Prescott Forest PRO Rally
by Andy Schupack
MEDIA_ALERT
Event: Prescott Forest PRO Rally X - Round #8 of the 1997 Michelin PRO
Rally Championship. Race cars from around the world will compete
at high speeds through the Prescott National Forest, with elevation
changes from 4,500 to 6,500 feet.
When: Friday - Saturday, October 3 - 4, 1997
Schedule_-_Friday
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM - Registration and Technical Inspection
Best Western Prescottonian, Prescott
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM - Parc Expose, Display of Cars
Best Western Prescottonian, Prescott
7:00 PM - First car starts - Day #1 of Prescott Forest PRO Rally
Best Western Prescottonian, Prescott
Schedule_-_Saturday
noon - 1:00 PM - Parc Expose, Display of Cars
Best Western Prescottonian, Prescott
1:00 PM - First car starts - Day #2 of Prescott Forest PRO Rally
Best Western Prescottonian, Prescott
9:00 PM - First car finishes Prescott Forest PRO Rally
Best Western Prescottonian, Prescott
Schedule - Sunday
9:00 AM - Awards breakfast - Great Hall, Rush Street, Prescott
Where: Rally headquarters will be at the Best Western Prescottonian,
1317 East Gurley Street, Prescott, AZ 86301 (520) 445-3096
Duration: 102 stage miles, 285 total miles, 9 stages
Rank: Full National Rally, sanctioned by the Sports Car Club of America,
administered by the SCCA PRO Rally Board, and sponsored nationally
by Michelin Tire Company. Presented by the Arizona Region of the
Sports Car Club of America.
Interviews: Drivers will be available by contacting the press room at the
Best Western Prescottonian starting October 2. Series spokes-
people are also available through the press room including
local driver and former national champion Roger Hull, event
organizer Jeff Hendricks, owner of Willow Creek Tire;
defending champion Paul Choiniere; and ESPN2 rally producer
Doug Plumer.
National TV Coverage: Event will be covered in a 30 minute show which
will air on ESPN2 on the following dates and
times:
Sun., Nov. 9, 1997 1:30 PM
Sat., Nov. 15, 1997 5:00 AM
Subject to change by ESPN - check local listings or
call the ESPN programming department at (860) 585-
2236 to confirm times. Other questions about the
programs, including sponsorship opportunities, can
be addressed to Doug Plumer, executive producer, at
(617) 492-7444.
Expected Top National Entries: Paul Choiniere - defending five-time
overall national champion - in his new '97 Hyundai Tiburon; Henry Joy,
a close second in points, in a right hand drive Mitsubishi Lancer; Carl
Merrill, with '97 updated Ford Escort Cosworth, produces more than 400 hp;
Sam Bryan, factory-supplied Group 5 Saab 900 turbo, has won three events in
class; Bruce Newey, Toyota Celica, currently leads Group 5; Pete Lahm, from
Phoenix, in a vintage 1968 Datsun 510 - currently leads Group 2; Bill
Malik, Volvo 240, has lead Group 2 until mid-summer; Dave White, VW GTI,
won Group 2 at Rim of the World and Ojibwe.
Visuals: There will be escorts to take photographers and
video crews onto the course during the daylight part
of the rally on Friday and Saturday. Anyone requiring
supplied photos or video should contact Andy Schupack in the
press room starting October 2. Rally cars going through mud,
over yumps and rough terrain, and sliding at high speed through
tight turns provide exciting visuals.
Media Info: We will provide phone-ins on event information,
driver interviews, and results. We will fax
stories and agate Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
We have B-roll available for TV. The press room will be
located in the Best Western Prescottonian, Prescott.
Contact: Andy Schupack - Michelin PRO Rally Championship
media liaison:
(520) 777-8126 direct line - 10/2 - 10/5/97
(401) 739-5677 (before October 2; after
October 5)
# # #
PRESCOTT FOREST RALLY
ROUND #8 OF THE 1997 MICHELIN PRO RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP
Preliminary Entry/Start List (September 26, 1997)
Car #/Driver/ Co-driver/ Car
Hometown Hometown Tires Class
7 Henry Joy IV Michael Fennell Mitsubishi Lancer Open
Atlanta, MI Kingston, Jamaica Michelin
1 Paul Choiniere Jeff Becker Hyundai Tiburon Open
Shelburne, VT Great Neck, NY Michelin
2 Carl Merrill Lance Smith Ford Escort Cosworth Open
Ogunquit, ME Colchester, VT Michelin
8 Rui Brasil Carlos Tavaras Audi Quattro S-2 Open
San Jose, CA San Jose, CA Michelin
30 Hiroyuki Genta Kazumasa Takata Subaru Impreza Open
Kyoto, JAPAN Kyoto, JAPAN Dunlop
96 Bruce Newey Matt Chester Toyota Celica Group 5
Atlanta, GA Atlanta, GA Michelin
900 Sam Bryan Robinson Walden Saab 900 Turbo Group 5
Kent, WA Shoreline, WA Michelin
1 Lon Peterson Bill Gutzmann Plymouth Arrow Open
Victorville, CA Ontario, CA Michelin
8 Mike Whitman Paula Gibeault Ford Sierra Cosworth Open
Farmington, NM Ridgecrest, CA Michelin
7 Roger Hull Sean Gallagher Eagle Talon PGT
Prescott, AZ Santa Ana, CA Goodyear
20 Bill Malik Farina O'Sullivan Volvo 240 Group 2
Burbank, CA San Francisco, CA Michelin
18 Dave White Ben Greisler VW GTI Group 2
Benicia, CA Exton, PA Michelin
22 Pete Lahm Jimmy Brandt Datsun 510 Group 2
Phoenix, AZ Odessa, MI Michelin
21 George Plsek Mark Ratham Saab 99 Group 5
Del Mar, CA Del Mar, CA Michelin
16 Harris Done Larry Scott Mazda RX-7 Group 5
Santa Monica, CA Escondido, CA Michelin
23 Chris Czyzio Eric Carlson Mitsubishi Eclipse Prod.GT
Flushing, MI Hermantown, MN Michelin
39 Al Kaumeheiwa Craig Sobczak Dodge Neon Prod.
Brighton, MI Marquette, MI Michelin
28 Richard Losee Kent Livingston VW GTI Group 2
Provo, UT Salt Lake City, UT Michelin
23 Ken Cassidy Ben Bradley Mitsu. Galant VR4 Open
Tempe, AZ Portland, OR Michelin
85 Tony Chavez John Elkin VW GTI Group 2
Santa Fe Springs, CA Portland, OR Michelin
26 Lee Shadbolt Paul Eklund Subaru Impreza Prod.GT
Tigard, OR Tigard, OR Michelin
43 Ron Wood Kelly Walsh Audi Quattro 04/Div.
Costa Mesa, CA Costa Mesa, CA Michelin
65 Dennis Chizma Claire Shelton VW GTI U2/Div.
Newhall, CA Valencia, CA Michelin
14 Robert Pendergrass Jon Weigley Chevy Blazer 04/Div.
Palos Verdes, CA Lawndale, CA BFG
28 Bobbi Webb Donna Mitchell Datsun 510 02/Div.
San Jose, CA Moorpark, CA
44 Mick Kilpatrick Chris Bradshaw Dodge Colt O2/Div.
Durango, CO Chatsworth, CA Michelin
78 Terry Stonecipher Chrissy Beavis Toyota Celica U2/Div.
Sunland, CA Ridgecrest, CA Bridgestone
13 Frank Parades Kengo Takahashi Datsun 510 U2/Div.
Corona, CA Placentia, CA
68 Pete Morris Eric Oyague Toyota Corolla U2/Div.
Los Angeles, CA Van Nuys, CA Bridgestone
39 Adrienne Scott Patti Wagner-Scott Toyota Corolla U2/Div.
Sun Valley, CA Montrose, CA
42 Fred Ronn John Dillon Toyota Corolla U2/Div.
Agoura, CA. Chatsworth, CA
90 Tom Bier Ole Holter Saab 99 U2/Div.
Solona Beach, CA Long Beach, CA
40 Doug Robinson Sue Robinson Mazda RX-7 02/Div.
Ramona, CA Ramona, CA Divisional
# # #
Note - both days and times have changed for the airing of the last two
events:
1997 MICHELIN PRO RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP - ESPN2 Air Dates*
(revised 9/15/97 - new air dates or times for Prescott, Maine winter)
EVENT/Date/location Air Date Time
(Eastern)
LITTLE CREEK CASINO Sat., May 3, 1997 7:00 PM
WILD WEST PRO RALLY Tue. May 19, 1997 4:00 AM
April 11-13 Thurs. July 17, 1997 6:30 PM
Olympia, WA Wed., Aug. 6, 1997 2:00 AM
RIM OF THE WORLD Sun., June 1, 1997 7:30 PM
May 2 - 4 Wed., June 4, 1997 2:00 AM
Palmdale, CA Fri. July 18, 1997 6:30 PM
SUSQUEHANNOCK TRAIL Sun., June 29, 1997 8:30 PM
June 6 - 8 Tue., July 1, 1997 3:30 AM
Wellsboro, PA Fri., July 4, 1997 3:30 AM
Thurs., July 31, 1997 2:00 AM
MAINE FOREST RALLY Sun., Aug. 17, 1997 2:30 PM
July 25 - 27 Sun., Aug. 24, 1997 4:00 AM
Rumford, ME Tue., Aug. 26, 1997 12:30 AM
PRESCOTT FOREST PRO RALLY Sun., Nov. 9, 1997 1:30 PM
October 3-4, 1997 Sat., Nov. 15, 1997 5:00 AM
Prescott, AZ
MAINE FOREST WINTER RALLY Sat., Dec. 27, 1997 1:00 PM
December 5-6 Mon., Dec. 29, 1997 1:00 AM
Rumford, ME
# # #
*Subject to change by ESPN - check local listings or call the ESPN
programming department at (860) 585-2236 to confirm times.
Other questions about the programs, including sponsorship opportunities,
can be addressed to Doug Plumer, executive producer, at (617) 492-7444.
Prescott Forest PRO Rally
Prescott, Arizona
Round #8 - 1997 Michelin PRO Rally Championship
October 2, 1997 - 9:00 p.m. PDT
PRESS NOTES #1
1. Welcome to Prescott, Arizona, and the tenth running of the Prescott
Forest PRO Rally, Round #8 of the Michelin PRO Rally Championship.
Although the event has been on the national schedule many of those ten
years as a coefficient 3 event awarding 60 percent national points,
this is only the second time it has run as a national event. The
rally runs on gravel roads through the Prescott National Forest, Chino
Valley Ranger District. The event runs in both Ponderosa forest, and,
in the high desert, juniper forest. The weather promises to
cooperate, with temperatures in the mid-80's during the day and the
high 60's at night, with no precipitation predicted. The nationally-
reported storm, which dumped more than two inches of rain on Prescott
last weekend, did not damage the course significantly, although the
organizer reports that there are a couple of impromptu water
crossings.
2. Replica Productions of Cambridge, Mass., producers of the ESPN2 rally
coverage this season (Wild West, Rim of the World, Susquehannock Trail,
and Maine Summer so far), are here this weekend to cover this event for
airing in November. Revised dates are as follows:
Sun., Nov. 9, 1997 - 1:30 PM EST
Sat., Nov. 15, 1997 - 5:00 AM EST
Replica and ESPN2 have announced intentions of telecasting the
entire 1998 Michelin PRO Rally schedule pending sponsorship of those
telecasts. Preliminary numbers have shown the rally events to be good
contributors to the network's audience, drawing 140,000 to 160,000
households per show - respectable numbers for a first-year show.
This year, Saab, Hyundai, Norseman Resorts, and Vermont Sports Car
all sponsored event, and others - including series sponsor Michelin -
took a "wait-and-see" approach. With the series on the verge of
breaking out of obscurity, let's hope the fence-sitters spring into
action. Executive Producer Doug Plumer can provide details of
sponsorship opportunities on the broadcasts starting at less than
$1,000 (617) 492-7444.
3. In the last few years, the Prescott Forest Rally has provided some of
the more bizarre PRO Rally stories on the circuit. In 1992, Rod Millen
rolled his Mazda and shattered the windshield, but won the rally after
borrowing glass from Toyota truck competitor Gary Gooch. In 1995,
Harris Done won this event in a divisional Mazda RX-7, while Rui Brasil
took his old Audi Quattro to victory last year as Bill Malik and his
co-driver missed a timing mistake that would have given them the win.
It was here that actor Jason Priestley made his national PRO Rally
debut (1993), and Jeff Zwart won one of the two national events he came
in first that year in his Porsche Carrera 4.
# # #
PRESCOTT FOREST RALLY
ROUND #8 OF THE 1997 MICHELIN PRO RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP
Final Entry/Start List
Car #/Driver/ Co-driver/ Car
Hometown Hometown Tires Class
7 Henry Joy IV Michael Fennell Mitsubishi Lancer Open
Atlanta, MI Kingston, Jamaica Michelin
1 Paul Choiniere Jeff Becker Hyundai Tiburon Open
Shelburne, VT Great Neck, NY Michelin
2 Carl Merrill Lance Smith Ford Escort Cosworth Open
Ogunquit, ME Colchester, VT Michelin
30 Hiroyuki Genta Kazumasa Takata Subaru Impreza Open
Kyoto, JAPAN Kyoto, JAPAN Dunlop
96 Bruce Newey Matt Chester Toyota Celica Group 5
Atlanta, GA Atlanta, GA Michelin
900 Sam Bryan Robinson Walden Saab 900 Turbo Group 5
Kent, WA Shoreline, WA Michelin
10 Lon Peterson Bill Gutzmann Plymouth Arrow Open
Victorville, CA Ontario, CA Michelin
8 Mike Whitman Paula Gibeault Ford Sierra Cosworth Open
Farmington, NM Ridgecrest, CA Michelin
77 Roger Hull Sean Gallagher Eagle Talon PGT
Prescott, AZ Santa Ana, CA Goodyear
21 Bill Malik Farina O'Sullivan Volvo 240 Group 2
Burbank, CA San Francisco, CA Michelin
18 Dave White Ben Greisler VW GTI Group 2
Benicia, CA Exton, PA Michelin
22 Pete Lahm Jimmy Brandt Datsun 510 Group 2
Phoenix, AZ Odessa, MI Michelin
19 George Plsek Mark Ratham Saab 99 Group 5
Del Mar, CA Del Mar, CA Michelin
16 Harris Done Larry Scott Mazda RX-7 Group 5
Santa Monica, CA Escondido, CA Michelin
28 Richard Losee Kent Livingston VW GTI Group 2
Provo, UT Salt Lake City, UT Michelin
31 Al Kaumeheiwa Craig Sobczak Dodge Neon Prod.
Brighton, MI Marquette, MI Michelin
17 Ken Cassidy Ben Bradley Mitsu. Galant VR4 PGT
Tempe, AZ Portland, OR Michelin
85 Tony Chavez John Elkin VW GTI Group 2
Santa Fe Springs, CA Portland, OR Michelin
26 Lee Shadbolt Paul Eklund Subaru Impreza Prod.GT
Tigard, OR Tigard, OR Michelin
51 Vartan Samuelian Ara Manoukian Mitsubishi Eclipse Open
Pasadena, CA Pasadena, CA Michelin
11 Ron Wood Kelly Walsh Audi Quattro 04/Div.
Costa Mesa, CA Costa Mesa, CA Michelin
94 Dennis Chizma Claire Shelton VW GTI U2/Div.
Newhall, CA Valencia, CA Michelin
14 Robert Pendergrass Jon Weigley Chevy Blazer 04/Div.
Palos Verdes, CA Lawndale, CA BFG
25 Bobbi Webb Donna Mitchell Datsun 510 02/Div.
San Jose, CA Moorpark, CA
37 Mick Kilpatrick Chris Bradshaw Dodge Colt O2/Div.
Durango, CO Chatsworth, CA Michelin
4 Terry Stonecipher Chrissy Beavis Toyota Celica U2/Div.
Sunland, CA Ridgecrest, CA Bridgestone
62 Frank Parades Kengo Takahashi Datsun 510 U2/Div.
Corona, CA Placentia, CA
15 Pete Morris Eric Oyague Toyota Corolla U2/Div.
Los Angeles, CA Van Nuys, CA Bridgestone
40 Doug Robinson Sue Robinson Mazda RX-7 02/Div.
Ramona, CA Ramona, CA Divisional
39 Adrienne Scott Patti Wagner-Scott Toyota Corolla U2/Div.
Sun Valley, CA Montrose, CA
42 Fred Ronn John Dillon Toyota Corolla U2/Div.
Agoura, CA. Chatsworth, CA
90 Tom Bier Ole Holter Saab 99 U2/Div.
Solona Beach, CA Long Beach, CA Michelin
86 Dean DelCalzo John Luch Audi Quattro 04/Div.
Englewood, CO Denver, CO Michelin
45 Paul Timmerman Mark Nelson Mazda 323GTX 04/Div.
Altadena, CA Incline Village, NV Michelin
# # #
Prescott Forest PRO Rally
Prescott, Arizona
Round #8 - 1997 Michelin PRO Rally Championship
October 3, 1997 - noon PDT
PRESS NOTES #2
4. The points race, with the best seven events counting for championship
standings, is usually settled by now in some classes, but races have
been very close - with different people winning different events.
Uncharacteristic DNFs from Choiniere, Merrill, Joy, Bryan, Landau, and
others have made all the classes close, and a DNF means that a team can
go farther into the season before dropping points. In the case of the
top three overall competitors, it means no dropping of points until at
least the last event - and for Merrill, who has two DNFs, it means he
can still score 66 points with no drops. Right now, Choiniere's
Hyundai Tiburon has 83 points, with Joy's Mitsubishi Lancer 78 and
Merrill's Ford Escort Cosworth 60.
In Group 5, Bruce Newey's Toyota Celica is on a hot streak, with two
class wins and a second place finish in his last three events. During
that same time period, class favorite Sam Bryan's Saab 900 turbo has a
class win and two DNFs, including a disappointing failure in Minnesota
in August when he was leading Group 5 by a healthy margin when heat
from a faulty turbo melted the alternator housing. Newey now has a 12-
point lead in class, with both competitors in Prescott for a critical
showdown.
Group 2 is coming down the stretch with four teams in contention for
the title, and all four are here this weekend. Bill Malik jumped off
to an early-season points lead with a win at Wild West in his Coffee
Fresh International Volvo 240, but Pete Lahm's Datsun PL510 has grabbed
the points lead with consistent finishes, including a second and two
third-places. Even more amazing have been the performances of Dave
White's and Richard Losee's VW GTI racers. White has only entered two
events, but two class wins - including a fourth overall at Rim of the
World - put him in contention, while Losee - a rookie on the circuit -
has moved into second place a second, two thirds, and a fourth.
In Production GT and Production, the teams that are here will take big
steps to the title if they can finish because their major competition
for the championships are not here. Lee Shadbolt's Subaru Impreza has
a 13 point lead over the Mitsubishi Eclipse of Cal Landau, but Landau
could not make the event. In Production, class leader Tad Ohtake and
his new Ford Escort ZX2 is not here, and the second-place points entry
of Al Kaumeheiwa can grab the points lead with a finish in his Dodge
Neon.
5. That's not to say that some of the entries not in the points race
could throw a monkey wrench into the class races - including overall -
and we will discuss those entries in a subsequent note. As of the
opening of registration, there are 34 entries, including 20 national
cars.
# # #
Prescott Forest PRO Rally
Prescott, Arizona
Round #8 - 1997 Michelin PRO Rally Championship
October 3, 1997 - 4:30 PM PDT
PRESS NOTES #3
6. Prescott's own Roger Hull, with co-driver Sean Gallagher, is running
his Eagle Talon in the Production GT class. The 1990 Rally Truck class
champion (with co-driver Rob Cherry who, incidentally, is the official
starter for PFR) is the only local competitor. Hull was running second
in class at Washington's Wild West in April before he broke down. But
he's ready to give Tempe's Ken Cassidy, his teammate in the newly-
formed Mercury Motorsports and his toughest competitor, a run for the
money.
Hull's most recent success was as overall champion in the FIA-
sanctioned Ensenada 2000 earlier this year. However, he's been
rallying since 1986 in a variety of cars and rally trucks. Two years
ago, he switched to Production GT Class, prompted by the desire to have
full-time four-wheel-drive maneuverability and increased speed.
7. James Tatum Joy joined the Henry Joy IV racing team on August 26,
weighing in at 8 lbs. 13 ozs. Joy says son Henry V, now two years old,
objected to the new addition for the first week or so by throwing his
toys against the wall. However, he now thinks James Tatum is just fine
and is even holding him, with supervision by mom, Robbie. The whole
family will be rooting for Dad at Lake Superior PRO Rally October 17-
19.
8. The new Rui Brasil/Carlos Tavaras Audi Quattro S-2 was a last-minute
no-show as the car wasn't quite ready, and the team's old Quattro no
longer runs. The Janice Damitio/Amity Trowbridge Toyota GT4 is home in
Washington state as the Damitio's new driveway took precedence in the
family budget. The Cal Landau/Eric Marcus Mitsubishi Eclipse could not
make the event as both driver and co-driver had family commitments for
the weekend.
9. The Japanese rally team of Hiroyuki Genta and Kazumasa Takata, which
ran their well-prepared Subaru Impreza at Rim of the World, have
returned to this country for a second event. Genta was running eighth
overall at Rim when electrical problems sidelined his Open class rally
car.
10. The Mike Whitman/Paula Gibeault Ford Sierra Cosworth Open class car,
which has undergone some major repairs during its initial U.S. rally
voyage, is back on the circuit after taking a couple of events off to
affect transmission repairs.
# # #
Prescott Forest PRO Rally
Prescott, Arizona
Round #8 - 1997 Michelin PRO Rally Championship
October 4, 1997 - 1:00 AM PDT
PRESS NOTES #4
11. 34 cars took the countdown from the "almost Grand Marshall" Rob
Cherry, founding organizer of the Prescott Forest Rally in 1986 and
1990 national champion co-driver. The cars are running four stages
Friday night on brand new Prescott Forest Rally roads, and will run
the remaining five stages on Saturday.
12. Trouble started right on stage #1 for some of the leaders:
--The Lee Shadbolt/Paul Eklund Subaru Impreza will maintain their
national points lead in Production GT, but will only add their two
starting points as they rolled their car five miles into the stage.
The car was driveable, but the suspension was collapsed.
--The Mike Whitman/Paula Gibeault Ford Sierra Cosworth finished stage
#1, but could not continue past the service due to transmission
problems.
--The other stage #1 DNF is the Mazda RX-7 of Harris Done/Larry Scott,
overall winners here in 1995. Done's car hit a Ponderosa sapling
head-on, causing heavy damage to his car.
13. National stage times after four stages (Friday night):
Road
CAR DRIVER 1 2 3 4 Pts. TOTAL
7 H Joy 956 951 932 932 0 37.71
1 P Choini 961 976 920 917 0 37.74
30 H Genta 1027 1010 995 992 100 41.24
21 B Malik 1054 1044 1027 1009 0 41.34
28 R Losee 1009 1024 1116 988 0 41.37
18 D White 1059 1046 1037 1005 0 41.47
900 S Bryan 1079 1117 1000 962 0 41.58
51 V Samuel 1090 1069 1047 1037 0 42.43
77 R Hull 1102 1048 1050 1074 0 42.74
19 G Plsek 1073 1067 1096 1063 0 42.99
10 L Peters 1093 1079 1088 1060 0 43.20
96 B Newey 1154 1073 1077 1020 0 43.24
22 P Lahm 1092 1106 1107 1044 0 43.49
85 T Chavez 1124 1148 1142 1083 0 44.97
2 C Merril 1002 1379 1025 957 153 45.16
31 A Kaumei 1133 1271 1321 1086 0 48.11
17 K Cassid 1193 1182 1167 1805 0 53.47
8 M Whitma Trans.
16 H Done Crash
26 L Shadbo Crash
# # #
Prescott Forest PRO Rally
Prescott, Arizona
Round #8 - 1997 Michelin PRO Rally Championship
October 4, 1997 - 3:00 AM PDT
PRESS NOTES #5
14. Divisional results - Friday night:
CAR
# (DRIVER/CO-DRIVER) CAR SEED SCORE
21 Bill Malik/F O'Sullivan Volvo 1 41:20 1 Two WD 1 U2
18 David White/Ben Greisler VW 1 41:28 2 Two WD 2 U2
51 V Samuelian/A Manoukian Mitsubishi 2 42:25 1 4WD 1 4WD
77 Roger Hull/Sean Galagher Eagle 1 42:44 2 4WD 2 4WD
19 George Plsek/R Phillips Saab 2 42:59 3 Two WD 1 O2
10 Lon Peterson/B Gutzmann Plymouth 1 43:12 4 Two WD 2 O2
11 Ron Wood/Kelly Walsh Audi 2 43:25 3 4WD 3 4WD
85 Tony Chavez/John Elkin VW 2 44:58 5 Two WD 3 U2
94 Dennis Chizma/Claire Mane VW 2 45:03 1 Stock 4 U2
4 Terry Stonecipher/S Scott Toyota 3 46:12 1 Perf Stk 3 O2
40 Doug Robinson/S Robinson Mazda 5 48:05 2 Perf Stk 4 O2
37 M Kilpatrick/C Bradshaw Dodge 3 48:43 6 Two WD 5 O2
25 Bobby Whitman/D Mitchell Datsun 3 48:47 7 Two WD 5 U2
42 Fred Ronn/John Dillon Toyota 4 49:40 4 4WD 4 4WD
39 Adrienne Scott/P Scott Toyota 4 49:51 2 Stock 6 U2
14 Bob Pendergrass/J Weigley Chevy 3 49:55 5 4WD 5 4WD
15 Pete Morris/Eric Oyague Toyota 3 50:37 3 Stock 7 U2
45 Paul Timmerman/M Nelson Mazda 5 56:30 6 4WD 6 4WD
62 Frank Paredes/K Kakahashi Datsun 3 57:58 4 Stock 8 U2
90 Tom Bier/Ole Holter Saab 5 1:09:51 8 Two WD 9 U2
16 Harris Done/Larry Scott Mazda 1 DNF
86 Dean DelCalzo/John Luch Audi 4 DNF
# # #
15. The Carl Merrill/Lance Smith Ford Escort Cosworth had a miserable
night, first blowing a turbo on stage #1, then leaking all the oil
out of the car when the turbo return line came loose.
16. Although Henry Joy/Mike Fennell hold an 1.8-second lead overall,
their Mitsubishi Lancer needs some bodywork before the rally starts
on Saturday as they pushed the front crossmember back an inch or two
after hitting a dip right after the flying finish of stage #3.
17. The Paul Choiniere/Jeff Becker Hyundai Tiburon is in second place,
right behind Joy, but will be stuck behind Henry for the rest of the
event because there are no more reseeds on Saturday.
18. The Sam Bryan/Rob Walden Saab 900 turbo is leading the Group 5 class,
but the others in class are closer than they might have been as the
impact from one of the rally's water crossings (from the recent
rains) knocked off a spark plug wire.
# # #
Prescott Forest PRO Rally
Prescott, Arizona
Round #8 - 1997 Michelin PRO Rally Championship
October 4, 1997 - 11:00 AM PDT
PRESS NOTES #6
19. A correction on notes #17 - there will be a reseed after stage
#8 as the 9th and final stage is 21-miles long and the organizer wants
to make sure that faster guys don't overwhelm the slower competitors.
20. Stories galore from Friday night:
--The Tony Chavez/John Elkin VW GTI, which was able to move into the
Group 2 class after removing its Reynard wing, had a scary moment on
stage 2 when the car went off the road after a crest, shooting right
between two trees and going up on two wheels before coming to rest
in a clearing. Chavez kept the car running, however, and got right
back on the road without any damage.
--The Bill Malik/Farina O'Sullivan Volvo 240, one of the five cars
in hot pursuit of the Group 2 national title, had a great run last
night, edging the Richard Losee/Kent Livingston VW GTI by three
seconds for the Group 2 lead and the Dave White/Ben Greisler VW GTI
by eight seconds for the divisional title (the divisional event
ended with last night's four stages - the second divisional event
begins today). Losee lost almost a minute on stage #3 when his hood
flew open on the stage, blocking his visiion. Points leaders Pete
Lahm/Jimmy Brandt, armed with their new KC HiLites sponsorship
(company headquarters are nearby in Williams, Arizona), is in fourth
place, two minutes back.
--A clarification on the Harris Done tree encounter - reports from the
field indicate that, while the Ponderosa might have been less than
full grown, and might have been partially dead, that it was a full
12" in diameter.
--Although trailing Henry Joy by a hair, the Paul Choiniere/Jeff
Becker Hyundai Tiburon had a great run last night, winning two
stages despite not having Joy's first-on-the-road dust-free
advantage. Choiniere said the roads were not overly rough, and the
dust, while bothersome, was not oppressive, but he had trouble
getting a rhythm going.
--In Group 5, Sam Bryan/Rob Walden's Saab 900 turbo has a 1:25
lead over the fellow Saab competitors George Plsek/Renn Phillips
Saab 99 turbo. The Lon Peterson/Bill Gutzmann Plymouth Arrow,
usually an Open class or divisional only entry, requested a move
into Group 5, and that request was granted. This is important in
the points chase as that puts Lon in third place, only 12 seconds
behind Plsek and two seconds ahead of current points leaders Bruce
Newey/Matt Chester in their Toyota Celica. Newey had transmission
problems on Friday night, necessitating a complete transmission
change during the night.
# # #
Prescott Forest PRO Rally
Prescott, Arizona
Round #8 - 1997 Michelin PRO Rally Championship
October 4, 1997 - 5:00 PM PDT
PRESS NOTES #7
21. The Al Kaumeheiwa/Craig Sobczak Dodge Neon continues to
run well as the only Production class car entry. A finish means 22
points and a takeover in class leadership in the standings from the
Tad Ohtake Ford Escort ZX2.
22. The Japanese right-hand-drive Subaru Impreza Open class entry of
Genta/Takata is running a strong third behind Joy and Choiniere, even
after incurring a one minute penalty for checking in early to a stage.
With current rules, a competitor is only penalized 12 seconds for each
minute late into a control, but each minute early requires a one-
minute penalty.
23. The Tom Bier/Ole Holter Saab 99 divisional entry rolled on early in
the event Friday, but a dozen people pulled, kicked, pushed, hammered
and otherwise yanked the roof and rear-end sheetmetal in order to keep
the car on the road, and Bier was able to finish the four Friday
stages and start Saturday's event.
24. Not so lucky is the Mazda RX-7 of Harris Done/Larry Scott, which hit a
tree on Friday night. Done thought he might be able put in a
replacement radiator - the most obviously-damaged component - and run
the divisional today. But the radiator didn't fit around the body
damage, and the team discovered additional engine damage, but Done and
Scott were relegated to spectator status.
25. 17 national cars and 15 divisional competitors started day #2 of the
Prescott Forest PRO Rally, with sunny skies and temperatures in the
low 80s. The cars will run 66 stage miles and four stages, with the
rally ending about 9:00 PM PDT.
26. Reports from service after stage 6 - courtesy of Prescott PRO Rally
committee PR person Sharon Anderson - have Paul Choiniere/Jeff
Becker's Hyundai Tiburon retaking the lead from the Mitsubishi Lancer
of Henry Joy and Michael Fennell by 28 seconds. Both leaders report
their cars running well, and they will race for the right to be first
on the road for the final stage, which is 21 miles long.
27. The Carl Merrill/Lance Smith Ford Escort Cosworth - already troubled
in this event with a blown turbo and oil leak - lost its brakes and
had to bleed the system during the brief service after stage #6.
28. The Genta/Tataka Subaru Impreza is reporting clutch problems after
#6 - something they will look at more carefully during the longer
Chino Valley service after stage #8.
# # #
Prescott Forest PRO Rally
Prescott, Arizona
Round #8 - 1997 Michelin PRO Rally Championship
October 4, 1997 - 7:00 PM PDT
PRESS NOTES #8
29. The 1997 D&N Bank Lake Superior PRO Rally, the next event on the
Michelin PRO Rally circuit, has its communications act together for
the upcoming October 17 - 19 rally. Not only have the supplementary
regulations already been put on-line, but entry forms are also
available in the press room of the Prescott event. The headquarters
hotel, the Best Western Franklin Square, will also host registration
this year (Dee Stadium is under construction), and still has a couple
of rooms left (906) 487-1700 - ask for the rally rate. Get the
latest info on the D&N Bank Lake Superior PRO Rally web site
<www.up-plaza.com/lspr>.
30. More reports from service after stage #6:
--The Richard Losee/Kent Livingston VW GTI is running well despite
a mental mistake - running out of gas on the transit between
stages #5 - #6. The Sam Bryan/Rob Walden Saab 900, maintaining its
minute-and-a-half lead in Group 5, stopped and towed Losee into the
service after #6 so he could gas up.
--Speaking of Group 5, the Bruce Newey/Matt Chester Toyota Celica is
running well with its replacement transmission. Newey needs to
overcome yesterday's problems and overtake Peterson/Gutzmann and
Plsek/Phillips to maintain points contact with Bryan.
31. The rally competitors have now completed eight of nine stages, with
one 21-mile stage remaining. Dust has been a non-issue, with a slight
breeze and two-minute intervals, along with all but the last stage in
daylight, the headlights/dust annoyance from last night has
disappeared. None of the top cars have had major problems (except for
those reported above), and everyone seems to be enjoying the crystal-
clear Arizona day and the great scenery.
32. As there is a reseed at the end of stage #8, there was a "race to the
yellow" between Joy and Choiniere, and, although Henry was able to
make up some time on stages #7 and #8, Choiniere maintains a 12-second
lead over Joy. Thus, Choiniere's Hyundai will be first on the road
for the final run to the flag. Both Joy and Choiniere report their
cars are running fine.
33. The other class leaders - Malik (Group 2); Hull (Production GT); Bryan
(Group 5); and Kaumeheiwa (Production) are maintaining their leads,
with Bryan and Hull have comfortable advantages. Malik/O'Sullivan,
White/Greisler, and Losee/Livingston are all in the hunt in Group 2.
Hull has an eight-minute lead in Production GT as a result of the
Cassidy/Bradley gas tank leak and broken control arm, while
Bryan/Walden have pulled away from the Group 5 field with a perfect
run today and a three-minute lead.
# # #
Prescott Forest PRO Rally
Prescott, Arizona
Round #8 - 1997 Michelin PRO Rally Championship
October 5, 1997 - 12:30 AM PDT
PRESS NOTES #9
34. The tenth running of the Prescott Forest Rally has come to an abrupt
end with the suspension of stage #9 - the last stage - as a result of
the crash of the Henry Joy/Michael Fennell Mitsubishi Lancer. About
1.3 miles from the end of stage #9, Joy, who was trying to make up the
12-second deficit to front-runner Paul Choiniere, went off the road
and over a cliff, falling an estimated 200 feet into a canyon. Joy
and Fennell were escorted off the stage by Sam Bryan, with both
suffering bumps and bruises. Joy was taken to Yavapai Regional
Medical Center in Prescott as a precaution, but reports are that he
did not require any services. The car is heavily damaged, however,
putting Henry's future racing exploits for the rest of the year in
flux.
35. The result of the Joy DNF is that the Paul Choiniere/Jeff Becker
Hyundai Tiburon has won the Prescott Forest PRO Rally
and cemented their first place points lead in pursuit of their sixth
straight championship. Choiniere's car ran the 9th stage all out,
trying to stave off the challenge of Henry Joy, and co-driver Jeff
Becker said that car was missing a bit during the stage, making the
run that much more dramatic. For Libra Racing and Hyundai, it was a
gratifying win because Hyundai is now back in the lead - by two
points - in the manufacturers championship. With the Joy DNF and the
Merrill 10th place finish, Choiniere now has 105 points, with Joy 80
and Merrill 63.
CAR
# (DRIVER/CO-DRIVER) CAR SEED SCORE
1 Paul Choiniere/J Becker Hyundai 0 1:31:31 1 Open
30 Hiroyuki Genta/K Takata Subaru 3 1:40:13 2 Open
900 Sam Bryan/Rob Walden Saab 1 1:40:35 1 Group 5
21 Bill Malik/F O'Sullivan Volvo 2 1:40:54 1 Group 2
18 David White/Ben Greisler VW 2 1:41:18 2 Group 2
28 R Losee/K Livingston VW 3 1:41:18 3 Group 2
77 Roger Hull/Sean Galagher Eagle 2 1:43:23 1 GT
96 Bruce Newey/Matt Chester Toyota 1 1:44:01 2 Group 5
51 V Samuelian/A Manoukian Mitsubishi 4 1:44:06 3 Open
2 Carl Merrill/Lance Smith Ford 0 1:44:10 4 Open
10 Lon Peterson/B Gutzmann Plymouth 1 1:44:16 3 Group 5
19 George Plsek/R Phillips Saab 3 1:44:22 4 Group 5
22 Pete Lahm/Jimmy Brandt Datsun 2 1:44:54 4 Group 2
85 Tony Chavez/John Elkin VW 4 1:48:16 5 Group 2
31 AK Kaumeiheiwa/C Sobczak Dodge 3 1:53:15 1 Production
17 Ken Cassidy/Ben Bradley Mitsubishi 4 1:58:10 2 GT
7 Henry Joy/Michael Fennell Mitsubishi 0 DNF Crash
8 Mike Whitman/Paula Gibe Ford 2 DNF Trans.
16 Harris Done/Larry Scott Mazda 3 DNF Crash
26 Lee Shadbolt/Paul Eklund Subaru 4 DNF Crash
# # #
Prescott Forest PRO Rally
Prescott, Arizona
Round #8 - 1997 Michelin PRO Rally Championship
October 5, 1997 - 1:30 AM PDT
PRESS NOTES #10
36. Here are the results of the Saturday divisional event:
CAR
# (DRIVER/CO-DRIVER) CAR SEED SCORE
21 Bill Malik/F O'Sullivan Volvo 1 59:33 1 Two WD 1 U2
18 David White/Ben Greisler VW 1 59:49 2 Two WD 2 U2
77 Roger Hull/Sean Galagher Eagle 1 1:00:39 1 4WD 1 4WD
10 Lon Peterson/B Gutzmann Plymouth 1 1:01:04 3 Two WD 1 O2
19 George Plsek/R Phillips Saab 2 1:01:22 4 Two WD 2 O2
51 V Samuelian/A Manoukian Mitsubishi 1 1:01:40 2 4WD 2 4WD
85 Tony Chavez/John Elkin VW 2 1:03:18 5 Two WD 3 U2
42 Fred Ronn/John Dillon Toyota 4 1:03:59 6 Two WD 4 U2
4 T Stonecipher/C Beavis Toyota 3 1:04:18 1 Perf Stk 3 O2
94 Dennis Chizma/Claire Mane VW 2 1:04:45 1 Stock 5 U2
11 Ron Wood/Kelly Walsh Audi 2 1:04:52 3 4WD 3 4WD
62 Frank Paredes/K Kakahashi Datsun 3 1:04:54 2 Stock 6 U2
25 Bobby Whitman/D Mitchell Datsun 3 1:05:49 7 Two WD 7 U2
37 M Kilpatrick/C Bradshaw Dodge 3 1:06:53 8 Two WD 4 O2
14 Bob Pendergrass/J Weigley Chevy 3 1:08:02 4 4WD 4 4WD
40 Doug Robinson/S Robinson Mazda 5 1:08:10 2 Perf Stk 5 O2
15 Pete Morris/Eric Oyague Toyota 3 1:08:21 3 Stock 8 U2
90 Tom Bier/Ole Holter Saab 5 1:09:26 9 Two WD 9 U2
45 Paul Timmerman/M Nelson Mazda 5 1:10:52 5 4WD 5 4WD
39 Adrienne Scott/P Scott Toyota 4 1:15:47 4 Stock 10 U2
16 Harris Done/Larry Scott Mazda 1 DNF Crash
86 Dean DelCalzo/John Luch Audi 4 DNF Fuel system
37. The Hiroyuki Genta/Kazumasa Takata right-hand-drive Subaru Impreza
finished second overall in only its second U.S. rally event. The
Japanese competitors ran the whole day without a clutch, but the team
had a good time, praising both the roads and the organizing
committee.
38. The Group 5 points race has tightened up even more with second-place
Sam Bryan/Rob Walden in their Saab 900 turbo scoring a convincing win
(3:30) over points leaders Bruce Newey/Matt Chester in their Toyota
Celica. Bryan also finished third overall - the third time he has
done that this season. Newey now has 98.8 points, and Bryan has 92.
The Lon Peterson/Bill Guzmann Plymouth Arrow was third in class, only
15 seconds behind Newey, with the Plsek/Phillips Saab 99 only six
seconds behind Peterson.
39. In Production GT, the Roger Hull/Sean Gallagher Eagle Talon cruised
to a 15-minute win over the Ken Cassidy/Ben Bradley Mitsubishi Galant
VR4.
# # #
Prescott Forest PRO Rally
Prescott, Arizona
Round #8 - 1997 Michelin PRO Rally Championship
October 5, 1997 - 8:30 AM PDT
PRESS NOTES #11
40. ATTENTION - NEW RESULTS PER SUCCESSFUL PROTEST FILED:
Revised - National results which became official at 4:24 AM
CAR
# (DRIVER/CO-DRIVER) CAR SEED SCORE
1 Paul Choiniere/J Becker Hyundai 0 1:31:31 1 Open
30 Hiroyuki Genta/K Takata Subaru 3 1:40:13 2 Open
900 Sam Bryan/Rob Walden Saab 1 1:40:35 1 Group 5
21 Bill Malik/F O'Sullivan Volvo 2 1:40:38 1 Group 2
18 David White/Ben Greisler VW 2 1:42:07 2 Group 2
96 Bruce Newey/Matt Chester Toyota 1 1:43:38 2 Group 5
77 Roger Hull/Sean Galagher Eagle 2 1:44:00 1 GT
2 Carl Merrill/Lance Smith Ford 0 1:44:10 3 Open
51 V Samuelian/A Manoukian Mitsubishi 4 1:44:34 4 Open
10 Lon Peterson/B Gutzmann Plymouth 1 1:45:05 3 Group 5
28 R Losee/K Livingston VW 3 1:45:10 3 Group 2
19 George Plsek/R Phillips Saab 3 1:45:11 4 Group 5
22 Pete Lahm/Jimmy Brandt Datsun 2 1:45:43 4 Group 2
85 Tony Chavez/John Elkin VW 4 1:49:06 5 Group 2
31 AK Kaumeiheiwa/C Sobczak Dodge 3 1:54:04 1 Production
17 Ken Cassidy/Ben Bradley Mitsubishi 4 1:59:00 2 GT
7 Henry Joy/Michael Fennell Mitsubishi 0 DNF
8 Mike Whitman/Paula Gibe Ford 2 DNF
16 Harris Done/Larry Scott Mazda 3 DNF
26 Lee Shadbolt/Paul Eklund Subaru 4 DNF
Revised Saturday Divisional Results - official at 4:25 AM
21 Bill Malik/F O'Sullivan Volvo 1 59:18 1 Two WD 1 U2
18 David White/Ben Greisler VW 1 1:00:39 2 Two WD 2 U2
77 Roger Hull/Sean Galagher Eagle 1 1:01:16 1 4WD 1 4WD
10 Lon Peterson/B Gutzmann Plymouth 1 1:01:53 3 Two WD 1 O2
51 V Samuelian/A Manoukian Mitsubishi 1 1:02:08 2 4WD 2 4WD
19 George Plsek/R Phillips Saab 2 1:02:12 4 Two WD 2 O2
85 Tony Chavez/John Elkin VW 2 1:04:07 5 Two WD 3 U2
42 Fred Ronn/John Dillon Toyota 4 1:04:48 6 Two WD 4 U2
4 T Stonecipher/C Beavis Toyota 3 1:05:07 1 Perf Stk 3 O2
94 Dennis Chizma/Claire Mane VW 2 1:05:34 1 Stock 5 U2
11 Ron Wood/Kelly Walsh Audi 2 1:05:41 3 4WD 3 4WD
25 Bobby Whitman/D Mitchell Datsun 3 1:06:39 7 Two WD 6 U2
37 M Kilpatrick/C Bradshaw Dodge 3 1:07:42 8 Two WD 4 O2
14 Bob Pendergrass/J Weigley Chevy 3 1:08:51 4 4WD 4 4WD
40 Doug Robinson/S Robinson Mazda 5 1:09:00 2 Perf Stk 5 O2
15 Pete Morris/Eric Oyague Toyota 3 1:09:10 2 Stock 7 U2
62 Frank Paredes/K Kakahashi Datsun 3 1:09:43 3 Stock 8 U2
90 Tom Bier/Ole Holter Saab 5 1:10:15 9 Two WD 9 U2
45 Paul Timmerman/M Nelson Mazda 5 1:11:41 5 4WD 5 4WD
39 Adrienne Scott/P Scott Toyota 4 1:16:36 4 Stock 10 U2
16 Harris Done/Larry Scott Mazda 1 DNF
86 Dean DelCalzo/John Luch Audi 4 DNF
# # #
Prescott Forest PRO Rally
Prescott, Arizona
Round #8 - 1997 Michelin PRO Rally Championship
October 5, 1997 - 8:30 AM PDT
PRESS NOTES #12
41. A protest filed by the team of Pete Lahm/Jimmy Brandt asked that
the organizer grant the teams which received legitimate rally
racing times from the closed stage #9 be given those time. Initially,
only Choiniere and Genta (the first two cars finishing the stage
before the Joy crash was discovered) kept their racing times, and
everyone else was given a bogey time equal to the slowest finishing
time - Genta's time). The protest was upheld, so Choiniere and Genta
kept their times, Bryan and Merrill - whose times were affected
directly by the incident because they stopped to help, got Genta's
time, and everyone else got the slowest finishing car's time - that of
Dave White (see below).
STAGE 9 - Revised times
P.Choi 1894 K.Cass 2252 18% D.Robi 2252 18%
B.Newe 2131 12% T.Chav 2252 18% P.Timm 2252 18%
B.Mali 2144 13% R.Wood 2252 18% R.Lose 2557 35%
C.Merr 2170 14% D.Chiz 2252 18%
H.Gent 2170 14% B.Pend 2252 18%
S.Brya 2170 14% B.Whit 2252 18%
V.Samu 2217 17% M.Kilp 2252 18%
R.Hull 2232 17% T.Ston 2252 18%
A.Kaum 2252 18% F.Pare 2252 18%
L.Pete 2252 18% P.Morr 2252 18%
D.Whit 2252 18% A.Scot 2252 18%
P.Lahm 2252 18% F.Ronn 2252 18%
G.Plse 2252 18% T.Bier 2252 18%
42. The only national car affected is the Richard Losee/Kent Livingston
VW GTI, which falls from a tie for second to third in Group 2. Thus,
in the Group 2 points, Lahm has 71, Losee and Malik are tied for
second with 67 and Dave White has 61. Losee's team, which has filed
an appeal with SCCA headquarters in Denver, felt that the protest was
filed by a team which did not run the stage and whose position was
not affected, specifically in order to cost him points rather than
because of philosophy claimed. The writer of these notes sat in on
the early AM debate, and can offer additional explanation for those
who need it.
Prescott - LEG SCORES
STAGE 1 STAGE 2 STAGE 3 STAGE 4 ROAD POINTS
H.Joy 956 H.Joy 951 P.Choi 920 P.Choi 917 H.Joy 0
P.Choi 961 P.Choi 976 H.Joy 932 H.Joy 932 P.Choi 0
C.Merr 1002 H.Gent 1010 H.Gent 995 C.Merr 957 A.Kaum 0
R.Lose 1009 R.Lose 1024 S.Brya 1000 S.Brya 962 B.Newe 0
H.Gent 1027 B.Mali 1044 C.Merr 1025 R.Lose 988 S.Brya 0
H.Done 1042 D.Whit 1046 B.Mali 1027 H.Gent 992 L.Pete 0
R.Wood 1048 R.Hull 1048 D.Whit 1037 D.Whit 1005 R.Hull 0
B.Mali 1054 G.Plse 1067 V.Samu 1047 B.Mali 1009 B.Mali 0
D.Whit 1059 V.Samu 1069 R.Hull 1050 B.Newe 1020 D.Whit 0
G.Plse 1073 B.Newe 1073 B.Newe 1077 V.Samu 1037 P.Lahm 0
S.Brya 1079 L.Pete 1079 L.Pete 1088 P.Lahm 1044 G.Plse 0
V.Samu 1090 R.Wood 1096 G.Plse 1096 R.Wood 1051 R.Lose 0
P.Lahm 1092 P.Lahm 1106 P.Lahm 1107 L.Pete 1060 K.Cass 0
L.Pete 1093 S.Brya 1117 R.Lose 1116 G.Plse 1063 T.Chav 0
R.Hull 1102 D.Chiz 1121 R.Wood 1131 R.Hull 1074 D.Chiz 0
D.DelC 1106 T.Ston 1129 T.Ston 1134 T.Chav 1083 B.Whit 0
D.Chiz 1120 H.Done 1137 T.Chav 1142 A.Kaum 1086 M.Kilp 0
T.Chav 1124 D.DelC 1146 D.Chiz 1155 D.Chiz 1110 T.Ston 0
A.Kaum 1133 T.Chav 1148 D.DelC 1160 T.Ston 1117 D.Robi 0
B.Newe 1154 F.Pare 1156 K.Cass 1167 F.Pare 1124 V.Samu 0
F.Ronn 1158 F.Ronn 1159 P.Morr 1215 D.Robi 1154 P.Timm 0
K.Cass 1193 K.Cass 1182 A.Scot 1216 F.Ronn 1161 R.Wood 20
D.Robi 1209 M.Kilp 1200 D.Robi 1222 B.Whit 1176 B.Pend 20
B.Whit 1225 B.Pend 1216 F.Pare 1229 A.Scot 1184 F.Ronn 20
T.Ston 1240 P.Morr 1222 M.Kilp 1232 M.Kilp 1192 D.DelC 34
M.Kilp 1249 D.Robi 1224 B.Whit 1235 B.Pend 1219 F.Pare 40
A.Scot 1262 A.Scot 1238 B.Pend 1264 P.Morr 1236 H.Gent 100
P.Morr 1271 B.Whit 1243 A.Kaum 1321 P.Timm 1278 A.Scot 100
B.Pend 1277 A.Kaum 1271 T.Bier 1364 T.Bier 1351 T.Bier 100
P.Timm 1315 T.Bier 1342 F.Ronn 1472 K.Cass 1805 P.Morr 140
F.Pare 2254 C.Merr 1379 P.Timm 1523 C.Merr 180
T.Bier 2844 P.Timm 1535
prescott - LEG SCORES
STAGE 5 STAGE 6 STAGE 7
P.Choi 788 P.Choi 650 H.Joy 1027
H.Joy 801 1% H.Joy 680 4% P.Choi 1030 0%
S.Brya 832 5% S.Brya 702 8% C.Merr 1081 5%
D.Whit 845 7% C.Merr 710 9% H.Gent 1091 6%
C.Merr 856 8% H.Gent 712 9% S.Brya 1113 8%
H.Gent 858 8% R.Hull 714 9% R.Lose 1121 9%
B.Newe 863 9% B.Mali 726 11% B.Mali 1127 9%
L.Pete 873 10% R.Lose 732 12% D.Whit 1146 11%
R.Hull 873 10% R.Wood 734 12% L.Pete 1157 12%
R.Lose 874 10% D.Whit 735 13% R.Hull 1157 12%
B.Mali 878 11% B.Newe 737 13% B.Newe 1161 13%
P.Lahm 888 12% P.Lahm 745 14% V.Samu 1168 13%
G.Plse 896 13% V.Samu 751 15% G.Plse 1180 14%
R.Wood 896 13% G.Plse 752 15% P.Lahm 1202 17%
A.Kaum 910 15% L.Pete 753 15% K.Cass 1263 22%
T.Chav 911 15% T.Chav 778 19% T.Chav 1266 23%
F.Ronn 923 17% K.Cass 783 20% T.Ston 1268 23%
V.Samu 928 17% A.Kaum 810 24% D.Chiz 1283 24%
K.Cass 932 18% F.Ronn 810 24% F.Pare 1300 26%
F.Pare 932 18% T.Ston 817 25% F.Ronn 1314 27%
D.Chiz 944 19% D.Chiz 818 25% A.Kaum 1338 30%
T.Ston 950 20% F.Pare 821 26% M.Kilp 1338 30%
B.Whit 965 22% B.Pend 837 28% B.Pend 1348 31%
D.Robi 977 23% B.Whit 840 29% B.Whit 1352 31%
M.Kilp 1002 27% M.Kilp 841 29% A.Scot 1371 33%
P.Timm 1018 29% D.Robi 852 31% P.Morr 1379 34%
T.Bier 1027 30% A.Scot 880 35% R.Wood 1382 34%
A.Scot 1032 30% P.Morr 888 36% T.Bier 1399 36%
P.Morr 1042 32% T.Bier 893 37% D.Robi 1476 43%
B.Pend 1057 34% P.Timm 938 44% P.Timm 1498 45%
prescott - LEG SCORES
STAGE 8 STAGE 9 ROAD POINTS
H.Joy 1000 P.Choi 1894 H.Joy 0
P.Choi 1017 1% B.Newe 2131 12% P.Choi 0
B.Mali 1055 5% B.Mali 2144 13% C.Merr 0
C.Merr 1058 5% C.Merr 2170 14% A.Kaum 0
H.Gent 1067 6% H.Gent 2170 14% H.Gent 0
S.Brya 1084 8% S.Brya 2170 14% B.Newe 0
D.Whit 1087 8% V.Samu 2217 17% S.Brya 0
R.Lose 1096 9% R.Hull 2232 17% L.Pete 0
P.Lahm 1137 13% A.Kaum 2252 18% R.Hull 0
G.Plse 1140 14% L.Pete 2252 18% B.Mali 0
B.Newe 1148 14% D.Whit 2252 18% D.Whit 0
V.Samu 1150 15% P.Lahm 2252 18% P.Lahm 0
R.Hull 1151 15% G.Plse 2252 18% G.Plse 0
L.Pete 1154 15% K.Cass 2252 18% R.Lose 0
F.Ronn 1182 18% T.Chav 2252 18% K.Cass 0
T.Chav 1206 20% R.Wood 2252 18% T.Chav 0
T.Ston 1225 22% D.Chiz 2252 18% R.Wood 0
B.Whit 1256 25% B.Pend 2252 18% D.Chiz 0
D.Chiz 1260 26% B.Whit 2252 18% B.Pend 0
F.Pare 1268 26% M.Kilp 2252 18% B.Whit 0
A.Kaum 1286 28% T.Ston 2252 18% M.Kilp 0
R.Wood 1305 30% F.Pare 2252 18% T.Ston 0
K.Cass 1323 32% P.Morr 2252 18% P.Morr 0
M.Kilp 1338 33% A.Scot 2252 18% A.Scot 0
D.Robi 1343 34% F.Ronn 2252 18% F.Ronn 0
P.Morr 1357 35% T.Bier 2252 18% T.Bier 0
B.Pend 1392 39% D.Robi 2252 18% D.Robi 0
T.Bier 1455 45% P.Timm 2252 18% V.Samu 0
P.Timm 1463 46% R.Lose 2557 35% P.Timm 0
A.Scot 2126 112% F.Pare 400
Prescott Forest PRO Rally
Prescott, Arizona
Round #8 - 1997 Michelin PRO Rally Championship
October 5, 1997 - 11:30 AM PDT
PRESS NOTES #13
43. More on the Henry Joy/Michael Fennell crash. X-rays taken
in the emergency room wre negative, but Joy did strain or tear
ligaments in his neck, and is likely to be uncomfortable for several
days. A crane has been dispatched to the area to haul the car out,
which is as far out away from the road as it is down in the canyon.
Crew chief Murray Thomas and Joy will be overseeing the operation this
morning, and Thomas hopes the drivetrain is salvageable, but the car
chassis is a write-off. When Murray went to look for the car last
night, he had trouble finding the chassis because the car flew so far
in the air that its path was hard to trace. Also, the fact that none
of the subsequent competitors saw the car, and it took the drivers 12
minutes to hike back to the road shows how far the car went off the
road.
44. More on the Losee and Lahm situation. These are the issues for the
appeals committee:
--When the Red Cross is shown on a stage, a stage is closed. No other
activity on the stage is permitted.
--Drivers who are started on the stage and complete the stage at
speed with no indication that the stage has been closed are entitled
to keep the stage times they earned.
--If several time cards have been mishandled by the stage workers,
then the stage times, earned or bogied, should not count.
--Can the appeals committee take into account that the team filing the
protest did not run the stage, and was not involved in a position
change if the protest was upheld?
Also, other issues were raised.
--Why couldn't the nearest EMTs pick up the stage frequencies and
why were they forced to call the head radio man on the cell phone -
long after they would have been needed if there had been a medical
emergency?
--What adjustments should be made in the "drivers should or shouldn't
stop" and "third driver" rules if the rally is running three-minute
intervals (increasing the length of reponse time)?
--Can the organizer have the power to force a competitor to seek
medical attention against his or her will?
--Should drivers be able to make a judgement to remove an injured
driver from the scene without EMT presence?
If you are a rally driver, worker, crew member, or fan, John McArthur,
national steward, and Paula Gibeault, communications liaison for the
SCCA PRO Rally board, would like to hear from you on these issues.
# # #
PRESCOTT FOREST RALLY
ROUND #8 OF THE 1997 MICHELIN PRO RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP
Final National Results
Car #/Driver/ Co-driver/ Car Time
Hometown Hometown Tires Class
1 Paul Choiniere Jeff Becker Hyundai Tiburon Open
Shelburne, VT Great Neck, NY Michelin 1:31:31
30 Hiroyuki Genta Kazumasa Takata Subaru Impreza Open
Kyoto, JAPAN Kyoto, JAPAN Dunlop 1:40:13
900 Sam Bryan Robinson Walden Saab 900 Turbo Group 5
Kent, WA Shoreline, WA Michelin 1:40:35
21 Bill Malik Farina O'Sullivan Volvo 240 Group 2
Burbank, CA San Francisco, CA Michelin 1:40:38
18 Dave White Ben Greisler VW GTI Group 2
Benicia, CA Exton, PA Michelin 1:42:07
96 Bruce Newey Matt Chester Toyota Celica Group 5
Atlanta, GA Atlanta, GA Michelin 1:43:38
77 Roger Hull Sean Gallagher Eagle Talon PGT
Prescott, AZ Santa Ana, CA Goodyear 1:44:00
2 Carl Merrill Lance Smith Ford Escort Cosworth Open
Ogunquit, ME Colchester, VT Michelin 1:44:10
51 Vartan Samuelian Ara Manoukian Mitsubishi Eclipse Open
Pasadena, CA Pasadena, CA Michelin 1:44:34
10 Lon Peterson Bill Gutzmann Plymouth Arrow Open
Victorville, CA Ontario, CA Michelin 1:45:05
28 Richard Losee Kent Livingston VW GTI Group 2
Provo, UT Salt Lake City, UT Michelin 1:45:10
19 George Plsek Renn Phillips Saab 99 Group 5
Del Mar, CA Del Mar, CA Michelin 1:45:11
22 Pete Lahm Jimmy Brandt Datsun 510 Group 2
Phoenix, AZ Odessa, MI Michelin 1:45:43
85 Tony Chavez John Elkin VW GTI Group 2
Santa Fe Springs, CA Portland, OR Michelin 1:49:06
31 Al Kaumeheiwa Craig Sobczak Dodge Neon Prod.
Brighton, MI Marquette, MI Michelin 1:54:04
17 Ken Cassidy Ben Bradley Mitsu. Galant VR4 PGT
Tempe, AZ Portland, OR Michelin 1:59:00
# # #
Did Not Finish
8 Mike Whitman Paula Gibeault Ford Sierra Cosworth Open
Farmington, NM Ridgecrest, CA Michelin Transmission
26 Lee Shadbolt Paul Eklund Subaru Impreza Prod.GT
Tigard, OR Tigard, OR Michelin Rollover
16 Harris Done Larry Scott Mazda RX-7 Group 5
Santa Monica, CA Escondido, CA Michelin Crash
7 Henry Joy IV Michael Fennell Mitsubishi Lancer Open
Atlanta, MI Kingston, Jamaica Michelin Crash
# # #
For Immediate Release Contact: Andy Schupack (401) 739-5677
CHOINIERE NEARS CHAMPIONSHIP AS JOY DESTROYS CAR IN ARIZONA
PRESCOTT, ARIZ. -- Billed as a showdown to break the logjam at the top of
the Michelin PRO Rally points chase, the Prescott Forest PRO Rally took
its toll on two of the top three contenders, while defending champions
Paul Choiniere and co-driver Jeff Becker piloted their 4WD Hyundai Tiburon
to a eight minute victory.
Henry Joy, second in the points along with co-driver Michael Fennell,
led early in the event in their Mitsubishi Lancer, and was within 12
seconds of the lead on the last racing stage when his car flew off the
course only 1.3 miles from the end. The car flew off the course over a
cliff and plunged more than 200 feet into a canyon, bouncing off rocks and
trees before coming to rest in a gulch.
Neither Joy or Fennell were seriously hurt. Joy was taken to Yavapai
Regional Medical Center in Prescott as a precaution, and was diagnosed
with strained neck ligaments. The car was completely destroyed, and had
to be lifted out with a special construction crane.
The third contending team for the title was the Ford Escort Cosworth of
Carl Merrill and Lance Smith, but a blown turbo, oil leak, and failing
brakes put Merrill way back, and he finished eighth overall, virtually
eliminating him for the championship chase. While still in contention,
Joy now has a very slim chance of catching Choiniere, who scored his
fourth win of the season. Merrill and Joy each have one victory.
Second overall was the Japanese rally team from Kyoto, Japan, of Hiroyuki
Genta and Kazumasa Takata, in a right-hand-drive, world rally-style 4WD
Subaru Impreza. Third was the factory-back Saab 900 turbo of Sam
Bryan/Rob Walden, who also won the Group 5 (2WD) class.
Other class winners included local favorites Roger Hull from Prescott and
co-driver Sean Gallagher in Production GT; the Bill Malik/Farina
O'Sullivan Volvo 240 (Group 2); and the Al Kaumeheiwa/Craig Sobczak Dodge
Neon (Production).
The 1997 Michelin PRO Rally Championship consists of ten events, and is
sponsored by Michelin Tire Corporation, and sanctioned by the Sports Car
Club of America. The 1997 Prescott Forest PRO Rally was presented by the
Arizona Region of the Sports Car Club of America.
The next event is the Lake Superior PRO Rally (formerly Press-on-
Regardless Rally) in Houghton, Michigan, October 17 - 19. The Prescott
event will be on ESPN2 Sunday, November 9, at 1:30 PM EST.
# # #
Henry Joy IV will be at the Lake Superior PRO Rally, and hopes to enter as
a competitor if T.A.D. Motorsports can put together his spare Mitsubishi
Lancer Evolution II shell before the rally later this week. Henry provided
the following information tonight:
--Because of the structural strength of the car that was in the crash last
Saturday, the drivetrain, much of the cockpit equipment, and some of the
suspension components were not damaged, and crew chief Murray Thomas felt
that they could get the new car together by the middle of this week.
--Joy was offered both Carl Merrill's Ford Escort Cosworth, and Libra
Racing's 1996 Hyundai Elantra to race this weekend, but felt he would be
more comfortable in a lancer.
--Because his crash was not caused by a mechanical failure or a mental
mistake by driver or co-driver, Henry did not feel that he should not run
the rest of the year because of the "off." "If we had just brushed a burm
or a rock, we wouldn't have even slowed down, and we might have won the
event."
--Henry talked his decision over with his wife Robbie, and she encouraged
him to pursue the championship until he was mathimatically eliminated.
Prescott Forest Rally 1997
Final Results (After Protest & Appeal)
Oct 15, 1997
FIN. CAR
POS. # (DRIVER/CO-DRIVER) CAR SEED SCORE CLASS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 1 Paul Choiniere/J Becker Hyundai 0 1:31:31 1 Open
2 30 Hiroyuki Genta/K Takata Subaru 3 1:40:13 2 Open
3 900 Sam Bryan/Rob Walden Saab 1 1:40:35 1 Group 5
4 21 Bill Malik/F O'Sullivan Volvo 2 1:40:54 1 Group 2
5 18 David White/Ben Greisler VW 2 1:41:18 2 Group 2
6 28 R Losee/K Livingston VW 3 1:41:18 2 Group 2
7 77 Roger Hull/Sean Galagher Eagle 2 1:43:23 1 GT
8 96 Bruce Newey/Matt Chester Toyota 1 1:44:01 2 Group 5
9 51 V Samuelian/A Manoukian Mitsubishi 4 1:44:06 3 Open
10 2 Carl Merrill/Lance Smith Ford 0 1:44:10 4 Open
11 10 Lon Peterson/B Gutzmann Plymouth 1 1:44:16 3 Group 5
12 19 George Plsek/R Phillips Saab 3 1:44:22 4 Group 5
13 22 Pete Lahm/Jimmy Brandt Datsun 2 1:44:54 4 Group 2
14 85 Tony Chavez/John Elkin VW 4 1:48:16 5 Group 2
15 31 AK Kaumeiheiwa/C Sobczak Dodge 3 1:53:15 1 Production
16 14 Bob Pendergrass/J Weigley Chevy 6 1:58:00 5 Open
17 17 Ken Cassidy/Ben Bradley Mitsubishi 4 1:58:10 2 GT
7 Henry Joy/Michael Fennell Mitsubishi 0 DNF Open
8 Mike Whitman/P Gibeault Ford 2 DNF Open
16 Harris Done/Larry Scott Mazda 3 DNF Group 5
26 Lee Shadbolt/Paul Eklund Subaru 4 DNF GT
Results 97 Index
RRN Index