Bucky Lasek: Influencer and Driver

Since the beginning of Subimods we have been fortunate to meet and build relationships with a number of influential enthusiasts who have undoubtedly given the Subaru community more exposure and brought its energy to a new level. As we know, the Subaru tribe is one of the most eclectic, diverse, inclusive enthusiast groups in the automotive industry. It is filled with people from all walks of life, all backgrounds, and lovers of all automotive genres. Attending the events that happen throughout the year would open the eyes of a newcomer since there is a staggering mix of every-day human beings who are entrenched in this world on a part time basis with those who function as full time motorsport professionals.

Whether an individual has built their car to display under the sun at an event in California, run some laps on a track in Texas, get a thrill from a off-road rally in a Arizona desert, or just take proud daily drives on the streets of Chicago, everyone who shares the passion for Subarus are welcome in this world. Doctors, lawyers, mechanics, line cooks and tech nerds are standing shoulder to shoulder with highly visible modifiers and influencers, respected car builders and design innovators, and professional drivers to share success stories, ask questions, and give each other advice. The Subimods team is driven by the spirit, the diversity and the inspiration they bring. It will be one of our goals in 2024 to share many of their experiences with our customers.

There are many celebrities, actors, and professional athletes that do their share of cross-over activities. Jumping back and forth between worlds because of a hobbyist's level of interest or to expand on their bandwidth of talent. A rare and special few actually excel in multiple worlds to the degree of leaving impactful marks, contributing positively to the associated industry, and becoming multifaceted philanthropists and entrepreneurs after a successful run within assorted genres. One individual member of the motorsports and extreme sport community that has become iconic and victorious at many levels in and outside the world of motorsports is Bucky Lasek, a noticeable figure and extreme cheerleader who is seen at most every Subaru event hosted around the nation and the globe. Bucky Lasek is no stranger to the Subaru lover, but has also been a passionate, influential, and visual character jumping from genre to genre for close to 35 years. The Baltimore-born Lasek was bitten by the love of skateboarding by the age of 12 driving him to be a very successful and continually watched amateur over the next two years of his life.

Quickly gaining sponsorship by Powell Peralta in 1987, Lasek sharpened his skills alongside legend Tony Hawk while becoming a well-known and fearless practitioner of intricate tricks and aerial maneuvers. He quickly became one of the most recognized personalities in the skateboarding world bringing home a staggering 14 XGame medals, developing the signature moves, and becoming a recognizable brand with Lasek Skateboards - all while wanting more. “I think my love for cars kind of stemmed from hot wheels and modifying hot wheels at a young age”, Lasek explained. “I would always ask for crazy glue as a kid and I would take hot wheels apart. I would switch parts from one hot wheels car to another…modifying them. I kind of grew into just loving cars from that and from there it turned into a driving passion. I did my first track day, then it was game over.”

Growing through this world of adrenaline and extreme sport enthusiasm, Lasek started exploring outside the pipe by stepping off his board and strapping himself behind the wheel of a Subaru sponsored vehicle to experience the world of motorsports. Subaru Rally Team USA picked Lasek and two others to drive at the Global RallyCross Championship in 2012. “Once I got bit by the track bug I started modifying my cars for track racing”, Lasek remembers. “I started doing a lot of racing and getting all my licenses which turned into more opportunities for driving. I ended up getting ready to race in some tarmac Grand Am series back in the day in some porsches. That's when Travis Pastrana got into Nascar and started driving oval and left the seat open at Subaru. Strong, fertile seeds were planted in soil that quickly led Bucky to great experience and great opportunity that brought his body and mind to a new sense of performance reality and a new level of love that would open up many opportunities. “My agent at the time was the same agent as Ken Block, Travis Pastrana, and Dave Mira. Knowing that I was into car racing and doing it on the side as a hobby my agent reached out to me and asked me if I wanted to go test for the seat with Subaru”, Lasek said proudly.

“When I tested for the seat I ended up being pretty fast and got it, becoming a factory Subaru driver. From there going from tarmac to dirt and doing rally schools, just learning the technique of loose surface driving I realized, driving a Subau there's just nothing else like it.” For the years to come, Lasek began to get the feel for competitive motorsports by placing second and third in several events with his Subaru WRX STI during his time with the team. After leaving the Subaru Rally Team in 2016, Lasek kept moving forward with his racing career branding his own team, Lasek Rallysport, while building an impressive stable of boxer-fueled Subarus that opened eyes wide throughout the community. His undying love for the Impreza 22B pointed him towards other cars with the emblem we love, namely his amazing modification of his GC8 Subaru Widebody STI. Between his symbolic, triple-threat lifestyle as driver, influencer, and entrepreneur, Lasek remains a favorite within the Subaru community and an inspiration to those who want to get their feet into the motorsports pond without fear - keeping passion first and self doubt last.

The Subaru community is a broad, unique, family of creators that thrives on the inspiration given freely by others who started with that unforgettable spark and passion for their car, but also the spirit of comradery that is definitely infectious because of enthusiasts and drivers like Lasek. Asking him about what he likes about the Subaru community is a loaded question with an answer he is glad to give.“What I like about the car community is the fact that you can show up to these meets or events and you get the story of not only the car and how it was built, but you get the story of the individual that built the car”, Lasek said with affection. “I think that that says a lot about the person and you tend to connect with these people because you can relate to them, and that's why I like the community. Lasek continues to confirm his pride, not only as a veteran enthusiast and supporter of motorsports, but as a caring brother who wants to pass on a rewarding lifestyle and belief system - as a positive mentor would to his hungry protege’. “Subaru has one of the best if not the best enthusiast community I've ever seen”, he proclaims.

“They're very respectful, everyone is compassionate about the brand and supportive to one another. I don't know how to say this but they're just not meatheads, I feel in my heart I would never see a Subaru doing donuts smashing into other cars and breaking the law and in such a fashion that is so disrespectful to what they believe in, you know. They have a heartful passion and they would never do that to their community”, he said. When we asked Lasek what he liked most about modifying cars, he did not hesitate to fall back into his childhood spirit and expose the spark that lit the fire all those years ago-true words of inspiration that should fuel the desire of anyone in the Subaru community. “Well, I think it gives you an outlet to express yourself”, he explained. “Everyone has a story, everyone has a goal in mind and a style that they like. That is what modifying cars does for me, it is a way of relating my vision to someone else's vision. We get this comradery going in a community which supports that. That's why I enjoy going to SubieFest events so much, meeting the enthusiasts and people who also share the same passion as I do”, he said. Every member of the Subaru community needs an inspiration and positive face like Lasek’s to look to when attending events, learning the ins and outs of the industry, and planning their upcoming modification.

A life and career filled with so many inspiring twists, turns, and experiences is bound to make any enthusiast drool with envy. Lasek’s life is a collection of these experiences that have not dulled his shimmer or tainted his enthusiasm to discover new ways to feed his creativity, encourage those who want to learn more, or educate enthusiasts who have the desire to challenge their dreams and take their lives to the next level. We can only imagine what beyond all we see has been given to Lasek through his experiences and what rewards he feels that are not clear to the public eye. His love for cars and driving has taken him down a wide road filled with opportunities beyond most of our coolest dreams. “I've done a lot of cool things related to cars aside from meeting some of my best friends in life”, Lasek confirmed. “I would say racing rallycross is probably one of the raddest things I've done as far as driving. The ups and downs, the team, being a part of Vermont Sports Car and Subaru, you can't you can't put a price on that. Many interesting people, places , and things have jumped into his path along the way, but again, nothing has diverted his boyhood joy and enthusiasm for a lifestyle that has given back ten fold. Lasek may be slightly overwhelmed when confronted with the questions about his greatest experience, but his answers are always given with a spirit of positivity and gratitude in his voice.