| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | October 18, 1982 |
ALPINE, Arizona-- Now we don't have to watch just one Millen in PRO Rallyinq, we have two to contend with.
In a record setting show, Kiwi brothers Rod and Steve Millen drove their respective cars to Open Class and Production Class wins at the Tostitos Coronado PRO Rally here Sunday. Not only that but Rod's Mazda RX-7 was first overall and Steve's Datsun BFGoodrich 2005X was second over- all for a 1-2 sweep at the 250 mile, 17 stage PRO Rally.
In an excellent event that had more than its share of controversy, Californians (counting the Millens) claimed six of the top ten positions. Privateers Frank Jacob and Tim Fountaine drove their ancient BMW to a beautiful third place finish in a field of truly too drivers.
Lots of those top drivers were not around at the finish however. Sandy Liversidge drove his Saab to fourth overall and second in Production after thinking that he was out of the rally near the halfway point The Saab started to overheat and it looked like a headgasket. It turned out to be an intake gasket which John Buffum's mechanic `Salty' fixed in quick time.
Buffum had no need of Salty by then because the Audi Quattro was already on the trailer J.B. had not lost an event since April when the Quattro arrived. Rod Millen had suffered a lot of frustration in that same time. This time, however, the Quattro was attacked by a large rock which destroyed the rear suspension of the car on the second stage putting them out.
Jon Woodner inherited the lead in his Peugeot 504 Coupe, but that was short lived. On the third stage, he went off the road again, this time for good. Rod Millen inherited the lead and ran away from the pack. He had seemed confident before the event because BF Goodrich had supplied some bullet proof tires for him to really have a go at the Quattro. It did not seem to bother him a bit that he won all by himself
Steve Nowicki had his troubles, but still managed to finish seventh overall and fourth in Production, "We came around a corner and there was a cattle guard. We hit it with the front fender."
It took them about six minutes to get going again and probably cost them at least a second in the class. Also in Production, John Crawford put in his best drive of the year in his Dodge Charger (nee Omni) to finish second in Production and fifth overall.
Frenchman Jean-Paul Luc got embroiled in a controversy about scoring that eventually cost him 12 minutes and about six places. His scorecard had been chanqed by someonp, but by the time he discovered the error and filed a claim the organizers and the steward said that the claim was too late. "It was not the rules that were being protested," said Leon LeJeune, "But never in all my years of rallying have I ever had no one change my scores on my card. It is outrageous.-" The procedures of the PRO Rally rules provide no avenue for appeal.
Cold weather at night, high mountains, and beautiful fall color added to the quality of the Tostitos Coronado, and the $10,000 purse didn't hurt a bit, either.
The next event of the PRO Rally schedule is the world famous Budweiser Press on Regardless in Houghton, Michigan, November 5-7.
SCCA CONTACT: Tim Cline (203) 453-1742, T. Michael Moreland (303) 770-1044
EVENT: Tostitos Coronado EVENT CONDUCTUED BY: Arizona Border Region, SCCA
LOCATION: Alpine, Arizona LENGTH: 250 miles, 17 stages, 170 stage miles
PATE: October 16-17, 1982 WEATHER: Cold, dry
ENTRANTS: 69 FINISHERS: 29 TERRAIN: Mountains, forest
FIN. CHAMP. MEG.
POS. DRIVER/CO-DRIVER/HOMETOWN CAR SCORE POINTS POINTS
1. Rod Millen, Costa Mesa, Calif. Mazda RX-7 188.79 20 20
R.Dale Kraushaar, Tigard, Oreg. 20
2.(lP) Steve Millen, Irvine, Calif. Datsun 200SX 214.35 15 15
John Rettie, Los Angeles, Calif. 15
3. Frank Jacob, Crestline, Calif. BMW 1500 215.41 12 12
Tim Fountaine, Crestline, Calif. 12
4.(2P) Sandy Liversidge, Jericho, Vt. Saab 99 2l7.02 10 10
Linda Wilcox, Jericho, Vt. 10
5.(3P) John Crawford, Okeulgee, OkIa. Dodge Charger 219.30 8 8
Craig Marr, Oroville, Calif. 8
6. Ken Smith, Northridge, Calif. Plymouth 219.58 6 6
Dennis Sheehan, San Diego, Calif. Arrow 6
7.(4P) Steve Nowicki, New Berlin, Wis. Plymouth 220.42 4
Brian Berg, Milwaukee, Wis. Arrow 4
8. Richey Watanabe, W. Covina, Calif. Toyota 224.37 3
Howard Watanabe, W. Covina, Calif. Corolla 3
9. Ray Hooker, Ridgecrest, Calif. Plymouth 224.85 2
Bill Moore, Los Angeles, Calif. Arrow 2
IO.(5P) Jon Davis, Houghton, Mich. Ford Escort 225.79 1
Harry Ward, Toledo, Ohio 1
PRODUCTION CLASS WINNERS
1. Steve Millen, Irvine, Calif. Datsun 2OOSX 214.35 20 20
John Rettie, Los Angeles, Calif. 20
2. Sandy Liversidge, Jericho, Vt. Saab 99 217.02 15 15
Linda Wilcox, Jericho, Vt. 15
3. John Crawford, Okmulgee, Okla. Dodge Charger 219.30 12 12
Craig Marr, Oroville, Calif. 12
UNITED STATES RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS AFTER TEN EVENTS
DRIVER (Current Car) PRODUCTION DRIVER (Current Car)
1. John Buffum, Audi 120 1. Steve Nowicki, Plymouth 110
2. Rod Millen, Mazda 105 2. Sandy Liversidge, Saab 94
3. Jon Woodner, Peugeot 69 3. Gene Henderson, AMC 78
CO-DRIVER PRODUCTION CO-DRIVER
1. Doug Shepherd 120 1. Linda Wilcox 94
2. R. Dale Kraushaar 105 2. Jim Kloosterman 78
3. Grant Whittaker 52 3. Brian Berg 73
MANUFACTURER PRODUCTION MANUFACTURER
1. Audi 140 1. Plymouth 138
2. Mazda 135 2. Saab 117
3. Peugeot 82 3. AMC 88