There is a bit of cynicism that comes with yet another Gymkhana video. “Oh, it’s the same thing over and over: little rally monster car goes sideways, creates smoke, beats the rev limiter into submission, tires die, whatever”. We’ve already heard things like that over this video. But I think that’s a bit overkill for this one for three main points. One, that isn’t Ken Block at the wheel. Nothing against Ken in the least, but the wheelman for this one is #199 himself, Travis Pastrana. Travis is a headcase, a daredevil, a wicked wheelman and a genuinely nice guy, so we’re happy to see him take the starring role. Second, this is the first Gymkhana video in a minute to have a Subaru front-and-center as the main car instead of a Ford. In fact, the last time we remember a Scooby running the course, Block was giving TopGear’s James May a hellride around his airfield course.

But point #3 might be my most favorite one of all: location. This isn’t Terminal Island. This isn’t some specially-prepared rally course. This is Pastrana’s hometown of Annapolis, Maryland…which means that he’s living out a childhood fantasy. The boy racer left home, went into the world, did well for himself, and is now back and is raising seven shades of hell, signing his name all over town before retiring to the castle with the wife, the kids, and the neighborhood hellions.

This is what winning at life looks like, and you couldn’t pick a more deserving dude to showcase it.