Subaru Drive Magazine

Subaru Freeskiing World Tour Hits the “Mac Daddy”

Revelstoke
    
After two days of delays due to clouds, fog, and falling snow, the finals for the Subaru Freeskiing World Tour (FWT) took to “Mac Daddy” on Mackenzie Peak at Revelstoke Mountain Resort in British Columbia. Northern Canada has consistent early season snowfall, which makes this a great venue for this event.

The event combined 25 pre-qualified skiers plus skiers who had to qualify on location for this event. Going into this event, Frenchman Guerlain Chicherit led the series with American Josh Daiek and Lars Chickering-Ayers following. On the ladies’ side, Americans Crystal Wright and Angel Collinson held the lead.

    

 

 

After two days of runs, Collinson and Wright came out on top, with fellow Americans Jess McMillan and Louise Lintilhac completing the top four. For the men, Canadian Kye Petersen won the event with Americans Oakley White Allen and Drew Tabke finishing in second and third, respectively. Oakley also took home the Sickbird award for posting the run or trick with the biggest wow factor.

 

 

 

About Freeskiing

This FWT is the longest running big mountain ski tour in the world. In its 15 years of existence, Subaru has been a sponsor of the tour since 1998.

This event is based on two runs that are judged on speed, control, and big tricks. Unlike many of the groomed courses, these runs are straight off the natural terrain of the mountain face; there are no built-in jumps.

The FWT heads to Moonlight Basin in Montana January 26-29. Look for live webcasts to be available from the event. For more on FWT, go to http://www.freeskiingworldtour.com.

U.S.-Spec BRZ at the 2012 NAIAS

The most exciting display for a Subaru fan at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit was the debut of the U.S.-spec version of the BRZ . It was highlighted on a rotating stage in the Subaru display. (The Japanese version along with a Super BRZ race car was unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show in early December. This fun-to-drive sports car boasts a boxer engine, low center of gravity and a chassis designed for smooth handling.

This debut comes on the heels of Subaru of America, Inc. having its fourth year of record sales, despite the challenges from the tsunami and earthquake in Japan.

Observations From the Floor

• The industry seems to be taking a turn for the better as witnessed by the return of stunning automotive displays
• Alternative power as well as performance were emphasized around the show
• Our choice for most unique display of the show: lawn mowers with car-like features, including traction control and cupholders -- the first time lawn mowers have been displayed at the show

For more on the 2013 BRZ, go to the Subaru home page.

-- Ric Hawthorne

 

Subaru Shares the Love

Subaru of America, Inc. just wrapped up its national Share the Love campaign. As it did for the last three years, the campaign resulted in a total of $5 million in donations to this year's five charities -- American Forests, The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals(R) (ASPCA), the Make-A-Wish Foundation(R), Meals On Wheels Association of America, and Special Olympics. (The charities vary from year to year.) Read more and link to the five charities here.

You might not realize that there's more to the Subaru Share the Love effort than this campaign. On the local level, dealerships have taken it to their communities. Here are a few examples from the last month or so:

• Matthews Subaru of Vestal, New York, hosted an Adopt-A-Thon to benefit the local Broome County Humane Society, which had been damaged by last year's flooding. Read more about it here.
• Gillman Subaru Southwest of Houston, Texas, helped load up cars with meals to be delivered by Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels. Read more.
• Subaru of Santa Monica, California, also partnered with Meals On Wheels. More here.
• Wyatt-Johnson Subaru of Clarksville, Tennessee, teamed with Make-A-Wish families in the Nashville area. Read more here.
• Kearny Mesa Subaru of San Diego, California, hosted a food truck war with 23 trucks to help benefit Meals On Wheels Greater San Diego. Read more here. Also, read about food trucks in Spring 2011 Drive here.

Keep in touch with your Subaru dealer for opportunities to help reach out into your community.

-- Ric Hawthorne

 

Subaru Vehicles Named IIHS Top Safety Picks

All 2012 model-year Subaru vehicles received the 2012 Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Subaru is the only manufacturer with the distinction of earning awards for every model it builds.

Find more about the awards on the IIHS website.

See Drive magazine's article about the IIHS here.

-- Ric Hawthorne

Food for Camp Out for Hunger

The Subaru family based at Subaru of America, Inc. headquarters in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, pulled together to donate 250,818 pounds of food to Philabundance during Philadelphia-area radio station WMMR-FM's Camp Out for Hunger. Subaru employees, dealers, and customers contributed nearly half of the 576,000 pounds that were collected for the cause.

Philabundance is a Delaware Valley hunger relief organization that distributed 21 million pounds of food in 2010. Read more about Philabundance here.

See the radio station's "Camp Out 2011 The Video" listed under "WMMR Videos" here.

Numerous organizations around the country are working to help relieve hunger. Watch for "Stuff the Subaru" and other food and clothing drives for the needy near you.

-- Ric Hawthorne

Creating Fall Memories

A warm fall afternoon in Wisconsin was perfect for experiencing some of the fun things the season offers. With 10 pre-teen girls from the soccer team I coach, we headed to a local farm orchard.
  

 

 

There were rows and rows of trees filled with apples ranging from Wisconsin Granny Smith to Red Delicious to  Empire McIntosh and more.

 

 

 

The girls climbed apple tree after apple tree. They sampled and compared their red and green goodies of all sizes, each girl finding her own favorite.

      
 

 

 

Full of smiles and energy, the girls swung from the branches and climbed as high as they could. Their giggles and chatter filled the air.

 

   

 

We even attempted the long walk to the pumpkin patch, but, due to time restraints, we had to put that on hold. I assured the team that with our next win we will do either the hayride to the pumpkin patch or a corn maze.

  

 

 

Once we were through picking apples, we headed to the barn. I sat with my daughter, Madalyn, and step-daughter, Lily, and enjoyed a lunch of barbeque pork sandwiches, a hot dog, caramel apple pie, and a caramel apple. The smiley barn-styled shop features baked goodies, Wisconsin cheese, and more -- you can even find homemade apple cider donuts.

Although we never made it to the pumpkin patch, Madalyn found a pumpkin half her size to take home. And of course, Lily followed suit.

 

 

 

-- Melissa Carlson

Greensgrow Farms Fall Festival

On Saturday, October 1, more than 30 volunteers and Subaru employees played host to the fourth annual Greensgrow Farms Fall Festival in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Greensgrow Farms, located in the Fishtown neighborhood of Philadelphia, is dedicated to promoting social entrepreneurship through developing and supporting urban green businesses. As a local to the area and recent CSA (community supported agriculture) member, I consider Greensgrow Farms an amazing, urban sanctuary for those with a “green thumb.”

Normally, my trips to Greensgrow involve my girlfriend and me riding our bikes on a lazy Sunday morning to pick up fresh fruit and eggs to cook for brunch or (if I’m lucky enough) to spend some time shopping and learning about some cool new plants that we “have to have” for the flowerbeds outside our house. Generally, the trips are quiet and relaxing because the overall atmosphere within the farm itself is very peaceful. On any given Sunday one would expect to find a variety of local farmers selling their products, locals and neighbors attending to their small gardens, and/or Greensgrow workers educating the hipsters on the difference between perennials and annuals. However, this particular trip was quite different.

Upon arrival, I biked past the VIP Subaru parking lot, where I wasn’t surprised to find volunteers welcoming all Subaru owners to free parking (Subaru does this at many events)! After I locked up my bike and headed inside the farm, I couldn’t help but notice how much activity was going on both inside and outside.

My first stop inside was at the local Philadelphia Brewing Company tent, where I had the opportunity to try their seasonal “Coffee Porter” for the first time. The beer was fantastic.

But even more fantastic was my next stop, where I got to see the cutest (yes, cutest) little pig. I even tried my luck at naming the little guy in the “Name this Pig” contest. I thought the name “Dudley” sounded appropriate for a pig, so I entered my submission and made my way outside.

Organic Gardening magazine was hosting three workshops, which included herb gardening, composting, and garden photography. Personally, I found the demonstration on how to grow indoor herbs to be the most interesting because recently I’ve discovered how amazing it is to cook with homegrown rosemary and basil.

The “Subaru Sprouts” kids area seemed to be packed with excitement. Kids had the opportunity to create their own Halloween crafts, get their faces painted, try organic snacks, and learn the secrets to starting a garden!

Pets also could get into the Halloween spirit at this year’s Fall Festival! Dog and cat owners had the chance to get creative at the pet T-shirt booth, where they could create custom T-shirts for their pets. This year’s Pet Center also included pet adoptions, custom ID tags, and the popular "Howl O’ Ween" pet costume contest, which included free prizes and giveaways!

 

After the Howl O’ Ween contest, I went back inside to snag a few bowls of chili from local vendors competing in this year’s Chili Cook-off. Talk about happiness! There’s nothing like a hearty bowl of home-cooked, delicious chili on a beautiful fall day to satisfy the soul.

My final stop at the festival was the entrance of the farm where volunteers were collecting gently used coats to donate to local Philadelphia shelters. It seemed like Subaru of America was well on its way to its goal of filling two Outback vehicles with coats. It’s always nice to see good people coming together to support those in need.

This year’s Fall Festival was a fantastic experience and seemed to be a great success. If you desire more information about Greensgrow Farms, please visit greensgrow.org.  You can also stay up-to-date on the latest Subaru gardening techniques, tips, and information by following its popular @gardenchat on Twitter!

-- Dan Pacitti

Road Trip Musings -- Water and Music

Cruising home on an Interstate highway a couple weeks ago, it occurred to me that I've enjoyed -- more to the point is that I'm drawn to -- two things in my travels: water and music.

Water

Some of the contact with water is happenstance. When following either of the Subaru Motorsports teams, I go where they go. By good fortune in 2011, I've followed Subaru Rally Team USA to the Pacific coast in Washington state ...

... and Subaru Road Racing Team to the tip of Florida, where I stayed on Key Largo and my lodging overlooked Buttonwood Sound.

 

On a recent test drive of the new 2012 Subaru Impreza, I was able to choose my destination. I chose water (to drive beside, not in!). Rather than heading inland from the Philadelphia area, I drove north to Maine, to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. I reasoned that the mountainous coastal area would be fun to drive, but it was the proximity to water that clinched the choice. (Read driving impressions of the new Impreza in the next issue of Subaru Drive magazine, which will be posted on www.drive.subaru.com December 15, 2011.)

I grew up in the Midwest, at least 150 miles from the nearest large body of water (Lake Michigan). My family visited the lakeshore only a few times. It wasn't until I was in my 30s, when I vacationed on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, that water -- the Atlantic Ocean, in particular -- got into my head. I'm not sure what arrested me more: the constant, roaring waves; the horizontal vastness; the ever-changing color and light; or the changing tides. I think it was all of that.

If you live near a large body of water, this viewpoint may seem juvenile. However, emotions caused by the oceans are heartfelt and stirring, nonetheless. Water continually beckons me to return.

 

 

 

Music

Music is another Siren that calls me with the power to alter the course of my travels. Sometimes finding it is serendipitous, as it was on the Impreza drive.

In Portland, Maine, I chose a waterfront seafood restaurant that had seating on a pier. Expecting good food and a few seagulls, I was surprised by a three-man band warming up -- acoustic guitar, mandolin (plus a fiddle), and bass. My half-hour meal lasted two hours because I stayed to listen.

A couple nights later, in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, I was directed to a downtown restaurant that happened to be holding an open-mic night. Again, I dallied with my meal to hear some amazing electric guitar music, including an incredible set by a 14-year-old young man who has been playing only four years. He sounded like he had considerably more experience. Yet it wasn't his age that commanded attention; it was his skill.

Both groups of musicians intrigued me, because they were talented, yet generally unknown and tucked away where most people wouldn't find them. At one point, the lead guitarist in the trio played solo, losing himself in the music, much as the young guitar player did two days later in Pennsylvania. Hundreds of miles apart, these two played with similar musical intensity.

I felt fortunate to enter their musical worlds.

-- Ric Hawthorne 

Subaru XV/BRZ Prologue

Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), which manufactures Subaru vehicles, has unveiled the Subaru XV in a world premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The Subaru XV is a new type of crossover vehicle that features a sporty and casual design. Featuring a 2.0-liter SUBARU BOXER engine and riding on a 104-inch wheelbase, the XV offers excellent driving performance and fuel efficiency.

Find more on the Subaru-Global website.

FHI has also displayed the "Subaru BRZ Prologue -- Boxer Sports Car Architecture II" at the Frankfurt show. Information on it is also on the website.

 

-- Ric Hawthorne

A Random Taste of Sonoma

On a recent visit to Northern California without our children, my husband and I decided to drive from San Francisco to Sonoma for wine tasting. We had never been to Sonoma, nor did we have any recommendations on where to go, so I looked to the Internet for ideas. I found a wine tasting and cheese pairing that seemed to be just what we needed for starters. 

Passing over the Golden Gate Bridge and heading toward Sonoma valley, the drive took us from the cool ocean-side weather to the warm sun filling the valleys of Sonoma. This was the perfect setting for a relaxing afternoon.
  

 

 

Arriving at Meadowcroft Wines, we selected a semi-shaded table out on the patio. The hostess served the first of the two white wines, complemented by a plate of grapes, sausage, and cheeses. What a perfect atmosphere.
  

 

 

Then we were served three red wines. I’ve never been much of a red wine drinker. I tried the first one, but had to pass on the rest. Our hostess kindly offered other types of chardonnay once she learned that was my typical wine of choice.

After the sampling, we selected the house chardonnay and relaxed while enjoying the peaceful and serene California atmosphere. While sitting on the patio, we decided to do a vineyard tour. We had passed many signs, but, again, I didn’t know where to go or what would be good.

 

 

 

We decided to just go down the road until something caught our eye. The first place we stopped at was the homemade jerky shop, which needed to be explored. A jerky bar was set up with all the shop’s selections available for tasting. I settled on turkey jerky. Yep, I’m pretty predictable and don’t stray too far from my normal habits. My husband chose hot beef, and we got a jar of jalapeno-stuffed olives for one of our children.
  
Back on the road, we saw a sign for Gloria Ferrer, which had caves and tours. We turned in and passed through the rows of grape vines.

     

 

 

When we arrived at the visitor’s center, we found the next tour wasn’t scheduled for a while, so we wandered through the gift shop and looked over the wine selections. Once again, we selected a chardonnay, but we also had to try the wine-filled chocolates.

 

 

 

We sat out on the patio and enjoyed wine, chocolate, and chili almonds. The view was amazing: The patio overlooked rows of pinot noir grapes with a backdrop of rolling hills.

 

 

 

On the tour, we were briefed on the history of the vineyard and its wine. The wines are created from pinot noir and chardonnay grapes grown and hand-picked from the vineyard’s 335 acres, which lie in elevations between 50 and 325 feet. This diversity of growing conditions provides the variety of tastes and characteristics of the wines and sparkling wines.

       

 

 

 

 

The last stop was a farmer’s market to shop for some additional local goodies: We were looking for fresh strawberries and some caffeine.
  

 

 

This very loosely planned adventure all centered on a single road leading through Sonoma valley. Next trip, we hope to spend a few days exploring even more of what this area offers.

Read about one of California’s green wineries in Drive Winter 2010 cover story, Biodynamic Vineyards.

Read the Drive Spring 2011 cover story featuring Laurie Forster, a wine educator.

--Melissa Carlson