On the heels of Ken Block’s insane Gymkhana videos and the groundbreaking snowboarding/rally part to close out DC’s MTN.LAB 1.5 video, the DC Co-Founder and Rally Team Driver has joined with Subaru to make the world’s fastest cat track operation automobile for backcountry access for snowboarding.
The TRAX STI is an experimental automobile that starts with Block’s competition-ready Subaru WRX STI before ditching the tires, adding snow cat tracks, and upgrading to some next-level suspension to create the ultimate backcountry shred car. Prepared by Vermont SportsCar, performance modifications include 400-hp and features Group N competition rally dampers made by EXE-TC and a KAPS 5-speed close-ratio dog-engagement gearbox. Under the hood sits a 2.5 liter, 4-cylinder, turbocharged and intercooled STI engine tuned with a MOTEC M800 ECU.
Completing the TRAX STI is a sleigh to be pulled behind the car, designed to hold four snowboarders, their snowboards, and all their gear. The sleigh’s body is 100 percent custom designed and constructed of hand-laid fiberglass—though the sleigh is not seen in this teaser video, look for it in future videos next year. Altogether, this is one car ready for backcountry access and snowboarding.

New Ferrari F430

While all eyes and focus were on another historical feat as British F1 driver Lewis Hamilton won the 2008 F1 Drivers Championship, becoming the first black and youngest ever winner of the sport, Ferrari quietly celebrated their 16th Constructors title with the announcing of their Ferrari F430 16M. By Ferrari’s accounts this will be the fastest open-top car ever from the Italian sports car giant, gaining a number of weight advantages over the regular F430. Other distinguishing factors include a special plaque mounted on the dash. Two colors are available and should go quick despite a price tag that should be in excess of $277,000 USD, the base price of the regular F430 Spider.