Subimods Hits the Track: Gridlife at Gingerman Recap

We kicked things off with the Subimods Corral, a designated meet-up spot for all Subaru drivers and fans. Whether you were rocking a track-prepped STI, a bagged WRX on show car duty, or just proud of your daily driven wagon, the Corral was the place to park it, post up, and connect.

With dozens of Subies lined up, it turned into a rolling showcase of everything we love about the platform—aggressive aero, rumbling exhausts, detailed engine bays, and passionate owners from all over the Midwest.

One standout in the lineup? Robby German’s insanely clean white bugeye WRX. Tastefully modded with a perfect stance and subtle details, it had just about everyone stopping for a second (or third) look. Proof that timeless style never goes out of fashion.

The Subaru presence on track at Gingerman was nothing short of impressive. Here's a look at how our community showed up across Street Mod, Street, and Club TR classes:

• The Boogeyman WRX stole the spotlight with a blistering 1:30.6, setting a new Street Mod record and grabbing 2nd place overall after the Podium Sprint. Dewey’s build was absolutely flying—unreal speed and precision.
  
  
• Devin Hofmann (that’s me!) piloted the Subimods / Turn In Concepts 2015 STI, featuring a 2.34L destroked engine. Despite battling a handful of issues throughout the weekend, I pushed through and laid down a personal best of 1:38.6, landing inside the Top 10 of Street Mod. Still a lot of driver mods left to unlock—but major progress.
  
  
• Graham Gaylord returned to the track in his 2011 STI after a 7-year hiatus. With fresh mods and plenty of rust to shake off, he still crushed his old PB with a 1:35.5, good for 8th in Street Mod.
  
  
• Josh Halka was dialed in and flying in his 2011 WRX (Turn In Concepts-built), securing 2nd place in Street class with a strong 1:36.3.
  
  
• Mike Callaway ran a 1.39.017 in his bugeye WRX, securing 8th place in Street class.
  
  
• Tom Halka, Josh’s dad, also found success in the Street class. Behind the wheel of his EJ207-swapped GC, Tom beat his previous best and ran a 1:43.4.
  
  
• Right behind him was Subimods driver Chuck Mayer in the new VB WRX, who laid down a 1:43.6—just two-tenths off Tom’s pace.
  
  
• Jeremy Hensley put his 2013 Turn In Concepts STI into the mix with a 1:41.4, locking in 12th place and proving there's still more time to find in that car.
  
  
• Mike Coons, also in Street class, had a strong weekend in his GR STI hatch, clocking a 1:37.8, earning him a 4th place finish and putting pressure on the podium.
  
  
• In Club TR, Jerami Bailey drove his FA24-swapped FRS to an impressive 1:38.8, landing him 4th place in a tightly contested field.
  
  
• Ian Flavin followed closely behind in his BRZ with a 1:39.6, bringing home 6th place and showing how capable the platform can be in the right hands.

The combination of podium finishes, personal bests, and tight battles made it a standout weekend for Subaru drivers. From battle-tested veterans to first-time Gridlife racers, the Subie crew delivered—loud, proud, and fast.

Not to be left out of the action, Subimods owner Nick jumped behind the wheel of his BRZ to join the drift sessions—and brought some serious smoke to the track. Unfortunately, things got a little too spicy during one of the runs, resulting in a minor wreck that actually triggered OnStar to call and check if he was okay.

The entire crew got a laugh out of it, and once medical cleared him (thumbs up all around), Nick wasted no time getting back out there. With a bruised drivers door, boosted spirits—he was back on track, throwing down solid drifts and repping the brand with heart.

Moments like this are what Gridlife is all about: pushing limits, having fun, and bouncing back stronger.

As the sun went down, the energy only ramped up. Gridlife once again proved that it’s more than just a motorsports event—it’s a full-blown music festival.

This year’s lineup was stacked, with Sullivan King delivering a genre-bending performance that melted faces and shook the paddock. Levity kept the vibes going with high-energy sets that had the crowd jumping from start to finish.

But the party didn’t stop at the stage.

The festival grounds were alive with arcade games, LED-lit pit bikes, rampant golf carts and the iconic “Glizzies and Slizzies” stand run by Tommy—serving up free hot dogs and slushies to anyone who rolled by. It became a community favorite throughout the weekend, offering a much-needed mix of laughs, fuel, and frozen refreshment between sessions.

And if you’ve been to Gridlife before, you know what really seals the deal: the karaoke by the dyno. Like always, it turned into a rowdy, hilarious, borderline legendary moment that kept the crowd hyped well into the night.

Massive lighting rigs, lasers slicing through the night sky, and pyrotechnic explosions lit up the infield like a concert stage at a major festival. Whether you were front row in the pit or vibing with friends back at the paddock, the atmosphere was unreal.

For many of us, it was the perfect way to end a day of hard driving: music, lights, Glizzies and Slizzies, and memories that won’t fade anytime soon.

If Gingerman was any indication, this season is going to be one for the books. We’re already looking forward to the next Gridlife stop—and planning even bigger things for the Subimods community.

Until then, keep wrenching, keep driving, and keep representing.