Carrying on the tradition of the "Oldest", "Meanest", "Toughest" PRO Rally, The Lake Superior Region of the Sports Car Club of America, along with D&N Bank, is proud to present "The 1995 D&N Bank Lake Superior PRO Rally" October 19-21, 1995. "The D&N Bank Lake Superior PRO Rally" will be Round #10 of the SCCA/Michelin PRO Rally Series; it will also count toward the North American Rally Championship. Two Coefficient 3 Divisional events (counting for 1996 points) will run in conjunction with the National event. Friday night will be the "Lac Vieux Desert Rally", run to the south in the Baraga area. Saturday will be the "Keweenaw Challenge", to the north on the Keweenaw Peninsula.
Rally Headquarters will be at Dee Stadium in downtown Houghton. All Rally events, Registration, Scrutineering, Press Headquarters, welcome party, finish party and the awards presentation will be at Dee Stadium, downtown Houghton.
Thursday, October 19 6:00pm - 10:00pm Registration Dee Stadium
7:00pm - 10:00pm Tech. Inspection Dee Stadium
6:00pm - 10:00pm Welcome Party Dee Stadium
Friday, October 20 9:00am - 2:00pm Registration Dee Stadium
9:00am - 2:10pm Tech. Inspection Dee Stadium
11:00am - 1:00pm Divisional School Dee Stadium
12:00pm Worker Meeting Dee Stadium
2:20pm - 3:25pm Parc Expose Dee Stadium
3:25pm First Car Out Dee Stadium
Saturday, Ocbober 21 2:03am First Car finishes Friday section
and 1995 Lac Vieux Desert Rally
8:00am - 9:00am Registration Dee Stadium
11:00am - 12:00pm Parc Expose Calumet
12:00pm First Car Starts Calumet
7:30pm First Car Finishes D&N Bank
1995 D&N Bank
Lake Superior PRO Rally and
1995 Keweenaw Challenge
9:30pm Awards Presentation Dee Stadium
The 1995 D&N Bank Lake Superior PRO Rally Route will see a return to the Huron Mountain stages along with the traditional stages in the Ottawa National Forest. In addition, county roads in Houghton, Baraga, and Ontonagon counties will be used in the Friday night section (97 stage miles, 196 miles transit). The stages vary from smooth forest roads to rough, rocky trails. While roads have been chosen to challenge both the driver and the vehicle preparation, nature has a way of making the latter a bit more important in the Copper Country. There will be one completely paved stage run on Saturday.
As always we are seeking former, current, and prospective members of the U.P. Rally Family of workers to assist during the event. Slots are open for Stage Captains, Control Workers, Stage Marshals, Layout Crews, Radio Communications, and Medical Personnel.
With the help of our local sponsor D&N Bank we are able to offer some nice thank yous to all our workers. There will also be a drawing for locally donated prizes. Come on out and get a taste of Rally U.P. style!
If you'd like to join us or need more information on working, contact:
Regardless of what it may be called the U.P. Rally Tradition Presses On. Come be a part of "The D&N Bank Lake Superior PRO Rally", the "Newest", "Meanest", "Toughest" PRO Rally.
Best Western Franklin Square Inn
487-1700
1-800-528-1234
College Motel
482-2202
Downtowner Motel
482-4421
1-800-430-0083
For more information contact the:
Keweenaw Tourism Council
1-800-338-7982
or
(906) 482-5240
(906) 337-4579
FAX (906) 482-5241
P.O. Box 336
Houghton, MI 49931
MEDIA_ALERT
Event: The second running of the D&N Bank, fsb, Lake Superior PRO Rally
(formerly the Press on Regardless PRO Rally), Round #9 of the 1995
SCCA/Michelin PRO Rally series. Race cars from around the world
will compete at high speeds on the challenging forest roads in the
Upper Pennisula of Michigan, both south in the Baraga area and north
in the Keweenaw Peninsula.
When: Friday - Saturday, October 20 - 21, 1995
Schedule_-_Friday
9:00 AM - 2:00 PM - Registration - Dee Stadium - Houghton
Tech inspection - Dee Stadium - Houghton
11:00 AM - Media Stage - site to be determined; then lunch
(invitation only)
2:15 PM - ParcExpose - a display of cars - Dee Stadium
3:25 PM - First car starts Section I - Lake Superior
PRO Rally - from Dee Stadium
Schedule_-_Saturday
1:45 AM - Finish - Section 1, Lake Superior PRO Rally
10:45 AM - Parc Expose - Calumet
11:30 AM - First car starts Section II - Lake Superior PRO Rally -
Calumet
7:00 PM - Finish - Lake Superior PRO Rally - D&N Bank, Hancock
9:30 AM - Awards - Dee Stadium, Houghton
Where: Rally headquarters will be at Dee Stadium indoor arena in
Houghton, Michigan. Maps guiding spectators to viewing areas will
be available starting Friday morning.
Duration: 150 stage miles, 318 total miles, 19 stages
Rank: Full national PRO Rally, sanctioned by the Sports Car Club of
America, administered by the American Rally Association, and
sponsored nationally by Michelin Tire Company. This PRO Rally event
is presented and organized by the Lake Superior Region of the Sports
Car Club of America. Title event sponsor is D&N Bank, fsb, of
Hancock, Mich., with 41 offices throughout Southeast Michigan, Mid-
Michigan, the Upper Pennisula, and northeastern Wisconsin.
Interviews: Drivers will be available by contacting the press room at Dee
Stadium starting Thursday morning, October 19. All drivers
will be at the Parc Ferme and Expose sessions listed above.
Several spokes-people, including rally organizer Kevin
DeLoughary from Gladstone, past POR winner and defending
overall champion Paul Choiniere from Burlington, VT, and local
rally drivers Bryan Pepp and Steve Gingras from Marquette, are
all available for interviews, both by phone and in person. Also
available will be Carl Merrill, a resort owner from Ogunquit,
Maine, who won the event here in 1993 and has won the last two
events this fall.
Expected Top Entries: Paul Choiniere, five-time winner in '95 in his
Hyundai Elantra - will try to clinch series title; Carl Merrill, from
Ogunquit, Maine, won this event in 1993, and has won past two events
on the SCCA/Michelin PRO Rally trail in his 400 hp Ford Escort
Cosworth; Henry Joy - has debuted new right-hand-drive Mitsubishi
Lancer - finished third in Minnesota in August; Doug Shepherd, from
Plymouth, Mich., has lead this rally late in the event the last four
years, only to split transmission case ('91), blow engine
('92), take road point for flat tire ('93) and had transmission leak
cause seizing ('94); n-built Group A Mazda 323GTX;
Craig Sobczak, Marquette resident - fastest local racer - in a
Production GT Mazda 323GTX; Sam Bryan, from Kent, Wash., will try to
clinch Group 2 championship in his Saab 900; Janice Damitio, also
from Washington State, leading Production GT class in her Toyota All-
trac - trying to become the first woman ever to win an SCCA PRO Rally
national title; Cal Landau, from Coraopolis, Penn., in a Production
GT Mitsubishi Eclipse, has beaten Janice the last three events;
Brian Pepp - Marquette resident - recently won divisional race with
his Group 2 Mazda RX-7 at recent Minnesota event; Steve Gingras,
Marquette native now living in Minneapolis, with a Production GT
Mitsubishi Eclipse 4WD.
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 or Kevin Ericson in the press room starting October 19.
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 Saturday and Sunday. We have B-roll
available for TV. Press room will be located at Dee
Stadium in Houghton, and will open on Wednesday afternoon.
Contact: Andy Schupack - SCCA/Michelin PRO Rally series
media liaison: (401) 739-5677 (until 10/18/95)
media center: (906) 487-7065 (10/19 - 10/22)
Kevin Ericson - Lake Superior PRO Rally local contact
(906) 482-7700
HOW A PRO RALLY WORKS:
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. The cars start at one-minute
intervals and race against the clock over 10 - 25 stages which range in
length from four to 25 miles. Most of the rallies include night stages,
making it necessary for competitors to adjust their driving style. Speeds
of more than 120 miles-per-hour could be reached on long straight-aways,
with the team achieving the fastest combined times winning the event.
1995 D&N Bank Lake Superior PRO Rally - Entry List
Round #10 - SCCA/Michelin PRO Rally series
Final Start Order/Entry List
*notes running Divisional as well
Car
Num. Driver/Home Town Navigator/Home Town Vehicle/Tires Class
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 Carl Merrill John Bellefleur Ford Escort Cosworth Open
Ogunquit, ME Thornhill, ONT Michelin
1 Paul Choiniere John Buffum Hyundai Elantra Open
Shelburne, VT S. Burlington, VT Michelin
4 Henry Joy IV Christopher Griffin Mitsubishi Lancer E-2 Open
Atlanta, MI Burbank, CA Michelin
12 Doug Shepherd Pete Gladysz Eagle Talon Open
Plymouth, MI Troy, MI Michelin
33 Tom Ottey Pam McGarvey Hyundai Elantra Open
Columbus, OH Columbus, OH Michelin
14 Cal Landau Eric Marcus Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX PGT
Coraopolis, PA Dayton, OH Michelin
10 Sam Bryan Robinson Walden Saab 900 Group 2
Kent, WA Seattle, WA Michelin
19* Mitch McCullough John Elkin Mazda 323GTX Open
West Bloomfield, MI Lytle Creek, CA Michelin
24* Henry Krolikowski Cindy Krolikowski Dodge Shadow Open
Wyandotte, MI Wyandotte, MI
96 Bruce Newey Charles Bradley Toyota All-trac Group A
Atlanta, GA Ardmore, PA Michelin
21 Steve Gingras Bill Westrick Mitsubishi Eclipse PGT
Duluth, MN Orion, MI Michelin
16 Mike Hurst Rob Bohn Nissan 200-SX Group 2
Pendleton, IN Noblesville, IN Michelin
66 Tad Ohtake Bob Martin Ford Escort GT Prod.
Dearborn, MI Goodrich, MI Michelin
18 Gail Truess Paul Truess Chevrolet Citation Open
Brooklyn, MI Brooklyn, MI Michelin
25 Carl Redner Nancy Redner Mazda RX-7 Open
Walled Lake, MI Walled Lake, MI Michelin
22* Chris Czyzio Eric Carlson Plymouth Arrow Open
Flushing, MI Hermantown, MN Pirelli
17 Janice Damitio Amity Trowbridge Toyota All-trac PGT
Montesano, WA Seattle, WA Michelin
15* Brian Pepp Dean Rushford Mazda RX-7 Group 2
Marquette, MI Ishpeming, MI Michelin
26 Gerald Sweet Stuart Spark Saab 99EMS Group 2
Oakridge, NJ Woodcliff Lake, NJ Michelin
41 Dave Turner Ben Bradley Mitsubishi Pickup Truck
Hemet, CA Portland, OR BFGoodrich
42 John Vanlandingham Tom Gillespie Saab 96 Group 2
Stoneham, MA Cedar Rapids, IA Michelin
20 Pete Lahm Jimmy Brandt Datsun 510 Group 2
Phoenix, AZ Lake Odessa, MI Michelin
27 Don Rathgeber Greg Brown Ford Mustang Open
Livonia, MI Dearborn, MI Michelin
28 Jeff Bothee Tom Beltman Mitsubishi Celeste Open
Wyoming, MI Walker, MI
43 A. K. Kaumeheiwa Craig Sobczak Dodge Neon Prod.
Brighton, MI Marquette, MI Michelin
13 Wayne Prochaska Annette Prochaska VW Golf Group 2
Flushing, MI Flushing, MI Bridgestone
29 Ed Maklenberg Barbara Steencken Dodge GLH Open
Milford, MI Milford, MI
89 Serguei Beloussov Barry Berg Mazda 626 Group 2
Philadelphia, PA Apple Valley, MN
1995 Lac Vieux Divisional Entry
30 Mike Burke Yorgi Bittner Audi 4000 Quattro Div.
Columbus, OH Plain City, OH Michelin
37 Michael Bodnar Russel Rathgeber Audi Quattro 4000 Div.
Farmington Hills, MI Livonia, MI Michelin
38 Brent Carey Stephen Geiger Mazda RX-7 Div.
Indianapolis, IN Plainfield, IN Cooper
31 Jeff Walters Mike Walters Dodge Omni Fri. Div.
New Boston, MI Farmington Hills, MI BFGoodrich
52 Todd Jarvey Richard Faber Dodge Charger Div.
Maple Grove, MN Blaine, MN Bridgestone
51 Marvin Lummen John Astma Dodge Omni Div.
Grand Rapids, MI Grand Rapids, MI
32 Dave Konetski Jenny Hertenstein Toyota Celica Div.
Andover, MN Coon Rapids, MN Colway
56 John Adleman Jason Lajon Dodge Omni GLH Fri. Div.
Minneapolis, MN Crystal, MN Michelin
35 Robert Nielsen Brett Cornelison VW GTI Div.
Maplewood, MN New Brioman, MN Hakkapolita
36 Jeff Hardy Lynn Dillon Toyota MR2 Div.
Garrett, IN Newburgh, IN Michelin
57 Larry Warrington Damien Crane VW Rabbit Div.
Hermantown, MN Minneapolis, MN Bridgestone
34 Arthur Burmeister Eric Burmeister VW GTI Div.
Sterling, MI Kalamazoo, MI Michelin
39 Joe Hauser Paul Moormann Saab Div.
Minneapolis, MN Minneapolis, MN
58 Fritz Wilke Joseph Huttle Ford Fiesta Div.
Minneapolis, MN Minneapolis, MN Pirelli
# # #
Saturday's Keweenaw Challange Only
31 Jeff Walters Monique Walters Dodge Omni Sat. Div.
New Boston, MI New Boston, MI BFGoodrich
56 Jason Lajon John Alderman Dodge Omni GLH Sat. Div.
Crystal, MN Minneapolis, MN Michelin
47 Kenneth Cashion Robert Isaac Ford Festiva Sat. Div.
Chicago, IL Chicago, IL Pirella
# # #
D&N BANK LAKE SUPERIOR PRO RALLY
October 21-22, 1995 - Houghton, Michigan
ROUND #10 - 1995 SCCA/Michelin PRO Rally Series
Press Notes #1 - 10/19/95, 10:00 PM
1. Welcome to the second running of the D&N Bank Lake
Superior PRO Rally, round #10 of the SCCA/Michelin PRO
Rally series. Actually, this is the 47th continous year
of what was formerly know as the Press-On-Regardless PRO
Rally - making it the longest, continuously running rally
in the United States, and the most famous U.S. rally in
the international rally community. The addition of D&N
Bank, which was founded in nearby Hancock, Mich. in 1889,
has breathed new life into the event, and enabled
organizer Kevin DeLoughery and his Lake Superior Region
of the SCCA to add nice touches to the rally, including
flashlights, clipboards, t-shirts and hats for all
workers.
2. This rally, which has featured snow, ice, thunder and
lightning tantrums, and just plain heavy rain, will not
disappoint for 1995. The weather promises to be chilly,
with high temperatures in the mid-to-upper 40's, with
occaisional to steady rain throughout the weekend. In
the higher elevations, snow or freezing rain might creep
into the forecast, making things exciting for the rally
competitors. This morning, it was sunny when hail fell
in downtown Houghton, and then lightning hit a gas line -
starting a local brush fire. The fire was put out
quickly, however, when a downpour followed. The sun came
out again, and then it rained the rest of the day.
3. The D&N Bank Lake Superior PRO Rally will begin Friday
afternoon as the rally cars will be on display at Dee
Stadium in Houghton at 2:15 PM. They will leave the Dee
at 3:25 PM, and do a parade lap up Route 41 North through
downtown Hancock and Houghton before heading south on 41
to L'Anse for a final service stop and the start of the
event.
4. As of the close of registration tonight (there will be
another registration session on Friday), there are
approximately 40 cars (23 national entries), including
all the point leaders in the national classes. No one
has clinched a national championship yet, but almost
all the class point leaders could sew their titles by
winning this weekend. Overall defending champion Paul
Choiniere can clinch his fifth title in six years by
either winning the event, or finishing in the top five if
second-place points-sitter Carl Merrill wins. Merrill's
Ford Escort Cosworth won this event in 1993, but did not
run the Lake Superior PRO Rally last year. Choiniere
also missed the event last year, but had already clinched
the '94 title with a win at a previous event. Choiniere
will be driving his new Hyundai Elantra, winner of four
events in 1995 so far. His co-driver will be former POR
winner, car owner and step-father John Buffum, who will
be subbing for regular navigator Jeff Becker, who is out
of the country on business. The Choiniere-Buffum
combination finished third together under similar
circumstances in 1993, when Paul hit a tree and had a
flat tire enroute to clinching his title that year.
Buffum, subbing for Paul last year in the driver's seat,
won the event last year after leader Doug Shepherd lost
his transmission on the last stage, enabling Buffum to
win after John had a wheel fall off on Mandan I.
5. Although out of the points chase for the season title,
several teams will challenge Choiniere and Merrill for
the top spot before the rally ends on Saturday evening.
The new right-hand-drive Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 2 of
Henry Joy/Chris Griffin seems to have the kinks out after
its first two events, and Joy is poised for his first PRO
Rally win. The Doug Shepherd/Pete Gladysz Eagle Talon
has been leading this rally late in the event every year
for the last four years, but has yet to register a win.
In 1991, he was leading eventual winner Chad DiMarco on
the last stage when the transmission case split on his
Dodge Charger. In '92, he was about to catch eventual
winner Dick Corley in the debut of the Eagle Talon when
the engine blew. In '93, Shepherd's stage times were
faster than eventual winner Carl Merrill, but road points
incurred as the result of a flat tire put him in second
place. Last year, as chronicled above, his transmission
seized (as the result of a slow fluid leak) and he did
not finish.
6. The Tom Ottey/Pam McGarvey Hyundai Elantra will be making
its debut at this event, following months of work to get
the car up to snuff. Originally built by Rod Millen
Motorsports for Jamaican Peter Moodie, the car has sat
idle for almost two years before Ottey's debut this
weekend.
7. In the Production GT class, the Janice Damitio/Amity
Trowbridge Toyota All-trac, here from the Pacific
Northwest, hopes to continue its march towards a national
title. Ms. Damitio could clinch the national championship
- the first woman ever to win a national PRO Rally season
title - if the Mitsubishi Eclipse of Cal Landau/Eric
Marcus does not finish. Landau has beaten Janice the
last three times out, however, and he can run the table
(two more rallies left), he will overtake her for the
title. Added to the mix this weekend is Steve Gingras, a
very fast driver from the Minneaopolis, who is also
driving a Mitsubishi Eclipse, and this class will be very
competitive.
8. In the Production class, the Tad Ohtake/Bob Martin Ford
Escort GT, despite several crashes during the season,
including one that forced the team to get a new body
shell, can clinch the class title by just finishing this
event. The only other car entered in the class is the
Hawaiian Racing Team Dodge Neon Al Kaumeheiwa/Craig
Sobczak. This is a new car from the ground up, and the
first entry ever for the Neon. Although the car is very
much a stock sedan, Kaumeheiwa has used several
components from the Neon sedan racing series currently
running in SCCA, including the gearbox and engine
controls. The car, equipped with Arvin Ride Control and
Michelin tires, was completed just Wednesday night,
and has not seen any previous off-the-road action.
9. The Group 2 battle rages on, but the Sam Bryan/Rob Walden
Saab 900 has put some distance between themselves and the
Saab 99EMS of Gerry Sweet/Stewart Spark by virtue of
Bryan's win in Minnesota in August. Bryan can wrap up
the title if he wins this weekend and Sweet finishes
lower than third place. With the Mike Hurst/Rob Bohn
Nissan 200-SX, the Brian Pepp/Dean Rushford Mazda RX-7,
the John Vanlandingham/Tom Gillespie Saab 96, the Pete
Lahm/Jimmy Brandt Datsun 510, and the Wayne Proschaska/
Annette Prochaska VW Golf all in the hunt, it won't be
easy for either top points-sitter.
10. In Rallytruck and Group A, the potential championship-
clincher is the only car entered in the class, and a
finish equals a national title. This applies to the
Mitsubishi Pickup of Dave Turner/Ben Bradley, and the
Group A Toyota Celica All-trac of Bruce Newey/Charles
Bradley. Both these classes are eliminated for 1996 due
to lack of number of entries over the past several years.
# # #
D&N BANK LAKE SUPERIOR PRO RALLY
October 21-22, 1995 - Houghton, Michigan
ROUND #10 - 1995 SCCA/Michelin PRO Rally Series
Press Notes #2 - 10/20/95, 10:00 AM
11. The rules flap between the SCCA Board of Directors and
the American Rally Association/PRO Rally Board is about
to come to an end, if everything goes as planned. The
ARA/PRO Rally Board has faxed a letter to the Board of
Directors/Rally-Solo Department requesting to be released
from the sanctioning relationship with SCCA. The
chairwoman of the Board of Directors has requested that
all arrangements be made through Terry Bassett, Vice
President of Rally/Solo. ARA/PRO Rally Board is trying
to schedule a conference call today to start the wheels
in motion, including the negotiation of points such as
the use of the name PRO Rally and the willingness of SCCA
to sanction events associated with PRO Rally (such as the
Special Olympics TSD Rally at STPR).
As previously reported, the ARA/PRO Rally Board group has
had discussions with several sanctioning bodies, and
negotiations will start in earnest once SCCA agrees to
quit its sanction of PRO Rally. It is important that the
quit agreement be mutual as other sanctioning bodies will
not accept the sports if there is an unfriendly parting.
If we hear anything by the end of the day, we'll let you
know. Any formal announcements will be made jointly by
SCCA and ARA/PRO Rally Board.
# # #
D&N BANK LAKE SUPERIOR PRO RALLY
October 21-22, 1995 - Houghton, Michigan
ROUND #10 - 1995 SCCA/Michelin PRO Rally Series
Press Notes #3 - 10/20/95, 7:30 PM
12. 40 cars answered the starters call at the exit to the
Dee Stadium ice rink in Houghton to start the 47th
running of the D&N Bank Lake Superior (formerly POR) PRO
Rally. The 41st starter - the divisional VW Rabbit of
Larry Harrington/Damien Crane - had broken axle hubs
which prevented it from leaving with the others, but
some calls to local auto parts outlets and the team was
on its way. They made it to the parc expose in time to
start the rally on time.
13. After three stages, with the rain coming down, the wind
blowing off Lake Superior at more than 40 knotts, and
the temperature at 39 degrees F (before windchill), the
battle is on in all classes as promised. The Carl
Merrill/John Bellefleur Ford Escort Cosworth leads the
Paul Choiniere/John Buffum Hyundai Elantra by 23
seconds, followed by the Doug Shepherd/Pete Gladsyz
Eagle Talon, the Henry Joy/Chris Griffin Mitsubishi
Lancer, and the Tom Ottey/Pam McGarvey Hyundai Elantra.
14. Other comments at the service after stage #3:
--The Cal Landau/Eric Marcus Mitsubishi Eclipse, cured
of their limited slip problem from Ojibwe, is leading
the Eclipse of Steve Gingas/Bill Westrick by less than
four seconds in Production GT. The Janice
Damitio/Amity Trowbridge Toyota All-trac is running
third in class.
--All the cars came in with nud and grass caked to them,
and the competitors said the course was both rough and
slippery.
--The Carl Redner/Nancy Redner Open class Mazda RX-7
is running erratically, providing the prescribed
250 horsepower sometimes and near 25 horsepower
others. They are looking for the solution in the
engine compartment.
--The A.K. Kaumeheiwa/Craig Sobczak Dodge Neon, the
brand new car which ran so well earlier in the day
at the media demonstration stage, is a DNF after the
engine control box quit on stage #1. Al is trying to
get a part so he can enter the divisional tomorrow.
14. The snow has started falling during the Sidnaw service
area as the rally has headed out for stage #5. We had
some important happenings on stage #4, however, as two
of the four top entries are out of contention.
--The Paul Choiniere/John Buffum Hyundai Elantra is out
of the event, victim of a blown engine after hitting a
large puddle and getting too much water in the intake.
Choinere can still clinch the season championship this
weekend, but only if Carl Merrill doesn't win the
event. If Merrill wins here and in Maine in December,
he could wrest the title from Paul.
--The Doug Shepherd/Pete Gladysz Eagle Talon is still in
the event, but they lost 15 minutes to the field when
his ignition wires got wet and were forced to pull
over.
# # #
D&N BANK LAKE SUPERIOR PRO RALLY
October 21-22, 1995 - Houghton, Michigan
ROUND #10 - 1995 SCCA/Michelin PRO Rally Series
Press Notes #4 - 10/21/95, 1:00 PM
15. Because of the increasing snow storm, which has now
dumped in excess of four inches in the Sidnow area, and
trees down on the course - along with the lateness of
the hour - the organizer has cancelled the final three
stages for Friday night - nine, ten and eleven.
16. The Gail Truess/Paul Truess Chevy Citation broke a strut
on stage one (the strut pulled out of the top), causing
a DNF. The team will repair the damage, and plans to
enter the divisional Saturday.
17. On the SCCA sanction story, Rim of the World organizer
Paula Gibeault reported this afternoon that Rally/Solo
Vice President Terry Bassett has agreed to cut the PRO
Rally community loose from SCCA sanction and meet all
the ARA/PRO Rally Board requests including the use of
the name PRO Rally. ARA/PRO Rally Board need to meet
some paperwork requirements, but these should be done
early in the week.
# # #
D&N BANK LAKE SUPERIOR PRO RALLY
October 21-22, 1995 - Houghton, Michigan
ROUND #10 - 1995 SCCA/Michelin PRO Rally Series
Press Notes #5 - 10/21/95, 3:00 PM
18. Other occurrences overnight after the snow (up to 11
inches in some areas - 6 inches on the stages 5 - 8):
--The Doug Shepherd/Pete Gladysz Eagle Talon broke a
turbo boost hose, not an ignition as previously
reported. Then Shepherd ran into a ditch and tore off
the left front wheel. Although the car is driveable,
the team decided not to continue for today's
proceedings.
--The Carl Redner/Nancy Redner Mazda RX-7 continued to
have major engine problems, and the husband-wife team
decided to call it quits on Saturday.
--The Henry Joy/Chris Griffin Mitsubishi Lancer,
currently in first place after 8 stages by a slim 2.4
seconds, is running fine, but the team has some
scoring battles to fight. The organizer has assigned
one minute in penalty points to Joy for checking in
early to a stage start - an allegation co-driver
Griffin strongly denies. Also, Joy thought he had a
one minute and 2.4-second lead over Merrill, but the
organizer has ruled that his time on stage #6 is a
flyer (or mathematical scoring blip which artificially
made his time one minute faster). Joy is expected to
protest both rulings if they effect the final results.
--The Carl Merrill/John Bellefleur Ford Escort Cosworth
is running well, although Merrill lost his good lead
joy by making a wrong choice of tires for the last
several stages. By the time Merrill had the right
tires on, the rally was called. Merrill said that,
although he has run in the snow in his home state of
Maine, this wet snow was the worst he has ever seen.
By the way, Merrill's Chevy S-10 pickup rally truck, a
450-hp, AWD Open class racer, has been running well in
testing. John Buffum will drive the truck at an
upcoming Canadian event (RAC).
--Marquette native Steve Gingras, a surprising third
overall along with codriver Bill Westrick, has his
Production GT Mitsubishi Eclipse running in good
order. Gingras is used to driving in the bad weather
which is common in the UP, but he said the real
problem last night was visibility.
--For the second straight event, the Nissan 200-SX of
Mike Hurst/Rob Bohn is running in the top five, and is
the fastest two-wheel-drive car in the event. Hurst
said that it is consistency that has made the
difference for the Indianapolis-based team.
--The Cal Landau/Eric Marcus Mitsubishi Eclipse, chasing
class-leading Janice Damitio for first place in the
Production GT, is having trouble with his transmission
linkage, making the car switch involuntarily between
2WD and 4WD. The solution? Go as fast as he can to
finish the rally before the tranny breaks.
--The Tom Ottey/Pam McGarvey Hyundai Elantra, making its
debut at this event, lost its power steering after the
fluid hose broke on stage #3. The extra horsepower
Ottey gets from this new car should be more helpful
today when the roads aren't covered with snow. Ottey
will have to be careful, however, as a damaged
master cylinder has left the car with reduced stopping
power.
--Sam Bryan/Rob Walden Group 2 points-leading Saab 900
is second in class after losing time to leader Mike
Hurst by choosing the wrong tires for the snow. Bryan
can clinch the Group 2 title with a top two finish in
class.
--Unlike his untimely exit at the last rally in
Minnesota on the transit to stage #1, the
Bruce Newey/Charles Bradley Group A Toyota Celica All-
trac is running well on its way to the 1995
SCCA/Michelin PRO Rally Group A championship. Newey
had some overheating problems last night, but the crew
seems to have solved the situation overnight.
--The husband/wife team - and former Press On Regardless
organizers - Henry and Cindy Krolikowski are having a
successful debut, running in the top ten in their
Dodge Shadow. This car only has 8,000 miles on it,
is the latest of many Dodges Henry has build. He said
he was surprised at how stiff a new car can be, and
the difference it makes in handling is significant.
--The Mitch McCullough/John Elkin Open class Mazda
323GTX is running after a year of inactivity, but it
is the driver rather than the car that has cobwebs.
Nevertheless, Mitch is in the top ten going into
today's action.
--The Saab 96 of John Vanlandingham/Tom Gillespie ran
well on the stages last night, but had the most
trouble on a transit when they spun. The visibility
was so bad that John didn't know which way he was
supposed to go, and had to wait for the next car to
come by to discover which way his headlights should
go.
--The Tad Ohtake/Bob Martin Production Ford Escort GT,
which can clinch the season class championship if it
can finish today's event. Ohtake is having fuel-feed
problems, however, and will have to have some extra
luck to make it to the end.
--The Dave Turner/Ben Bradley Mitsubishi Pickup is also
looking for a finish which will guarantee him his
second national title in a row. He would win the
RallyTruck class with his third victory of the season.
Last year, Turner piloted a Mitsubishi Eclipse 2WD to
the national Production Class title.
D&N BANK LAKE SUPERIOR PRO RALLY
October 21-22, 1995 - Houghton, Michigan
ROUND #10 - 1995 SCCA/Michelin PRO Rally Series
Press Notes #6 - 10/21/95, 5:00 PM
19. After catching and passing Henry Joy to take the lead
in the Lake Superior PRO Rally, Carl Merrill/John
Bellefleur's Ford Escort Cosworth has blown a head
gasket, ending his hopes for a national title for 1995
and snapping a two-rally winning streak for the
Ogunquit, Maine-based team. Merrill came out of the
Mandan I stage with his engine smoking, but blew the
engine on the fast Brockway Mountain pavement stage.
20. The two major developments that result for this event
are:
--Paul Choiniere has clinched his fifth overall
SCCA/Michelin PRO Rally series national championship
in six years even though his car did not finish this
event. Choiniere built up an early season points
lead by winning rallies in South Carolina,
Pennsylvania, Ohio, California, and Washington before
having bad luck in the last three events (two DNF's
and a 13th place). It is also a great accomplishment
for Hyundai, as Choiniere has handed them a
championship effort for the Elantra in its first-ever
motorsports venture in the U.S. For the last two
years, Choiniere has been nominated for the Auto Race
Writers and Broadcasters Association All-Star drivers'
award, finishing second last year to Steve Kinser.
--Henry Joy now has a sizable lead - at least five
minutes by our calculation - on the way to what would
be his first PRO Rally win ever. Joy, who started
rallying in a Mazda 323GTX in 1992, has come close
several times, including a second place at STPR by
less than two minutes after taking a five minute road
penalty. His new Mitsubishi Lancer got off to a bad
start when it ran less than one stage in its July
debut in Maine when Henry hit the banking and
punctured his oil cooler. He was third in the car's
second rally in Minnesota in August.
# # #
D&N BANK LAKE SUPERIOR PRO RALLY
October 21-22, 1995 - Houghton, Michigan
ROUND #10 - 1995 SCCA/Michelin PRO Rally Series
Press Notes #7 - 10/22/95, 11:00 AM
21. For Henry Joy, this victory was a long time in coming,
and represents the end of a frustrating year, which
started with a parts backlog while building his new car,
continued with defeat snatched from the jaws of victory
at Rim of the World and STPR, and continued with a DNF
only a mile into the first stage with the Lancer debut
at Maine. His third at Ojibwe was okay as a shakedown
for the car, but not satisfying. This, however, was a
very rewarding win for Joy, his co-driver Chris Griffin,
and car builder and preparer Murray Thomas.
On the first Mandan stage on Saturday, one the rear
differential mount bolts broke on Joy's Lancer, causing
the left rear wheel to tow in about three inches. Then,
on the return trip on Mandan, the other one broke and
Joy pulled over to the side of the road, thinking he was
a DNF. When they decided to try to make it to service,
they couldn't get the car started, and sat there for
five minutes before the Mitsubishi came to life. The
T.A.D. Motorsports crew fixed the problem in the last
service, and Joy scored a two-minute win.
22. But lurking in second place, after the
Merrill/Bellefleur DNF, was the Production GT Mitsubishi
Eclipse of Steve Gingras/Bill Westrick. After Henry's
Mandan problems, Gingras had made up the entire deficit
between him and Joy, and was less than two seconds
behind. Although Joy would have probably beaten him on
the last stage, that suspense was ended when the
Eclipse's transmission quit right at the end of the
event.
23. After a very rough early season, the Saab 900 team of
Sam Bryan/Rob Walden has sparkled for the last several
events, with their second overall and first in Group 2,
has virtually clinched the Group 2 title, but they have
to go to Maine and get their two starting points to
clinch. The Group 2 contingent continued their strong
showing in the overall standings, taking second, third,
fifth, eighth and tenth overall. As we mentioned
yesterday, the Mike Hurst/Rob Bohn Nissan 200-SX was
strong all weekend, seeming to turn its best times in
the roughest conditions. For Gerry Sweet/Stuart Spark,
fifth overall for the older Saab 99 was their best
finish ever. Even more amazing was the eight overall
(and sixth before road points) finish of the Saab 96 of
John Vanlandingham/Tom Gillespie.
24. Cal Landau/Eric Marcus Mitsubishi Eclipse has put
themselves in great position to win the Production GT
championship with their victory in class this weekend.
They are now only two points behind the Janice
Damitio/Amity Trowbridge Toyota All-trac with one event
to go, and, with the points system only counting the
best six finishes, Landau has the inside track. In
order for Janice to become the first woman to ever win a
PRO Rally driving championship, Landau would have to DNF
at the last event in Maine.
25. In Production, the Tad Ohtake/Bob Martin victory in
their Ford Escort GT assured them of the 1995
SCCA/Michelin PRO Rally Production class national title.
Ohtake, one of the fastest young drivers on the circuit,
forged an early lead in the class, but fell on mid-
season hard times, including destroying his car at STPR,
before coming back with a new shell to win here and
clinch the championship.
26. The Bruce Newey/Charles Bradley Toyota All-trac also
clinched a national championship - this one in the
Group A class. Although there were not many entries in
Group A this year, Newey showed he belonged this
weekend, finishing sixth overall.
27. Same goes for the Rally Truck class, where former off-
road racer Dave Turner scored his second national
championship in as many years. Driving a Mitsubishi
Pickup, Turner's electrical system broke on the transit
between the end of the last stage and the D&N Bank
headquarters in Hancock. Fortunately, Chris Czyzio came
by in his divisional-winning Plymouth Arrow and towed
Turner through the 55-minute transit to the final MTC,
preserving Turner's class win and national title.
Turner is the first PRO Rally driver since Rod Millen to
win back-to-back titles in two different classes as he
is the defending Production class champion.
# # #
D&N BANK LAKE SUPERIOR PRO RALLY
October 21-22, 1995 - Houghton, Michigan
ROUND #10 - 1995 SCCA/Michelin PRO Rally Series
Press Notes #8 - 10/24/95, 10:00 PM
28. As usual, the stories from a good PRO Rally weekend never
end, and this was no exception. Kevin DeLoughary, the
chairman of the 1995 D&N Bank Lake Superior PRO Rally,
would like to thank the following organizations for
making this one of the best Houghton rallies ever:
--Michelin Tire Corporation, for providing the support for
national series including the Glen Mazzone TV coverage for
TNN RACEDAY and ON PIT ROAD, and Andy Schupack for the
series public relations activity.
--D&N Bank, of Hancock, Michigan, and its 41 branch offices
throughout Michigan and Wisconsin, for its event
sponsorship, including terrific support for the volunteer
workers.
--Brad Schade, from Lesco Corporation, for provides clip
boards, pens, and flashlights from his ad specialty
business.
--State Farm Insurance Company
--Autovalu
--Keweenaw Area Chamber of Commerce for their support, both
financial and personnel.
--Keweenaw Tourism Council
--City of Houghton
--City of Hancock
--The DAILY MINING GAZETTE
--CelluLink cellular phone service
--The Computer Division, Hancock
--Copper Country Ford
--WCCY, WOLV-FM Radio, Houghton
# # #
1995 D&N Bank Lake Superior PRO Rally
Round #10 - SCCA/Michelin PRO Rally series
Final Results - National Event
Car Class/
Num. Driver/Home Town Navigator/Home Town Vehicle/Tires Time
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 Henry Joy IV Christopher Griffin Mitsubishi Lancer E-2 Open
Atlanta, MI Burbank, CA Michelin 157.72
10 Sam Bryan Robinson Walden Saab 900 Group 2
Kent, WA Seattle, WA Michelin 159.96
16 Mike Hurst Rob Bohn Nissan 200-SX Group 2
Pendleton, IN Noblesville, IN Michelin 161.25
14 Cal Landau Eric Marcus Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX PGT
Coraopolis, PA Dayton, OH Michelin 168.51
26 Gerald Sweet Stuart Spark Saab 99EMS Group 2
Oakridge, NJ Woodcliff Lake, NJ Michelin 169.16
96 Bruce Newey Charles Bradley Toyota All-trac Group A
Atlanta, GA Ardmore, PA Michelin 170.63
17 Janice Damitio Amity Trowbridge Toyota All-trac PGT
Montesano, WA Seattle, WA Michelin 173.96
42 John Vanlandingham Tom Gillespie Saab 96 Group 2
Stoneham, MA Cedar Rapids, IA Michelin 181.71
66 Tad Ohtake Bob Martin Ford Escort GT Prod.
Dearborn, MI Goodrich, MI Michelin 183.11
13 Wayne Prochaska Annette Prochaska VW Golf Group 2
Flushing, MI Flushing, MI Bridgestone 190.36
22 Chris Czyzio Eric Carlson Plymouth Arrow Open
Flushing, MI Hermantown, MN Pirelli 193.91
29 Ed Maklenberg Barbara Steencken Dodge GLH Open
Milford, MI Milford, MI Michelin 194.25
41 Dave Turner Ben Bradley Mitsubishi Pickup Truck
Hemet, CA Portland, OR BFGoodrich 194.94
28 Jeff Bothee Tom Beltman Mitsubishi Celeste Open
Wyoming, MI Walker, MI Michelin 195.63
20 Pete Lahm Jimmy Brandt Datsun 510 Group 2
Phoenix, AZ Lake Odessa, MI Michelin 204.36
27 Don Rathgeber Greg Brown Ford Mustang Open
Livonia, MI Dearborn, MI Michelin 207.95
Did_Not_Finish
Car
Num. Driver/Home Town Navigator/Home Town Vehicle/Tires Class
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 Carl Merrill John Bellefleur Ford Escort Cosworth Open
Ogunquit, ME Thornhill, ONT Michelin
1 Paul Choiniere John Buffum Hyundai Elantra Open
Shelburne, VT S. Burlington, VT Michelin
12 Doug Shepherd Pete Gladysz Eagle Talon Open
Plymouth, MI Troy, MI Michelin
33 Tom Ottey Pam McGarvey Hyundai Elantra Open
Columbus, OH Columbus, OH Michelin
19* Mitch McCullough John Elkin Mazda 323GTX Open
West Bloomfield, MI Lytle Creek, CA Michelin
24* Henry Krolikowski Cindy Krolikowski Dodge Shadow Open
Wyandotte, MI Wyandotte, MI
21 Steve Gingras Bill Westrick Mitsubishi Eclipse PGT
Duluth, MN Orion, MI Michelin
18 Gail Truess Paul Truess Chevrolet Citation Open
Brooklyn, MI Brooklyn, MI Michelin
22* Chris Czyzio Eric Carlson Plymouth Arrow Open
Flushing, MI Hermantown, MN Pirelli
15* Brian Pepp Dean Rushford Mazda RX-7 Group 2
Marquette, MI Ishpeming, MI Michelin
43 A. K. Kaumeheiwa Craig Sobczak Dodge Neon Prod.
Brighton, MI Marquette, MI Michelin
89 Serguei Beloussov Barry Berg Mazda 626 Group 2
Philadelphia, PA Apple Valley, MN
JOY WINS FIRST-EVER PRO RALLY AT D&N BANK LAKE SUPERIOR EVENT;
CHOINIERE CLAIMS FOURTH STRAIGHT MICHELIN NATIONAL TITLE DESPITE DNF
HOUGHTON, Mich. -- October 22 -- The D&N Bank Lake Superior PRO Rally lived
up to its 47-year history of "Press on Regardless" as Henry Joy, from
Atlanta, Mich., and co-driver Chris Griffin, survived a Friday night
blizzard and broken rear differential mount bolts to win his first
SCCA/Michelin PRO Rally event by more than two minutes.
Joy, whose 380hp, all-wheel-drive, turbocharged Mitsubishi Lancer had a
seven minute lead late in the rally, broke the rear diff. mount bolts and
then stalled for five minutes near the end of the event, but had the car
fixed at a late service to preserve the win.
Carl Merrill, from Ogunquit, Maine, with co-driver John Bellefleur, had
lead much of the event before blowing a head gasket on the Brockway
Mountain tarmack stage in his Ford Escort Cosworth. Merrill's DNF
(Did not Finish) was especially painful as he was the only driver who
had a chance to catch points leader Paul Choiniere for the season
championship. Choiniere and his Hyundai Elantra thus captures the
series title despite Paul's DNF in the snow Friday night with a blown
engine after sucking in water from a large puddle.
Other significant DNFs included Doug Shepherd's Eagle Talon (turbo hose,
broken wheel); Steve Gingras' Mitsubishi Eclipse (broken transmission);
Tom Ottey's Hyundai Elantra (brake system); and Brian Pepp's Mazda RX-7
(local entry from Marquette, Mich. - stuck in snow and mud in a ditch).
Only 20 of the original 43 starters finished the event. Other class
winners included Sam Bryan/Rob Walden, from Kent, Wash., in a
Saab 900 (second overall and the Group 2 class winner); Cal Landau/Eric
Marcus, from Coraopolis, Penn., in a Mitsubishi Eclipse (fourth overall and
the Production GT winner); Bruce Newey/Charles Bradley, from Atlanta, GA
(sixth overall and the Group A winner); Tad Ohtake/Bob Martin, from
Dearborn, Mich., in a Ford Escort GT (9th overall and the production class
winner); and Dave Turner/Ben Bradley, from Hemet, Calif., in a Mitsubishi
Pickup (13th overall and winner of the Rally Truck class).
Besides Choiniere clinching the overall title, Dave Turner, Bruce Newey,
and Tad Ohtake also clinched their season titles in the respective classes
above. Landau/Marcus will try to nail down the Production GT title at the
last event in Rumford, Maine, in December, but they will have to catch the
all-woman team of Janice Damitio and Amity Trowbridge, who are trying to
become the first women to win a PRO Rally driving title. In Group 2, the
only other undecided class, Sam Bryan only needs the two starting points he
will get if he enters the Maine event to clinch the championship.
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. The cars
start at one-minute intervals and race against the clock over 6 - 24
stages which range in length from four to 25 miles. Speeds of more than
120 miles-per-hour could be reached on long straight-aways, with the team
achieving the fastest combined times winning the event.
The final round of the SCCA/Michelin PRO Rally series will be the Maine
Forest Winter Rally in Rumford, Maine, December 1 - 2.