What makes people want to go buy a Toyota Corolla–not the GR Morizo, but the no-frills 1997 model?
“My father-in-law is one who drives cars into the ground,” says the owner of the Corolla, Britt Mann. “[He asked me,] ‘What should I buy?’ I said, ‘A Corolla.’ He went out and bought a Corolla.”
Family members weren’t the only ones impressed. It wins events–and the hearts–of those who see it.
“The guy who runs SCCA RallyCross [in Central Florida region, David Kincaid], he bought a Corolla wagon because of this car,” Britt says.
Britt’s Corolla competed in its first 24 Hours of Lemons event this year at Barber Motorsports Park. It finished eighth out of 23 cars in its class, 62nd out of 118 entries. The surprise performance of this 100-horsepower-or-so vehicle earned it an award from Lemons: “So Easy, Even Floridians Can Do It.”
Now, that’s a compliment.
Birthed Out of a Challenge
This car’s low-budget roots go back to the Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge.
“The guy who built it … took the springs out of it to make it a stiff, solid ride,” says Britt. “He set the ride height with washers. From my understanding, it did well in autocross. After [the $2000 Challenge], it sat for a bit.”
The Corolla entered Britt’s life, thanks to our Tom Suddard.
“Tom called me up and said, ‘Hey, I got a free Corolla,’” Britt says. “I asked, ‘What’s the catch?’ That’s when I got told about it not having a suspension or interior.”
Nevertheless, Britt jumped right in and took possession of it in 2018.
Its Calling: RallyCross
Photograph Courtesy Britt Mann
“At first, I didn’t know what to do with it,” says Britt. “I put [its suspension] back to stock and ran it in SCCA RallyCross.”
Britt found that it was a formidable car in RallyCross. It won a regional championship in the Constructor class. It also finished second regionally in Modified Front Wheel Drive, mainly because Britt didn’t compete in every event. In the point standings, two cars built for rally racing sandwiched his–a Ford Fiesta ST in first and a Peugeot 206 in third.
“Everybody hated that car…
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