Interview with Jason Cancio – Creator of the RWD Subaru STI Drift Machine

DL: What got you started in drifting and how long have you been in the drifting scene?
JC: I believe it was back between late 2005 to early 2006 when I bought a Super Street magazine. And that month’s magazine came with some type of JDM Option DVD. It was for the first time in my life I was exposed to D1GP. I saw Kumakubo’s RWD GD STI and I couldn’t help but keep my eyes away from it. I loved how cool drifting looked, how much skill it took to control the car, and I’ve always had that passion for cars. Drifting just topped it off, I’ve been hooked ever since. So, in a nutshell give or take 5 years for drifting to have made a huge impact on my life.

DL: What previous cars have you owned and drifted?
JC: As odd as it may sound, I used to be a big Honda guy. Until, I realized you couldn’t really do much with them. No offense to Honda fans and whatnot, but after enough time, I figured I wanted something else. There wasn’t enough originality anymore, the scene was getting bad, and cars were getting stolen all the time…. not for me.
That was when I picked up the STI, it was my third car and it was a huge jump for me. I worked hard and definitely stepped up my game for this car. It was AWD and much more power than any car I previously owned. It didn’t take me long to really ‘OWN’ this car.

DL: Do you have any drifting heros you look up to?
JC: Rhys Millen. He’s always been a person I looked up to. He drives great and is super successful in the motorsport world. When I finally got the chance to meet him in 2007 at Formula D Seattle, I was ecstatic. He is really talented and also a big reason why I was inspired to get into this mess.
Roland Gallgher as well. He has been really nice and supportive to me ever since I’ve been drifting. He hasn’t put me down and has done nothing but help me keep pushing. Best wishes to Roland and his future drifting career!

DL: There has been considerable buzz about your car here at Wrecked Magazine as well as other Subaru specific sites like NASIOC and IWSTI. Tell us a little about your car. Why did you choose the GRB chassis?
JC: As time went by and thought hard about the future of the s13, everything that I wanted to do with the s13, the STI already had. A good amount of power, looks good cosmetically, reliable, and ready for war. I figured what the heck, RWD here I come! I also figured I wouldn’t have to spend much money on it to necessarily drift it, all I had to do was get it RWD…… . OH WAS I WRONG. lol

DL: As a fellow GRB owner, can you tell us about what you had to do to make it drift? What difficulties did you run into?
JC: I spent almost $4K just to get this car sideways. <—- That was difficult. Haha. First of all, I told Ray at Garage Autohero what I wanted to do to my car. He told me I would need a center differential sleeve, and clutch type rear diff center. So, I did my research. That was a pretty difficult part because Watanabe Service were the ones who made the sleeve, and they didn’t make a sleeve for the 08 STI, the latest model they made it for was the 07 STI. So I took my chances and bought it anyway because I just wanted this car to be done. And thank god it worked! Front axles were taken apart so the stubs were left in the transmission to keep from leaking oil. And stubs were left in the knuckles too.

ALTHOUGH, the bearings were discontinued. I was definitely almost heartbroken when I heard this. But Ray worked his magic and came through for me! He had to find new bearings through the measurements of the old bearings. I was glad to hear this because he found that the old bearings were torn to pieces already, the new ones he found were much stronger. So, no wonder the old bearings were discontinued….. sad for 08 GR owners.
Suspension was also a must, stock was much too soft and much too high for my tastes.

DL: What do you like about drifting the GRB chassis and what don’t you like about it?
JC: I love drifting the GRB chassis. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting getting as much attention as it did get me. I wasn’t necessarily trying to be different either, I just wanted to drift and save money for my own sake. LOL. 
There’s nothing I don’t like about it. I love my car! It’s a little difficult to drift compared to a 240, but that’s all. I’m not gonna let that phase me. Haha.

DL: Looking back, do you think it was worth building the STI, or would you build a different chassis given the chance?
JC: It was totally worth it! It saved me so much money. It was just cheaper for me financially compared to building up a 240sx and owning my STI at the same time. I already had my STI, so I wasn’t able to afford all the hardships having an s13 would put me through and be able to build an s13 the way I wanted.
I loved this car AWD, and I wanted to create more of a bond and have more fun with the STI, so I did this. I don’t regret it at all! And I’m glad I stuck to drifting this car instead of the s13!
I’m a big fan of the Nissan S-Chassis, but I had to make my sacrifices. And I was totally okay with that. ;D

DL: Are there any future modifications planned for the car?
JC: That’s a seeeeeeeeeeeekret.
Let me just say that I’m ready for more soon! 
Everything I’ve done with my car and in my life have been done for myself and to keep me happy. And in the near future, if I think something will help make my drifting experience more exciting, I’ll go for it. I’m not going to do it because someone wants me to, I’m just not about that.
That goes for anyone. It’s your car! Do what YOU want!

DL: Do you have plans to possibly start drifting on a competitive level?
JC: Ehhh. Like Justin Shreeve says, KEEP DRIFTING FUN. But who knows? Anything is possible.

DL: Anyone you’d like to give a holler to?
JC: My girlfriend Melina Chavez, Ray Stonehocker, Rachelle Cancio, Brett Nutt, Mark Bello, Roland Gallagher, Dan Lim, Jesse Ian, Jesus Calles, The Moodster, anyone else who’s supported me with this crazy idea, anyone who’s given me a compliment, anyone who’s real with me, and anybody who CHOOSES TO BE HAPPY!