In the News: Events and Subaru Buzz Close Out Summer

We saw yet another mass gathering of the Subaru faithful unleashed onto the North Central territory of the U.S. with both the spirit of creativity and hunger for performance displayed proudly on thousands of faces. Subiefest Midwest 2025, which always proves to be an impressive collection of dedicated car obsessives mixing their energy with family fun, product discovery and motorsports drama, launched this year at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, IL on September 27th, which once again brought mighty roars, amazing colors, and familiar personality to this motorsports friendly region. The event, held at a former Nascar track, was a bit of an adjustment from last year's happening, which took place next door at the Route 66 raceway. Beyond the location change and layout adjustments, there were a full array of vendors and contributors on site offering merchandise, parts, activities, and education for the always excited community of dedicated fans. In addition to product offerings, inspiration, drama, and thrills came at full force through a stacked program of activities.

The timeline included familiar appearances from iconic drivers like Bucky Lasek along with the popular and always thrilling Autocross event featuring the Flat Four Showdown competition which allowed participants to drive their modified Subarus in several vehicle classes and battle for awards and cash prizes. This event returned with the anticipated Subimods.com All-Subaru Car Show which brought an impressive display of high-end Subaru build projects and their proud owners also competing for rewards and accolades. Subiefest also delivered a Loudest Exhaust Competition, a wide selection of booth car displays including both classic, hybrid, and newly released designs, and a schedule of Tech Seminars which hosted one popular session from Subaru Motorsports USA driver Rhianon Gelsomino called "Rally 101". As they prove year after year with an exciting schedule, Subie Events brought a successful gathering to the Subaru community and promised to wrap up the year with much more fun and excitement for everyone who plans to close 2025 with their attendance.

Hearty enthusiasts who chose to travel towards the west during September's last weekend were most likely amped up for another event that has claimed fame for being much more than anyone could ever expect from the world of motorsports, community, and high energy living. This year's GRIDLIFE Laguna Festival came to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca which is affectionately known within West Coast car culture as "California's home for motorsports" and the place to be when you want to experience everything from performance fun to the feeling of connection and community in a short span of a weekend. GRIDLIFE Laguna Festival returned for the third time and repeated another memorable run from Friday, September 26th to Sunday, the 28th bringing an impressive selection of activities and vendors for all in attendance. Competitors, participants, and contributors alike were exposed to a timeline which included full-course drifting, a competitive time attack series, show car exhibits, a collection of premiere vendors, after-hours music performances, an onsite arcade and, of course, a full village of camping and community.

This year's event attracted some of Formula Drift's hottest talent including Dylan Hughes, Matt Field, and Chris Forsberg just to name a few along with some favorite collectives of the sport, namely Animal Style taking on the legendary Corkscrew run to make the event even more thrilling. Also, this event included the Eibach GRIDLIFE Touring Cup with over 50 drivers in the lineup and their amazing TrackBattle Time Attack where a number of the sport's best advanced and expert grassroot drivers brought their passions to break records and set new goals like the could only do during this historic showing of skill and speed. The weekend also brought drivers who would both debut and compete at their first west coast run for GRIDLIFE GT along with those who would close out the always exciting and unique Rush Series championship competition. Beyond all the competition, speed, and mechanics which fuel the event, as always, GRIDLIFE delivered an amazing exhibition of pure car culture through their FCP Euro Motoring Meet which widens the eyes of even the most seasoned enthusiast. There was a staggering collection of high level builds and modifications in an invite-only gathering of both rarity and diversity, leaving those who made this trip with memories they will carry through their lives. 

Rally fans and Subaru owners throughout the community must have been thrilled to hear that their favorite brand is yet again tasting victory and maintaining its historic position as a championed icon in motorsports. According to a September 25th press release, Subaru Motorsports USA proudly reported that its team secured a well-earned class title during the 2025 American Rally Association (ARA) championship held at the state of Tennessee's Overmountain Rally. The points from this event solidified Subaru Motorsports USA as this year's ARA Limited 4-Wheel Drive (L4WD) class champion with only one event remaining this season. This victory is the 20th class championship in 25 years which confirms Subaru's undoubtable reputation for stunning competitive accomplishments in the history of rally and motorsports in general. Travis Pastrana and co-driver Rhianon Gelsomino illuminated greatness onto the Subaru team through a great example of endurance and performance by piloting the new WRX ARA25L platform over some challenging and robust obstacles. Their impressive consistency and efficient performance marked their victorious showing as they travelled over 100 miles of rough gravel during a grueling three days of competition on this Overmountain rally run. Although many other competitors saw mechanical difficulties and intimidating challenges dash their hopes, the WRX, Travis, and Rhianon motored through and gained the rewards they had worked so hard to grasp.

According to the press release, Pastrana was quoted to say, “It’s been awesome, a really great battle, just a heck of a day in Tennessee,” he said. “We’re super excited to come in first in class and lock the championship.” Although this course did not come with any breaks from Mother Nature, the challenges caused by intermittent precipitation during the weekend made the event more exciting and purposeful for both drivers. Again, the release reported Travis to explain, "We had little pockets of rain, the stages going from dust to mud to dust again, then to slick pavement and dry pavement. It was all super fun and super competitive.” Not to go without sharing about the experience, Gelsomino added, “We’ve been having a great time all weekend,” she said. “Lots of technical stage miles, tight, twisty, jumps, bumps, these roads have it all. It’s been a real challenge of a rally, and that’s what we love.” The Overmountain event, like many others on the rally circuit, is a favorite for the most dedicated fans of the Subaru Motorsports Team and of the WRX platform. As the season moves into October and forward, team Subaru can mark 2025 as a successful and victorious year for their group of championship drivers including the team of Pastrana and Gelsomino, along with Brandon Semenuk and co-driver Keaton Williams. All have pushed Subaru back to enviable heights and inspirational memories for the community. 

Something that has become quite familiar to anyone who attends a Subaru based event or a gathering within the car culture is the inclusion of the family pet, namely the people-friendly dogs that seem to be just another component to this vast, diverse, and unique lifestyle. More than any other car brand, it seems that Subaru has its hands wholeheartedly on multiple causes that align with the personalities behind those owners within our community. As lovers of animals and Subarus seem to meld together very naturally, recent news tells us that our favorite brand has been launching some initiatives to help and support our familiar friends' lives better and safely. According to their October 1st press release, Subaru retailers with a combined partnership with the ASPCA® have begun some important work to celebrate and support "National Make a Dog’s Day" by hosting adoption events, providing needed grant money, and spearheading other initiatives to propel the success of this movement for the seventh straight year. Both national and local animal welfare organizations will benefit from over $70 million in contributions and donations to directly support animal rescue, and assist with the welfare, health provision, adoption and transportation needs of over 700,000 pets who are in desperate need of help. Per their press announcement, the car marker proclaimed that,"more than 630 participating retailers will provide over $3.1 million in direct financial assistance to local animal shelters nationwide through grants administered by The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals."

As stated in their release, Subaru is "the largest corporate donor to the ASPCA" with a primary goal of improving the lifespan of and health of "as many shelter pets as possible." They are working with their partners to help absorb substantial costs which are the result of veterinary care, adoption preparation, and other services which are imperative for the health and well-being of sheltered animals. Subaru's report goes on to state that, "According to the ASPCA, approximately 5.8 million animals entered shelters in the U.S. in 2024." Subaru further confirmed that through the month of October, their retail locations will "host in-person adoption, microchipping, or other types of pet-focused events to help ensure that animals in need can find loving homes in their communities." The carmaker will promote the celebration of National Make a Dog’s Day on October 22nd dog lovers everywhere will be encouraged to do "something extra special for their canine companions" and take to social media using the #MakeADogsDay hashtag to promote their experience. Lastly, Subaru shared a statement from ASPCA's President and CEO, Matt Bershadker, which said, "The Subaru Loves Pets initiative is more than a generous commitment, it’s a hands-on effort that connects people directly to animals in need, builds stronger bonds between local shelters and their communities, and ultimately changes countless lives for the better.” Again, millions of dollars in contributions to national and local animal welfare organizations have come from Subaru since 2008 to directly support hundreds of thousands of pets.

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