Rim of the World National PRO Rally

Round 4 of the 1996 SCCA/Michelin PRO Rally Series

MAY 3-4, 1996

THE EVENTS

The coefficient 2 Divisional Friday May 3 will have 5 stages for a total of 38 stage miles; the coefficient 3 Saturday May 4 will have 7 stages for 60 stage miles. National competitors will run all 12 stages (98 stage miles). The first car will be due into the final MTC about 11:00 pm.

HALF PRICE ENTRY for OUT-OF-AREA DIVISIONAL ONLY competitors

Drivers who live outside California, Arizona, or Nevada and are entering ONLY the Divisionals are eligible for a $150 entry fee discount.

HEADQUARTERS & ACCOMODATIONS

The Ramada Inn of Palmdale will again be the headquarters.

Ramada of Palmdale/Lancaster
300 West Palmdale Boulevard
Palmdale, CA 93551
(805) 273-1200

SCHEDULE

Fri. May 3, 1996    1:00 pm - 6:00 pm     Tech Inspection
                                          America's Tire Company
                                          Lancaster, Ave. J & Hwy. 14

Stop in for a chance to win a free set of Michelin tires!

                    7:00 pm               Official Rally Start
                                          Ramada Inn, Rally Headquarters
                                          Palmdale, Hwy. 14 & Palmdale Blvd.

                    11:15 pm              Cars return after five stages

Mid-Rally Chili Party - All Welcome - Hosted by Raybestos Brake Parts

Sat. May 4, 1996    10:00 am - 2:00 pm    Rally Re-Start
                                          Antelope Valley Mall
                                          Palmdale, Ave. P & 10th St. West

Meet the top U.S. PRO Rally teams!  Rally cars and trucks on display.
R&E Racing T-shirts on sale, Music, Sponsor Displays, Refreshments

                    1:00 pm               Rally Re-Start

                    5:30 pm - 9:00 pm     Dinner & Service Break
                                          Lake Hughes Community Club
                                          Lake Hughes, on Hwy. N-2

Rally Information Center, Stage Winner awards, See the service crews
in action, Delicious hamburger dinner - only $4!

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Mike & Paula Gibeault
149 Rawhide Lane
Ridgecrest, CA 93555
(619)375-8704
gibeault@ridgecrest.ca.us
http://www.av.qnet.com/~teamhke/rim

                                MEDIA_ALERT
 
Event:  Rim of the World PRO Rally - Round #4 of the 1996 SCCA/ Michelin
        PRO Rally Series.  Race cars from around the world will compete at
        high speeds through the Angeles National Forest near Palmdale,
        California.
 
When:   Friday - Saturday, May 3 - 4, 1995
        Schedule_-_Friday
 
        8:45 AM - Meet at Ramada Inn, 300 West Palmdale Blvd., Palmdale, CA
                  93551 (805) 273-1200 for caravan or rides to press stage.
                  Los Angeles and San Fernando
                  Valley media to meet at Wendy's on Magic Mountain
                  Parkway in Valencia.
 
        9:30 AM - Press stage in Angeles National Forest - rides in rally
                  cars for working media followed by Toyota Motorsports
                  press luncheon.
 
        1:00 PM - Registration - Ramada Inn, Palmdale.
                  Tech Inspection - America's Tire Company, Valley
                  Central Shopping Center, Lancaster (next to Circuit City
                  - Avenue J and Hwy. 14)
 
        6:30 PM - Display of rally vehicles - Ramada Inn - Palmdale
 
        7:00 PM - Start - Day #1:  Rim of the World PRO Rally -
                                   Ramada Inn - Palmdale
 
       11:30 PM - Finish - Day #1: Rim of the World PRO Rally -
                                   Ramada Inn - Palmdale
                                   Chili dinner hosted by
                                   Raybestos Brakes
       Schedule_-_Saturday
 
       10:00 AM - Rally car displays, music, t-shirts, racing souvenirs,
                  etc. - Antelope Valley Mall, Highway 14 and 10th Street
                  West, Palmdale
 
           noon - Awards for Friday's stages; drawing for set of
                  Michelin tires - Antelope Valley Mall
 
        1:00 PM - Start - Day #2:  Rim of the World PRO Rally, Antelope
                                   Valley Mall - Palmdale
 
        1:30 PM - First stage begins - Angeles National Forest
 
        6:15 PM - Service stop, dinner break (public invited for dinner -
                  $4.00) - Lake Hughes Community Club
 
        8:15 PM - First car start - night section
 
        9:30 PM - Finish:  Rim of the World PRO Rally -
                           Ramada Inn - Palmdale
 
Where:  Rally headquarters will be at the Ramada Inn in Palmdale.
        A list of public viewing areas for the rally is available starting
        May 2 from the Ramada Inn in Palmdale, the Antelope Valley Mall,
        and America's Tire Company in Lancaster.  Prior information can be
        obtained by calling the contact people below.
 
Duration: 99 stage miles, 228 total miles, 12 stages
 
Rank:  Full National Rally, sanctioned by the Sports Car Club of America
       and sponsored by Michelin Tire Corporation.  Presented by the
       California Sports Car Club Region of the Sports Car Club of America,
       and conducted by Rim of the World PRO Rally Committee, Paula
       Gibeault - Chairperson.
 
Expected Top National Entries:  Paul Choiniere - defending five-time
overall national champion - won this rally last year - in his new '96
Hyundai Elantra; Carl Merrill - 400 HP Ford Escort Cosworth -fastest car on
the circuit - was leading last year when a tie-rod broke; won previous
event last month in Washington; Henry Joy, finished second to Choiniere in
last year's title chase, making season debut in right-hand-drive Mitsubishi
Lancer - first time car has run Rim; Tom Ottey -finished in the top five
several times last year -in his Open class Hyundai Elantra; Selcuk
Karamanoglu -Turkish rally champion now living in Maine - won Doo Wop event
in Washington in March in an Eagle Talon; Rui Brasil - Open class Audi 4000
Quattro -won the Doo Wop series last month in Washington -300 hp; Ralph
Kosmides -new Group 5 Toyota Supra - currently leading this new class; Sam
Bryan, new factory-supplied Group 5 Saab 900 turbo, rally debut; Janice
Damitio, from Montesano, Wash., only woman entered in national event -in a
Toyota Celica GTS 4WD - narrowly missed being the first woman to win a
rally championship last year.
 
Visuals: There will be escorts to take photographers and video crews onto
         the course during the daylight part of the rally on Saturday.
         Anyone requiring supplied photos or video should contact Andy
         Schupack in the press room starting May 2.  Rally cars going
         through water, 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 lobby of the Ramada Inn,
             Palmdale.
 
Contact: Andy Schupack - national series media liaison:
         (401) 739-5677 (now thru May 2 and after May 6)
         (805) 267-1725 (direct line - May 3 - 7)
                             or
         Paula Gibeault - Rim of the World PRO Rally Committee Chairperson
                          (619) 375-8704
 
                                   # # #

Correction on press room phone number - it is (805) 273-1725.

    For Immediate Release        Contact:  Andy Schupack (401) 739-5677
 
   THE "SHOULDA, WOULDA, COULDA" TEAMS BACK TO CHALLENGE CHOINIERE FOR
   13TH RIM OF THE WORLD EVENT; DEFENDING CHAMPION ONLY THIRD IN POINTS
 
PALMDALE, Calif. -- April 24 --  Last year, with the Paul Choiniere/Jeff
Becker Hyundai Elantra having its nagging problems, an upset was in the
making at the Rim of the World PRO Rally here.
 
The 400 horsepower Ford Escort Cosworth of Carl Merrill/John Bellefleur,
winners of three of the last five SCCA/Michelin National PRO Rally
events, was stretching his lead over Choiniere when a tie-rod broke,
nearly putting Merrill over the edge of a dropoff in the Angeles National
Forest.  So Merrill was out of a race he "shoulda" won.
 
Then the Henry Joy/Chris Griffen Mitsubishi Eclipse, which had been
maintaining a minute-plus lead over the ailing Choiniere Hyundai when it
lost a rear differential, leaving Joy with only two-sheel-drive on the
rough and twisty Rim roads, so Joy "woulda" won if he hadn't had the
mechanical problem.
 
Finally, the Jamaican team of Peter Moodie/Michael Fennell had a slight
lead with two stages to go when a miss developed in their Mazda 323GT-R
powerplant, and Choiniere slipped by them for the win.  Moodie, who was
15 seconds ahead, "coulda" won if not for that miss.
 
But the reality was that Choiniere, who has captured the championship
five of the last six years, and the Rim title the last four years,
outlasted and outdrove the faster cars to win the rally.
 
"We always seem to have problems here - turbo last year, power steering
pump failure the year before, brakes the year before that - but hard work
by our crew and some luck have put us in the winner's circle," said
Choiniere, a 32 year-old auto sales manager from Shelburne, Vermont
 
This year, Merrill and Joy are back, hoping that Choiniere's troubles
outweigh his luck and one of them can squeeze Paul's Hyundai Elantra out
of the top spot.  Other competitors in the 300 horsepower, all-wheel-
drive turbo Open class include the Hyundai Elantra of husband and wife
Tom Ottey/Pam McGarvey, and the San Jose-based Audi Quattro of Rui
Brasil/Carlos Tavares.
 
Many local drivers will be vying for points in both the SCCA/Michelin
national series and in the California Rally Series and SCCA Divisional
PRO Rally championships.  Victorville's Lon Peterson, a perennial winner
here, will be running a new Kia Sephia in the Production class, while
Newport Beach's Ralph Kosmides - co-founder of the Ruby's Diner
restaurant group - has a Cal Wells-built Toyota Supra in the new Group 5
class.  A favorite from the past, Bill Holmes from Malibu, an off-road
champion sponsored by Ford several years ago in PRO Rally events, will be
bringing his flashy Ford F-150 out of retirement for the event.
 
These teams and many more will be converging on Palmdale on May 3 - 4 for
Round #4 of the SCCA/Michelin PRO Rally series - the "lucky" 13th annual
Rim of the World PRO Rally.  The weekend schedule will offer a chance to
see the cars several times during the rally.
 
The first opportunity will be during tech inspection at America's Tire
Company, Valley Central Shopping Center, in Lancaster, from 1:00 PM to
6:00 PM, Friday, May 3.  A set of Michelin tires (winner's choice -
retail value up to $800) will be raffled off at 6:00 PM.  Raffle tickets
are $1.00, or can be obtained in exchange for a non-perishable food item
(one ticket per item) at America's Tire.  All cash and food will
be donated to South Antelope Valley Emergency Services (SAVES) food bank.
The cars will then leave from the headquarters Ramada Inn in Palmdale at
7:00 PM to "head for the hills."
 
The teams tackle the twisty ridgetop roads of the Angeles National Forest
for five stages on Friday night, ending back at the Ramada Inn at
11:30 PM.  The next morning, Saturday, May 4, the action moves to the
Antelope Valley Mall, where music, t-shirts, and vendors will be on hand
along with the rally cars and drivers starting at 10:00 AM.  The cars
then leave the mall at 1:00 PM.
 
                                  # # #
 
    For Immediate Release                   Contact:  Andy Schupack
                                                      (401) 739-5677
 
      IT'S 2WD VRS. 4WD AS SCCA/MICHELIN PRO RALLY TOP RUNNERS INVADE
                ANTELOPE VALLEY FOR RIM OF THE WORLD EVENT
 
PALMDALE, Calif. -- April 10 -- For the big-engined cars of the
SCCA/Michelin PRO Rally series, it always seemed that if you didn't have
four-wheel-drive, you didn't exist.
 
After all, Paul Choiniere/Jeff Becker in their Audi Quattro, and more
recently in their Hyundai Elantra 4WD, have dominated the Rim of the World
event with 350 hp, turbochargers, and all-wheel-drive.  The cars that had
only two wheel drive, even with equivalent horsepower, could not match
Choiniere's times on the rocky or sandy closed Rim roads of the Angeles
National Forest.
 
But now, with the new Group 5 class for two-wheel-drive cars which allows
the Open-class-style rules for free engine, brakes, transmission and
suspension modifications, the front and rear-drivers now have their own
class.  The stars at Rim of the World should be a powerful Toyota Supra
and the country's fastest Saab 900.
 
"We've always had big horsepower, fast two-wheel-drive cars in our local
California Rally Series," said Rim of the World organizer Paul Gibeault,
herself a rally driver from Ridgecrest, "but now that the national series
has changed the rules, we are getting factory-sponsored efforts that
should be exciting to watch."
 
 Sam Bryan, from Kent, Washington, and his co-driver Rob Walden, will be
 entering a sophisticated Group 5 Saab 900 turbo, with 12" brakes, 300
 horsepower, and electronic engine controls.  The driver is no slouch,
 either, as Sam won the Group 2 title with a small-engined Saab last
 year.
 
 The other new Group 5 star will be the Toyota Supra of Ruby's Diner
 partner Ralph Kosmides, from Newport Beach, and his co-driver Joe Noyes.
 Kosmides' car is more stock that Bryan's, but still puts out more than
 235 horsepower and will have plenty of speed for the twisty Rim roads.
 
 In a PRO Rally, each team consists of a driver and a co-driver (or
 navigator), and the exact course is kept secret until just before the
 event - different from World Rally, where practice is allowed.  At Rim,
 the cars start at two-minute intervals and race against the clock over
 12 stages which range in length from four to 10 miles.  The teams
 achieving the fast combined times wins.
 
 Most PRO rallies include night stages, making it necessary for competitors
 to adjust their driving style.  At many events, speeds of more than 120
 miles-per-hour can be reached on long straight-aways, but the twisty,
 rough hilltop fire roads of Rim are renown for challenging car durability
 and driver stamina.
 
Along with Choiniere and Carl Merrill, whose 400 hp Ford Escort Cosworth
was leading Rim last year before breaking its suspension, other Open class
contenders include the Hyundai Elantra of Tom Ottey, of Columbus, Ohio,
whose co-driver is his wife Pam McGarvey, and Henry Joy, whose Mitsubishi
Lancer is the only right-hand-drive car on the circuit.
 
Besides the fastest, overall competitors, there are less exotic cars
running in different classes which allow less modifications.  The cars
mentioned above are all four-wheel-drive, turbocharged, highly-modified
racers, while various Production classes allow very few changes to the
stock vehicles driven on the street.  All PRO Rally cars have safety
equipment including aircraft-style safety harnesses, roll cages, and fire
extinguishers.
 
This year's Rim event will start on Friday afternoon, May 3, with tech
inspection at America's Tire Company in Lancaster.  Fans can meet the
drivers and look at the cars, as well as obtain a rally program with entry
lists and spectator area maps.  A new set of Michelin tires will be
raffled of to benefit the local SAVES Food Bank.  The cars will be flagged
off from the Ramada Inn in Palmdale (Rt. 14 and Palmdale Blvd.) at
7:00 PM.
 
As always, all rally activities are free and open to the public.
 
On Saturday, vehicle displays and activities, including the 1:00 PM
restart, will take place atthe Antelop Valley Mall in Palmdale starting at
10:00 AM.  Not only can the public meet the top North American PRO rally
teams and see their vehicles up close, but there will also be sponsor
displays, music, t-shirts for sale, and a noon awards ceremony for winners
of the Friday night stages.  Saturday's activities also include the dinner
break in Lake Hughes, with a chance to watch the service crews in action
before the final night stages.
 
The Rim of the World PRO Rally is Round #4 of the SCCA/Michelin PRO Rally
series.  The series is not only a contest of who is the best driver on
challenging roads, at high speed, in varying conditions, but also a
competition between car preparers and manufacturers.  He or she whose car
is sturdily built and who can avoid damaging off-course excursions into
trees or ditches, stands a chance of winning.
 
Tires play an important part in a winning rally effort. They must be
equally reliable on many driving surfaces; the asphalt of the transit
roads that rallyists traverse to get to the competition stages, as well as
varying conditions on the competition stages themselves.  Stages, many of
which are unpaved, can change from sandy to clay to gravel in the space of
a few hundred feet.  Sometimes rain will turn a perfectly ordinary dirt
road into a quagmire within minutes.
 
Most of the top competitors will be using specially constructed Michelin
XGT Rally tires, which not only come in various compounds for different
road surfaces, but have rugged carcass and sidewall designs to resist
puncturing under the stressful rally conditions.  The tire company is
using its three-year agreement with the Sports Car Club of America to
promote one of the fastest growing motorsports in the country as well as
its XGT line of street tires.
 
 The 1996 SCCA/Michelin PRO Rally Series consists of eleven events, and is
 sponsored by Michelin Tire Corporation, and sanctioned by the Sports Car
 Club of America.  The 1996 Rim ofthe World PRO Rally is presented by the
 SCCA's California Sports Car Club Region and the Rim Organizing Committee.
 
 
                                   # # #

 
               Round #4 - 1996 SCCA/Michelin PRO Rally Series
              Rim of the World PRO Rally - Palmdale, California
                  Entry/Start List - May 1, 1996 (prelim.)
 
Start   Car  Driver/             Co-Driver/        Make/Model/Class/
 Pos.   No.  Hometown            Hometown          Division
-----   ---- ------------------  ----------------- -------------------
 
   1      1   Paul Choiniere      Jeff Becker       Hyundai Elantra/Open
              Shelburne, VT       Great Neck, NY    National
 
   2      3   Carl Merrill        John Bellefleur   Ford Escort Cosworth/Open
              Ogunquit, ME        Thornhill, ONT    National
 
   3      2   Henry Joy           Chris Griffin     Mitsubishi Lancer/Open
              Atlanta, MI         Sherman Oaks, CA  National
 
   4     33   Tom Ottey           Pam McGarvey      Hyundai Elantra/Open
              Columbus, OH        Columbus, OH      National
 
   5     14   Selcuk Karamanoglu  Yorgi Bittner     Eagle Talon/PGT
              Bath, ME            Plain City, OH    National
 
   6      4   Sam Bryan           Rob Walden        Saab 900 Turbo/Group 5
              Kent, WA            Seattle, WA       Nat./Div.
 
   7     31   Rui Brasil          Carlos Tavaras    Audi Quattro/Open
              San Jose, CA        San Jose, CA      Nat./Div.
 
   8     16   Ralph Kosmides      Joe Noyes         Toyota Supra/Group 5
              Newport Beach, CA   Bothell, WA       Nat/Div.
 
   9     39   Mike Whitman        Kevin Linville    Datsun 510/Group 2
              Farmington, NM      Durango, CO       Nat./Div.
 
  10     18   David Peterson      Greg Chaloupka    VW GTI/Group 2
              Aspen, CO           Aspen, CO         Nat./Div.
 
  11     21   Lon Peterson        Bill Gutzmann     Kia Sephia/Production
              Victorville, CA     Ontario, CA       Nat./Div.
 
  12     11   John Pizzagalli     Eric Hauge        Mitsubishi Galant/PGT
              S. Burlington, VT   Napa, CA          National
 
  13     47   Kurosh Jahromi      Erik Thompson     Audi Quattro/Open
              Corona, CA          Portland, OR      Nat./Div.
 
  14     23   Dennis Chizma       John Forespring   Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4/PGT
              Simi Valley, CA     Olympia, WA       Nat./Div.
 
  15     25   Bill Malik          Renn Phillips     Volvo 240/Group 2
              Burbank, CA         Del Mar, CA       Nat./Div.
 
  16          Douglas Shrenk      Mike Fenter        Saab 900/Group 2
              Lynnwood, WA        Canby, OR          Nat./Div.
 
  17     20   Pete Lahm           Jimmy Brandt      Datsun PL 510/Group 2
              Phoenix, AZ         Lake Odessa, MI   National
 
  18     15   Tony Chavez         John Elkin        Mitsubishi Eclipse/Gp. 5
              Santa Fe Springs, CA Lytle Creek, CA  Nat./Div.
 
  19     53   Gerry Valentini     Lee Sorenson      Mazda RX-7/Group 5
              Sacramento, CA      FairOaks, CA      National
 
  20     67   Gary English        Brian Paul        Alfa GTV6/Group 2
              Irvine, CA          Anaheim, CA       Nat./Div.
 
  21     17   Janice Damitio      Amity Trowbridge  Toyota Celica GTS/PGT
              Montesano, WA       Seattle, WA       Divisional
 
  22     59   Bill Holmes         Brian Maxwell     Ford F-150 Pickup
              Malibu, CA          Port Hope, Ontario  Divisional
 
  23     43   Ron Wood            Kelly Walsh       Audi Quattro Coup
              Costa Mesa, CA      Costa Mesa, CA    Divisional
 
  24     44   Mick Kilpatrick     Chris Bradshaw    Dodge Colt Turbo
              Durango, CO         Chatsworth, CA    Divisional
 
  25     19   Jeff Hendricks      Noble Jones       Jeep Comanche
              Prescott, AZ        Prescott, AZ      Divisional
 
  26     22   Vartan Samuelian    Ara Manoukian     Mitsubishi Eclipse
              Pasadena, CA        Pasadena, CA      Divisional
 
  27     27   Robert Tallini      Steve Scott       Toyota Corolla
              Downey, CA          Sunland, CA       Divisional
 
  28     35   Jose Soares         Luis Romero       VW GTI
              Antioch, CA         Vallejo, CA       Divisional
 
  29     24   Bobby Webb          Tim Sardelich     Datsun 510
              Santa Clara, CA     Orangevale, CA    Divisional
 
  30     30   Robert Pendergrass  Jon Weigley       Chevy Blazer
              Palos Verdes, CA    Lawndale, CA      Divisional
 
  31     60   Ben Medeiros        Tony Medeiros     Mazda 323GTX
              Walnut Creek, CA    Walnut Creek, CA  Divisional
 
  32     34   Jose Pauletti       Colleen McKay     Plymouth Arrow
              Irvine, CA          Oakhurst, CA      Divisional
 
  33     54   Gordon Swenson       Tom Carter          Toyota Celica
              Rancho Cucamonga, CA Running Springs, CA Divisional
 
  34     61   Sevak Khatchadourian TBD              Ford Escort
              Glendale, CA                          Divisional
 
  35     62   Frank Paredes       William Staley    Datsun 510
              Corona, CA          Perris, CA        Divisional
 
  36     63   Justin Hill          Jason Bailey         Plymouth Sapparo
              Huntington Beach, CA Huntington Beach, CA Divisional
 
  37     64   Lincoln Woodard     Claire Shelton    Toyota Corolla
              Valencia, CA        Valencia, CA      Divisional
 
                                    # # #
               Round #4 - 1996 SCCA/Michelin PRO Rally Series
              Rim of the World PRO Rally - Palmdale, California
                           Final Entry/Start List
 
Start   Car  Driver/             Co-Driver/        Make/Model/Class/
 Pos.   No.  Hometown            Hometown          Division
-----   ---- ------------------  ----------------- -------------------
 
   1      1   Paul Choiniere      Jeff Becker       Hyundai Elantra/Open
              Shelburne, VT       Great Neck, NY    National
 
   2      3   Carl Merrill        John Bellefleur   Ford Escort Cosworth/Open
              Ogunquit, ME        Thornhill, ONT    National
 
   3      2   Henry Joy           Chris Griffin     Mitsubishi Lancer/Open
              Atlanta, MI         Sherman Oaks, CA  National
 
   4     33   Tom Ottey           Pam McGarvey      Hyundai Elantra/Open
              Columbus, OH        Columbus, OH      National
 
   5     14   Selcuk Karamanoglu  Yorgi Bittner     Eagle Talon/PGT
              Bath, ME            Plain City, OH    National
 
   6      4   Sam Bryan           Rob Walden        Saab 900 Turbo/Group 5
              Kent, WA            Seattle, WA       Nat./Div.
 
   7     31   Rui Brasil          Carlos Tavares    Audi Quattro/Open
              San Jose, CA        San Jose, CA      Nat./Div.
 
   8     17   Janice Damitio      Amity Trowbridge  Toyota Celica GTS/PGT
              Montesano, WA       Seattle, WA       Nat./Div.
 
   9     16   Ralph Kosmides      Joe Noyes         Toyota Supra/Group 5
              Newport Beach, CA   Bothell, WA       Nat/Div.
 
  10     39   Mike Whitman        Ben Bradley       Datsun 510/Group 2
              Farmington, NM      Portland, OR      National
 
  11     18   David Peterson      Greg Chaloupka    VW GTI/Group 2
             Aspen, CO           Aspen, CO         Nat./Div.
 
  12     21   Lon Peterson        Bill Gutzmann     Kia Sephia/Production
              Victorville, CA     Ontario, CA       Nat./Div.
 
  13     11   John Pizzagalli     Eric Hauge        Mitsubishi Galant/PGT
              S. Burlington, VT   Napa, CA          National
 
  14     47   Kurosh Jahromi      Erik Thompson     Audi Quattro/Open
              Corona, CA          Portland, OR      Nat./Div.
 
  15     23   Dennis Chizma       John Forespring   Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4/PGT
              Simi Valley, CA     Olympia, WA       Nat./Div.
 
  15     25   Bill Malik          Renn Phillips     Volvo 240/Group 2
              Burbank, CA         Del Mar, CA       Nat./Div.
 
  16     42   Douglas Shrenk      Sean Tennis       Saab 900/Group 2
              Edmonds, WA         Seattle, WA       Nat./Div.
 
  17     20   Pete Lahm           Jimmy Brandt      Datsun PL 510/Group 2
              Phoenix, AZ         Lake Odessa, MI   National
 
  18     15   Tony Chavez         John Elkin        Mitsubishi Eclipse/Gp. 5
              Santa Fe Springs, CA Lytle Creek, CA  Nat./Div.
 
  19     12   George Plsek        Mark Rathsam      Saab 99/Group 5
              Del Mar, CA         Del mar, CA       Nat./Div.
 
  20     53   Gerry Valentini     Lee Sorenson      Mazda RX-7/Group 5
              Sacramento, CA      FairOaks, CA      National
 
  21     67   Gary English        Brian Paul        Alfa GTV6/Group 2
              Irvine, CA          Anaheim, CA       Nat./Div.
 
  22     59   Bill Holmes         Brian Maxwell     Ford F-150 Pickup
              Malibu, CA          Port Hope, Ontario  Divisional
 
  23    43    Ron Wood            Kelly Walsh       Audi Quattro Coup
              Costa Mesa, CA      Costa Mesa, CA    Divisional
 
  24    44    Mick Kilpatrick     Chris Bradshaw    Dodge Colt Turbo
              Durango, CO         Chatsworth, CA    Divisional
 
  25    19    Jeff Hendricks      Noble Jones       Jeep Comanche
              Prescott, AZ        Prescott, AZ      Divisional
 
  26    22    Vartan Samuelian    Ara Manoukian     Mitsubishi Eclipse
              Pasadena, CA        Pasadena, CA      Divisional
 
  27    27    Robert Tallini      Steve Scott       Toyota Corolla
              Downey, CA          Sunland, CA       Divisional
 
  28    35    Jose Soares         Luis Romero       VW GTI
              Antioch, CA         Vallejo, CA       Divisional
 
  29    24    Bobby Webb          Tim Sardelich     Datsun 510
              Santa Clara, CA     Orangevale, CA    Divisional
 
  30    30    Robert Pendergrass  Jon Weigley       Chevy Blazer
              Palos Verdes, CA    Lawndale, CA      Divisional
 
  31    60    Ben Medeiros        Tony Medeiros     Mazda 323GTX
              Walnut Creek, CA    Walnut Creek, CA  Divisional
 
  32    34    Jose Pauletti       Colleen McKay     Plymouth Arrow
              Irvine, CA          Oakhurst, CA      Divisional
 
  33    68    Pete Morris         Eric Oyague       Toyota Corolla
              Los Angeles, CA     Van Nuys, CA      Divisional
 
  35    62    Frank Paredes       William Staley    Datsun 510
              Corona, CA          Perris, CA        Divisional
 
  36    63    Justin Hill         Jason Bailey      Plymouth Sapparo
              Huntington Beach, CA Huntington Beach, CA Divisional
 
  37    64    Lincoln Woodard     Claire Shelton    Toyota Corolla
              Valencia, CA        Valencia, CA      Divisional
 
  38    73    Harry Manku         Ravinder Nyotta   VW Scirocco
              Northridge, CA      Valencia, CA      Divisional
 
 
                                    # # #
Saturday Only
 
       54    Gordon Swenson       Tom Carter          Toyota Celica
             Rancho Cucamonga, CA Running Springs, CA Divisional
 
       77    Roger Hull           Sean Gallager       Eagle Talon
             Prescott, AZ         Santa Ana, CA       Divisional
 
                                    # # #
 
Rim of the World PRO Rally
Palmdale, California
Round #4 - SCCA/Michelin PRO Rally Series
May 3, 1996, 8:00 PM
Press Notes #1
 
1.  Welcome to Palmdale, California, and round #4 of the 1996
    SCCA/Michelin PRO Rally series.  The weather all week has
    been sunny and hot, with highs in the low 90's, and the
    weekend should be no exception.  The organizers have
    already determined that two-minute intervals will be
    necessary in order to maintain visibility with the dusty
    conditions, although a gusty wind should prevent the
    dust from settling and causing further delays.
 
2.  The press stage at Spunky Canyon in the Angeles National
    Forest brought the usual number of problems for a rough
    Rim press stage.
 
    --The Janice Damitio/Amity Trowbridge Toyota All-trac
      pushed its shocks through the front shock towers after
      a hard landing from one of the stages' two jumps.  Her
      Crazee Expresso crew convinced her that it was
      partially their fault because they did not have the
      shock travel adjusted properly for a jump.  They also
      had a flat tire.  Anyway, the crew fixed the problems,
      and Janice will be underway for the start.
 
    --The much-anticipated debut of the Sam Bryan/Rob Walden
      Group 5 Saab 900 turbo took place at the press stage.
      Sam knew that the flange gasket on the turbo was bad,
      and decided after one run to shut the car down and
      spend the afternoon working on the car.  Bryan reported
      at start time he was very pleased with the way the car
      was running,
 
    --The Kurosh Jahromi/Erik Thompson Audi Quattro broke a
      motor mount while giving a ride to the executive
      director of the Palmdale Chamber of Commerce.  The crew
      fixed the car, and Kory started on time.
 
3.  Here's a round-up of the classes:
 
    --For the overall leaders, it will be a four-car battle
      between the four 325 horsepower-plus race cars.  The
      current series leader, Carl Merrill, of Ogunquit,
      Maine, won the previous event in Olympia, Washington
      (the Wild West PRO Rally) and was second in South
      Carolina in his 400 horsepower Ford Escort Cosworth.
      Henry Joy, who is making his season debut in the right
      hand drive Mitsubishi Lancer, is 400 pounds lighter
      than he was last year in his Eclipse.  Henry hopes the
      lighter car will do less digging into the soft Rim
      roads than his old mount.  Paul Choiniere's Hyundai
      Elantra - a 1996 version - is coming off an amazing
      performance in Washington at which he put eight minutes
      on the leaders on Saturday in just 60 stage miles.  The
      problem was that broken motor mounts had set him back
      18 minutes on Friday night, and his Saturday charge
      brought him to fourth overall and seven points behind
      Merrill in the standings.
 
    --In Production GT, Selcuk Karamanoglu has been dusting
      the field in his Eagle Talon, with his overall win at
      the Doo Wops event and his second overall at Wild West
      -just 59 seconds behind Merrill despite the 125
      horsepower deficit.  Janice Damitio ran well at Wild
      West in his Toyota Celica All-trac after losing her
      engine at the Doo Wops, but she cannot keep up with
      Selcuk.  The Dennis Chizma Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4 is
      fast enough to be competitive with the class leaders,
      but a compliance problem with his brakes forced him out
      of the class at Wild West.  He has redone the brakes
      for this event, and is read to rally.  Newcomer John
      Pizzagalli ran well in his debut in a Mitsubishi Galant
      VR4 at Wild West after losing 20 minutes getting out of
      a ditch early in the event.
 
    --Group 5, which was to be a battle this year between the
      Toyota Supras of Bruce Newey and Ralph Kosmides, and
      the Saab 900 turbo of Sam Bryan, could still develop
      into that competition, but for now, Kosmides looks like
      he has a huge head start.  Ralph has 34 early points
      with a Wild West and a Doo Wop win, while Bryan's car
      is debuting this weekend and Newey is still waiting for
      his car.
 
    --The usual Group 2 crowd will wage war at Rim, with the
      Mike Whitman Datsun 510, the Bill Malik Volvo 240, the
      Dave Peterson VW GTI (the current points leader after
      his Wild West win, the Doug Shrenk Saab 900 (the ex-Sam
      Bryan championship car), and the Pete Lahm Datsun 510
      all competitive in the class.
 
    --The lone Production class entry is the leading Kia
      Sephia of Lon Peterson, who won both the Doo Wops and
      Wild West events, can build on his class lead with a
      finish here.
 
                            # # #
Rim of the World PRO Rally
Palmdale, California
Round #4 - SCCA/Michelin PRO Rally Series
May 3, 1996, 11:00 PM
Press Notes #2
 
4.  38 cars took the countdown from the local Miss Budweiser
    in front of the Ramada Inn - Palmdale, and headed into
    the Angeles National Forest for the start of the event.
 
5.  Almost immediately, the hot and rough Rim stages started
    to take their toll on the field.
 
    --The Janice Damitio/Amity Trowbridge Production GT
      Toyota Celica All-trac continued and expanded their
      press stage woes leading to a DNF.  They had a flat
      tire on stage #2, changed it, and then had another flat
      near the end of #2.  Left without a spare, they were
      forced to run almost all of stage #3 on the wheel rim,
      only for the electrics to quite and force the car off
      the stage.  The crew will try to find the problem and
      fix the car to run the divisional on Saturday.
 
    --The Lon Peterson/Bill Gutzmann Kia Sephia broke an
      axle, and then damaged the car further when it was
      towed over a big rock getting the car out of stage #2.
 
    --The Tom Ottey/Pam McGarvey Hyundai Elantra continued
      with its bad luck, having replaced a steering rack
      before the event, and then overheating to end their run
      on stage #2.
 
7.  Even the guys up front were having troubles, especially
    with hot brakes.  The Choiniere/Becker Hyundai Elantra
    seemed to have the best of its, experiencing
    minor difficulties with hot brakes, but it was
    Merrill/Bellefleur Ford Escort Cosworth and the
    Joy/Griffin Mitsubishi Lancer who really had brake
    problems - both losing their brakes for whole stages.
    Merrill also lost an alternator belt on stage #5,
    something that cannot be repaired until Saturday AM under
    the rules of Parc Ferme.
 
8.  The Rui Brasil/Carlos Tavaras Audi Quattro - usually a
    top five finisher - had problems right from the start,
    with the car not pulling more than 5000 RPM.  Add a left
    rear shock problem and Rui is unhappy with his
    performance, despite the fact that he is only two minutes
    behind Merrill and fourth overall.
 
9.  After three stages, 30 of the 38 cars were running.
 
                            # # #
Rim of the World PRO Rally
Palmdale, California
Round #4 - SCCA/Michelin PRO Rally Series
May 4, 1996, 3:00 AM
Press Notes #3
 
10.  Stage time chart after five stages/Friday night for the
     national competitors:
                         Stage #            Road
                                            Points
CAR  DRIVER     1     2     3     4     5          TOTAL
 #
 
  1 P Choini  1728   951   566  1080  1471     0   57.96
  2 H Joy     1819   978   576  1096  1519     0   59.88
  3 C Merril  1768   989   585  1109  1589     0   60.40
 31 R Brasil  1850  1037   620  1177  1570     0   62.54
 14 S Karama  1877  1126   614  1164  1578     0   63.59
 18 D Peters  1912  1066   628  1226  1644     0   64.76
 39 M Whitma  1865  1089   637  1259  1736     0   65.86
 20 P Lahm    1930  1091   672  1276  1703     0   66.72
 12 G Plsek   1933  1086   698  1297  1673     0   66.87
 65 D Chizma  1892  1072   874  1228  1627     0   66.93
 42 D Shrenk  2092  1073   640  1239  1599   100   67.43
 16 R Kosmid  2026  1184   667  1285  1679     0   68.41
 53 G Valent  2135  1202   700  1420  1828     0   72.85
 25 B Malik   1924  2217   618  1274  1631     0   76.64
  4 S Bryan   5394  1222   680  1356  1702     0  103.54
 17 J Damiti  2092  2505  4333                       DNF
 21 L Peters  1836                                   DNF
 11 J Pizzag  1892  1061   608  1185                 DNF
 33 T Ottey   1812                                   DNF
 47 K Jahrom  1888                                   DNF
 67 G Englis  2327                                   DNF
 
CAR
 #    (DRIVER/CO-DRIVER)        CAR       SEED    SCORE   Place/class
 
  1 Paul Choiniere/J Becker    Hyundai      0     57:57      1 Open
  2 Henry Joy/Chris Griffin    Lancer       0     59:52      2 Open
  3 Carl Merrill/J Bellefleur  Escort       0   1:00:24      3 Open
 31 Rui Brasil/Carlos Tavares  Quattro      2   1:02:32      4 Open
 14 S Karamanoglu/Y Bitner     Eagle        1   1:03:35      1 GT
 18 D Peterson/G Chaloupka     VW GTI       2   1:04:45      1 Group 2
 39 Mike Whitman/Ben Bradley   Datsun 510   2   1:05:51      2 Group 2
 20 Pete Lahm/Jimmy Brandt     Datsun 510   3   1:06:43      3 Group 2
 12 George Plsek/Mark Rathsam  Saab 99      6   1:06:52      1 Group 5
 65 D Chizma/J Forespring      3000 GT      6   1:06:55      2 GT
 42 Doug Shrenk/Sean Tennis    Saab 900     6   1:07:25      4 Group 2
 16 Ralph Kosmides/Joe Noyes   Supra        2   1:08:24      2 Group 5
 53 G Valentini/L Sorenson     Mazda RX-7   5   1:12:51      3 Group 5
 25 Bill Malik/Renn Phillips   Volvo 240    3   1:16:38      5 Group 2
  4 Sam Bryan/Rob Walden       Saab 900     1   1:43:32      4 Group 5
 17 J Damitio/A Trowbridge     Celica       2      DNF
 21 Lon Peterson/B Gutzmann    Kia Sephia   2      DNF
 11 Jon Pizzagalli/E Hauge     Galant       3      DNF
 33 Tom Ottey/Pam McGarvey     Hyundai      1      DNF
 47 Kurosh Jahromi/E Thompson  Quattro      6      DNF
 67 Gary English/Brian Paul    Alfa GTV     6      DNF
 
                                 # # #
Rim of the World PRO Rally
Palmdale, California
Round #4 - SCCA/Michelin PRO Rally Series
May 4, 1996, 3:00 PM
Press Notes #4
 
11.  As you can see from the times, the Paul Choiniere/Jeff
     Becker Hyundai Elantra survived the conditions better
     than any of the top runners, with a 1:55 lead over
     Joy/Griffin and 2:27 over Merrill/Bellefleur.  Merrill's
     broke alternator belt, which forced him to run stage #5
     with just the car's stock headlights, was caused by a
     broken alternator bracket that caused the belt to shear.
 
12.  The John Pizzagalli/Eric Hauge Production GT Mitsubishi
     Galant is out of the event after as high as fourth
     overall after four stages.  The trip computer failed,
     and then the lights flickered before the electrical
     system failed completely, stopping the car on stage #5.
 
13.  Ditto for the Mitsubishi Eclipse 2WD divisional of
     competitors Tony Chavez/John Elkin, which blew a head
     gasket on stage #3.
 
14.  The Audi Quattro of Kory Jahromi/Erik Thompson had the
     worst "off" of the event so far, as they rolled their
     car off the road heading down one of Rim's famous
     canyons, only to be saved by a tree.  At last report,
     the car was still wedged in the tree as several attempts
     to pull the car out last night failed.
 
15.  After its difficulties on the press stage, the
     Group 5 Saab 900 turbo of Sam Bryan/Rob Walden has
     finally turned a wheel in competition, although it
     hasn't been easy.  The same turbo exhaust flange which
     broke Friday morning broke last night on stage one,
     causing the turbo get hot enough to singe some of the
     wiring.  The pair shut the car off on the stage, made
     some repairs, and returned before the 30 minute time bar
     limit.  Bryan continued through the evening using very
     low boost, but running nevertheless.  Sam hopes to learn
     more about the other components besides the engine, and
     they hope to finish the event to gain meaningful points.
 
16.  In the other classes after Friday night, Selcuk
     Karamanoglu - with John Pizzagalli out of the event -
     leads Production GT in his Eagle Talon, with the only
     other car in the class still running - the
     Chizma/Forespring Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR4 - in second
     about three minutes behind.  Chizma's car was saved by a
     gaggle of rally mechanics lead by former Production  and
     Truck champion Dave Turner, who performed surgery on the
     car's wheel studs at Parc Expose at the Antelope Valley
     Mall this morning.
 
     The Group 2 battle is shaping up as an exciting one,
     with the Peterson/Chaloupka VW GTI leading the class by
     a little more than a minute over Datsun 510 of
     Whitman/Bradley.  Chaloupka was ill during much of the
     evening, but felt better after a good night's sleep.
     Co-driver Pete Lahm/Jimmy Brandt are also having a good
     run, less than a minute behind Whitman.
 
     With Bryan slowed by his turbo ills and Ralph
     Kosmides/Joe Noyes being plagued by rear suspension
     problems in their Toyota Supra, the Saab 99 of George
     Plsek/Mark Rathsam is the leading Group 5 by 1:30 over
     Kosmides/Noyes.  The Supra broke a rear suspension
     spring during last night's rough stages.
 
17.  Bill Holmes, a former rallyist and SCORE/HDRA off-road
     champion, has made a triumphant return in his Ford F-150
     pickup, running stages as fast as fourth overall even
     though he is only listed as a divisional competitor.
     In that divisional competition, the Rui Brasil/Carlos
     Tavares Audi Quattro won the class by two minutes over
     Holmes, with Dave Peterson/Greg Chaloupka VW GTI third.
 
                            # # #
 
Rim of the World PRO Rally
Palmdale, California
Round #4 - SCCA/Michelin PRO Rally Series
May 4, 1996, 5:00 PM
Press Notes #5
 
18.  The dogfight for first place continues, with the places
     now swapped after the completion of the first Saturday
     stage.  30 cars left from the Antelope Valley Mall
     earlier this afternoon, and 30 cars finished the first
     stage (#6), but rally leaders Paul Choiniere/Jeff Becker
     have had some yet-undetermined electrical problems that
     have prevented him from getting full RPM from his
     Hyundai powerplant.  In fact, the pair lost enough time
     on the transit from the mall to stage #6 to miss their
     starting time by three minutes, thus incurring penalty
     points.  The troubles continued on the stage as both Joy
     and Merrill beat Choiniere's time, and Joy has taken
     over the lead in the event.
 
19.  Both Merrill and Joy continue to experience brake
     problems, however, with Merrill reporting no brakes
     despite the fact that he said he had his best stage of
     the event.
 
20.  The Sam Bryan/Rob Walden Saab 900 turbo Group 5 racers
     continues to improve on the course, with the engine now
     attaining good boost, but booth driver and engine are
     reported running on the warm side.
 
21.  The Janice Damitio/Amity Trowbridge Toyota All-trac did
     not start the divisional today after DNF in the rally
     last night.
 
22.  As warm as it was on Friday, Saturday has become even
     hotter.  Downtown Palmdale is reporting 102 degrees F,
     with the hills and canyons likely to reach up to 107
     degrees.
 
23.  After 8 stages, the lead has flip-flopped again, with
     Choiniere taking the top spot back from Joy, with Henry
     holding off a charging Merrill for second.  Choiniere
     won both stages #7 and #8 by more than 30 seconds - his
     electrical problems apparently gone - and Henry and Carl
     virtually tied on both stages, with Joy winning #7 and
     Merrill winning #8 - with margins of just a few seconds.
 
24.  Rui Brasil/Carlos Tavares - currently in fourth place -
     continue to having overheating problems in their Audi
     Quattro, and will have to slow down in order to stay in
     the event.
 
                            # # #
 
Rim of the World PRO Rally
Palmdale, California
Round #4 - SCCA/Michelin PRO Rally Series
May 5, 1996, 9:00 AM
Press Notes #6
 
25.  Near the end of stage #8, the Saab 900 turbo of Sam
     Bryan/Rob Walden cut a turn a little too tight and
     caught a wheel in a rut, putting the car into a roll
     which put an end to its maiden voyage.  Bryan had been
     keeping a slow and steady pace to keep to try to finish
     the event despite a recurring turbo exhaust problem.
 
26.  The Mitsubishi Eclipse divisional entry of Vartan
     Samuelian/Ara Manoukian also rolled their car on stage
     #8, landing on the roof and putting them out of the
     event.
 
27.  Despite a mounting list of ills, the Audi Quattro of Rui
     Brasil/Carlos Tavares continues to hold on to fifth
     place.  The latest problems included a broken
     accelerator cable and a flat tire.  After 10 stages, Rui
     was three minutes behind Karamanoglu and two minutes
     ahead of Dave Peterson in the overall standings.
 
28.  After the service break at Lake Hughes, the Bill
     Malik/Renn Phillips Volvo 240 was still in the hunt for
     the Group 2 title with Peterson and Whitman.  The car
     was cued up to start stage #11 when the crew noticed a
     problem underneath the car which turned out to be a
     broken frame, forcing the team out of the event.
 
29.  Speaking of Group 2, the Doug Shrenk/Sean Tennis Saab
     900 (the former Sam Bryan championship car) was forced
     to retire after Friday's stages as Tennis was ill.
 
30.  Taking advantage of the rear suspension problems in the
     Ralph Kosmides/Joe Noyes Toyota and the DNF of Sam
     Bryan/Rob Walden, the Saab 99 of George Plsek/Mark
     Rathsam took the lead in Group 5.  But then a myriad
     ofproblems, including a broken axle, beset the Saab, and
     Kosmides/Noyes retook the lead for good. Gerry
     Valentini/Lee Sorenson was hanging in in third place
     in their Mazda RX-7.
 
 
                            # # #
               Round #4 - 1996 SCCA/Michelin PRO Rally Series
              Rim of the World PRO Rally - Palmdale, California
                     Final Results - National Event
 
 Fin.   Car  Driver/             Co-Driver/        Make/Model/Class/
 Pos.   No.  Hometown            Hometown          Time (hrs:min:sec)
-----   ---- ------------------  ----------------- -------------------
 
   1      1   Paul Choiniere      Jeff Becker       Hyundai Elantra/Open
              Shelburne, VT       Great Neck, NY    2:34:35
 
   2      2   Henry Joy           Chris Griffin     Mitsubishi Lancer/Open
              Atlanta, MI         Sherman Oaks, CA  2:35:52
 
   3      3   Carl Merrill        John Bellefleur   Ford Escort Cosworth/Open
              Ogunquit, ME        Thornhill, ONT    2:37:37
 
   4     14   Selcuk Karamanoglu  Yorgi Bittner     Eagle Talon/PGT
              Bath, ME            Plain City, OH    2:47:10
 
   5     31   Rui Brasil          Carlos Tavares    Audi Quattro/Open
              San Jose, CA        San Jose, CA      2:50:43
 
   6     39   Mike Whitman        Ben Bradley       Datsun 510/Group 2
              Farmington, NM      Portland, OR      2:52:53
 
   7     18   David Peterson      Greg Chaloupka    VW GTI/Group 2
              Aspen, CO           Aspen, CO         2:52:58
 
   8     65   Dennis Chizma       John Forespring   Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4/PGT
              Simi Valley, CA     Olympia, WA       2:54:33
 
   9     20   Pete Lahm           Jimmy Brandt      Datsun PL 510/Group 2
              Phoenix, AZ         Lake Odessa, MI   2:57:13
 
  10     16   Ralph Kosmides      Joe Noyes         Toyota Supra/Group 5
              Newport Beach, CA   Bothell, WA       3:02:03
 
  11     12   George Plsek        Mark Rathsam      Saab 99/Group 5
              Del Mar, CA         Del Mar, CA       3:11:20
 
  12     53   Gerry Valentini     Lee Sorenson      Mazda RX-7/Group 5
              Sacramento, CA      FairOaks, CA      3:13:31
 
Did_Not_Finish
 
         33   Tom Ottey           Pam McGarvey      Hyundai Elantra/Open
              Columbus, OH        Columbus, OH      National
 
          4   Sam Bryan           Rob Walden        Saab 900 Turbo/Group 5
              Kent, WA            Seattle, WA       Nat./Div.
 
         17   Janice Damitio      Amity Trowbridge  Toyota Celica GTS/PGT
              Montesano, WA       Seattle, WA       Nat./Div.
 
         21   Lon Peterson        Bill Gutzmann     Kia Sephia/Production
              Victorville, CA     Ontario, CA       Nat./Div.
 
         11   John Pizzagalli     Eric Hauge        Mitsubishi Galant/PGT
              S. Burlington, VT   Napa, CA          National
 
         47   Kurosh Jahromi      Erik Thompson     Audi Quattro/Open
              Corona, CA          Portland, OR      Nat./Div.
 
         25   Bill Malik          Renn Phillips     Volvo 240/Group 2
              Burbank, CA         Del Mar, CA       Nat./Div.
 
         42   Douglas Shrenk      Sean Tennis       Saab 900/Group 2
              Edmonds, WA         Seattle, WA       Nat./Div.
 
         15   Tony Chavez          John Elkin       Mitsubishi Eclipse/Gp.5
              Santa Fe Springs, CA Lytle Creek, CA  Nat./Div.
 
                                    # # #
    For Immediate Release                   Contact:  Andy Schupack
                                                      (805) 267-1725
                                                      (until 5/5 - 4:00 PM)
                                                              or
                                                      (401) 739-5677
 
CHOINIERE REGAINS SCCA/MICHELIN PRO RALLY SERIES LEAD; HE AND BECKER WIN
FIFTH STRAIGHT RIM OF THE WORLD PRO RALLY IN THE ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST
 
PALMDALE, Calif. -- May 5 -- Paul Choiniere, from Shelburne, Vermont, and
co-driver Jeff Becker, have regained the SCCA/Michelin PRO Rally series
points lead in their Hyundai Elantra with a one minute, 17-second win at
the Rim of the World PRO Rally.
 
Choiniere nearly fell behind the Henry Joy/Chris Griffin Mitsubishi Lancer
earlier in the day when the Hyundai experienced an electrical problem, but
Paul put another one minute on the field in the next couple of stages to
secure the win.  The Ford Escort Cosworth of Carl Merrill/John Bellefleur
was third, three minutes back.
 
"It's like sprinting in deep sand," said Choiniere, describing the rim
roads in the Angeles National Forest.  "Our brakes are hot, our engine is
hot, our bodies are hot, and our arms are tired from trying to push 2500
pounds of metal with 350 horsepower as fast as we can in 100 degree heat
over roads designed for 15 miles-per-hour."
 
In the classes, the Selcuk Karamanoglu/Yorgi Bittner Eagle Talon won the
the Production GT class for the third time this season; the Mike Whitman/
Ben Bradley Datsun 510 scored a 5-second win in Group 2; and the Ralph
Kosmides/Joe Noyes Toyota Supra won Group 5.
 
Merrill lost his chance to contend for the win when he broke an alternator
bracket, and had to run the final stage on Friday night with almost no
lights - losing almost two minutes to the field.  Joy had no brakes for
much of Friday night as the hard, downhill braking caused his brake fluid
to boil.
 
In a PRO Rally, each team consists of a driver and a co-driver (or
navigator), and the exact course is kept secret until just before the
event - different from World Rally, where practice is allowed.  At Rim,
the cars start at two-minute intervals and race against the clock over
12 stages which range in length from four to 10 miles.  The teams
achieving the fast combined times wins.
 
Only 19 of the original 40 starters finished the event.
 
After four events in the SCCA/Michelin PRO Rally series, Choiniere now has
46 points, Merrill 45 points, and Karamanoglu 41 points.
 
 The much-anticipated debut of the factory Saab 900 turbo did not have a
 fairy-tale ending as the Sam Bryan/Rob Walden car rolled at the end of
 stage #8, breaking the windshield and damaging most of the car's body
 panels.  Bryan's earlier turbo problems had put him back in the pack
 before the rolled caused the DNF.
 
 The next SCCA/Michelin PRO Rally Series event is the 20th annual
 Susquehannock Trail PRO Rally in Wellsboro, Penn., June 1 - 2.
 
 
                         Rim of the World - LEG SCORES
 
    STAGE 1              STAGE 2              STAGE 3              STAGE 4
 
 P.Choi 1728         P.Choi  951          P.Choi  566          P.Choi 1080
 C.Merr 1768   2%    H.Joy   978   2%     H.Joy   576   1%     H.Joy  1096   1%
 T.Otte 1812   4%    C.Merr  989   3%     C.Merr  585   3%     C.Merr 1109   2%
 H.Joy  1819   5%    R.Bras 1037   9%     J.Pizz  608   7%     S.Kara 1164   7%
 L.Pete 1836   6%    B.Holm 1060  11%     S.Kara  614   8%     R.Bras 1177   8%
 R.Bras 1850   7%    J.Pizz 1061  11%     B.Mali  618   9%     J.Pizz 1185   9%
 M.Whit 1865   7%    D.Pete 1066  12%     R.Bras  620   9%     B.Holm 1220  12%
 S.Kara 1877   8%    D.Chiz 1072  12%     D.Pete  628  10%     D.Pete 1226  13%
 K.Jahr 1888   9%    D.Shre 1073  12%     B.Holm  630  11%     D.Chiz 1228  13%
 D.Chiz 1892   9%    V.Samu 1077  13%     V.Samu  630  11%     D.Shre 1239  14%
 J.Pizz 1892   9%    G.Plse 1086  14%     M.Whit  637  12%     J.Hend 1246  15%
 V.Samu 1905  10%    M.Whit 1089  14%     D.Shre  640  13%     M.Whit 1259  16%
 D.Pete 1912  10%    J.Hend 1090  14%     J.Hend  651  15%     R.Wood 1259  16%
 B.Mali 1924  11%    P.Lahm 1091  14%     R.Tall  657  16%     V.Samu 1259  16%
 P.Lahm 1930  11%    R.Wood 1107  16%     R.Kosm  667  17%     B.Mali 1274  17%
 G.Plse 1933  11%    R.Tall 1124  18%     R.Wood  671  18%     P.Lahm 1276  18%
 B.Holm 1936  12%    S.Kara 1126  18%     P.Lahm  672  18%     R.Kosm 1285  18%
 T.Chav 1960  13%    R.Kosm 1184  24%     S.Brya  680  20%     G.Plse 1297  20%
 J.Hend 1990  15%    M.Kilp 1192  25%     G.Plse  698  23%     R.Tall 1316  21%
 R.Wood 2013  16%    G.Vale 1202  26%     G.Vale  700  23%     S.Brya 1356  25%
 R.Kosm 2026  17%    F.Pare 1202  26%     M.Kilp  726  28%     F.Pare 1384  28%
 J.Dami 2092  21%    S.Brya 1222  28%     B.Pend  726  28%     B.Webb 1403  29%
 D.Shre 2092  21%    B.Webb 1226  28%     B.Webb  736  30%     B.Pend 1406  30%
 B.Webb 2128  23%    P.Morr 1228  29%     P.Morr  746  31%     G.Vale 1420  31%
 G.Vale 2135  23%    B.Pend 1276  34%     F.Pare  764  34%     M.Kilp 1442  33%
 F.Pare 2160  25%    L.Wood 1302  36%     L.Wood  801  41%     P.Morr 1501  38%
 P.Morr 2167  25%    H.Mank 1357  42%     H.Mank  811  43%     H.Mank 1521  40%
 M.Kilp 2176  25%    J.Paul 1380  45%     J.Paul  824  45%     J.Paul 1532  41%
 L.Wood 2277  31%    B.Mali 2217 133%     D.Chiz  874  54%     L.Wood 1702  57%
 B.Mede 2294  32%    J.Dami 2505 163%     J.Dami 4333 665%
 H.Mank 2300  33%
 G.Engl 2327  34%
 R.Tall 2437  41%
 B.Pend 2462  42%
 J.Paul 2649  53%
 S.Brya 5394 212%
 
                          Rim of the World - LEG SCORES
 
    STAGE 5              ROAD POINTS          STAGE 6              STAGE 7
 
 P.Choi 1471         P.Choi    0          C.Merr 1242          C.Merr 1233
 H.Joy  1519   3%    H.Joy     0          H.Joy  1256   1%     P.Choi 1235   0%
 R.Bras 1570   6%    M.Whit    0          P.Choi 1271   2%     H.Joy  1235   0%
 S.Kara 1578   7%    S.Kara    0          S.Kara 1326   6%     S.Kara 1304   5%
 C.Merr 1589   8%    R.Kosm    0          B.Holm 1330   7%     R.Bras 1330   7%
 D.Shre 1599   8%    D.Pete    0          R.Bras 1339   7%     B.Holm 1338   8%
 D.Chiz 1627  10%    D.Chiz    0          B.Mali 1350   8%     B.Mali 1359  10%
 V.Samu 1627  10%    P.Lahm    0          D.Pete 1353   8%     R.Hull 1374  11%
 B.Holm 1629  10%    G.Vale    0          R.Kosm 1366   9%     V.Samu 1376  11%
 B.Mali 1631  10%    B.Holm    0          R.Hull 1369  10%     R.Kosm 1381  12%
 D.Pete 1644  11%    R.Wood    0          M.Whit 1370  10%     M.Whit 1385  12%
 J.Hend 1651  12%    M.Kilp    0          D.Chiz 1385  11%     P.Lahm 1387  12%
 G.Plse 1673  13%    S.Brya    0          J.Hend 1393  12%     D.Pete 1388  12%
 R.Kosm 1679  14%    R.Bras    0          R.Wood 1401  12%     J.Hend 1405  13%
 S.Brya 1702  15%    B.Mali    0          V.Samu 1409  13%     G.Plse 1407  14%
 P.Lahm 1703  15%    J.Hend    0          P.Lahm 1413  13%     D.Chiz 1408  14%
 R.Wood 1710  16%    V.Samu    0          G.Plse 1441  16%     R.Tall 1453  17%
 M.Whit 1736  18%    R.Tall    0          R.Tall 1449  16%     B.Webb 1475  19%
 R.Tall 1771  20%    B.Pend    0          B.Webb 1470  18%     G.Engl 1520  23%
 G.Vale 1828  24%    L.Wood    0          G.Vale 1530  23%     G.Vale 1548  25%
 F.Pare 1898  29%    G.Plse    0          G.Engl 1530  23%     F.Pare 1567  27%
 M.Kilp 1929  31%    B.Webb    0          F.Pare 1551  24%     P.Morr 1594  29%
 B.Pend 1931  31%    C.Merr    1          P.Morr 1574  26%     M.Kilp 1624  31%
 H.Mank 1953  32%    D.Shre  100          H.Mank 1627  30%     H.Mank 1626  31%
 P.Morr 1992  35%    J.Paul  300          M.Kilp 1639  31%     J.Hill 1690  37%
 J.Paul 2069  40%    H.Mank  480          J.Soar 1670  34%     G.Swen 1705  38%
 L.Wood 3201 117%    F.Pare  700          G.Swen 1691  36%     B.Pend 1769  43%
 B.Webb 3212 118%    P.Morr  820          J.Hill 1713  37%     R.Wood 1942  57%
                                          B.Pend 1743  40%

                          Rim of the World - LEG SCORES
 
    STAGE 8              STAGE 9              STAGE 10             STAGE 11
 
 P.Choi 1618         H.Joy  1038          H.Joy  1409          P.Choi 1235
 H.Joy  1651   2%    C.Merr 1045   0%     P.Choi 1421   0%     H.Joy  1254   1%
 C.Merr 1669   3%    P.Choi 1047   0%     C.Merr 1452   3%     C.Merr 1270   2%
 R.Bras 1747   7%    S.Kara 1123   8%     R.Bras 1530   8%     B.Holm 1356   9%
 S.Kara 1773   9%    D.Pete 1131   8%     B.Holm 1553  10%     S.Kara 1359  10%
 R.Wood 1824  12%    B.Holm 1141   9%     D.Pete 1569  11%     R.Bras 1362  10%
 B.Holm 1827  12%    M.Whit 1145  10%     S.Kara 1572  11%     G.Plse 1376  11%
 M.Whit 1837  13%    B.Mali 1151  10%     D.Chiz 1580  12%     D.Chiz 1387  12%
 D.Chiz 1843  13%    R.Hull 1173  13%     M.Whit 1583  12%     M.Whit 1388  12%
 D.Pete 1845  14%    R.Wood 1178  13%     J.Hend 1585  12%     D.Pete 1391  12%
 R.Kosm 1856  14%    D.Chiz 1180  13%     R.Hull 1603  13%     J.Hend 1393  12%
 B.Mali 1857  14%    P.Lahm 1203  15%     R.Wood 1627  15%     R.Wood 1418  14%
 J.Hend 1891  16%    R.Tall 1208  16%     P.Lahm 1641  16%     R.Hull 1423  15%
 R.Tall 1903  17%    R.Kosm 1241  19%     R.Tall 1651  17%     R.Tall 1429  15%
 P.Lahm 1919  18%    F.Pare 1248  20%     B.Webb 1720  22%     P.Lahm 1454  17%
 M.Kilp 2024  25%    B.Webb 1256  21%     F.Pare 1726  22%     B.Webb 1491  20%
 F.Pare 2030  25%    M.Kilp 1258  21%     R.Kosm 1750  24%     F.Pare 1536  24%
 P.Morr 2035  25%    P.Morr 1264  21%     G.Vale 1755  24%     R.Kosm 1545  25%
 B.Webb 2068  27%    H.Mank 1312  26%     P.Morr 1774  25%     G.Vale 1559  26%
 G.Engl 2082  28%    G.Vale 1344  29%     H.Mank 1797  27%     M.Kilp 1610  30%
 G.Swen 2137  32%    G.Swen 1351  30%     G.Swen 1815  28%     P.Morr 1617  30%
 H.Mank 2137  32%    J.Hill 1355  30%     M.Kilp 1816  28%     G.Engl 1619  31%
 G.Vale 2167  33%    G.Engl 1361  31%     J.Hill 1820  29%     B.Pend 1658  34%
 B.Pend 2190  35%    B.Pend 1412  36%     G.Engl 1825  29%     G.Swen 1689  36%
 J.Hill 2193  35%    J.Hend 1536  47%     G.Plse 1856  31%     H.Mank 1721  39%
 G.Plse 2231  37%    R.Bras 1605  54%     B.Pend 1921  36%     J.Hill 1743  41%
 R.Hull 2545  57%    G.Plse 2172 109%
 
 
    STAGE 12             ROAD POINTS
 
 P.Choi 1756          C.Merr    0
 H.Joy  1756   0%     H.Joy     0
 C.Merr 1811   3%     M.Whit    0
 S.Kara 1902   8%     S.Kara    0
 R.Bras 1905   8%     R.Kosm    0
 B.Holm 1913   8%     D.Chiz    0
 G.Plse 1964  11%     P.Lahm    0
 R.Hull 1975  12%     G.Vale    0
 D.Chiz 1979  12%     B.Holm    0
 R.Wood 1981  12%     R.Wood    0
 J.Hend 1993  13%     M.Kilp    0
 M.Whit 1995  13%     R.Bras    0
 P.Lahm 2034  15%     J.Hend    0
 R.Tall 2040  16%     R.Tall    0
 D.Pete 2085  18%     H.Mank    0
 F.Pare 2125  21%     F.Pare    0
 B.Webb 2178  24%     J.Hill    0
 G.Vale 2197  25%     G.Plse    0
 R.Kosm 2225  26%     G.Engl    0
 P.Morr 2239  27%     P.Morr    0
 G.Engl 2261  28%     R.Hull    0
 M.Kilp 2310  31%     B.Pend   20
 B.Pend 2327  32%     D.Pete   60
 H.Mank 2351  33%     P.Choi   80
 J.Hill 2541  44%     B.Webb  200


Results 96 Index
RRN Index