Eli Gilbert | Team Driver

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With the purchase and autocrossing of a Subaru 2.5 RS in 1999, Eli found in motorsports a terrific adrenaline rush, great camaraderie with other participants, and ultimately, satisfaction of a racing ‘bug’ that he had suppressed for many years. 

After only a few autocross events at San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium in his Subaru, Eli began winning his class and, later that year, clinched 2nd place in the G-Stock class 2002 Solo2 Championship. 

In 2003, Eli moved into the very competitive Street Touring S (STS) Class, where he fared extremely well in a largely uncompetitive car.  In 2004, after deciding a turbocharger might help, Eli sold the 2.5 RS and purchased a highly tuned Subaru WRX outfitted and campaigned by Bilstein of America and thereafter cemented a bond with the reputable suspension company.  Eli competed in the Street Modified class and garnered respectable finishes throughout the season under the tutelage of local stalwarts Bret Norgaard and Derek Punch.

Also in 2004, Eli attended a California Rally Series Rally Driving School and decided to ‘convert to dirt’!   Winning second and securing a top lap time in his first event, he decided to run the entire CRS (California Rally Series) championship series for the year.  While competing in various two-wheel drive cars and working towards a title in SS2WD (Street Stock 2 Wheel Drive), Eli raced and sat on the podium at every event of the season. 

Podium finishes were seen at Thunderhill Raceway, the Tombstone Rallycross Park, Ridgecrest, and the Nevada rallycrosses at Jean and Laughlin.  Overall class wins were seen at Thunderhill, Jean and Laughlin, NV. 

Because of these great results, Eli won the CRS two-wheel drive Street Stock Championship (2WDSS) for 2004 and again in 2005.  In 2006, despite an abbreviated season because of a motorcycle accident, Eli clinched the runner-up position for Street Stock 2WD, and won the inaugural Laughlin Open Rallycross Series and the inaugural Johnson Valley RallyCross Series as well. 

In addition to participating in races in 2006, Eli donned his organizing hat and put on a rallycross in Blythe, CA with help from future co-driver Mindy and a number of other racers.  He also chaired an event in Johnson Valley and was instrumental in running a Del Mar SCCA Rallycross that same year.

Eli broadened the stroke of his experience in 2007 and dove headlong into the world of stage rallying.  With his girlfriend Mindy as co-driver, he raced the Rim of the World Rally in his recently completed Mitsubishi Galant and later the Gorman Ridge Rally in a then-newly acquired Subaru WRX.  Eli also maintained a showing at rallycross events and just recently secured his third Championship in the 2007 CRS Rallycross Series (SS2WD Class). In addition, he is one of three finalists to win the CRS Rookie of the Year award for stage rallying in 2007.