Have Evo - Will Travel

Simplicity equals freedom. And honestly – that’s the key to the castle right there. Absolutely, we want to modify our cars. But there’s freedom in finding (and appreciating) the sweet-spot within that realm. It’s become almost status-quo to overbuild an Evo. But there’s a fine-line between owning something, and it owning you. And that’s what Troy Gundrum’s Evo 9 represents; you can feel it in the photos. The photos also bring up another point/debate…

There’s a growing disconnect between the car culture we see on our social media feed… and the car culture of real life.

The car scene sizzles in the digital world, but it’s fallen-off in the real world by nearly every measure. Just for instance, Ken Block’s Fiesta ST video has over 60-million views online, but Ford discontinued the Fiesta IRL. Where’s the real world conversion? Teens share the video, but don’t learn to drive stick. The digital world rewards extreme entertainment, with no interest/concern with how that relates to real life. You don’t fall in love with car culture by being desensitized to it online. Rather, you fall in love with car culture when you experience it… and when seemingly small moments have long-lasting imprints on your life & perspective. That’s when car culture becomes nonnegotiable.

Less is more…

For Troy Gundrum, his Mitsubishi Evo 9 symbolizes freedom, adventure, and driving spirit/thrill. He embraces the lifestyle & temperament. It’s about setting-out on the open road… where the journey is an open-ended map. And the destination becomes… perspective… rather than a specific place. Where the Evo becomes a character in his story… inseparable from the experiences, landscapes, and memories.

That’s the dream, right?

Stick to that script. Troy doesn’t let what-ifs overshadow (or dilute) his ownership experience. He grasps the fact that – we’re not here forever, and the adventures we want to take… can’t be put off till never. You gotta break the leash… whatever’s holding you back. Here’s Troy’s deal…

Troy always loved the mystique of The Great American Roadtrip…

But he always took his trips in something sensible. “A daily”. And time & time again – he’d end up at some epic road and/or scenery, and wish he had the Evo. The kicker was: He DID have the Evo… just not WITH HIM… because he wussed out & left it home lol. And in those moments, it always felt like such a missed opportunity (I know the feeling). So Troy held onto that. And one day he decided “Screw it… I’m taking the Evo this time.” Troy put a cargo box on the roof, and loaded it with a jack, tools, and spare parts… anything he’d be willing/able to do on the side of the road (if need be). Off he went.

As time Evolved…

Troy found a rhythm in his travels. First & foremost – he learned to have a certain level of trust/faith in his car. Be prepared; don’t panic. He learned that problems were solvable, and not something to run from. Troy also learned that hotels/accommodations were by far the most costly part of his trips. So he ended up swapping the cargo box for a roof-top-tent… and started carrying a leaner, more dialed-in supply of parts & tools. The RTT enabled him to go further, see more, and stay longer.

Work-life balance…

Where does he find the time? Well, Troy has a 4-on/3-off type of work schedule. So if he works his vacation/PTO strategically, he can get 2-weekish slots & do this a few times a year. What crazy is: He takes a lot of these trips solo. You know how it is – everyone’s down until it’s actually go-time… then they bail. But I truly admire the courage/confidence for Troy to go alone. And honestly, that allows him to really soak it in that much more. We’ve all had those trips where it just clicks. Time alone, quiet, behind the wheel, on 100% your own schedule… it’s that kind of therapy.

Troy’s tuned into his sweet-spot…

For him, it’s not horsepower numbers, lap times, the latest ECU, or Instagram personas. It’s freedom, exploration, & experiences. Doing iconic stuff in a cult-classic charismatic car. On the surface, cars are superficial… metal & materialistic. But when they build perspective, character, & grit… they become invaluable.

Overbuilding tends to lead to garage queens…

Nonuse & frustration… mixed with little slivers of success & redemption lol. And we appreciate having those cars in the culture to push the boundaries. But cars (and owners) like this are the real unsung heroes of car culture in my eyes. I’d bet few Evo owners get as much enjoyment out of their car as Troy. And honestly, it inspires me.