The 2021 Lone Star Rallycross Series has come to a close, with the final event determining the champion. Korben Johnson won and was the final champion after a series of rat races. It was the third time that he was enrolled in the Lone Star Rallycross. The event lasts over a year under the impact of covid-19, which brings Korben a fresh experience towards the competitions. Below is what he shared with us about his feeling after the event and his rally life.
About Korben Johnson
MXR: Congratulations on winning the 2021 North Texas Rallycross! What was it like?
Korben: Thank you so much. It was kind of bittersweet. I had a lot of car engine issues. A lot of overheating puts some stress on the season. A lot of extra time in the garage working late. Overall, it was amazing. There was some amazing competition out there. Tyler Burchett and Austin Walton were both fast and pushed me to drive even harder. They put on a great show out there. Also, I was gauging my time off of one of the best racers around, Blanton Payne, and I found myself getting faster after taking his advice and watching him race.
MXR: Tell us about yourself during your years of rallycross?
Korben: Well, first and foremost, I’m a husband and a father. That is my first job. Secondly, I work in apartment maintenance, and it is the best job I have ever had. It has given me the work ethic and confidence to go out and work on my own car and try and solve my own issues. In my 2 years of rallycross (5 years of motorsports), I have learned how to stay in more control of the vehicle, better listen to the car’s feedback, and know if there is an issue. I have learned how just to ask questions and advise from the people around me. Overall, I have learned how to be a better driver.
About The Toyota Celica GT
MXR: Tell us a bit more about your rally car?
Korben: It is a 1993 Toyota Celica GT. I have put a lot of work into it to get it race-ready over the last 2 seasons. My newest addition is a Toyocom diagnostics w/tablet interface and Bluetooth amp. Finishing out the interior, I also have Ultra Shield race seats and 5 point loop and latch harnesses. The seats are mounted to MaXpeedingRods seat mounts. Steering everything is a Momo D-shaped steering wheel with a quick-release hub. For safety, I have a battery killswitch and my quick-fire extinguisher. The rest of the interior from the front seat’s back has been removed for weight reduction.
Underneath the GT4 carbon fiber hood is the MaXpeedingRods oil cooler with filter relocation, custom exhaust headers with Magnaflow exhaust. The battery has been relocated to the trunk to save space for the short ram intake vented to a dual inlet naca duct from Allstar Performance. The naca ducts also act as brake cooling ducts to keep the R1 Concept slotted and drilled rotors nice and cool.
Suspension wise it is riding on the MaXpeedingRods 24-way adjustable dampers coilovers. All this, paired with a fresh set of Raceline wheels wrapped in Toyo Observe G3 Ice tires, give me the ability to slide around in the dirt and stay in control.
MXR: How do the MaXpeedingRods parts feel on your Rally car? And how does it compare to the rest of the competition?
Korben: I use quite a bit of MaXpeedingRods parts, actually, I think everything you make for my car, I have. I think they are some amazing parts. The coilovers are very nice. The adjustable dampers are great, along with adjustable ride height. The Oil cooler is pretty awesome too. I hated the original filter location, so this has been great to get it out of the way.
I am excited for the turbo and the forged connecting rods going in in the future. People use all kinds of parts, but I don’t feel they have the support system that I do with MaXpeedingRods.
About The Rally
MXR: Can you remember what your first car was? When and how did you begin to Rally?
Korben: My first car ever was a 1997 Chevy Caviler with a bunch of oil leaks and a bad power steering pump. It really was a terrible car. I got rear-ended in the first month, and it was totaled. So, it was short-lived.
I started to rallycross at the beginning of 2019, at the start of the pandemic. I had raced autocross for 3 years from 2014-2016 where I won a class championship in 2016. I stopped once my daughter Ella was born.
In 2019 she started public school and I had enough money to make another run at racing. I chose rallycross because I wanted a new challenge. It paid off with a 3rd place overall finish last season and a championship win for this season.
MXR: When did you become aware that you would have the opportunity to race at a high level?
Korben: I wouldn’t say it is a “high level” of racing just because this is still regional-level racing. However, the competition is pretty tough. I have only raced in one event that I would consider national, that’s because they came from out of state to host the event. I noticed through the last 5 years I had gotten faster and faster and more consistent. Consistently starting fast and maintaining the speed was a big eye-opener that I could make a serious run at being a rallycross driver.
MXR: For all those aspiring Rallycross racers out there, what would you say the key factors are to becoming a successful driver?
Korben: Seat time. That is the number one factor. Whatever you have, get out and drive it. Learn the vehicle and improve. Stay stock and show up. Then don’t focus on power. Focus on suspension and good tires and then just more seat time.
About The Future
MXR: Got that you will take the year off after the 2021 season, do you have any goals for 2022? Do you have some plans for the Toyota build project we sponsored?
Korben: Yeah, I have to take the year off to save up for a trailer. No more wondering if the car will make it back home. When you are 100+ miles away from home, and you are overheating, and your alternator just went out… no more guesswork, just load it up and head home. As far as future plans. I have the new turbo, forged connecting rods, and the oil catch can install on my rebuilt block. I am very excited to get started on that project. Also going to repaint and redo the livery of the vehicle.
MXR: Last question, what track do you enjoy the most?
Korben: Brianne Corn Raceway in Maxwell, Texas, has been my favorite place to race so far. It is a purpose built rallycross track. If you find yourself in Central Texas, give it a look. If you are in South Oklahoma, North Texas, the best place to race is with North Texas Rallycross up in Ardmore/Mannsville, Oklahoma.
