Darnell Brown Will Battle in the Stick Shift Class at Sick Week With a Subaru

Drag-and-drive participants already battle a variety of variables when attempting to complete an event. Stick Shift drivers bring a little bit more to the party, as the balance between driveline survival and good time slips can be an interesting one.

Darnell Brown plans to bring another element to the 2023 edition of Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive with his 2002 Subaru WRX he calls ‘The Red Panda.’

Built at his shop Brown’s Performance in Gainesville, Florida, the Subaru packs an in-house built engine with an upgraded Garrett turbocharger, backed with a ZF Designs 6-speed transmission.

Motec will keep everything on the right tune-up, and The Driveshaft Shop axles will transfer the power to all four corners in search of quick time slips.

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Although Darnell has prior drag racing experience, as well as rally and autocross stints, Sick Week will mark his first drag-and-drive experience.

“I hope to be competitive and have the Panda hold her own,” Darnell said of his hopes for Sick Week. “Building and driving a reliable car to race at this level is hard.

And doing it in a Subaru makes it more challenging.” Darnell will bring co-pilot Mike Braddock on the week-long adventure, noting “a quality copilot and knowing the car, inside and out, that I built,” as his strong points for the event.

The Stick Shift class should be interesting to watch!

Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Darnell Brown.