The American Dream Is Daily Driving a Lancer Evo X Hillclimb Race Car

This 2015 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo is a daily driven race car, and that’s not even the most remarkable thing about it.

[CARISMA is The Drive's new series exploring the connection between enthusiasts and their cars.]

Owner Sherwin took the long road here. Growing up poor in the Bronx, he dreamed of driving his own car one day. But when he turned 18 and went to get his learner’s permit, he learned something shocking: he was actually undocumented, brought here by his parents when he was little. No license, no future.

“21 to about 28, that was actually some of the darker days of my life. Not being able to provide for yourself, not being able to apply for a job and do these normal things you can do in America, it was very debilitating. You can feel so alone.”

Supported by his friends, he eventually got his green card and marched straight to the DMV again. Making up for lost time, he dove into the world of Lancer Evos (“It’s gonna sound cliche as hell, but it’s because of Fast & Furious.”), totaled one, then bought this stock 2015 Lancer Evo X and started honing his skills at track days.

When a friend suggested he try hillclimb, he immediately fell in love with the discipline. He started moving up through the ranks at SCCA hillclimb events and got serious about turning the Evo into a race car. Along the way, he picked up major sponsors like Exede and Sabelt, and an appreciation for what it means to represent minorities in a space where there aren’t that many.

Now, he’s living his American dream: following his passion, bringing it to others and most of all, driving.

“Doing this and seeing the world as it is, I love to go into these less affluent communities to try and get children more involved in motorsports, and kinda show their parents, especially me being from that type of neighborhood, that hey, this is an avenue. In some way shape or form, if you keep pushing, that’ll pay off… to sort of be an idea that hey, if he can do it I can do it too. Because I’m telling you, I come from nothing. Just a kid with a dream.”

Produced, shot, and edited by https://www.instagram.com/tomgorelik/?hl=en

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