Being the Ford Focus ST is a cross between domestic economy and European hot hatch performance, the market spans a wide demographic. This unique cross creates a very interesting community that is different than all others. We see owners from [as jealous as I am to say it at that age] high school students in their first car all the way up to middle-aged performance enthusiasts.
At James Barone Racing, we have observed that with the wide demographic, there is also a great acceptance and warm welcome to new owners. This community is a great place to be and the owners are really a whole different breed than most car enthusiast groups. We’d like to introduce the community to some of these members that stand out the most to us. We would like to introduce our first JBR Featured Owner, Adam Clover.
Living in Green Bay, WI; Adam is a member of Wisconsin ST Club. The Wisconsin community has a strong level of respect for all types of enthusiasts. Adam came from a family background of car enthusiasts. His grandpa restored old cars, and since Adam was 5 he loved to help. While he was helping, he learned a lot along the way. We all know that once cars get into one’s blood, it never fades.- the passion that drives us all to tinker, to love and appreciate the machines for the true beauty they possess.
Starting off with a 1990 Honda CRX, Adam had some work to do for his first project car. Rust plagued the rear of the vehicle, and as a true car guy Adam realized that needed to be addressed. To fix the problem, he bought a second donor vehicle and cut both vehicles in half. He then proceeded to use his fabrication skills to do some surgery and stitch the two back together.
A few vehicles later, Adam found himself with the Focus ST we all know and love. There are corners of the community focusing (no pun intended- ok maybe a little) on aesthetics; performance; autocross events; road course racing; and even the simple utilitarian nature of the ST picking up the kids and transporting snowboards, skis, bikes, and more. Adam happens to have a mixture of a few of these interests.
Adam started by addressing the aesthetic shortcomings of the ST. Starting with a set of Eibach Sportline lowering springs. Shortly after, he dug into the head unit to replace it with a Nexus 7 tablet. Being a maintenance mechanic by trade, Adam has some fabrication skills. He eventually graduated into a few custom cosmetic modifications including wing risers, a custom grill, and a custom crash bar; Adam made his ST one of a kind.
After addressing the cosmetics, Adam moved on to performance. Realizing the hunger for a large amount of power, Adam went for everything at once. Adam’s Focus ST features the following performance modifications:
- Custom Cold Air Intake
- Custom 3” Side-exit Exhaust
- OCD Downpipe
- ATP GTX2971 Turbo Kit
- Stratified Xtra Fuel Kit
- Cobb Accsessport V3 w/ Stratified E42 Tune
- Cobb Rear Motor Mount
- JBR 80/88 Duro Side Mount Package
- Boomba Short Throw Shifter + Bushings
- CX Front Mount Intercooler
Adam’s favorite modification to his ST has been the Stratified E42 port fueling tune. This is a great bang-for-your-buck modification on every level of ST, from stock form to big turbo. It cannot be stressed enough how a proper calibration is key to getting the most our of your driving experience.
We spoke with Alex at Stratified about the tuning process…
“There are several important aspects to consider when building a car. It is important to know how the car will be used in order to determine the power level needed and the modifications needed to get to that power level reliably. With modern turbocharged vehicles it should always start with a tune. We use the COBB AccessPort for its capabilities and versatility and the excellent support.
Adam’s car was a joy to tune. He spent the time and decided on the direction he wanted to take with the car. When he came to us we were able to address those needs with an ATP GTX2971 big turbo kit, Stratified Aux Fuel System, and full custom tune. He had the supporting modifications needed and since he purchased quality and proven parts as part of this kit, he was able to reach his power goals of 400+whp reliably quickly. Adam was also very quick to respond with data and feedback during the E-tuning process and this allowed us to progress quickly towards his goals. The advantage of coming to us with a clear goal and getting the correct parts and tune is that we can address those needs without having to go through several setups, kits, and headaches that can leave a lot enthusiasts disappointed and cost a lot more in the end. If you have further questions regarding tuning and setting up your Ecoboost Focus don’t hesitate to get in touch.”
This past year has been a lot of preparation on the ST, and now that things are where Adam would like them to be for the most part he plans to enjoy it in the coming Spring and Summer. He would like to use the well-built machine to get some track time under his belt. We hope to see you at the track alongside our test vehicles this year, Adam!
If you would like to be featured in our blog, send us an email and tell us your story.
