Southern Star Coefficient 3 Divisional PRO Rally & Divisional Runoffs Paris, TX November 25, 1995 Class Name Vehicle Car # TIME O4 Janice Damitio/Amity Trowbridge Toyota Celica 17 85:08 O4 Ken Stewart/Robert Logue Chevrolet S-10 117 87:43 O2 Lesley Suddard/Anne Thomas Dodge Charger 19 88:34 O4 Ken Cassidy/Karen Burrows Mitsubishi Galant 28 91:52 O2 John Moore/Billy Reber Mazda RX-7 24 92:07 U2 Sylvester Stepniewsky/Adam Pelc VW Scirocco 0 92:07 U2 Arthur Odero-Jowi/Jim Hurley Toyota Corolla 25 92:56 O2 Robert Burtis/James Burtis VW Rabbit 137 93:58 U2 Simon Levear/John Forespring Datsun 510 81 95:28 U2 Jeff Hendricks/Noble Jones Jeep Commanche 5 95:30 O2 Dave White/Jimmy Brandt VW GTi 11 97:20 O2 Ralph Kosmides/Joe Noyes Toyota Supra 14 100:07 U2 Richard Miller/Juanita Miller Saab 99 29 106:29 O2 John Shirley/Kendall Russell Triumph TR-8 6 109:09 O4 Larry Schmidt/Mary Engstrom Mazda 323 GTX 13 DNF O2 Lon Peterson/Bill Gutzmann Plymouth Arrow 1 DNF O4 Rick Beson/Ben Bradley Mazda Protege 08 DNF O2 Robert Gilliard/Trent Gilliard Subaru 36 DNF O2 James Cook/Doug Otoupal Mazda RX-7 73 DNF O2 Chuck McCrary/Ron Lockhart Mazda RX-7 02 DNF U2 Lester Ewing/David Cole Saab Sonnett 3 DNF O2 Mike Larson/Heather Cox Dodge Charger 54 DNF
Taking full advantage of a high attrition and competitor misfortunes, JANICE DAMITIO and Co-Driver AMITY TROWBRIDGE won the SCCA Divisional Runoffs held at the Camp Maxey National Guard Armory in Paris, Texas. Consistant performance and the ability to stay on course was their key ingredient. Coming in second was veteran driver ( some call him old ) Ken Stewart and Bobby Logue, in their Chevrolet truck. Third overall, after another fast and consistant performance ( 1st in O2 ) was Leslie Suddard and Anne Thomas. Fourth overall was Ken Cassidy and Karen Burrows in their right hand drive Mitsubishi Galant VR-4. Fifth was Australian John Moore, who was spectacular to watch and very fast but lost 5 minutes in an off course excursion on stage 7.
The real heartbreak of the Rally had to go to Larry Schmidt and Mary Engstom of Colorado. After winning most of the stages and being reseeded first on the road, they had an engine failure less than 2 miles from the end of the rally. Always fast Lon Peterson and Bill Gutzmann brought out their old, usually reliable Plymouth Fire Arrow but had an engine problem after stage 3 and had to call it quits.
David White and Ralph Kosmides were seeded 2nd and 3rd on the road at the reseed but both had problems negotiating the tricky route course instructions and lost several minutes each on the final stage 10 which dropped them down in the final standings. Jeff Hendricks and Noble Jones of Arizona were the early U2 leaders but also had some course problems which cost them. Ken Cassidy and Karen Burrows had some good early stage times and won 2 of the first 4 stages but lost all their driving lights to a blown fuse on the first night stage and lost four minutes.
Congratulations to the Divisional Champions of the all Female Team of Janice Damitio and Amity Trowbridge in O4 and the all Female Team of Leslie Suddard and Anne Thomas in O2. Congratulations to the team of Sylvester Stepniewsky and Adam Pelc, winners of the U2 class.
by Ken Cassidy