On the Road With Malcolm Subban
Malcolm Subban has always had an eye for fast-moving objects. On the ice, the Providence Bruins goaltender’s job is to deflect darting pucks as they careen toward him. But growing up, there was another high-speed activity that grabbed his attention and never let go.
As is the case with any Canadian kid, hockey was Subban’s first priority. But interest in muscle and tuner cars began around the seventh grade when he attended charity automotive events. Twenty dollars bought him the opportunity to sit in the passenger seat of a Ferrari or Viper. He was captured by the adrenaline rush.
“They’d go around the slalom, and you just go so fast,’’ Subban, 20, said. “After that, I fell in love with cars.’’
When Subban entered high school, he wanted to enroll in automotive courses. They didn’t fit with the demands of his hockey schedule, with the countless hours spent shuffling to and from tournaments, trying to get a leg up on players who were busy doing the same. His automobile knowledge was self-taught. Through magazines, websites, and online videos, he soaked up any information he could. Subban still continues to educate himself in his down time.
“If I’m at home, that’s pretty much all I do,’’ he said. “I read websites, I watch Motor Trend, Fifth Gear, Top Gear, all the videos on YouTube about the cars, the in-depth tours. Then I watch tuning, how they tune them, if they’re installing something how they install them, how-to videos.’’
Ironically Subban did not have a car as a teenager; his parents didn’t allow it. His first vehicle was a Hyundai Santa Fe. Subban kept the enhancements to a minimum, only buying new rims, and planned for his current car instead. This summer he purchased a Chrysler 300 with a 5.7 liter engine, black exterior, interior, rims, and grills. He has already added racing rims, tires, exhaust, and air intake.
Because he does not have formal training, Subban has yet to get hands-on with his vehicles. He brings them to a shop in Woodbridge, Toronto where he would like to gain firsthand experience in the following offseason.
“Some stuff I know how to do but I’m scared to do it myself because I don’t want to mess it up,’’ he said. “I want to volunteer next summer to learn more at the place where I get my car done.’’
When it comes to his top picks, Subban ranks the Nissan GT-R as his dream tuner car. For muscle cars it is a close call between the Shelby GT500 Super Snake and 2014 Dodge Viper.
He also admires his teammates’ cars. Subban deemed fellow goalie Tuukka Rask’s Audi R8 as his favorite on the Bruins.
“It’s pretty sick,’’ he said.
Subban looks forward to getting his own car on the road this season. Even though many of his rides will come in the wintry Boston weather, he isn’t worried.
He has all-wheel drive.
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