LSPR Entry List * LSPR Results w/leg times * LSPR ClubRally Results w/leg times
MEDIA ALERT
Event:
D&N Bank Lake Superior ProRally; final round (of nine) for the 1999
Michelin SCCA Pro Rally Championship. ProRally cars from across North
America will race on the demanding forest roads of Michigan's Upper
Peninsula. This event is sanctioned by the Sports Car Club of America
(SCCA).
When & where:
October 21-23, 1999; Houghton, Michigan
Headquarters hotel:
Best Western Franklin Square; Houghton, Michigan; 906.487.1700
Schedule:
Thursday, October 21
13:00-16:00 Press stage competitor registration (invitation only);
Dee Stadium, second floor; Houghton, Mich.
13:00-16:30 Press stage competitor scrutineering (invitation
only); Dee Stadium ice rink
15:00-21:00 Worker registration; Dee Stadium, second floor
16:00-21:00 Competitor registration (non-press stage teams); Dee
Stadium, second floor
16:30 Media rendezvous for press stage; press room; Best
Western Franklin Square, sixth floor
17:00-19:00 Press stage (location confidential)
19:00-21:00 Worker training; Dee Stadium, second floor
20:00-22:00 Welcome party; Dee Stadium, second floor
Friday, October 22
08:00-14:00 Competitor & worker registration; Dee Stadium, second
floor
08:00-14:30 Scrutineering; Dee Stadium ice rink
13:00-14:00 Worker training; Dee Stadium
15:00-16:00 Parc Expose (ProRally cars on display); Dee Stadium
16:01 First car starts D&N Lake Superior ProRally; Dee
Stadium
Saturday, October 23
01:24 First car finishes first day of D&N Bank Lake Superior
ProRally; Houghton, Mich.
08:00-10:00 Worker registration: Dee Stadium, second floor
09:00-10:00 Parc Expose (ProRally cars on display); D&N Bank;
Calumet, Mich.
10:01 First car starts second day of D&N Bank Lake Superior
ProRally
16:37 First car finishes D&N Bank Lake Superior ProRally;
D&N Bank; Hancock, Mich.
19:00-19:30 Social; MTU Memorial Union Building; Houghton, Mich.
20:00-21:00 Buffet dinner; MTU Memorial Union Building
21:00 Awards ceremony (rally & season); MTU Memorial Union
Building
Format:
Events in the Michelin SCCA ProRally Championship consist of
flat-out racing, in any weather, on challenging forest, mountain or
desert roads. No practice is allowed. Competitors generally see the
course for the first time as they race it. Racing takes place only on
"stages," demanding roads closed by local authorities for the event.
"Transits" connect racing sections and are driven at normal highway
speeds, with teams fully subject to all traffic laws.
ProRally vehicles are production-based cars (and some trucks)
from manufacturers around the world. They compete both for the overall
victory and wins within a class structure that groups together
vehicles with similar performance. Each vehicle carries a driver and a
co-driver/navigator. Using a detailed route book and a sophisticated
rally computer, the co-driver keeps the team on-course and advises the
driver of any hazards ahead. This role is as critical as the driver's
skill, since the team is traveling at full racing speeds over roads
they have never before seen, in any type of weather.
Selected entries (driver/co-driver):
* 1999 Overall driver & co-driver champions Noel Lawler & Charlie
Bradley; Wild West, Ojibwe & Prescott winners; Open Class Hyundai
Tiburon
* Seven-time US champion Paul Choiniere and multi-time co-driver
champion Jeff Becker; Susquehannock Trail winners; Open Class Hyundai
Tiburon
* 11-time US champion John Buffum & Lance Smith; Open Class Hyundai
Elantra
* Rim of the World winners Garen and Doc Shrader; Open Class
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV (World Rally Championship-type
supercar)
* 1995 Lake Superior ProRally winner Henry Joy & Chris Griffin; Open
Class Mitsubishi Lancer Evo II
* 1999 Production Class driver & co-driver champions Karl Scheible &
Gail McGuire; Open Class Mitsubishi Lancer Evo V
* Group 5 points leaders Ralph Kosmides and Joe Noyes; class winners
at Rim of the World, Wild West & Prescott; Group 5 Toyota Supra Turbo
* Sno*Drift, STPR, Maine Forest & Ojibwe Group 5 winners Henry and
Cindy Krolikowski; can overtake Kosmides & Noyes for title; Dodge
Shadow
* Group 2 points leader Bryan Hourt and Pete Cardimen; STPR, Ojibwe &
Prescott winners; Group 2 Honda Civic
* Maine Forest Group 2 winners Bill Malik & Christian Edstrom; can
overtake Hourt & Cardimen for title; Volvo 240
* Production GT points leader Gail Truess and Pattie Hughes; Doo Wop &
Wild West PGT winners; PGT Mazda 323 GTX
* Sno*Drift Production GT winners Chris Czyzio and Eric Carlson; PGT
Mitsubishi Eclipse
* Canadian Production GT fliers Patrick Richard & Claire Chizma; PGT
Subaru Impreza RS
* Maine Forest Production winner Evan Moen & Tom Young; Production
Class Plymouth Neon ACR
* Prescott Forest Production Class winners Peter Malaszuk and Darek
Szerejko; factory-backed Daewoo Nubira
Additional news interest:
* Very strong Open Class field -- three factory Hyundais & three
Mitsubishi Lancer Evos, plus several other fast overall contenders
* Drivers of first three cars to start event represent 19 US
championships
* The Group 5 and Group 2 championship are very close, with two teams
capable of winning in either class. The title in both classes will be
decided here.
Event rank:
D&N Lake Superior ProRally is a full-points round of the Michelin SCCA
ProRally Championship.
Interviews:
Drivers, co-drivers and crewmembers will be accessible throughout the
event, including the two Parc Exposes prior to the start of both days'
activity.
Visuals:
Prior to the event, action photography and video will be obtainable at
the press stage, Thursday, Oct. 21.
During the event, action photography and video will be possible from
special viewing areas set up along the rally course, as well as other
sites.
Media car rides:
Media will be given the opportunity to experience the intense
excitement of ProRally cars at speed during the press stage, Thursday,
Oct. 21:
Media information:
Media relations will be able to provide driver and co-driver
interviews, event results and other information via telephone, fax and
Email.
Contact: Ed Jacobs - Michelin SCCA Pro Rally Championship
330.644.7774; 330.645.2045 Fax (USA Country Code: 1)
Press room in rally headquarters; Best Western Franklin
Square
906.487.1700 (hotel switchboard)
Email: windrivr@ix.netcom.com
Time zone: Eastern Daylight Saving Time
(same as New York)
Web sites:
SCCA ProRally: http://www.sccaprorally.org/
D&N Bank Lake Superior ProRally: http://up-plaza.com/lspr/
Lake Superior ProRally
Start Order
Start Car Seed Class Car Driver/Co-driver
----- --- ---- ----- ------------------ ------------------------------------
1 2 FIA Open Hyundai Noel Lawler
Tiburon Charles Bradley
2 3 FIA Open Hyundai Paul Choinere
Tiburon Jeff Becker
3 37 FIA Open Mitsubishi Henry Joy IV (Petosky, MI)
Evolution II Chris Griffin (La Canada, CA)
4 8 FIA Open Hyundai John Buffum
Elantra Lance Smith
5 80 1 Open Audi quattro Jon Kemp (Attica, NY)
Rod Hendricksen
6 6 1 Open Eagle Talon Steve Gingras (Elk River, MN)
Bill Westrick (Royal Oak, MI)
7 14 1 Open Mitsubishi Garen Shrader (Memphis, TN)
Lancer Evo IV Floyd 'Doc' Shrader (Memphis, TN)
8 61 3 Open Mitsubishi Karl Scheible (Spencerport, NY)
Lancer Evo V Gail McGuire (Avon, NY)
9 16 1 PGT Mazda 323 GTX Gail Truess (Brooklyn, MI)
Pattie Hughes
10 44 1 G5 Dodge Henry Krolikowski (Wyandotte, MI)
Shadow Cindy Krolikowski (Wyandotte, MI)
11 7 1 G5 Toyota Ralph Kosmides (Newport Beach, CA)
Supra Turbo Joe Noyes
12 10 1 G2 Volvo 240 Bill Malik (Burbank, CA)
Christian Edstrom (Valencia, CA)
13 94 2 PGT Eagle Bryan Pepp (Marquette, MI)
Talon Jerry Stang (Marquette, MI)
14 21 2 PGT Mitsubishi Chris Czyzio (Flushing, MI)
Eclipse GSX Eric Carlson (Oregon, WI)
15 111 2 G5 Honda Jim Anderson (Dublin, OH)
Prelude Mark Williams
16 83 2 G5 Dodge Mark Utecht (Stacy, MN)
Omni Diane Sargent (Saginaw, MN)
17 82 2 G5 Mazda Rx-7 Mike Hurst (Indianapolis, IN)
Rob Bohn (Noblesville, IN)
18 71 2 G2 Honda Bryan Hourt (Hilliard, OH)
Civic Peter Cardimen (Dublin, OH)
19 66 5 G2 Volkswagen Richard Pilczuk (Canton, GA)
Golf GTi Brian Pilczuk (Canton, GA)
20 119 2 P Daewoo Nubira Peter Malaszuk
Darek Szerejko
21 33 3 Open Audi Jim Warren (Linwood, MI)
Quattro Chuck Binder (Bay City, MI)
22 175 3 Open Audi Alex Erisoty
90 Quattro Ben Greisler
23 162 3 PGT Subaru Patrick Richard (Vancouver, BC)
Impreza RS Claire Chizma (Seattle, WA)
24 38 3 G5 Dodge Lesley Suddard (Wilmington, DE)
Charger Marc Goldfarb (Atkinson, NH)
25 124 4 Open Eagle Carl Kieranen (Toivola, MI)
Talon Tsi Jerry Bruso (Duluth, MN)
26 126 4 Open Mitsubishi Arthur Wojcik (Middle Village, NY)
Charles Cox (Cambridge, MA)
27 64 4 G5 Ford Don Rathgeber (Livonia, MI)
Mustang Daniel James Bodnar (Hamtramck, MI)
28 158 4 G5 Mazda Ted Grzelak (Marquette, MI)
Rx-7 Chris Plante (Green Bay, WI)
29 166 4 G5 Chevy John Davbenmier (Dexter, MI)
S10 Stanley Rosen (Milford, MI)
30 98 4 G2 Volkswagen Bob Nielsen (St. Paul, MN)
Golf GTi Brenda Corneliusen (Minneapolis, MN)
31 36 4 P Plymouth Evan Moen (Clarkson, MI)
Neon ACR Tom Young (Lathrup, MI)
32 59 5 Open Audi quattro John Rek (Chicago, IL)
S2 TBA
33 147 5 Open Toyota Miroslan Babinski
Celica Dariusz Boseko
34 70 5 PGT Dodge Kendall Russell (Knoxville, TN)
Shadow ES Dave Weiman
35 19 5 PGT Plymouth Rod Dean (Holly, MI)
Laser RS Nichole Dean (Holly, MI)
36 97 5 PGT Eagle Paul Dubinsky (Fort Mill, SC)
Talon TBA
37 555 5 G5 Mercury Merkur Colin McCleery (Zeeland, MI)
Jimmy Brandt (Lake Odesa, MI)
38 56 5 G2 Volkswagen Douglas Davenport (Minneapolis, MN)
Golf GTi Allan Kintigh (Brooklyn Park, MN)
39 137 5 G2 MG Phillip Smith (Upper Sandusky, OH)
MGB GT Pamela Smith (Upper Sandusky, OH)
40 42 5 G2 Volkswagen Eric Burmeister (Dearborn Hts, MI)
Golf GTi Mark Buskirk (Kentwood, MI)
41 55 5 P Volkswagen Brian Vinson (Ferndale, MI)
Golf GTi TBA
42 167 6 Open Eagle David Green (Fairfax Station, VA)
Talon Michael Wilkerson (Arlington, VA)
43 152 6 Open Plymouth Wojciech Hajduczyk (Linden, NJ)
Laser Cezary Fidler
44 192 6 PGT Eagle Brian Scott (Lake Orion, MI)
Talon David Watts (Austintown, OH)
45 194 6 G5 Mitsubishi Biegalski Wiktor (Milwaukee, WI)
Eclipse Peszko Oariusz (Milwaukee, WI)
46 41 6 G2 Volkswagen Art Burmeister (Sterling, MI)
Golf GTi Randy Moore (Tawas City, MI)
47 69 6 G2 Honda Charles Sherrill (Hickory, NC)
CRX Mark Rea (Hickory, NC)
48 913 3 PGT Subaru Janusz Jastrzebski
Marcin KorneluK
ClubRally ONLY
(some ProRally competitors also are
simultaneously competing in ClubRally)
Start Car Seed Class Car Driver/Co-driver
----- --- ---- ----- ------------------ ------------------------------------
1 170 1 G5 Volkswagen Reny Villemure (Flatrock, MI)
Beetle Mike Villemure (Westland, MI)
2 67 2 G2 Honda Jay Kowalik (London, OH)
Civic TBD
3 501 3 Open Mitsubishi Todd Jarvey (Maple Grove, MN)
Galant VR4 Richard Faber (Blaine, MN)
4 575 3 G5 Plymouth Jeremy Butts (Dearborn Hts, MI)
Peter Jacobs (Grand Rapids, MI)
5 522 3 G2 Dodge Jonathon Butts (Dearborn, MI)
Gary Butts (Ada, MI)
6 550 3 G2 Volkswagen Aaron Hatz (St. Paul, MN)
Golf GTi Brendan Higgins (Minneapolis, MN)
7 531 3 G2 Volkswagen J.B. Niday (Richfield, MN)
Golf GTi J.B. Lewis
8 538 3 G2 Ford James Buchwitz
C.O. Rudstrom
9 535 3 G2 Dodge Jason Anderson
Jared Kemp
10 545 3 P Nissan Eric Seppanen (Brooklyn Center, MN)
TBA
11 548 4 G5 Dodge John Zoerner (Warrenville, IL)
Omni GLHT John Shepski (Chicago, IL)
12 591 4 G2 Suzuki Peter Beaupre (Houghton, MI)
Swift Dave Cizmas (Houghton, MI)
13 TBA 4 G2 Pontiac Kurt Winkelmann (Houghton, MI)
Fiero Drew Ritchie (Houghton, MI)
14 546 4 G2 Toyota Chris Gilligan (Hartford, WI)
MR2 Mike Moyer
15 574 4 G2 Dodge Mark Kleckner (Lake Orion, MI)
Colt TBA
16 507 5 G2 Saturn Micah Wiitala (Minneapolis, MN)
Josh Prusi (Proctor, MN)
17 502 TBA Open Toyota Paul Dunn (Oakley, IL)
Brian Jenkins (Decatur, IL)
18 544 TBA Open Eagle Dan Malott (Otter Lake, MI)
Talon Matthew Malott (Flint, MI)
19 505 6 G2 Volkswagen Jon Hamilton (Marysville, OH)
Golf GTi Josh Westhoven (Columbus, OH)
20 524 TBA P Dodge Nathan Koukkari (Maple Grove, MN)
Neon TBA
D&N Bank Lake Superior ProRally
Round 9
1999 Michelin SCCA ProRally Championship
Houghton, Michigan
October 22-23, 1999
Press Notes #1
1.) Good afternoon and welcome to the D&N Bank Lake Superior ProRally,
the ninth and final round of the Michelin SCCA ProRally series. A big
field of 68 cars is set to challenge the rally long known as the
oldest, meanest and toughest on the circuit. True to that reputation,
Mother Nature is ready and waiting for them -- and she definitely is
having a "bad hair" day.
2.) When teams got up this morning they were greeted by gray, sullen
skies, driving rain threatening to change to snow, temperatures in the
30s and very strong winds. In fact, at about 2:00 a.m. today the winds
were so strong that they were noticeably shaking the upper stories of
the headquarters hotel, where the press room is located.
3.) In recent years, the weather for this event has been comparatively
mild to downright warm. However, the Weather Channel's forecast makes
it sound as though we will have the sort of conditions that old-timers
always expected - and generally got -- from this rally. Temperatures
are supposed to be in the 30s, with angry, relentless winds gusting to
well over 50 mph, and rain changing over to snow this evening.
Accumulations of one or two inches are expected, all south of Houghton
- where virtually everything takes place today.
4.) The "s" word in the forecast has several teams pretty concerned,
either because they feel that they don't have the right tires with
them or because they feel that their cars will be at a distinct
disadvantage in the snowy conditions predicted.
5.) We will be getting reports from several sources in the field today
and tomorrow. These include Kevin Ericson, the rally's press director;
Jeff Burmeister, who helped us so well at Prescott; and SCCA
Rally/Solo marketing manager Kurt Spitzner.
6.) Also out and about and scouting for us is former series media
relations rep Dr. Tim Cline, who sort of got the itch to come back and
see everyone. He figures that it has been eight or nine years since
he's been able to get to a ProRally. It's good to see him back on the
scene.
7.) Before we move away from the weather altogether, Kevin Ericson has
pointed out that the weather we are experiencing today is very much
like the stormy conditions that destroyed the Edmund Fitzgerald. The
huge, ill-fated ore boat was the subject of a popular Gordon Lightfoot
song. She sank without warning not that far from here -- in sight of
another ship, virtually in the blink of an eye -- taking all hands
with her.
8.) This year's edition of LSPR will have 18 stages, 10 today and the
remainder tomorrow. The total stage miles will be 141.06, and the
total event distance will be 441.70 miles. The ceremonial start is
scheduled for 4:00 p.m. adjacent to Dee Stadium. Tomorrow's start will
be at 10:00 a.m., from the D&N Bank branch in nearby Calumet. The
finish will be at the D&N Bank's headquarters, across the river from
here in Hancock.
9.) There will be a powerful contingent of Open Class cars headlining
the field here this weekend. We have three factory Hyundais and three
powerful Mitsubishi Lancer Evolutions, plus several other
fast-runners.
10.) The Hyundais will be driven by newly crowned overall driver and
co-driver champions Noel Lawler and Charlie Bradley (Tiburon), Paul
Choiniere and Jeff Becker (Tiburon), and John Buffum and Lance Smith
(Elantra). The Mitsubishis will be piloted by Garen and Doc Shrader
(Evo IV), Henry Joy and Chris Griffin (Evo II), and 1999 Production
driver and co-driver champions Karl Scheible and Gail McGuire (Evo V).
11.) There is a navigator change on Jim Anderson's Group 2 Honda
Prelude. Regular co-driver Martin Dapot will not be able to compete in
this event, due to a sudden illness in the family. Mark Williams will
be taking his place.
12.) It will be interesting to see if Williams tweaks Anderson the
same way he did John Buffum a couple of months ago. Prior to that
event, Williams had navigated for the Mexican national champion in
Susquehannock Trail, where he had to give all instructions in Spanish.
So, just to have a little fun with Buffum, he gave the first few
instructions in Spanish.
13.) The drawing for FIA drivers was held here in the press room and,
for the fourth time this year, Noel Lawler will be first-on-the-road.
That won't count for much, though, as there isn't a prayer of a chance
of any dust. There has been way too much rain. Teammate Paul Choiniere
will start second, followed by Henry Joy, who won here in 1995, and
then John Buffum.
14.) There has been a bit of drama here the past couple of days, as
company executives and team personnel kept waiting for the factory
Daewoo Nubira to arrive -- or even be located. Late yesterday
afternoon, they finally made cell-phone contact with the transporter,
which was in Michigan but several hundred miles away. Just three hours
before today's start the Prescott Production Class winner still had
not arrived. However, it did pull in shortly after that, and got
through registration and tech in time.
15.) In addition to the representatives from Daewoo, we also have Doug
Matthews and another representative of Pirelli here observing the
event. Pirelli is Noel Lawler's tire supplier.
16.) Lynn Nelson, the Regional Executive of SCCA's Lake Superior
Region and chairperson of last year's Rally of the Year-winning Lake
Superior ProRally, has sent everyone wishes for a safe and happy
event. Obviously with an eye toward the Weather Channel, she wished
everyone a "shiveringly good time."
17.) Houghton is home to Michigan Technological University, and the
MTU Future Car Team led cars away at the 4:00 p.m. ceremonial start
today. This volunteer, non-credit student program is part a
presidential initiative aimed at tripling the fuel economy of a
typical mid-size car without losing any of the comfort and desirable
traits of a normal mid-size vehicle. The MTU car is Dodge Intrepid
diesel-electric series hybrid, using a 1.8-liter Peugeot
non-direct-injection diesel engine, a large alternator and a modest
battery bank. The engine and alternator provide the motive power most
of the time, with the battery pack providing a boost for acceleration,
hill-climbing, etc. The MTU car was selected to be among 13 finalists
this past June, and ultimately finished third in the competition.
Testing included both dynamic and static tests, as well as
manufacturing feasibility studies. In addition to everything else, the
students published an SAE paper on the project.
18.) Although he probably won't be selling many units at this event,
Al Kintigh of White Knuckle Rallysports is the newest distributor of
Chill Factor cool suits. The units include a water-cooled shirt,
cooler unit, pump, mounting tray and hold-down straps. He will have a
complete unit installed and available for inspection in car 531, which
will be competing in the upcoming ClubRallies in Paris, Texas.
19.) Jim Konkler has dropped by the press room with news of several
early retirements. Car 192, the Production GT Eagle Talon of Brian
Scott and David Watts rolled about six miles into Stage 1. They got a
bit sideways on a particularly slick turn and tagged a log with the
left-front corner. The car immediately snapped around and hit a bank
on the opposite side of the road with the right-rear corner. It then
did a slow roll. Witnesses told them that they were three feet clear
of the ground at one point.
20.) ClubRally entry 170, the Group 5 Volkswagen Beetle of Reny and
Mike Villemure is on the trailer, out with a blown engine.
21.) ClubRally entry 538, the Group 2 Ford Escort of James Buchwitz
and C.O. Rudstrom is out of today's action with a blown head gasket.
According to Rudstrom, the car was running roughly almost from the
start. It got progressively worse until they could huge clouds of
smoke trailing them on a stage. They realized the problem and limped
along until oil pressure fell off. They got oil from some fellow
competitors and limped on back to Houghton. They have the parts to fix
the car and will attempt to run tomorrow's ClubRally.
22.) Jim Warren and Chuck Binder have retired their Open Class Audi
quattro following what they described as a freak tie-rod failure two
miles into Stage 1.
23.) Just as we began writing up Tim Cline's informative report about
the incident that put them out of the rally, Noel Lawler and Charlie
Bradley walked into the press room. Bradley has a big bandage, 26
stitches and a fair amount of swelling under his chin, as well as some
body bruises. Lawler has a sore neck and some bruises from the crash.
Otherwise, they are okay. The rally had been going well through the
first four stages, and they had about 30-60 seconds on the
competition. Following the finish of Stage 5 the road suddenly became
exceptionally slick. Nothing Lawler did to slow down for an upcoming
curve did any good. They went pretty much straight off and hit a tree.
There was a brief fire, but it was of no consequence. Somehow -- he
isn't sure when or how -- Bradley received a big gash on his chin. He
wasn't even aware of it at first. When Paul Choiniere came along he
stopped and took Bradley on to receive medical assistance.
24.) Lawler wasn't the only frontrunner caught out by the sudden
slickness. Henry Joy went off the same way and slid up to within
inches of Lawler and Bradley's crunched Tiburon.
25.) What may come to be known as Noel's Corner has bitten another
fast team. Gail Truess and Pattie Hughes crashed heavily following the
finish of Stage 5. Approaching the finish control, they said that they
could see the warning triangles ahead and immediately began slowing
down. However, they went off the road trying to avoid another car and
hit a tree. They are okay but their rented Mazda 323 GTX is pretty
well crunched.
26.) The one bright point to the evening for Truess is that she
apparently has won the PGT driver's championship, despite the crash.
She needed only to start the event to clinch the title. Unfortunately
for Hughes, the accident eliminated her from the co-driver's
championship race.
27.) Stage 5 was halted due to the crashes, and remaining cars
transited the stage. There is no word yet on how scoring will treat
this situation.
28.) At the service following Stage 5, Tim Cline reports that John
Buffum had one flat earlier in the event, and that the car showed some
damage to the right-front quarter. He was not able to get a reason for
the damage.
29.) Jeff Burmeister reports that Buffum says the roads are becoming
very, very slippery, but that visibility is becoming the real issue.
(It is snowing heavily in the area where tonight's stages are being
run.) Buffum told Burmeister that although Paul Choiniere had switched
to snow tires, he was going to stay on gravel tires. However, just
before their time in service was up, Buffum made a mad dash to switch
to snows.
30.) Choiniere said that his car was "running great," and echoed
Buffum's sentiments about conditions. "Tires are not the factor for
us. Visibility is the real factor."
31.) Henry Joy also commented on the roads being very slippery, and
added that the ruts make it hard to keep the car under control in
places. The weather doesn't seem to bother him a bit, though. "I love
the weather," he said, "this is something you come to expect."
32.) Steve Gingras says that he is driving conservatively and aiming
for a finish. On Stage 5, he says that he let the car behind him go
by, so that he could use the other driver's brake lights as cues to
conditions ahead, hoping to pick up some time that way. At the
service, his crew was fitting fog lights to deal with the snowy
conditions.
33.) Team Daewoo is having serious electrical problems. The Peter
Malaszuk/Darek Szerejko Production Class Nubira is suffering a
recurrence of something that plagued them at Prescott three weeks ago.
Whenever revs fall off to idle the engine stalls and won't restart for
two or three minutes. They have replaced the engine computer in hopes
that will cure the problem, which already has cost them a lot of road
penalties.
34.) Eric Burmeister and Mark Buskirk had a bit of excitement on Stage
4. Burmeister got their Group 2 Volkswagen Golf GTi way up on two
wheels and almost rolled. Somehow, they slid out and saved it; but the
car now has some ProRally style Darlington stripes from brushing along
something.
35.) Group 2 points leader Bryan Hourt and Pete Cardimen (Honda Civic)
have had their share of excitement this evening, but most of their
troubles came before the start. They damaged a CV joint on yesterday's
press stage, and discovered that they did not have the correct
replacement with them, due to a recent drivetrain change. So teammate
Jay Kowalik went to Honda's largest US parts warehouse, in Troy, Ohio,
and got what was needed. He then got on a plane and flew up here. When
he arrived, the team discovered that the box did not have everything
they needed in it, despite the picture showing a complete assembly.
None of the area parts stores had the missing pieces. However, they
borrowed a similar - but slightly larger -- part from Jim Anderson's
Prelude. So far, it seems to be working fine.
36.) Following Stage 1, 1999 Production champions Karl Scheible and
Gail McGuire lost the odometer in their rented Mitsubishi Evo V. So
McGuire, who probably has years more navigating experience than anyone
else here, is resorting to a lot of looking out the windows and
TSD-type time-based calculations to keep them on he road.
37.) Brian Pepp and Jerry Stang are enjoying themselves, but lost the
alternator in their PGT Eagle Talon at the end of Stage 5. They
followed another competitor to the service area. While they were
handing in their time card the engine died. They pushed the car from
there to their service point.
38.) Stage 7 has been cancelled due to time and worker considerations.
In addition to getting the rally back on schedule, this also prevents
keeping workers out in the miserable conditions longer than
reasonable.
39.) Karl Scheible and Gail McGuire are having a ball in the Evo V,
despite having no odometer and making a poor tire choice. McGuire said
that more than once they commented on the fact that in their
Production Class car they'd still be "way back there," instead of
being way up front as they are in the Evo.
40.) When asked if they would be in an Evo next year, Scheible said
that he still is hoping to do something with Volkswagen. He then added
that he could not do an Evo next season without an infusion of OPM -
Other People's Money. (In case anyone wondered, they do have rental
insurance on the Evo.)
41.) Jeff Burmeister has nominated ClubRallyists J.B. Niday and J.B.
Lewis (Volkswagen Golf GTi) for his new Most Unusual Damage to the Car
Award. They broke a right-side control arm and got the car way up on
two wheels. Somehow, they tagged a tree while bicycling and still came
back down without any visible body or wheel-and-tire damage. Due to a
lack of parts, they may not be able to run tomorrow's Club event.
42.) Mary Jo Bender called in some interesting tidbits about Chris
Czyzio and Eric Carlson (PGT Mitsubishi Eclipse). They have 10
consecutive finishes in this event, under both the Press on Regardless
and Lake Superior ProRally names. That may be more than anyone else.
They also have 15 consecutive finishes in national-level events. That,
too, could be the best of any active drivers.
43.) Tim Winker, who is here shooting video for the Speedvision show,
found a copy of the February 1974 issue of Popular Mechanics in a shop
down the street yesterday. In it was an interesting shot of Walter
Boyce and Doug Wood en route to winning this event in 1974 in a
1600-cc Toyota Corolla. Second went to a Volvo 142S. A Datsun 240Z was
third. The event was 1700 miles long that year.
44.) It's nearly 6:00 a.m. The snow has stopped, the wind has died
down to a "modest" 35 knots most of the time and it's a chilly 36
degrees. The Weather Channel says that Saturday will be about the same
as Friday. We'll be back in operation when the cars head out for Parc
Expose in Calumet. Until then, good night.
45.) Good morning, and welcome to the second day of the D&N Bank Lake
Superior ProRally. The cars currently are in Parc Expose at the D&N
Bank branch in Calumet, about 15 miles from Houghton, further out the
Keweenaw Peninsula. They will spend the day out there, running eight
stages. According to the schedule, the first car should finish the
event shortly before 5:00 p.m. this afternoon, across the river in
Hancock at the D&N Bank's headquarters.
46.) The day's activities will include running the well-known Brockway
Mountain stage twice (in the same direction both times). This fast,
all-tarmac stage runs along a ridgeline near Copper Harbor, and offers
spectacular views, as well as hairpins and a series of big undulations
where anyone who is going fast will bottom-out. In the wet, windy -
possibly snowy conditions - it could be very tricky.
47.) Mother Nature's bad-hair day from yesterday hasn't ended; and the
Weather Channel is still starting most of its bad-weather segments by
pointing right to this part of the world. The forecast is for
continued very high winds (gusting to 40+ mph), rain or snow showers
and temperatures in the lower 30s.
48.) Lesley Suddard and Marc Goldfarb stopped by the press room this
morning to confirm that they are out of the rally. After suffering
through sporadic ignition problems all day yesterday, they finally
lost the turbo on their Group 5 Shelby Charger. The car then ran so
poorly that their service crew decided to needle them a bit on the
drive back by trying to pass the rally car with the service vehicle.
Once back in Houghton, at about 2:00 a.m., they began searching for a
turbo. Mark Utecht (Group 5 Omni GLH Turbo) offered one, but it was
not compatible with the Charger. So Suddard and Goldfarb will be
spectating today.
49.) ClubRally entry 544, the Eagle Talon of Dan and Matthew Malott,
has been withdrawn due to shock failure and a lack of suitable spares.
Rather than risk damaging the car due to ill handling, they have
withdrawn. Another factor is that Malott has to drive the car to work
on Monday.
50.) ClubRally entry 505, the Volkswagen Golf GTi of Jon Hamilton and
Josh Westhoven, is out with control-arm failure. They encountered some
slush in a downhill right-hander, went off and broke the control arm.
They have been unsuccessful in finding a replacement.
51.) Here is today's restart order:
1 Buffum/Smith, 71.71;
2 Joy/Griffin, 74.31;
3 Choiniere/Becker, 75.39;
4 Scheible/McGuire, 77.76;
5 Hurst/Bohn, 79.42;
6 Gingras/Westrick, 81.76;
7 Pepp/Stang, 82.16;
8 Krolikowski/Krolikowski, 82.31;
9 Hourt/Cardimen, 83.20;
10 Davbenmeier/Rosen, 83.74;
11 Malik/Edstrom, 83.96 (tie);
12 Czyzio/Carlson, 83.96 (tie);
13 Pilczuk/Pilczuk, 83.98;
14 Richard/Chizma, 85.31;
15 Malaszuk/Szerejko, 85.86;
16 Anderson/Williams, 86.61;
17 Utecht/Sargent, 87.40;
18 E. Burmeister/Buskirk, 88.98;
19 Kieranen/Bruso, 89.14;
20 Kosmides/Noyes, 89.26;
21 Vinson/TBA 90.18;
22 Moen/Young, 90.25;
23 Rek/TBA, 91.34;
24 Babinski/Boseko, 91.65;
25 Grzelak/Plante, 92.00;
26 Davenport/Kintigh, 92.07;
27 Hajduczyk/Fidler, 92.95;
28 Smith/Smith, 94.86;
29 Kemp/Hendricksen, 95.16;
30 Nielsen/Corneliusen, 96.22;
31 McCleery/Brandt, 99.11;
32 Erisoty/Greisler, 99.23;
33 Rathgeber/Bodnar, 99.89;
34 Jastrzebski/Korneluk, 100.35;
35 Wojcik/Cox, 100.44;
36 A. Burmeister/Moore, 102.21;
37 Dubinsky/TBA, 103.39;
38 Sherrill/Rea, 107.66.
52.) Garen and Doc Shrader (Open Class Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV) did
not restart this morning, due to head-gasket failure. They are
spectating today.
53.) Henry and Cindy Krolikowski (Dodge Shadow GT), who started the
day leading Group 5 comfortably, had an off on today's first stage
(Stage 11). They told radio reporters that they got back on the road
quickly and lost little time.
54.) Paul Choiniere and Jeff Becker (Open Class Hyundai Tiburon) also
had problems on that stage, but they were far longer-lasting than the
Krolikowskis. They broke a halfshaft and had to hobble along through
two and a half stages before they could get to service for repairs.
55.) The weather out on the stages is typically Upper Peninsula
changeable. On the first stage it was rainy and sleeting. The next
stage started out beautiful, but a squall came in and changed all
that. The wind is still strong, estimated at 30-40 knots, and the
waves on Lake Superior are estimated to be 15 feet. There were no
surfers. However, reformed lake-surfer Jeff Burmeister spoke fondly of
the big, steep waves with their beautiful right-to-left break and the
long, open beach.
56.) After the first pass through the Brockway Mountain stage, teams
are calling it their favorite of the event. The Daewoo boys, Peter
Malaszuk and Darek Szerejko were particularly vocal about how much
they liked it.
57.) Really small world department: Last night, while he was out
scouting around, Tim Cline was standing in the dark near a group of
spectators talking about rallying, old times, etc. After a while he
happened to hear someone say, "What ever happened to Tim Cline?" When
Cline asked who was inquiring the speaker stepped out and identified
himself. It turned out to the driver with whom he navigated this event
26 years ago, Bent Pahl.
58.) The Production GT Plymouth Laser RS of Rod and Nichole Dean
clearly is out of the event. The car just passed by the press room on
the trailer, with the nosed bashed in.
59.) It looks as though Prescott, Arizona, isn't the only rally town
that demonstrably supports its high school. A little while ago a
parade of cheering high-schoolers led by a fire engine passed by our
window on the world, loudly spreading their enthusiasm.
60.) Eileen Deehan and Andy Wos of Rallysport, Inc., tell us that Jim
Anderson and Mark Williams (Group 5 Honda Prelude) were the clear
winners of the unofficial "big-air" contest on the second running of
Brockway Mountain. When they landed they hit so hard, out of sight of
the spectators, that many people thought that they had crashed and
began running to them. However, Anderson and Williams continued,
leaving only a long set of tracks on the right side of the road -
about as far as possible far from the cliff on the left side.
61.) Our crew at the finish reports that John Buffum and Lance Smith
are our unofficial overall winners in the Hyundai Elantra. Henry Joy
and Chris Griffin are second in the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo II. Jon Kemp
and Rod Hendricksen are reported to be third in their Audi quattro.
Karl Scheible and Gail McGuire think that they are fifth in the Evo V.
62.) At the start of the day today, Buffum was concerned about the
1.75 minutes he lost on last night's final stage changing a flat. At
the time, he was far more concerned about visibility in the snowy
conditions than tire issues or slipperiness. However, today he made up
the time. He says that Hyundai is, understandably, very happy about
winning a fourth-consecutive manufacturers' title.
63.) Buffum hopes to be running a two-car team again next year, and is
consulting with Hyundai. He also is investigating the possibilities
for involvement in the future FIA event, which will hinge on car
eligibility.
Lake Superior ProRally
Michelin SCCA ProRally Championship
October 22-23, 1999
Informational Results after 10 Stages
Pos. Car Class Event* Seed Driver/Co-Driver Hometown Car/Tires Score
1 8 Open N FIA John Buffum Colchester, VT Hyundai 71.71
Lance Smith Hinesburg, VT Michelin
2 37 Open N FIA Henry Joy IV Petosky, MI Mitsubishi 74.31
Chris Griffin La Canada, CA
3 3 Open N FIA Paul Choiniere Shelburne, VT Hyundai 75.39
Jeff Becker Great Neck, NY Michelin
4 61 Open N 1 Karl Scheible Spencerport, NY Mitsubishi 77.76
Gail McGuire Avon, NY
5 82 G5 N 2 Mike Hurst Indianapolis, IN Mazda 79.42
Rob Bohn Noblesville, IN
6 6 Open N 1 Steve Gingras Elk River, MN Eagle 81.76
Bill Westrick Royal Oak, MI
7 94 PGT N 2 Bryan Pepp Marquette, MI Eagle 82.16
Jerry Stang Marquette, MI
8 44 G5 N/C 1 Henry Krolikowski Wyandotte, MI Dodge 82.31
Cindy Krolikowski Wyandotte, MI
9 71 G2 N 2 Bryan Hourt Hilliard, OH Honda 83.20
Peter Cardimen Dublin, OH
10 166 G5 N 4 John Daubenmier Dexter, MI Chevrolet 83.74
Stanley Rosen Milford, MI
11 10 G2 N 1 Bill Malik Burbank, CA Volvo 83.96
Christian Edstrom Valencia, CA
12 21 PGT N/C 2 Chris Czyzio Flushing, MI Mitsubishi 83.96
Eric Carlson Oregon, WI
13 66 G2 N 2 Richard Pilczuk Canton, GA VW 83.98
Brian Pilczuk Canton, GA
14 162 PGT N/C 3 Patrick Richard Vancouver, BC Subaru 85.31
Claire Chizma Seattle, WA
15 119 P 2 Peter Malaszuk Stamford, CT Daewoo 85.86
Darek Szerejko Rye Brook, NY
16 111 G5 N 2 Jim Anderson Dublin, OH Honda 86.61
Mark Williams N. Potomac, MD
17 83 G5 N/C 2 Mark Utecht Stacy, MN Dodge 87.40
Diane Sargent Saginaw, MN
18 42 G2 N/C 5 Eric Burmeister Dearborn Heights, MI VW 88.98
Mark Buskirk Kentwood, MI
19 124 Open N/C 4 Carl Kieranen Toivola, MI Eagle 89.14
Jerry Bruso Duluth, MN
20 7 G5 N 1 Ralph Kosmides Newport Beach, CA Toyota 89.26
Joe Noyes Bothell, WA Michelin
21 55 P N 5 Brian Vinson Ferndale, MI VW 90.18
Ron Moen
22 36 P N 4 Evan Moen Clarkson, MI Plymouth 90.25
Tom Young Lathrup, MI
23 59 Open N 5 John Rek Chicago, IL Audi 91.34
Mariusz Malik
24 147 Open 5 Miroslaw Babinski Prospect Hts, IL Toyota 91.65
Dariusz Bosek Des Plaines, IL
25 158 G5 N 4 Ted Grzelak Marquette, MI Mazda 92.00
Chris Plante Green Bay, WI
26 56 G2 N/C 5 Douglas Davenport Minneapolis, MN VW 92.07
Allan Kintigh Brooklyn Park, MN
27 152 Open N 6 Wojciech Hajduczyk Linden, NJ Plymouth 92.95
Cezary Fidler Brooklyn, NY
28 137 G2 N/C** 5 Phillip Smith Upper Sandusky, OH MG 94.86
Pamela 'Dallas' Smith Upper Sandusky, OH
29 80 Open N 1 Jon Kemp Attica, NY Audi 95.16
Rod Hendricksen Clinton, NJ Michelin
30 98 G2 N/C 4 Bob Nielsen St. Paul, MN VW 96.22
Brenda Corneliusen Minneapolis, MN
31 555 G5 N 5 Colin McCleery Zeeland, MI Mercury 99.11
Jimmy Brandt Lake Odesa, MI
32 175 Open 3 Alex Erisoty New York, NY Audi 99.23
Ben Greisler Holland, PA
33 65 G5 N 4 Don Rathgeber Livonia, MI Ford 99.89
Daniel James Bodnar Hamtramck, MI
34 913 PGT 6 Janusz Jastrzebski Dyer, IN Subaru 100.35
Marcin Korneluk Toronto, ON
35 126 Open N/C 4 Arthur Wojcik Middle Village, NY Mitsubishi 100.44
Charles Cox Cambridge, MA
36 41 G2 N 6 Art Burmeister Sterling, MI VW 102.21
Randy Moore Tawas City, MI
37 97 PGT N 5 Paul Dubinsky Fort Mill, SC Eagle 103.39
John Dillon Thousand Oaks, CA
38 69 G2 N 6 Charles Sherrill Hickory, NC Honda 107.66
Mark Rea Hickory, NC
DNF
192 PGT N 6 Brian Scott Lake Orion, MI Eagle
David Watts Austintown, OH
2 Open N FIA Noel Lawler Manchester Village, VT Hyundai
Charles Bradley Ardmore, PA Pirelli
16 PGT N/C 1 Gail Truess Brooklyn, MI Mazda
Pattie Hughes Columbus, OH Michelin
33 Open N/C 3 Jim Warren Linwood, MI Audi
Chuck Binder Bay City, MI
38 G5 N/C 3 Lesley Suddard Wilmington, DE Dodge
Marc Goldfarb Atkinson, NH Michelin
14 Open N 1 Garen Shrader Memphis, TN Mitsubishi
Floyd 'Doc' Shrader Memphis, TN
70 PGT N 5 Kendall Russell Knoxville, TN Dodge
Dave Weiman
19 PGT N 5 Rod Dean Holly, MI Plymouth
Nichole Dean Holly, MI
167 Open N 6 David Green Fairfax Station, VA Eagle
Michael Wilkerson Arlington, VA
194 G5 6 Wiktor Biegalski Milwaukee, WI Mitsubishi
Dariusz Peszko Milwaukee, WI
* N=Nat ProRally, C=ClubRally
** Ottowa ClubRally only
*** Keweenaw Challenge ClubRally only
64.) Sure. Sure. Now that the rally is over the wind dies down and the
sun comes out. As the final few teams come back into town, we have a
gorgeous sunset rather like those that you'd see in Arizona Highways
magazine, with silvers and bright, flaming reds. It's only temporary,
though, really just a momentary break in the clouds, but it is a nice
way to end the rally.
65.) Henry Joy, who finished second overall, had a ball and didn't
seem at all disappointed to be runner-up. "Any time that I finish
second to John Buffum," he said, "I feel that I have won the rally."
He and Chris Griffin finished less than two minutes behind Buffum in
the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo II.
66.) According to Karl Scheible, he and Gail McGuire "had an absolute
ball" in the Evo V, enroute to fifth overall. "We worked very hard to
win the hillclimb (Brockway Mountain). I was able to beat John
(Buffum) both times, but Paul (Choiniere) took a few seconds off me."
67.) Scheible and McGuire have taken a little good-natured kidding
about the fact that their ride this weekend, the Evo V, does not have
a bud vase. Bud vases are standard on the Volkswagen New Beetle, the
car in which they won the 1999 Production driver and co-driver
championships.
68.) Mike Hurst and Rob Bohn were the Group 5 winners in their Mazda
Rx-7. Hurst felt that they had a distinct advantage over the other
two-wheel-drive cars in yesterday's sloppy conditions. The cushion
they built up from that advantage allowed them to play it safe today.
69.) What Hurst didn't mention initially was that the advantage came
from the Bridgestone R-39s that they ran yesterday. Later on, he
volunteered (and Cindy Krolikowski confirmed) that it was the
Krolikowskis, his team's chief rivals, who had sold them the tires
that they used to beat them. On top of that bit of help, the
Krolikowskis also helped to organize a service crew for Hurst and
Bohn.
70.) Steve Gingras and Bill Westrick finished sixth overall and in
Open in their Eagle Talon. Gingras said that they had a fun day and
were able to make up some of the time lost yesterday. At the finish,
they were unable to back the car into its assigned slot, due to a
broken part somewhere in he brake system. So the car had to sit just
about where they stopped it in impound.
71.) Gingras said that he and Westrick had an "awesome time" today. He
also served advance notice that he will not run STPR next year. That's
because he and his wife are expecting their second child just about
then. So he'll be staying close to home during that time frame.
Congratulations to the expanding Gingras family.
72.) While we're in a congratulatory mode, happy birthday to Karl
Scheible and Art Burmeister.
73.) And happy anniversary to Bryan Hourt parents, Joe and Moni, who
are celebrating their 30th here this weekend -- instead of going to
Hawaii.
74.) The Daewoo boys are all smiles at the finish. According to
navigator Darek Szerejko, they found the cause of their nagging
electrical problem, a defective knock sensor, and set the fastest time
of any Production car on every stage. They also made Daewoo very happy
by bringing home the manufacturers' championship in the class.
75.) Patrick Richard and Claire Chizma, who finished second in PGT in
their Subaru Impreza, were feeling pretty good about the fact that
they caught and passed one of the top Group 5 cars on the final stage.
Earlier, they put on a bit of a show at one of the spectator points
when they arrived at the triangular intersection flat-out in fourth
and then slid through the island in the middle of the intersection, in
full view of the spectators. Richard quickly recovered, back-tracked
to where they went off and continued. They feel confident that Chizma
has won the PGT co-driver's championship.
76.) Richard has found some OPM (Other People's Money)and will run
both the SCCA ProRally and Canadian CARS series next year.
77.) For the third ProRally in a row, Eric Burmeister's co-driver,
Mark Buskirk, has put a bit of masking tape on the speedometer. On it
is written "finish." It worked. They got fourth in Group 2.
78.) Over the winter, John Rek (Open Class Audi quattro) plans to
spend a week in Finland at a snow-and-ice driving school. Then he
plans to come home and run in Sno*Drift.
79.) After three years with Al Kintigh as his navigator, next year
Doug Davenport (Group 2 Volkswagen Golf GTi) will have a new co-driver
- our own press-room scout and reformed lake-surfer -- Jeff
Burmeister. Davenport and Kintigh finished second in PGT in today's
ClubRally.
80.) Production came down to a father-and-son battle. Maine winners
Evan Moen and Tom Young, in a Plymouth Neon ACR, were challenged by
Brian Vinson and Moen's dad, Ron, in a Volkswagen Golf GTi. They ended
up just 0.02 minutes apart, with the son victorious. A minor error
bought Vinson/Moen some road penalties that widened the gap, and
prompted Vinson to joke that the elder Moen was a "plant" from his
son's team. They still got second in the class.
81.) The 1999 Michelin SCCA ProRally Champions were announced at the
banquet this evening (driver/co-driver/special trophy):
Open: Noel Lawler/Woolf; Charlie Bradley/Whitaker
Group 5: Henry Krolikowski/Woodner; Cindy Krolikowski/Woodner
Group 2: Bryan Hourt; Pete Cardimen
PGT: Gail Truess; John Dillon
Production: Karl Scheible/Donison; Gail McGuire
Open manufacturer: Hyundai
Group 5 manufacturer: Toyota
Production manufacturer: Daewoo
82.) The 2000 ProRally schedule also was announced:
Jan. 28-29 Sno*Drift; Atlanta, Mich.
April 14-15 Oregon Trail; Tillamook, Ore.
May 5-6 Rim of the World; Palmdale, Calif.
June 2-3 Susquehannock Trail; Wellsboro, Pa.
July 28-29 Maine Forest; Rumford, Maine
August 25-26 Ojibwe Forests; Bemidji, Minn.
Sept. 29-30 Prescott Forest: Prescott, Ariz.
Oct. 20-21 D&N Bank Lake Superior; Houghton, Mich.
****June 23-25 Rally USA; Denver, Colo.
FIA Asia-Pacific Series
83.) One of the best lines of the banquet came while emcee Henry Joy
was being recognized for his sportsmanship in last year's event, where
he lent his car to eventual ProRally champion David Summerbell.
Looking for a humorous remark to downplay his role, Joy paused just as
he said, "My car has won this rally
" Before he could finish the
thought, event chairman Jay Topping nailed him with "
more times than
you have."
84.) In one of several gestures of sportsmanship during the
proceedings, Production GT co-driver champion John Dillon handed the
trophy to runner-up Claire Chizma and requested a review of the
scoring, because he thought that she actually had won. However, the
rules are different this year and it appears that he is the champion.
Lake Superior ProRally
Final Results
Hours
OA Class Minutes
Pos. Pos. Driver/Co-driver Car Seconds
----- --- ---- ----- ------------------ ------------------------------------
1 1 Open John Buffum Hyundai 1:48:19
Lance Smith Elantra
2 2 Open Henry Joy Mitsubishi Lancer 1:50:06
Chris Griffin Evo II
3 2 Open Jon Kemp Audi quattro 1:51:55
Rod Hendricksen
4 4 Open Paul Choiniere Hyundai 1:54:09
Jeff Becker
5 5 Open Karl Scheible Mitsubishi Lancer 1:55:19
Gail McGuire Evo V
6 6 Open Steve Gingras Eagle Talon 1:57:51
Bill Westrick
7 1 Group 5 Mike Hurst Mazda Rx-7 1:59:31
Rob Bohn
8 1 PGT Brian Pepp Eagle Talon 2:01:33
Jerry Stang
9 2 Group 5 Henry Krolikowski Dodge Shadow GT 2:02:09
Cindy Krolikowski
10 1 Group 2 Bryan Hourt Honda Civic 2:03:43
Pete Cardimen
11 2 PGT Patrick Richard Subara Impreza 2:04:33
Claire Chizma
12 3 PGT Chris Czyzio Mitsubishi Eclipse 2:05:03
Eric Carlson
13 2 Group 2 Bill Malik Volvo 240 2:05:34
Christian Edstrom
14 3 Group 5 John Davbenmier Chevrolet S-10 2:07:37
Stan Rosen
15 4 Group 5 Jim Anderson Honda Prelude 2:07:49
Mark Williams
16 3 Group 2 Bob Neilsen Volkswagen Golf GTi 2:09:27
Brenda Corneliusen
17 4 Group 2 Eric Burmeister Volkswagen Golf GTi 2:11:37
Mark Buskirk
18 7 Open Carl Kieranen Eagle Talon Tsi 2:12:08
Jerry Bruso
19 1 Prod. Evan Moen Plymouth Neon ACR 2:12:31
Tom Young
20 5 Group 5 Ralph Kosmides Toyota Supra Turbo 2:14:06
Joe Noyes
21 5 Group 2 Doug Davenport Volkswagen Golf GTi 2:14:06
Al Kintigh
22 8 Open John Rek Audi quattro 2:14:33
Mariusz Malik
23 6 Group 2 Richard Pilczuk Volkswagen Golf GTi 2:15:43
Brian Pilczuk
24 6 Group 5 Ted Grzelak Mazda Rx-7 2:16:00
Chris Plante
25 9 Open Wojceich Hajduczyk Plymouth Laser 2:17:07
Cezary Fidler
26 2 Prod. Brian Vinson Volkswagen Golf GTi 2:17:33
Ronald Moen
27 2 Prod. Peter Malaszuk Daewoo Nubira 2:17:57
Darek Szerejko
28 10 Open Miroslan Babinski Toyota Celica 2:18:34
Dariusz Boesk
29 11 Open Arthur Wojcik Mitsubishi Eclipse 2:24:18
Charles Cox
30 7 Group 5 Dan Rathgeber Ford Mustang 2:24:22
Daniel Bodnar
31 8 Group 5 Colin McCleery Mercury Merkur 2:25:00
Jimmy Brandt
32 7 Group 2 Phillip Smith MGB GT 2:25:24
Pamela Smith
33 12 Open Paul Dubinsky Eagle Talon 2:26:46
John Dillon
34 8 Group 2 Charles Sherrill Honda Civic CR-X 2:41:18
Mark Rea
35 9 Group 2 Art Burmeister Volkswagen Golf GTi 2:41:31
Randy Moore
36 4 PGT Janus Jastrzebski Subaru Impreza 2:57:21
Marcin Korneluk
Noel Lawler Hyundai Tiburon DNF
Charlie Bradley
Garen Shrader Mitsubishi Lancer DNF
Floyd "Doc" Shrader Evo IV
Mark Utecht Dodge Omni GLH Turbo DNF
Diane Sargent
Jim Warren Audi quattro DNF
Chuck Binder
Alex Erisoty Audi quattro DNF
Ben Greisler
Lesley Suddard Shelby Charger DNF
Marc Goldfarb
Gail Truess Mazda 323 GTX DNF
Pattie Hughes
Kendall Russell Dodge Shadow DNF
Dave Weiman
Rod Dean Plymouth Laser DNF
Nichole Dean
David Green Eagle Talon DNF
Michael Wilkenson
Brian Scott Eagle Talon DNF
David Watts
Biegalski Wiktor Mitsubishi Eclipse DNF
Pesko Oariuszg
Contact: Ed Jacobs (330) 644-7774 Date: October 24, 1999
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Buffum and Smith Win Lake Superior ProRally
HOUGHTON, Michigan It was shades of old times this weekend, as 11-time champion John
Buffum and navigator Lance Smith fought Mother Nature and the rally long known as the oldest,
meanest and toughest event on the Michelin SCCA ProRally Championship. When it was all over,
they had taken their Hyundai Elantra to the overall win in the Oct. 22-23 D&N Bank Lake Superior
ProRally, the final event of the 1999 season.
LSPR, as the rally is known, is always a tough event, but this weekend Mother Nature threw in
rain, sleet and snow, as well as powerful winds that built 15-foot waves on nearby Lake Superior. In
fact, the weather was so harsh that virtually every Weather Channel bad-weather segment during the
two-day event began by looking squarely at this part of Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
Buffum and Smith overcame the conditions and a formidable array of challengers to take the
overall win. In doing that, they finished a bit less than two minutes ahead of 1995 winner Henry Joy
and Chris Griffin, in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo II. Jon Kemp and Rod Hendricksen were third overall
and in the Open Class in their Audi quattro S4.
In seventh overall were Group 5 winners Mike Hurst and Rob Bohn, in a Mazda Rx-7. Interestingly,
they gave credit for their win to unwanted tires bought from the team they beat for the Group 5 win.
However, that duo, Henry and Cindy Krolikowski, had bigger matters on their minds. Despite four
wins this year, they had to wage a very difficult come-from-behind battle to win the class
championship in their Dodge Shadow GT. They did it by finishing second.
Production GT winners Brian Pepp and Jerry Stang were able to breathe a little easier once their
prime competition was taken out by an accident. After that they could concentrate more on Mother
Nature's challenges and the tough course itself. In the end, they brought their Eagle Talon home three
minutes ahead of second-place finishers Patrick Richard and Claire Chizma, who were in a Subaru
Impreza.
Group 2 winners Bryan Hourt and Pete Cardimen had their share of drama both before and during
the event. Prior to the start, they had many anxious moments searching for a replacement driveshaft
for their Honda Civic after discovering that their brand-new spare was mislabeled and incomplete.
They couldn't find one, but another team loaned them something they thought might work. It did, and
they got the class win. The victory was doubly important, because they had been in a very tight
points race. The win gave them the Group 2 driver and co-driver championships, respectively.
The contest in the Production Class wasn't for the season championship, which had been decided
in a previous event. Rather, it was a father-and-son battle. All the way through the rally, Evan Moen
and Tom Young (Plymouth Neon ACR), and Brain Vinson and Moen's father, Ron (Volkswagen
Golf GTi), traded fastest times. When it was all over, they finished just 0.02 minutes apart 1.2
seconds with the younger Moen and his co-driver getting the win. A navigation error opened the
apparent margin some at the finish, but it did nothing to diminish the intensity of their battle.
WRG
LSPR-0002
102499
D&N Bank Lake Superior ProRally
Round 9 1999 Michelin SCCA ProRally Championship
Houghton, Michigan
October 22-23, 1999
Official Results
Hours
OA Class Minutes
Pos. Pos. Driver/Co-driver Car Seconds
----- --- ---- ----- ------------------ ------------------------------------
1 1 Open John Buffum Hyundai 1:48:19
Lance Smith Elantra
2 2 Open Henry Joy Mitsubishi Lancer 1:50:06
Chris Griffin Evo II
3 2 Open Jon Kemp Audi quattro 1:51:55
Rod Hendricksen
4 4 Open Paul Choiniere Hyundai 1:54:09
Jeff Becker
5 5 Open Karl Scheible Mitsubishi Lancer 1:55:19
Gail McGuire Evo V
6 6 Open Steve Gingras Eagle Talon 1:57:51
Bill Westrick
7 1 Group 5 Mike Hurst Mazda Rx-7 1:59:31
Rob Bohn
8 1 PGT Brian Pepp Eagle Talon 2:01:33
Jerry Stang
9 2 Group 5 Henry Krolikowski Dodge Shadow GT 2:02:09
Cindy Krolikowski
10 1 Group 2 Bryan Hourt Honda Civic 2:03:43
Pete Cardimen
11 2 PGT Patrick Richard Subara Impreza 2:04:33
Claire Chizma
12 3 PGT Chris Czyzio Mitsubishi Eclipse 2:05:03
Eric Carlson
13 2 Group 2 Bill Malik Volvo 240 2:05:34
Christian Edstrom
14 3 Group 5 John Davbenmier Chevrolet S-10 2:07:37
S. Rosen
15 4 Group 5 Jim Anderson Honda Prelude 2:07:49
Mark Williams
16 3 Group 2 Bob Neilsen Volkswagen Golf GTi 2:09:27
Brenda Corneliusen
17 4 Group 2 Eric Burmeister Volkswagen Golf GTi 2:11:37
Mark Buskirk
18 7 Open Carl Kieranen Eagle Talon Tsi 2:12:08
Jerry Bruso
19 1 Prod. Evan Moen Plymouth Neon ACR 2:12:31
Tom Young
20 5 Group 5 Ralph Kosmides Toyota Supra Turbo 2:14:06
Joe Noyes
21 5 Group 2 Doug Davenport Volkswagen Golf GTi 2:14:06
Al Kintigh
22 8 Open John Rek Audi quattro 2:14:33
Mariusz Malik
23 6 Group 2 Richard Pilczuk Volkswagen Golf GTi 2:15:43
Brian Pilczuk
24 6 Group 5 Ted Grzelak Mazda Rx-7 2:16:00
Chris Plante
25 9 Open Wojceich Hajduczyk Plymouth Laser 2:17:07
Cezary Fidler
26 2 Prod. Brian Vinson Volkswagen Golf GTi 2:17:33
Ronald Moen
27 2 Prod. Peter Malaszuk Daewoo Nubira 2:17:57
Darek Szerejko
28 10 Open Miroslan Babinski Toyota Celica 2:18:34
Dariusz Boesk
29 11 Open Arthur Wojcik Mitsubishi Eclipse 2:24:18
Charles Cox
30 7 Group 5 Dan Rathgeber Ford Mustang 2:24:22
Daniel Bodnar
31 8 Group 5 Colin McCleery Mercury Merkur 2:25:00
Jimmy Brandt
32 7 Group 2 Phillip Smith MGB GT 2:25:24
Pamela Smith
33 12 Open Paul Dubinsky Eagle Talon 2:26:46
John Dillon
34 8 Group 2 Charles Sherrill Honda Civic CR-X 2:41:18
Mark Rea
35 9 Group 2 Art Burmeister Volkswagen Golf GTi 2:41:31
Randy Moore
36 4 PGT Janus Jastrzebski Subaru Impreza 2:57:21
Marcin Korneluk
Noel Lawler Hyundai Tiburon DNF
Charlie Bradley
Garen Shrader Mitsubishi Lancer DNF
Floyd "Doc" Shrader Evo IV
Mark Utecht Dodge Omni GLH Turbo DNF
Diane Sargent
Jim Warren Audi quattro DNF
Chuck Binder
Alex Erisoty Audi quattro DNF
Ben Greisler
Leslie Suddard Shelby Charger DNF
Marc Goldfarb
Gail Truess Mazda 323 GTX DNF
Pattie Hughes
Kendall Russell Dodge Shadow DNF
Dave Weiman
Rod Dean Plymouth Laser DNF
Nichole Dean
David Green Eagle Talon DNF
Michael Wilkenson
Brian Scott Eagle Talon DNF
David Watts
Biegalski Wiktor Mitsubishi Eclipse DNF
Pesko Oariuszg
Wind River Group, Inc.
900 State Mill Road; Akron, Ohio 44319 USA; 330.644.7774; 330.645.2045 Fax
windrivr@ix.netcom.com or windriv@aol.com
Due to errors in the points-keeping software, final standings were
incorrectly stated for two categories in the Michelin SCCA ProRally
Championship season awards. The corrected results are as follows:
Overall Co-Driver Awards:
Jeff Becker: 2nd place, with 56 points
Floyd 'Doc' Shrader: 3rd place, with 54.6 points
Production GT Co-Driver Awards:
Claire Chizma: 1st place
John Dillon: 2nd place
SCCA regrets any confusion or inconvenience caused by these errors.
For immediate release: 27 October, 1999
SCCA Performance Rally Program
Announces 2000 Schedule, FIA class eligibility
Denver, CO: The revitalized SCCA ProRally Championship, completing
one of its most successful seasons ever, announced today its 2000
schedule, plus a new championship program for globally recognized FIA
Group A and Group N cars.
The 2000 schedule includes eight championship events, plus a new
mid-year FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship event. The schedule
includes a broad array of terrain, including eastern and western
forests, high desert, winter, and mountainous settings. The season
kicks off with a winter rally in late January, takes a brief hiatus
for February and March, then resumes in April, with one event each
month through October.
The Championship features well-established SCCA events, many with
histories of more than 20 years of operation, including the popular
Susquehannock Trail event in Pennsylvania, and the season culminating
Lake Superior (nee: Press-On Regardless) rally in the upper peninsula
of Michigan. Said Dennis Dean, Vice President of SCCA Club Racing and
Rally/Solo; "the 2000 program combines virtually every type of rally
surface and climate found on the world circuit, all here within our
borders, in a professionally presented package."
Refinements to the schedule ease the transport-funding problem that is
a challenge in the United States, allowing teams to keep their
equipment on various sides of the country for two events at a time,
eliminating some of the 'criss-crossing' that they faced in prior
seasons.
New for 2000 is the start of a rules 'blending' process that will
ultimately result in the US Championship following FIA vehicle
preparation and event presentation standards. "We fully appreciate
that performance rally is a global sport, and that our existing rules
structure makes it exceedingly difficult for global manufacturers to
come here to the US" said Kurt Spitzner, SCCA Rally/Solo Marketing
Manager. "However, clearly we are not in a position to obsolete the
large field of US-Spec cars, some of which are manufacturer supported,
overnight. Starting in 2000, FIA and SCCA ProRally cars will compete
in parallel championships, with a weaning off of the SCCA exclusive
Pro classes over a period."
"Any Group A or Group N car is welcome in the US Championship,
effective immediately. Scoring and scrutineering of the respective
championships will follow FIA guidelines, and the SCCA Classes will
continue to follow the SCCA guidelines" remarked SCCA ProRally
Championship Series Steward John McArthur. "With the addition of the
FIA listed RallyUSA in Denver, the time is right for the US rally
community to begin this process."
All eight events are full points Manufacturers Championship events,
for participating automakers. Seven of the events will count full
points towards the US Drivers Championship, with the remaining event,
due to a shorter stage mile configuration, counting for 60% points.
The complete schedule:
28-29 January: Sno*Drift - Michigan
14-15 April: Oregon Trail - Oregon
5-6 May: Rim of the World - California
2-3 June: Susquehannock Trail - Pennsylvania
28-29 July: Maine Forest - Maine
25-26 August - Ojibwe Forests - Minnesota
29-30 September: Prescott Forest - Arizona
20-21 October: Lake Superior - Michigan
RallyUSA - FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship: 23-25 June - Colorado
# # #