Mitsubishi yet on Facebook?

What’s your real name?  (What’s your screen name?)
Darin Frow  (Username: Darin)

Where do you live and what do you do for a living?
I live in Bath, England and my job is running the Mitsubishi Lancer Register

What Mitsubishi(s) do you drive?  How long have you had it/them?

2003 Mitsubishi Shogun 3.2 TD LWB
This is my ‘everyday car’ but is unique as it’s one of the actual Support Vehicles for the Long Way Round; the round the world trip that Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman filmed in 2004. I’ve owned it since 2007 after Mitsubishi offered it to me.  In addition to the upgrades from TBR UK (OME springs, full length roofrack, bullbar, snorkel and tints) it came complete with dirt from Kurdistan (inside and out), the Shaman scarf that were tied on the rack for good luck and all the teams personal phone numbers on a grab card in the glove box!  I’ve managed to get rid of the dirt, but still have the scarf (and the numbers!)  Since then have done over 100k miles in it I have to say it’s probably the best vehicle I’ve ever bought.

1999 Evo 6 GSR
#23 of the ‘first official’ UK cars brought in to the country by Ralliart UK (now Xtreme Autos) and was originally ordered by my friend and Rallyday co-organiser Brian.  I bought the car with Mechell (who also works for the MLR) in 2008 as I’ve known it from new and it’s still standard with the exception of an HKS air filter and Ralliart exhaust.

Ex-works 1981 Lancer 2000 Turbo WRC
Believed to be 1 of only 3 genuine works rally cars in the world today – out of a total number of 8 built – the other 2 being owned by Mitsubishi Motors Japan (on display in the Mitsubishi Auto Gallery) and the other by Andrew Cowan, ex-Mitsubishi Ralliart WRC Team Director.

Originally built by Denzel’s of Austria for Mitsubishi’s WRC programme in the early 80s, the car features one of the last works 4G63T engines producing approx 380bhp but with multi point injection, larger turbo with integral wastegate and intercooler, dogleg 5speed gearbox and 4.6 LSD.   The LHD arched bodyshell was acid dipped, part seam-welded and caged, with revised suspension and engine mounting, and internally features 3 position switchable boost,  Recaro seats, Willans harnesses, Halda navigators computer, and rear bulkhead mounted ECU.  The boot is dominated by the 20gallon fuel tank, along with the fuel pumps and filters, spare wheel, jack and wheel brace.

What are your build philosophy & goals for your Mitsubishi(s)?  How do you use it/them?
I don’t really have a build philosophy but my goals are very simple; buy standard, original and if possible unique cars and keep them that way as much as possible!

The Shogun is a workhorse – and a very good one, pulling the MLR show trailers and being loaded to the roof with other event gear on a very regular basis.  The Evo is used by Mechell as her daily driver, and the Lancer Turbo rally car is hardly ever used – in fact I doubt I’ve done 50 miles in it since buying it back in 1995!!! (probably not something I should admit to!)

You run a Mitsubishi community.  What’s it called?  Why/How did it start?
It’s the Mitsubishi Lancer Register, and it was started by me in 1996 to cater for owners of the Lancer 2000 Turbo, although in those days is was called the Lancer Turbo Register.  The “LTR” expanded to include EVOs as the Jap import scene kicked off here in the UK and become the “MLR” in 2000 shortly after the Evo 6 become an official UK model.

Who are your members?  How many are there?  Where do they come from?
MLR members include anyone who has an interest in Lancer Evos and 2000 Turbos – whether they are owners, ex-owners who enjoy being a part of the club or enthusiasts who currently own other cars.

We currently have around 3000 fully paid up members predominantly from the UK, but approx 10% from overseas, including the Europe, USA, Australia, Scandinavia and Japan.

Every member is important, but describe the ideal community member.
To me the ideal community member is someone who enjoys being a part of the community, gets involved in a variety of different ways and is keen to help others wherever he or she can. As the MLR is more than an online community though, we also hope members step away from the keyboard and attend one of the many national or regional events that we organise or attend throughout the year, or contribute to the magazine, or maybe get more involved in the club by becoming a regional organiser or another role which in turn enables the MLR to do and offer more to our members

How do you keep community members engaged and active?
We genuinely try to offer all MLR members as much as possible as we understand that not all members want the same things, or have the same opportunities (eg: not all members have internet access and therefore cannot see the site or forum), so what we offer members has now grown to include all the following…
•    Membership pack including A5 Handbook, ID card and lanyard, decal pack and stainless steel badge (the pack varies every year)
•    Full colour 120 page magazine which all members receive on a quarterly basis
•    Access to a huge event calendar which includes UK and European trackdays, national MLR Sprint Series, car shows and bespoke MLR events such as 30-130 and MLR500
•    Regional events
•    Unlimited access to the website and Forum
•    Discounted prices for virtually all the items in the MLR Shop
•    Huge range of discounts with official MLR traders
•    MLR insurance scheme and more
Full details of membership benefits can be seen here.

What’s the best part about running a Mitsubishi community?  The most challenging?
Personally I enjoy seeing the members benefit and enjoy what the MLR is able to offer, and know that what we do makes a difference not only to their enjoyment of Evo ownership but is also very likely to have saved them a considerable amount of money. Of course, seeing what other members do and what’s available through the MLR and MLR traders may also cost them more money too, but if it puts a smile on your face there’s nothing wrong with that!

The most challenging part about running the MLR is trying to find time to develop certain areas and continue to improve it whilst having to manage the day-to-day aspects.  I wish my success rate in doing both was higher!

Tell us about some of the events your community organizes each year.
As I mentioned earlier, the MLR organises a fairly comprehensive events calendar throughout the year, and this has continued to grow year on year since the club started.  To give you an idea of what we offer members, the national 2010 calendar is listed below, and all events with the exception of the Shows and Driver Training are organised by the MLR.  This doesn’t include all the regional dates which add a considerable number of events to the calendar.

MLR TRACKDAYS:
22 February         Brands Hatch – Indy
26 March              Anglesey – International GP
23 April                 Oulton Park – International
7 May                    Silverstone – New Southern
31 May                  Spa Francorchamps
31 July                  Cadwell Park – Full circuit
21 August            Castle Combe
9 October             Snetterton
22 October           Spa Francorchamps
19 November       Oulton Park – International

MLR SPRINT SERIES:
20 March         MLRSS Round 1              Silverstone – New Stowe
24 April            MLRSS Round 2              Oulton Park – Full Rally Circuit
21 May             MLRSS Round 3              Rockingham – National Circuit
11 June           MLRSS Round 4              Castle Combe
25 July             MLRSS Round 5              Ingliston, Edinburgh
6 August          MLRSS Round 6              Teesside Autodrome
23 October      MLRSS Round 7              Silverstone

30-130 & MLR500
13 March                  MLR                   RAF Marham
25 September         MLR500            Blyton

MLR DRIVER TRAINING:
19 March           Millbrook
17 July               Millbrook
16 October        Millbrook

SHOWS & OTHER EVENTS:
24 April                        Modified Live            Oulton Park
15 May                         Japfest                       Castle Combe
16 May                         Modified Live             Knockhill
5/6 June                      Rally Show                Chatsworth
27 June                       Modified Live             Brands Hatch
4 July                           Japshow                    Santa Pod
1 August                     Modified Live             Cadwell Park
7/8 August                  TOTB8                        Elvington
15 August                   Japfest 2                    Rockingham
5 September              TRAX                          Silverstone
10-12 September     JAE                              Wicksteed Park
18 September           Rallyday                      Castle Combe
4 October                    Japshow                    Santa Pod
10 October                  Modified Live            Snetterton

If you’d prefer to list a summary, the total is 36 national events split down as follows;
•    14 Shows
•    10 Trackdays*
•    7 Sprints*
•    3 Driver Training events
•    2 bespoke events
* which also include driver tuition

Tell us about something really exciting your members have done or regularly do.
Really exciting?!?  Well a number of people would say the MLR trackdays and sprints were all exciting for those who take part (driver and passenger), but as the times for the Sprints are shown instantly on a large plasma screen in the paddock, the competition is so close watching the screen can be enough for some people!

30-130 (which is also a top speed event) is quite unique and guaranteed to get adrenalin rushing as drivers test their cars from a rolling start with the sole aim of getting from 30-130 in the shortest time possible. They can then continue to complete a top speed run if they wish – the quickest Evos we’ve seen so far is 30-130 in 5.94seconds and a top speed on 201mph.

The MLR500 is another unique MLR event where 20 teams compete in a Mitsubishi worth no more than £500 on a dirt oval for a 4 hour endurance.  The event includes compulsory refueling, driver changes and a sin bin (for the over excited drivers!) and the winners are the team who completed the most laps. When everyone has calmed down we have party into the small hours with a BBQ, band and a bar – in a word it’s a riot!

We’re also now in the Guinness Book of World Records having successfully organised the largest parade of Mitsubishi Lancer Evos in July 2008, when we had a total of 273 cars on track together. It took some considerable time by a few members to make it happen, but it was a great spectacle and well worth the effort – and we raised nearly £8000 for charity too.

How do you want your community to benefit Mitsubishi owners?
In all the ways it already does, ie: bring people together with a similar interest in a particular subject, help them get more from their interest and help them when they have problems.   I think the measure of a good forum / community is too see its continued growth and the regular influx of new members, all wanting to be a part of something informative, interesting, social and good fun.

What steps are you taking to make sure that happens?
We have to continue to offer our members what they want and what they’re used to receiving, but it also important to improve what we do and look at introducing new elements to the club too – whether that’s with the magazine, events, website etc.  It’s very important to retain members, but equally to attract new members also think it’s important to get as many members as possible really involved in the club and it would be great to see more members attend events.  Away of the visible part of the MLR, we also need to ensure our IT infrastructure is resilient and up-to-date, so the elements that most take for granted remain operational, and we’re extremely fortunate to have an ISP and IT consultant who between them ensures the MLR runs 24×7.

Your thoughts on those who part out otherwise salvageable cars?
As much as I like cars (including Evos!) in general, I’ve always been more interested in the older versions – partly because they’re invariably rarer and in my opinion have more character, so it’s sad to see these cars get broken for spares if the only reason is they’re worth more money in parts. Sometimes of course it’s the only realistic option, but if it helps other people keep their cars roadworthy then it’s worthwhile. We see it happen very often now with newer models too though, purely because there make more money in their component form, which although is fine for the short term gain, it will accelerate their rarity too so I hope there are some owners out there who have the foresight to retain their cars originality – because they’ll be sitting on a very sought after car in years to come.

How do you feel building a Mitsubishi compares to building a Mitsubishi community?
Although I’ve never built a Mitsubishi, I have built other cars and there are similarities in understanding what you want both to achieve and having a game plan on how to get there. So although the details and components are quite different, the ethos is very similar.  There’s also a similarity in that neither are ever finished!

Who do you look up to in the greater automotive community?
A long (long!) time ago I was a member of the Porsche Club and I was always in awe of what they offered their members; from the quality of their magazine, the numerous events, the support network with regional areas and organisers, merchandise, and their whole infrastructure.  I’m extremely pleased and proud to see the MLR in the position it currently has, but I still think we have some way to go before we’re on a similar plain – it’s good to have goals though!

Who has helped you the most along the way with the car(s)?  With the community?
The MLR simply wouldn’t be where it is today without the help of a large number of people who volunteer their time and services – they are all the “MLR Staff” who want to get more involved with the club they enjoy, and because of their involvement, they create a better environment for others.

Is there a particular shop you’d like to recommend?  Want to thank any sponsors?
Due to the overwhelming popularity and growth of the MLR over the past 10 years we’ve been fortunate to attract a number of companies who have chosen the MLR to promote their businesses through. All these companies have helped the MLR grow and enabled us to invest, so I would like to thank all of them equally for their continued support.

Other than your own, do you spend time on any Mitsubishi sites?  Which ones?
Regrettably no – I really wish I did, but I don’t have the time!

Are you on Twitter?  Facebook?  How can people find you online?
Me personally?  Errr, no!  Apart from that ‘lack of time’ factor again, my details are all over the internet via the MLR, so if anyone wants to contact me they’re already able to via PM and email – and there’s always the mobile too which is welded to me 7×24!

What’s next for your Mitsubishi(s)? Your community? (might not be exciting)
There are a few plans I’d like to see come to fruition for the MLR over the next 12 months – some of these are web based, some involve the magazine and there are also a couple of events which I would like to introduce. Whether they become a reality we’ll have to wait and see!

Thank you to Darin – and all the members of the Lancer Register – for helping make this story possible. For that one MLR member who left the visitor message on Darin’s profile requesting pictures of his Mitusbishis, we hope this will suffice.

Now what about you? What was your favorite part of this story? Are you excited? We are!

What’s your real name? (What’s your screen name?)
Karl Richardson -  kins

Where do you live?
I live in Chester, UK.

What do you do for a living?
For a living I work as a Mechanical Design Engineer.

What Mitsubishi(s) do you drive?  How long have you had it/them?
I drive a 1998, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution V RS (Scotia white). I used to own a US spec 2003 Lancer Evolution VIII.

What’s your build philosophy/goals for your Mitsubishi?  How do you use it?
Up until recently my Evo has been my daily driver. I say up until recently because I blew the engine back in April and I’m currently having a forged motor built, so the Evo is at my tuners – MG Autos “The Evolution Specialists”. I also use the Evo for track days and compete in the MLRSS (Mitsubishi Lancer Register Sprint Series)

What originally attracted you to the Mitsubishi?  What keeps you going today?
I’ve always been a massive fan of rally cars. In 1999 I was the grand old age of 18. My girlfriend at the time had a neighbour who bought a brand spanking new Evo VI GSR…. and that was it, I knew from then on, that when I could afford to do so, I had to get one! I’m on my second Evo now and can’t see myself selling up anytime soon. I mean what other 4dr saloon car comes close for value, performance, handling, driving thrill, tunability, reliability and has such an awesome community following?

Got a favorite story about your Mitsubishi?
I’m trying to think of an interesting story but all I can think of right now is what happened recently when I blew up my engine! The car had recently done 45,000 miles. The engine was pretty much stock and has never been remapped. I was on a driver training day with CAT driver training at Millbrook proving ground. My instructor Colin and I were on Millbrook’s mile long straight. Colin was teaching me threshold breaking from high speed. I was on my final high speed run and was accelerating hard towards a target speed of 120mph before I had to brake. I must have been doing about 80mph, the engine was revving somewhere between 5000 and 5500rpm… the next thing I know…. BANG! Huge plumes of white smoke sparkling with tiny bits piston alloy pouring out of the bonnet vent. Not good :(  Well that was that, the blown engine forced an abrupt end to my days training. The car was put on a flatbed whisked off to the sick bay at MG Autos. Upon closer examination it was found that I had thrown 2 rods – Ooops!

What are your goals for your Mitsubishi and how close are you to achieving them?
My goals right now is to get the car back on the road and to get the car back on track for track days and MLR sprint series action. My sponsors and I are currently putting together a forged engine so hopefully the car will be back bigger and better than before.

My futures goals are:
To win my class in the MLRSS.
To compete in the UK Time Attack series.
Both these goals are ambitious but “Aim for the moon. If you miss, you may hit a star”- W Clement Stone

What was your favorite modification and why?
My favourite mod to date is probably when MG Autos fitted my Evo with a SuperPro poly bush kit and aligned it to MG Autos fast-road & track spec. It’s amazing how a good bush kit and alignment can transform how the can drives.

Your mod list:

Engine:
APS Dual Port BOV
Apexi Panel filter
AEM aluminium Oil Cap
Carbing aluminium slam panel cover
Silicon hoses
Magnecor silicon ignition leads
Kakimoto 3” Stainless Steel Cat back exhaust, 3”down pipe and decat

Handling:
BC Racing RM coilovers (inverted type)
SuperPro Poly Bushes (full kit)
Cusco 5 point underbrace
Cusco rear strut brace
MG Autos Fast-road/track alignment
Road wheels – OEM Evo X (pictured but now sold). Raceline RL7 (now fitted, not pictured)
Road tyres – Falken FK452s
Sprint wheels – Volk CE28N
Sprint tyres – Toyo Proxes R888 (soft compound)

Braking:
Ksport front brake kit (330mm- 8 piston)
Hel brake lines
Ferrodo DS2500 pads

Transmission:
Hel clutch line

Exterior:
Evo VI clear indicators
Tinted windows
Front splitter centre section coloured black

Interior:
Evo VI GSR interior
Alpine Head unit, amp and speakers

Tell us about something really exciting you’ve done with other Mitsubishi owners.
Probably the most exiting thing I’ve done with fellow Mitsubishi owners was MLR 500 last year in 2009. What’s MLR 500 I hear you ask? The most fun you’ll ever have Mitsubishi worth less than £500 is the answer! Basically it’s an endurance, autograss/banger race. You have to Google/YouTube it appreciate how much fun it is. Look out for the Tommi Mäkinen Edition Colt (that’s our team)….Oh yeah and you get to race against rival teams from the Subaru forums… oh yes!

What’s the best part about being a Mitsubishi owner?  The most challenging?
The best part is knowing that you own a piece of rally history. I enjoy using my Evo for motorsports, after all it was a car born to compete. The most challenging thing is resisting the urge to spend money on mods.

What excites you about the coming year?  (Your Mitsu and your community)
I’m excited about finishing off my forged build and seeing what I can do in the MLRSS.

The sprint series is a fantastic series within the UK Mitsubishi scene. It’s very competitive but at the same time really friendly and the banter is great. What other series lets you talk smack off the track and prove your skill in your car on the track?

How often do you get together with other Mitsubishi owners in person?
I consider myself to be active on the Mitsi scene. I attend many North West England regional meets and enjoy the national shows.

Your thoughts on those who part out otherwise salvageable cars?
This one is an interesting question. More often than not I think it makes sense to break a car. It allows a seller to recuperate as much money back as possible. Yes it’s sad that you’re taking a car off the road but you have to remember that the parts that come off a car that is broken help repair and keep many other cars on the road.

How do you feel building a Mitsubishi compares to building a Mitsubishi community?
I’d imagine both are satisfying for different reasons but the two difficult to compare.

How has your Mitsubishi build benefited from your involvement in the community?
I started off in the Mitsubishi community on EvoM, but I now have more involvement with the Mitsubishi Lancer Register. The MLR is a great community; I’ve learnt so much which has been inputted into current build and the direction of my future build. Hopefully I’ve passed some knowledge onto others and they’ve benefited from some of my advice too.

What’s next for your Mitsubishi?
Well as mentioned, first up is the new forged engine, a turbo upgrade and supporting mods. After I’ve finished playing there I plan on putting the car on a diet in order to shed some weight and improve the car’s power to weight ratio. Aside from the mods, I just want to get out there and use the car on track.

Who has helped you the most along the way with the car?  Any mentors?
Aside from the members of EvoM and MLR, I would have to say the two people that have helped me the most are my two sponsors.

Firstly – Mathew Goode – AKA Madmat (and the rest of the team from MG Autos). They truly are “The Evolution Specialist” catering for everything from servicing to full engine builds. Aside from the incredible service, Mat and the MG Autos team share the same passion for evo motorsport. Like me they all like to get involved in a bit of MLRSS action.

The next person has to be Ross Walker AKA Ross W from Ross Sport. Ross is always there to help, his Evo knowledge is second to none, and he has this fantastic ability of sourcing  the worlds finest parts to modify your Evo…  all of which I seem to want. He’s also pretty damn good at building cars that go fast, particularly in the MLR’s 30-130 event!

Is there a particular shop you’d like to recommend?
MG Autos – www.mgautos.uk.com
Ross Sport – www.rosssport.com

Do you spend time on any Mitsubishi sites?  Which ones?
I sure do. I practically live on the MLR but also like to use EvoM too.
Mitsubishi Lancer Register – www.lancerregister.com
EvolutionM – www.evolutionm.net

Are you on Twitter?  Facebook?  How can people find you online?
Yep – You can find me on Facebook. I’m not a fan of twitter.

Thank you, Karl, for sharing such an inspired story with us all. Hopefully we can find someone with an Evo VI to interview before the month’s out. (hint) Also, thank yous to Steve and Daz, aka: Monkeynuts and Raptor for the fine photos of Karl’s Evo used in this story.

What’s your real name? (Screen name?)
Hayley  (Hails).

Where do you live?
(Slightly cold) Norfolk, UK

What do you do for a living?
Office Administration

What Mitsubishi(s) do you drive?
Evolution III GSR

How long have you had your Mitsubishi(s)?
3 years

What got you into Mitsubishi?
When I was growing up, my best mate always wanted a skyline, I always wanted an Evo. Earlys are my favourite without a doubt!

Got a favourite story to tell about your Mitsubishi?
Well I have had too many experiences in my 3 years of ownership. It’s been brilliant, even when things go wrong, you only have to get it in and the smile comes right back on your face! I guess one of the ones that makes me laugh alot is when a guy realises that its actually a female driving the Evo how it should be, I guess us women aren’t meant to!!

What are your goals for the car and how close are you to achieving them?
My goal when I got the car was to forge the engine and go for around 350-400 bhp. I’m probably hitting around 320 now, will my fully forged bottom end so now I just need to get a new boost controller and get it back on the dyno I also wanted to get a good time at Santa Pod (faster than 13.1 seconds) my best to date is 13.2 (which I don’t think was too terrible!) so I’m nearly there.

What was your favourite modification?
The vast amounts of Hello Kitty stuff in/on the Evo and my Pink Ralliart Stickers! Why? Because I’m a girl.

And the serious is answer is my Carbotech XP8 brake pads.  The best brakes I’ve ever needed to stop with!

What’s next for your Mitsubishi?
Well unfortunately due to moving out to the countryside, my Evo’s up for sale. I’d like to get one more Santa Pod Run What Ya Brung Day in and a final trip to the dyno.  Why? Santa Pod – I want the best time I can get before I say goodbye! and the Dyno Day to see what power gains I have got from where I started back in 2007.

Who has helped you the most along the way?
This one has got to go to my poor Dad!! He’s a mechanic by trade, and I may have taken some advantage of this along the way!

Who do you look up to in the Mitsubishi community?
Errrr…. Ex-Gtir has always been fantastically helpful and even looked at my car when I couldn’t figure it out! Evo3Ben because he was always at the end of the phone (even at 10pm before the Early Evo meet at Santa pod when I blew an intercooler pipe off!) and SolDave – Great friend and helped me a lot in sourcing items for my car.

Is there a particular shop you’d like to recommend?
Camskill.  Very helpful and always know what your talking about, even if you don’t!

How often do you get together with other Mitsubishi owners in person?
As often as possible, I’ve made some very good friends in this community.  (Not to mention me and the Other half met due to our cars!)

What challenges do you see the global Mitsubishi community facing in coming years?
I don’t forsee any other challenges than the ones we have to overcome already.

Do you spend time on any Mitsubishi sites? Which ones?
Yes too much!  I’m a moderator for Evo123.net and also on MLR.

Spec list –
Engine:
*Forged Engine -  Parts used were – JE 85.5mm Pistons, Eagle H Beam Rods, New Oil Pump, New Water Pump, ARP Head Studs, ACL Main and Big end Bearings, HKS Cambelt & Balance Shaft Belts, HKS Cam Pulleys.
*560cc injectors
*Bailey Twin Piston Dump Valve
*NGK Blue HT Leads
*Ralliart 1 bar Actuator
*Unknown Exhaust (But we think HKS) with Decat
*Ostrich Emulator ECU
*Hard Pipes on intercooler

*Ostrich Emulator – mapped by Andy_F

Brakes:
*Dot 5.1 Fluid
*Carbotech XP8′s all round
*Calipers painted blue
*HEL Braided brake lines
*Cusco Brake Stopper

Suspension:
*Cusco Top Mounts
*GAB Sport Struts
*Larger ARB (Don’t know the make!)
*Cusco H Brace

Transmission:
*Helix Organic Clutch
*Plated Front Diff

Exterior:
*Black bonnet vents
*Carbon Air Vents
*Clear indicators and side repeaters

Mitsubishi Gearbox Magazine would like to thank Haley for taking the time to share a little bit about her Evo III with us.  Evolution: Lancer Evo rolls on in 2010!  Coming in April, we’ll be interviewing an Evo IV owner.  At press, we still have no idea who that will be!  Are you an Evo IV owner with a story to tell?  Know one?  PLEASE, let us know!