It’s been a minute – and by a minute, I mean it’s been nearly two or three years since I dusted off the keyboard to post on the DODOlogic blog. A huge thank you to Mr. Benoit for blessing me with a new password that resembles “bwgY?F^w6ydHB(033WLy(Jb9z.” You might think I’m joking, but I’m not. Was it a randomly-generated password? Was it Ryan randomly throwing his fingers all over his keyboard? Who knows.
One thing I do know is that with every blog post, there is a story of sorts that envelops the entire thing.
If you don’t know Devin J., he’s one of the few technicians who work at Regina’s prized Odd Man Out Performance. If you’re unfamiliar, “OMO” started as a Subaru-based shop, but has grown over the years to accept all kinds of makes, models, and brands. It’s fitting, then, that every Odd Man Out employee still owns their beloved Subaru’s, and Devin, as far as I know, owns a few.
We begin this photo journey with a humble favour from a humble man. I was in dire need of some lathed pieces to complete the beefier Procharger brackets that Josh Schattenkirk had fabricated for me, and in the last few years, Devin has excelled in his fabrication skills. We got to talking, and he did the work.
Devin had put up with my ignorance of the Imperial system and lathed some pieces for me, and somehow it all worked out. Come pick-up day, I was prepared to pay the man for his time. A questioning set of eyes and brow poked over Devin’s glasses and “…Photos?” was his request as his form of compensation.
Now we’re here – with a little bit of Saskatchewan-based media consumption comfort. I mean that in a good way.
I agree that a majority of automotive builds catch the eye – flamboyant or never-been-done paint/vinyl jobs, massive aero, flashy wheel and brake combos are all meant to push boundaries. But Devin’s STi is eye-catching, while presenting as a very simple and well-sorted car. That’s partially because it has a brand-new and subtly special paint color. We will touch base on that shortly.
Devin had the FIRST 2011 STi sedan in Regina purchased in September of 2010. Close to being fresh out of PDI, as it sat on the sales lot for one single week. Previously, Devin had owned an 8th Gen. Civic SI. He had an opportunity to trade the Civic and after a very short span of time, he got a call that the trade-in was settled. He left mid-workday with a Civic and returned with his brand new STi.
Things haven’t always been kosher for the car – Devin’s STi had been sideswiped in the passenger side-rear in 2013, was rear-ended in 2014, and to add insult to injury, a garage door slid and fell onto the roof of his car.
Devin is a particular guy; with his fabrication work, machining, lathing, and that follows through with his car. He didn’t just want anyone to do the repairs. He waited to save up some additional funds before having any work done to take care of some extras. Coincidentally the car was to be sent to Weyburn for a particular individual to take care of the new spray. Things were made easier when Travis, Devin’s choice painter, moved to Regina.
In 2015, Devin left his car in the hands of Travis, Trevor and Torin at Wascana Autobody. It came out of the paint booth in better-than-new condition with a custom variation of World Rally Blue courtesy of Trevor Ruckaber. The new paint has additions of some extra flake and green under-toning. Very subtle, but a nice touch when you catch a glimpse in the sun.
When thinking of a base location to shoot, well.. I figured the perfect place was a gigantic dirt playground to tie into the STi’s rally heritage. Devin has what I’ll call a “50/50 Ain’t Care” approach with his car. We took his modestly lowered STi out into a rut-filled construction yard and put the car on some dirt. A modest thank you to whom let us in there after ~2 years of poking and asking to get in!
Come full circle – as I mentioned earlier – this car is refreshing in a time where I’ve been nearly desensitized to over-the-top “clickbait” builds. It’s a constant comfort in essence of keeping a car rooted and accentuating onto its factory composition. The car sits lowered on Tein Monoflex coilovers and a slight suspension overhaul made up from Cusco rear toe arms, Cusco rear lateral links and Cusco rear upper control arms.
I’ve seen this car cruising and ripping around since the days when it was sitting pretty on white Enkei RPF-01’s. Unbeknownst to me was Devin’s ownership has had its rainy seasons – yet, it’s still cruising, ripping, and staying around. Devin has enjoyed his STi on several road trips to the mountains and as far as Apple Valley Speedway, while tagging along for OMO drift events.
It feels nice to be back in the DODOlogic saddle. It’s been too long – but as we all know, people grow up, life gets busy, and stuff gets stuffed under the rug.
Until the next time,
-Lee.
Devin – @_devinjeffrey
Travis from Wascana Autobody – @halfevilhotrods
Trevor from Wascana Autobody – @fbomb1951
Torin from Wascana Autobody – @torinapp
Myself, if you’d like to check out other photo stuff – @nerdbotphoto