Rim of the World Pro Rally
by Andy Schupack
76456.2652@compuserve.com
Entry List
Round #4 - 1997 Michelin PRO Rally Championship
Rim of the World PRO Rally - Palmdale, California
Final Entry/Start List
Start Car Driver/ Co-Driver/ Make/Model/Class/
Pos. No. Hometown Hometown Division/Tires
----- ---- ------------------ ----------------- -------------------
1 3 Selcuk Karamanoglu Tony Lumino Eagle Talon/Open
Bath, ME Westbrook, ME National/Michelin
2 1 Paul Choiniere Jeff Becker Hyundai Tiburon/Open
Shelburne, VT Great Neck, NY National/Michelin
3 7 Henry Joy IV Michael Fennell Mitsubishi Lancer/Open
Atlanta, MI Kingston, Jamaica National/Michelin
4 2 Carl Merrill Lance Smith 97 Ford Esc Cosworth/Open
Ogunquit, ME S. Burlington, VT National/Michelin
5 4 Rui Brasil Carlos Tavares Audi Quattro/Open
San Jose, CA San Jose, CA Nat./Div./Michelin
6 6 Ralph Kosmides Joe Noyes Toyota Supra/Group 5
Newport Beach, CA Seattle, WA Nat/Div./Michelin
7 900 Sam Bryan Rob Walden Saab 900/Group 5
Kent, WA Seattle, WA National/Michelin
8 8 Mike Whitman Kevin Linville Ford Sierra Cosworth/Open
Farmington, NM Durango, CO National/Michelin
9 10 Lon Peterson Bill Gutzmann Plymouth Arrow/Group 5
Victorville, CA Ontario, CA Nat./Div./Michelin
10 96 Bruce Newey Matt Chester Toyota Celica/Group 5
Atlanta, GA Atlanta, GA National/Michelin
11 22 Pete Lahm Jimmy Brandt Datsun 510/Group 2
Phoenix, AZ Lake Odessa, MI National/Michelin
12 28 Dave White Ben Greisler VW GTI/Group 2
Benicia, CA Exton, PA Nat./Div./Michelin
13 21 Bill Malik Farina O'Sullivan Volvo 240/Group 2
Burbank, CA San Francsico, CA Nat./Div./Michelin
14 30 Hiroyuki Genta Yasuaki Nomura Subaru Impreza/Open
Kyoto, JAPAN Kyoto, JAPAN National/Dunlop
15 35 Ray Hocker Lynnette Allison Subaru RX Turbo/Open
Ridgecrest, CA Corona, CA Nat./Div.
16 53 Gerry Valentini Lee Sorenson Mazda RX-7/Group 5
Sacramento, CA Fiar Oaks, CA National/
17 31 Ken Cassidy Sean Gallagher Mitsubishi Galant 4WD/PGT
Tempe, AZ Santa Ana, CA National/
18 117 Ken Stewart Doc Schrader Chevy S-10 Pickup/Open
Grove, OK West Memphis, AK Nat./Div./Cooper
19 19 George Plsek Mark Rathsam Saab 99/Group 5
Del Mar, CA Del Mar, CA Nat./Div./Michelin
20 36 Jeff Griffin Danny Williams Volvo 142/Group 5
Arvada, CA Broomfield, CO Nat./Div.
21 38 Leslie Suddard Anne Thomas Dodge Charger/Group 5
Wilmington, DE Nashua, NH Nat./Div./Michelin
22 85 Tony Chavez John Elkin VW GTI/Group 2
Santa Fe Springs, CA Portland, OR Nat./Div,/Michelin
23 51 Vartan Samuelian Ara Manoukian Mitsubishi Eclipse/Open
Pasadena, CA Pasadena, CA Nat./Div.
24 97 Ricardo Porta Mario Azernitzky Mazda RX-7/Group 5
Santa Clarita, CA Santa Clarita, CA Nat./Div.
25 81 Richard Losee Kent Livingston VW GTI/Group 2
Provo, Utah Salt Lake City, UT Nat./Div.
26 79 Lee Shadbolt Paul Eklund Subaru Impreza/PGT
Tigard, OR Tigard, OR Nat./Div./Michelin
27 82 Dave Hackett John Forespring Ford RS 2000/Group 5
Reno, NV Olympia, WA Nat./Div.
28 14 Robert Pendergrass Jon Weigley Chevy Blazer/Open
Palos Verdes, CA Lawndale, CA Nat./Div.
29 15 Pete Morris Eric Oyague Toyota Corolla/Production
Los Angeles, CA Van Nuys, CA Nat./Div.
Divisional-only_entries
30 42 Carl Jardevall Amity Trowbridge Volvo 740T
San Carlos, CA Seattle, WA Divisional
31 11 Ron Wood Kelly Walsh Audi Quattro
Costa Mesa, CA Costa Mesa, CA Divisional
32 94 Dennis Chizma Ben Bradley VW Rabbit
Simi Valley, CA Portland, OR Divisional
33 18 Robert Tallini Steve Scott Toyota Corolla
Downey, CA Sunland, CA Divisional
34 23 Mick Kilpatrick Chris Bradshaw Dodge Colt Turbo
Durango, CO Granada Hiils, CA Divisional
35 45 Ricky Dela Cuesta Jadee Recto Mitsubishi Lancer
Los Angeles, CA Hollywood, CA Divisional
36 99 Jeff Bruett David Beam Dodge Omni
Placerville, CA Diamond Springs, CA Divisional
37 13 Frank Parades Kengo Takahashi Datsun 510
Corona, CA Placentia, CA Divisional
38 47 Tony Dela Cuesta Irwin Salgado Toyota Corolla
Simi Valley, CA Pasadena, CA Divisional
39 60 Ben Medeiros Tony Medeiros Mazda 323GTX
Walnut Creek, CA Walnut Creek, CA Divisional
40 39 Adrienne Scott Patti Wagner-Scott Toyota Corolla
Sun Valley, CA Montrose, CA Divisional
41 90 Tom Bier Ole Holter Saab 99
Solona Beach, CA Long Beach, CA Divisional
42 27 Harry Manku Ravinder Nyotta VW Scirocco
Northridge, CA Valencia, CA Divisional
43 41 Justin Benham Flynn Baglin Dodge Omni GLH Turbo
Laguna Beach, CA Laguna Beach, CA Divisional
44 40 Doug Robinson Sue Robinson Mazda RX-7
Ramona, CA Ramona, CA Divisional
45 43 John Nelson Mark Nelson Mazda 323GTX
Reno, NV Incline Village, NV Divisional
46 46 Steve Winter John Dillon Mazda 323GTX
Seoul, KOREA Thousand Oaks, CA Divisional
# # #
Rim of the World PRO Rally
Palmdale, CA
Round #4 - Michelin PRO Rally Championship
May 2, 1997 - 6:00 PM PST
Press Notes #1
1. Welcome to Palmdale, California, and the 14th running of the Rim of the
World PRO Rally, round #4 of the Michelin PRO Rally Championship. The
weather for the weekend will be typical high-desert, with sunny, hot,
dry days with a brisk wind, and cool nights. The highs during the
day should reach 80 degrees F on Saturday, with the lows in the low
50's at night. The wind will probably not be enough to clear the dust
between cars at one-minute intervals, so the organizer will probably go
right to two-minute spaces between cars at the start.
2. At the close of registration, 47 cars have entered this year's event,
with 29 national entries.
3. With three events now completed, the Hyundai Tiburon 4WD of Paul
Choiniere/Jeff Becker have started defense of their national
championship by winning the last two rallies, including a convincing
victory last month at the Wild West event in Washington. Choiniere has
always run well here, but not without incident, with his best driving
performance coming three years ago when he lost his power steering on
the circuit's tightest course. The Henry Joy/Michael Fennell right-
hand-drive Mitsubishi Lancer has run well this year, with two second-
places, but Joy needs a victory to overhaul Choiniere and take over the
top spot. The other member of the "big three," the Ford Escort
Cosworth of Carl Merrill/Lance Smith, only has two DNFs to show for his
first two events, and needs to come up big here before the other two
guys get away.
4. Missing from the field this weekend is the Audi Quattro S-2 of Frank
and Dan Sprongl, winners of the opening event in Michigan in February.
The word is that the Sprongls, former Canadian national champions,
stayed home to complete a sponsorship deal with "a major oil company"
for next season. They hope to join the U.S. series at STPR in
Pennsylvania in June.
5. Speaking of STPR, news came at the press stage that John Buffum (co-
driver still unannounced) will bring the Libra Racing '96 Hyundai
Elantra out of retirement to run against teammate and step-son
Choiniere because "John likes to run a couple of rallies every year."
6. In other Open class news, Rui Brasil was unable to complete his new
Audi Quattro S-2 in time for the Rim event, so he will be running his
Audi 4000 Quattro.
7. The Mike Whitman/Paula Gibeault Ford Sierra Cosworth, after its
impressive seventh-place overall finish three weeks ago, come home to
Rim with Kevin Linville, Whitman's former co-driver, replacing Gibeault
for this event as Paula is the Rim organizer.
# # #
Rim of the World PRO Rally
Palmdale, CA
Round #4 - Michelin PRO Rally Championship
May 2, 1997 - 11:00 PM PDT
Press Notes #2
8. Ralph Kosmides and his Ruby's Diner Toyota Supra team put out the
following announcement in conjunction with Tom O'Connor from Toyota
Racing Development (TRD):
KOSMIDES ANNOUNCES NEW TOYOTA SUPRA TURBO FOR '98 MICHELIN PRO RALLY
EFFORT; '97 CAR TO RETIRE "TO STUD" AFTER RIM EVENT
PALMDALE, Calif. -- May 2 -- The Ruby's Toyota Supra team has announced
it will build a 1998 Toyota Supra turbo Group 5 rally racer for next
year's Michelin PRO Rally series with the help of Toyota Motor Sales,
USA, Ruby's Diner, Linda Tenney Toyota of Seattle, SPORT COMPACT CAR
magazine, and Coca-Cola.
Driver Ralph Kosmides, who brought home the manufacturer's championship
for Toyota last year in his Group 5 normally-aspirated Toyota Supra,
made the annoucement along with Toyota Racing Development's Tom O'Connor
at the Rim of the World event here this weekend. The current Supra,
which did not have a mechanical failure in 17 races in '96 and the first
part of '97, will be retired to sponsor Linda Tenney Toyota in Seattle
for permanent display.
"The turbo version for rally's fastest 2WD class will give us close to
300 horsepower, which we need to keep up the other cars in our class.
We will take a similar stock approach - no fancy electronics or computer
controls - in building this car so we can get similar reliability," said
Kosmides, who is finishing his third complete season in PRO Rally,
although his extensive motorsports background includes off-road racing
and working for race car and truck builder Cal Wells.
"This effort fits right in with Toyota's motorsports program," said
O'Connor, TRD's competition parts coordinator. "It's been several years
since we had a venue to race the Supra with a chance for a rally
championship, and a combination of Kosmides, the TV coverage the series
is receiving, and the commitment from SPORT COMPACT CAR magazine should
provide excellent exposure."
Gary Markowitz, account executive for Coca-Cola USA, pointed out that
Coke has been involved with racing for more than 30 years, and is the
official soft drink at most of the NASCAR tracks.
"Our multi-year sponsorship with Ruby's Diner, Toyota, and Linda Tenney
Toyota of Seattle is an exciting addition to our motorsports
activities," he said.
As a primary sponsor, SPORT COMPACT CAR magazine will be doing several
technical articles on the building of the car, according to Editor Larry
Saaverda. Saaverda, himself a part-time rallyist, has been one of the
leading journalists covering the sport over the past several years.
Linda Tenney, owner of Linda Tenney Toyota in Seattle, said the car will
help create excitement at the dealership as the current Supra has done
its lion's share of winning in the Northwest, including a West Coast
SuperDivisional championship in 1996.
# # #
Rim of the World PRO Rally
Palmdale, CA
Round #4 - Michelin PRO Rally Championship
May 2, 1997 - 11:30 PM PDT
Press Notes #3
9. With Kosmides no longer challenging for the Group 5 title, Sam Bryan
has the opportunity to get a huge jump on the rest of the class with a
win at Rim in his Saab 900 after his victory three weeks ago in
Washington. It also presents a chance for Bruce Newey to solidify his
position in the class in his Toyota Celica. At this event, however, it
could be Lon Peterson and Bill Gutzman in their ancient Plymouth Arrow
that sweeps to a class win based on their previous success here at Rim.
10. A late ruling that made the Ken Cassidy/Sean Gallagher Mitsubishi
Galant a legal Production GT car (the former Group A Tony Takaori
right-hand drive racer) made the Arizona team an instant favorite in
the class over the Lee Shadbolt/Paul Eklund Subaru Impreza. Before the
ruling, Shadbolt was the only Production GT entry, and could have taken
the lead in the class just by finishing the event.
11. Group 2 is wide open in the point standings, with the Bill Malik/Farina
O'Sullivan Volvo 142 aiming for its second straight win and a solid
lead in class. But the "new/old" Datsun 510 of Pete Lahm/Jimmy Brandt
(new this year for this team/old because the 510 is an old car) can
snap back into the points picture with a victory. The Guy Light-built
Dave White/Ben Greisler VW GTI is also favored for a strong Rim
showing.
12. The Japanese Subaru Impreza team of Hiroyuki Genta/Yasuaki Nomura -
running a right-hand-drive, Asia Pacific-looking car - was in fine form
at the Friday morning media stage. This is the team's first visit to
the U.S.
13. 46 cars took the countdown in a field across from the Holiday Inn in
Palmdale and promptly ran an untimed exhibition in front of a couple of
hundred people. Many of the cars put on a dirt-throwing show for the
2/3 of a mile stage, but the results were terminal for the Dennis
Chizma/Ben Bradley VW Rabbit, which broke a differential on the course
and was the event's first DNF.
14. As the rally headed east and south of the Antelope Valley Freeway,
typical Rim of the World ills began to choke the field. The
Karamanoglu/Lumino Eagle Talon, which had a jump on the field because
of its first-on-the-road position on this dusty evening, lost its turbo
on stage #2, and held up the rest of the field until series steward
John McArthur let the others by him. Selcuk is way down in the
standings, and the crew spent overnight changing the turbo.
Unfortunately, he had to put in a stock turbo, and doesn't know how
much horsepower he will have. Although several of the nagging problems
that plagued the car in Washington seem to be better, Selcuk is
still suffering the low RPM blues, stalling and having otherwise bad
performance until the car gets up to 4000 RPM.
15. While the Choiniere/Becker Hyundai and the Joy/Fennell Lancer running
one-two in that order about a minute apart, the Merrill/Smith Escort
Cosworth lost time due to a yet-to-be-found water leaking, making the
heavy-footed Merrill slow down as to not overheat. Crew chief Weegee
Smith was hoping it was just a hose or radiator leak.
# # #
Rim of the World PRO Rally
Palmdale, CA
Round #4 - Michelin PRO Rally Championship
May 3, 1997 - 1:30 AM PDT
Press Notes #4
16. National results after 5 stages (Friday night):
CAR
# (DRIVER/CO-DRIVER) CAR SEED SCORE
1 Paul Choiniere/J Becker Hyundai 0 52:34 1 Open
7 Henry Joy/Michael Fennell Lancer 0 53:37 2 Open
2 Carl Merrill/Lance Smith Escort 0 55:41 3 Open
900 Sam Bryan/Rob Walden Saab 900 1 57:25 1 Group 5
30 Hiroyuki Genta/Y Nomura Impreza 4 58:03 4 Open
51 V Samuelian/A Manoukian Eclipse 6 59:06 5 Open
28 David White/Ben Greisler VW GTI 2 59:21 1 Group 2
21 Bill Malik/F O'Sullivan Volvo 240 3 1:00:07 2 Group 2
36 Jeff Griffin/D Williams Volvo 142 4 1:00:12 3 Group 2
85 Tony Chavez/John Elkin VW Reynard 6 1:01:03 4 Group 2
8 Mike Whitman/K Linville Sierra 2 1:01:41 6 Open
19 George Plsek/Mark Rathsam Saab 99 4 1:01:47 2 Group 5
79 Lee Shadbolt/Paul Eklund Impreza 6 1:03:06 1 GT
117 Ken Stewart/Doc Shrader Chevy S-10 4 1:03:27 7 Open
31 Ken Cassidy/S Gallagher Galant 4 1:04:27 2 GT
3 S Karamanoglu/T Lumino Eagle 0 1:04:38 8 Open
38 Lesley Suddard/A Thomas Charger 4 1:04:40 3 Group 5
6 Ralph Kosmides/Joe Noyes Supra 1 1:05:12 4 Group 5
53 G Valentini/L Sorenson Mazda RX-7 4 1:05:39 5 Group 5
14 R Pendergrass/J Weigley Blazer 6 1:08:04 9 Open
15 Pete Morris/Eric Oyague Corolla 6 1:08:38 1Production
22 Pete Lahm/Jimmy Brandt Datsun 510 2 1:12:12 5 Group 2
97 R Porta/M Azernitzky Mazda RX-7 6 1:16:47 6 Group 5
81 R Losee/K Livingston VW GTI 6 1:29:30 6 Group 2
4 Rui Brasil/Carlos Tavares Quattro 1 DNF Engine
10 Lon Peterson/B Gutzmann Arrow 2 DNF Engine
96 Bruce Newey/Matt Chester Celica 2 DNF Engine
35 Ray Hocker/L Allison Subaru RX 4 DNF
82 Dave Hackett/J Forespring Escort 6 DNF
17. The Sam Bryan/Rob Walden Saab 900, with a four minute lead over
fellow Saab competitor George Plsek/Mark Rathsam in Group 5, will
back it off a little on Saturday as their car is running a little
hot.
# # #
Rim of the World - LEG SCORES
STAGE 1 STAGE 2 STAGE 3
H.Joy 582 P.Choi 1590 P.Choi 548
P.Choi 598 2% H.Joy 1615 1% H.Joy 566 3%
S.Kara 620 6% C.Merr 1643 3% C.Merr 595 8%
C.Merr 636 9% S.Brya 1679 5% R.Bras 596 8%
R.Kosm 655 12% H.Gent 1713 7% S.Brya 596 8%
H.Gent 657 12% R.Kosm 1746 9% R.Hock 605 10%
C.Jard 659 13% B.Newe 1754 10% R.Kosm 607 10%
B.Mali 662 13% V.Samu 1761 10% H.Gent 612 11%
D.Whit 666 14% J.Grif 1776 11% V.Samu 620 13%
R.Hock 666 14% D.Whit 1777 11% B.Newe 623 13%
V.Samu 669 14% B.Mali 1782 12% B.Mali 631 15%
R.Lose 672 15% R.Hock 1795 12% J.Benh 632 15%
B.Newe 673 15% S.Wint 1798 13% D.Whit 634 15%
R.Wood 676 16% T.Chav 1804 13% T.Chav 636 16%
M.Whit 678 16% M.Whit 1808 13% S.Wint 638 16%
S.Wint 679 16% G.Plse 1817 14% J.Grif 640 16%
R.Bras 680 16% R.Tall 1838 15% K.Stew 644 17%
G.Plse 681 17% J.Benh 1839 15% G.Plse 644 17%
J.Grif 682 17% R.Dela 1842 15% R.Tall 647 18%
J.Brue 683 17% P.Lahm 1862 17% R.Wood 651 18%
L.Pete 688 18% K.Cass 1875 17% M.Whit 653 19%
L.Shad 691 18% L.Shad 1876 17% L.Sudd 653 19%
T.Chav 692 18% L.Sudd 1904 19% J.Brue 660 20%
R.Tall 695 19% J.Brue 1911 20% P.Lahm 661 20%
J.Benh 695 19% K.Stew 1929 21% L.Shad 672 22%
K.Stew 711 22% G.Vale 1939 21% D.Robi 676 23%
L.Sudd 711 22% M.Kilp 1947 22% R.Port 679 23%
S.Brya 712 22% T.Bier 1955 22% K.Cass 680 24%
P.Lahm 717 23% S.Kara 1964 23% T.Bier 684 24%
K.Cass 740 27% R.Wood 1966 23% B.Mede 686 25%
M.Kilp 743 27% D.Robi 1982 24% A.Scot 688 25%
P.Morr 750 28% A.Scot 1986 24% F.Pare 690 25%
R.Dela 750 28% R.Bras 2015 26% G.Vale 694 26%
G.Vale 751 29% R.Port 2020 27% M.Kilp 697 27%
D.Robi 751 29% P.Morr 2022 27% R.Pend 712 29%
T.Bier 753 29% B.Mede 2049 28% J.Nels 733 33%
B.Mede 764 31% F.Pare 2058 29% S.Kara 736 34%
R.Port 766 31% H.Mank 2061 29% P.Morr 737 34%
R.Pend 767 31% R.Pend 2096 31% T.Dela 749 36%
T.Dela 776 33% J.Nels 2172 36% H.Mank 758 38%
A.Scot 784 34% T.Dela 2326 46% C.Jard 1156 110%
H.Mank 796 36% R.Lose 2355 48% R.Lose 1438 162%
D.Hack 802 37% C.Jard 2634 65% R.Dela 5546 912%
J.Nels 849 45%
F.Pare 3903 570%
STAGE 4 STAGE 5
P.Choi 1082 P.Choi 1440
H.Joy 1119 3% H.Joy 1480 2%
C.Merr 1149 6% C.Merr 1546 7%
S.Brya 1194 10% S.Brya 1561 8%
H.Gent 1206 11% D.Whit 1601 11%
R.Kosm 1222 12% V.Samu 1610 11%
V.Samu 1251 15% H.Gent 1618 12%
D.Whit 1258 16% B.Mali 1622 12%
B.Newe 1268 17% J.Grif 1630 13%
J.Grif 1292 19% T.Chav 1644 14%
M.Whit 1308 20% G.Plse 1695 17%
B.Mali 1316 21% L.Shad 1714 19%
T.Chav 1330 22% S.Kara 1715 19%
K.Stew 1342 24% P.Lahm 1719 19%
G.Plse 1342 24% K.Stew 1720 19%
L.Shad 1358 25% M.Whit 1722 19%
R.Pend 1380 27% K.Cass 1752 21%
K.Cass 1398 29% G.Vale 1755 21%
G.Vale 1427 31% L.Sudd 1758 22%
S.Kara 1429 32% P.Morr 1795 24%
L.Sudd 1442 33% R.Pend 1833 27%
R.Port 1452 34% R.Port 1842 27%
P.Morr 1480 36% R.Lose 1988 38%
R.Lose 2057 90% R.Kosm 2290 59%
P.Lahm 2261 108%
Rim of the World PRO Rally, Palmdale, CA
Round #4 - Michelin PRO Rally Championship
May 3, 1997 - 9:30 PM PDT
Press Notes #5
18. The Group 2 battle is the best of the rally so far, with the top three
competitors within a minute of each other. The Dave White/Ben
Greisler VW GTI is 46 seconds ahead of the Bill Malik/Farina
O'Sullivan Volvo 240, but Malik is only five seconds ahead of the Jeff
Griffin/Danny Williams Volvo 142. Right behind Griffin is the
Multipac VW GTI of Tony Chavez/John Elkin, another minute back.
19. The Production GT competition has turned into more of a battle than
anticipated, with the Lee Shadbolt/Paul Eklund Subaru Impreza leading
the Ken Cassidy/Sean Gallagher Mitsubishi Galant by more than a minute
going into Saturday's stages. Cassidy had brake problems all evening,
and hopes that bleeding the system will help for the daylight run
Saturday.
20. The only Production car running, the Pete Morris/Eric Oyague Toyota
Corolla, stands to take the series points lead if can finish today's
event as there were no national entries either at Doo Wops or Wild
West.
21. Besides Michelin and the other national sponsors for the Michelin PRO
Rally championship, the Rim of the World event has many local and
event sponsors. America's Tire Company, with its store in Lancaster,
Calif., was a major sponsor of the event including the tech inspection
activity, and Toyota Racing Development (TRD) sponsored the press
lunch. Also, there were sponsors for special accomplishments - some
of which already took place.
--Susquehanna MotorSports awarded the "Pride and Professionalism
Award" to a driver in both the National and Divisional levels. This
award was based on the appearance of the vehicle at the start of the
rally. Lee Shadbolt/Paul Eklund (National - car # 79, Impreza) and
Adrienne Scott/Patti Wagner-Scott (Divisional - car # 39, Corolla)
both received a $50 gift certificate redeemable for Susquehanna
MotorSports products.
--UniFilter, Inc., a distributor (manufacturer ?) of reusable air
filters, awarded $100 cash to the overall Divisional winner of the
Friday stages. This year's winner was Ralph Kosmides, driver of the
Group 5 Toyota Supra.
--A local Del Taco, located across the street from the Rally
Headquarters, donated a cash award of $100 to the winner of Stage 1
(Indian Canyon). Henry Joy, driver of the Open Class Mitsubishi
Lancer (#7), was the recipient of this award.
--Yarman Drivelines of Lancaster, CA donated a $100 cash award to the
"First DNF" of the event, either National or Divisional. This was
awarded to Dennis Chizma/Ben Bradley. Their VW Rabbit broke a
differential during the untimed exhibition held at the start of the
event.
--Lindy's Autoparts, located in Lancaster and Palmdale, CA, awarded
$100 cash to the Fastest Rookie Team on Stage 2 (Messenger Flats). A
rookie is defined as Seed 5 or 6, Divisional. This year's award went
to Steve Winter/John Dillon.
Rim of the World PRO Rally, Palmdale, CA
Round #4 - Michelin PRO Rally Championship
May 3, 1997 - 9:30 PM PDT
Press Notes #6
22. National standings after 10 stages:
CAR
# (DRIVER/CO-DRIVER) CAR SEED SCORE
1 Paul Choiniere/J Becker Hyundai 0 1:58:12 1 Open
7 Henry Joy/Michael Fennell Lancer 0 1:59:13 2 Open
2 Carl Merrill/Lance Smith Escort 0 2:06:19 3 Open
900 Sam Bryan/Rob Walden Saab 900 1 2:08:47 1 Group 5
28 David White/Ben Greisler VW GTI 2 2:12:27 1 Group 2
21 Bill Malik/F O'Sullivan Volvo 240 3 2:12:34 2 Group 2
51 V Samuelian/A Manoukian Eclipse 6 2:12:51 4 Open
3 S Karamanoglu/T Lumino Eagle 0 2:14:06 5 Open
8 Mike Whitman/K Linville Sierra 2 2:16:19 6 Open
85 Tony Chavez/John Elkin VW Reynard 6 2:16:59 3 Group 2
31 Ken Cassidy/S Gallagher Galant 4 2:18:55 1 GT
6 Ralph Kosmides/Joe Noyes Supra 1 2:20:04 2 Group 5
19 George Plsek/Mark Rathsam Saab 99 4 2:20:31 3 Group 5
79 Lee Shadbolt/Paul Eklund Impreza 6 2:21:42 2 GT
117 Ken Stewart/Doc Shrader Chevy S-10 4 2:22:02 7 Open
38 Lesley Suddard/A Thomas Charger 4 2:26:27 4 Group 5
22 Pete Lahm/Jimmy Brandt Datsun 510 2 2:30:28 4 Group 2
53 G Valentini/L Sorenson Mazda RX-7 4 2:32:22 5 Group 5
81 R Losee/K Livingston VW GTI 6 2:44:22 5 Group 2
4 Rui Brasil/Carlos Tavares Quattro 1 DNF
10 Lon Peterson/B Gutzmann Arrow 2 DNF
96 Bruce Newey/Matt Chester Celica 2 DNF
30 Hiroyuki Genta/Y Nomura Impreza 4 DNF
35 Ray Hocker/L Allison Subaru RX 4 DNF
36 Jeff Griffin/D Williams Volvo 142 4 DNF
97 R Porta/M Azernitzky Mazda RX-7 6 DNF
82 Dave Hackett/J Forespring Escort 6 DNF
14 R Pendergrass/J Weigley Blazer 6 DNF
15 Pete Morris/Eric Oyague Corolla 6 DNF
23. The big news after stage #10 was that the Paul Choiniere/Jeff Becker
Hyundai Tiburon hit a burm with the rear end of their car coming off a
turn, snapping off a wheel and caving in the right rear suspension.
Libra Racing's John Buffum and crew, along with other supportive
competitors lending parts and tools, rebuilt the entire corner of the
car in time to leave the Lake Hughes service area still leading by
more than a minute over the Henry Joy/Michael Fennell Mitsubishi
Eclipse. In order to balance the car through the last 3/4 of a mile
of stage #10 and onto the transit to service, Becker rode on the hood
of the car for balance.
24. The second-place car of Joy/Fennell had a hairline crack in the in the
rear crossmember, and crew chief Murray Thomas could be found behind
the Lake Hughes Community Center welding the axle piece. Otherwise,
Henry was running well through #10.
# # #
Rim of the World PRO Rally, Palmdale, CA
Round #4 - Michelin PRO Rally Championship
May 4, 1997 - 2:00 AM PDT
Press Notes #7
25. Final National point standings (13 stages, Saturday night):
CAR
# (DRIVER/CO-DRIVER) CAR SEED SCORE Place/Class
7 Henry Joy/Michael Fennell Lancer 0 2:33:09 1 Open
2 Carl Merrill/Lance Smith Escort 0 2:41:31 2 Open
900 Sam Bryan/Rob Walden Saab 900 1 2:44:09 1 Group 5
28 David White/Ben Greisler VW GTI 2 2:48:49 1 Group 2
21 Bill Malik/F O'Sullivan Volvo 240 3 2:48:55 2 Group 2
3 S Karamanoglu/T Lumino Eagle 0 2:49:19 3 Open
51 V Samuelian/A Manoukian Eclipse 6 2:49:59 4 Open
85 Tony Chavez/John Elkin VW Reynard 6 2:54:18 3 Group 2
8 Mike Whitman/K Linville Sierra 2 2:54:38 5 Open
19 George Plsek/Mark Rathsam Saab 99 4 2:59:29 2 Group 5
79 Lee Shadbolt/Paul Eklund Impreza 6 3:00:13 1 GT
6 Ralph Kosmides/Joe Noyes Supra 1 3:01:04 3 Group 5
31 Ken Cassidy/S Gallagher Galant 4 3:01:43 2 GT
117 Ken Stewart/Doc Shrader Chevy S-10 4 3:02:15 6 Open
38 Lesley Suddard/A Thomas Charger 4 3:07:45 4 Group 5
22 Pete Lahm/Jimmy Brandt Datsun 510 2 3:10:25 4 Group 2
15 Pete Morris/Eric Oyague Corolla 6 3:13:39 1 Production
53 G Valentini/L Sorenson Mazda RX-7 4 3:14:43 5 Group 5
14 R Pendergrass/J Weigley Blazer 6 3:15:00 7 Open
81 R Losee/K Livingston VW GTI 6 3:21:06 5 Group 2
1 Paul Choiniere/J Becker Hyundai 0 DNF
4 Rui Brasil/Carlos Tavares Quattro 1 DNF
10 Lon Peterson/B Gutzmann Arrow 2 DNF
96 Bruce Newey/Matt Chester Celica 2 DNF
30 Hiroyuki Genta/Y Nomura Impreza 4 DNF
35 Ray Hocker/L Allison Subaru RX 4 DNF
36 Jeff Griffin/D Williams Volvo 142 4 DNF
97 R Porta/M Azernitzky Mazda RX-7 6 DNF
82 Dave Hackett/J Forespring Escort 6 DNF
26. As everyone can see, Henry Joy and Michael Fennell, after sticking
close to Paul Choiniere all day, piloted their Mitsubishi Lancer to
victory at the Rim of the World PRO Rally after Choiniere broke a
strut on the next-to-last stage. Choiniere and Jeff Becker in their
Hyundai Tirburon were poised to win their sixth Rim in a row even
after Paul snapped off a wheel on stage #10. In fact, Choiniere put
30 seconds on Joy on stage #11, and seemed well on his way to victory
when the unrelated strut problem occurred. The Carl Merrill/Lance
Smith Ford Escort Cosworth was second, 8:22 behind Joy. The Sam
Bryan/Rob Walden Saab 900 finished third overall and won the Group 5
class - identical to their finish three weeks ago at Wild West.
# # #
Rim of the World PRO Rally, Palmdale, CA
Round #4 - Michelin PRO Rally Championship
May 4, 1997 - 3:00 AM PDT
Press Notes #8
27. Divisional final results (first three stages Fri. and first five
stages Sat.):
CAR
# (DRIVER/CO-DRIVER) CAR SEED SCORE
21 Bill Malik/F O'Sullivan Volvo 240 1 1:43:11 1 Two WD 1 U2
28 David White/Ben Greisler VW GTI 1 1:43:51 2 Two WD 2 U2
51 V Samuelian/A Manoukian Eclipse 3 1:44:14 1 4WD 1 4WD
6 Ralph Kosmides/Joe Noyes Supra 1 1:44:57 3 Two WD 1 O2
46 Steve Winter/John Dillon Mazda 323 6 1:45:48 2 4WD 2 4WD
41 Justin Benham/F Baglin Omni 5 1:45:55 4 Two WD 2 O2
8 Mike Whitman/K Linville Sierra 1 1:46:01 3 4WD 3 4WD
85 Tony Chavez/John Elkin VW Reynard 3 1:47:15 5 Two WD 3 U2
99 Jeff Bruett/David Beam Omni 3 1:49:06 1 Stock 3 O2
11 Ron Wood/Kelly Walsh Quattro 2 1:49:42 4 4WD 4 4WD
19 George Plsek/Mark Rathsam Saab 99 2 1:50:09 6 Two WD 4 O2
117 Ken Stewart/Doc Shrader Chevy S-10 2 1:51:25 5 4WD 5 4WD
60 Ben Medeiros/T Medeiros Mazda 323 4 1:52:31 6 4WD 6 4WD
90 Tom Bier/Ole Holter Saab 99 4 1:54:25 7 Two WD 4 U2
38 Lesley Suddard/A Thomas Charger 2 1:54:27 8 Two WD 5 O2
39 A Scott/P Wagner-Scott Corolla 4 1:55:58 2 Stock 5 U2
23 M Kilpatrick/C Bradshaw Dodge Colt 3 1:57:00 9 Two WD 6 O2
15 Pete Morris/Eric Oyague Corolla 3 2:00:12 3 Stock 6 U2
40 D Robinson/T Harrington Mazda RX-7 5 2:00:20 1 Perf Stk 7 O2
14 R Pendergrass/J Weigley Blazer 3 2:00:40 7 4WD 7 4WD
47 Tony DelaCuesta/I Salgado Corolla 3 2:02:31 2 Perf Stk 7 U2
81 R Losee/K Livingston VW GTI 2 2:03:55 10 Two WD 8 U2
43 John Nelson/Mark Nelson Mazda 323 6 2:04:03 8 4WD 8 4WD
13 Frank Paredes/K Takahashi Datsun 510 3 2:26:09 4 Stock 9 U2
45 Ricky DelaCuesta/J Recto Lancer 3 2:44:10 11 Two WD 10 U2
4 Rui Brasil/Carlos Tavares Quattro 1 DNF
10 Lon Peterson/B Gutzmann Arrow 1 DNF
35 Ray Hocker/L Allison Subaru RX 1 DNF
97 R Porta/M Azernitzky Mazda RX-7 4 DNF
82 Dave Hackett/J Forespring Escort 6 DNF
42 C Jardevall/A Trowbridge Volvo 740T 1 DNF
94 Dennis Chizma/Ben Bradley VW Rabbit 2 DNF
18 Robert Tallini/S Scott Corolla 3 DNF
52 Rod Koch/Nick Craig VW Fastbak 3 DNF
27 Harry Manku/R Nyotta Scirrocco 4 DNF
# # #
Rim of the World - LEG SCORES
STAGE 1 STAGE 2 STAGE 3
H.Joy 582 P.Choi 1590 P.Choi 548
P.Choi 598 2% H.Joy 1615 1% H.Joy 566 3%
S.Kara 620 6% C.Merr 1643 3% C.Merr 595 8%
C.Merr 636 9% S.Brya 1679 5% R.Bras 596 8%
R.Kosm 655 12% H.Gent 1713 7% S.Brya 596 8%
H.Gent 657 12% R.Kosm 1746 9% R.Hock 605 10%
C.Jard 659 13% B.Newe 1754 10% R.Kosm 607 10%
B.Mali 662 13% V.Samu 1761 10% H.Gent 612 11%
D.Whit 666 14% J.Grif 1776 11% V.Samu 620 13%
R.Hock 666 14% D.Whit 1777 11% B.Newe 623 13%
V.Samu 669 14% B.Mali 1782 12% B.Mali 631 15%
R.Lose 672 15% R.Hock 1795 12% J.Benh 632 15%
B.Newe 673 15% S.Wint 1798 13% D.Whit 634 15%
R.Wood 676 16% T.Chav 1804 13% T.Chav 636 16%
M.Whit 678 16% M.Whit 1808 13% S.Wint 638 16%
S.Wint 679 16% G.Plse 1817 14% J.Grif 640 16%
R.Bras 680 16% R.Tall 1838 15% K.Stew 644 17%
G.Plse 681 17% J.Benh 1839 15% G.Plse 644 17%
J.Grif 682 17% R.Dela 1842 15% R.Tall 647 18%
J.Brue 683 17% P.Lahm 1862 17% R.Wood 651 18%
L.Pete 688 18% K.Cass 1875 17% M.Whit 653 19%
L.Shad 691 18% L.Shad 1876 17% L.Sudd 653 19%
T.Chav 692 18% L.Sudd 1904 19% J.Brue 660 20%
R.Tall 695 19% J.Brue 1911 20% P.Lahm 661 20%
J.Benh 695 19% K.Stew 1929 21% L.Shad 672 22%
K.Stew 711 22% G.Vale 1939 21% D.Robi 676 23%
L.Sudd 711 22% M.Kilp 1947 22% R.Port 679 23%
S.Brya 712 22% T.Bier 1955 22% K.Cass 680 24%
P.Lahm 717 23% S.Kara 1964 23% T.Bier 684 24%
K.Cass 740 27% R.Wood 1966 23% B.Mede 686 25%
M.Kilp 743 27% D.Robi 1982 24% A.Scot 688 25%
P.Morr 750 28% A.Scot 1986 24% F.Pare 690 25%
R.Dela 750 28% R.Bras 2015 26% G.Vale 694 26%
G.Vale 751 29% R.Port 2020 27% M.Kilp 697 27%
D.Robi 751 29% P.Morr 2022 27% R.Pend 712 29%
T.Bier 753 29% B.Mede 2049 28% J.Nels 733 33%
B.Mede 764 31% F.Pare 2058 29% S.Kara 736 34%
R.Port 766 31% H.Mank 2061 29% P.Morr 737 34%
R.Pend 767 31% R.Pend 2096 31% T.Dela 749 36%
T.Dela 776 33% J.Nels 2172 36% H.Mank 758 38%
A.Scot 784 34% T.Dela 2326 46% C.Jard 1156 110%
H.Mank 796 36% R.Lose 2355 48% R.Lose 1438 162%
D.Hack 802 37% C.Jard 2634 65% R.Dela 5546 912%
STAGE 4
P.Choi 1082
H.Joy 1119 3%
C.Merr 1149 6%
S.Brya 1194 10%
H.Gent 1206 11%
R.Kosm 1222 12%
V.Samu 1251 15%
D.Whit 1258 16%
B.Newe 1268 17%
J.Grif 1292 19%
M.Whit 1308 20%
B.Mali 1316 21%
T.Chav 1330 22%
K.Stew 1342 24%
G.Plse 1342 24%
L.Shad 1358 25%
R.Pend 1380 27%
K.Cass 1398 29%
G.Vale 1427 31%
S.Kara 1429 32%
L.Sudd 1442 33%
R.Port 1452 34%
P.Morr 1480 36%
R.Lose 2057 90%
P.Lahm 2261 108%
STAGE 5 STAGE 6 STAGE 7
P.Choi 1440 P.Choi 1227 H.Joy 1284
H.Joy 1480 2% H.Joy 1228 0% P.Choi 1306 1%
C.Merr 1546 7% S.Kara 1299 5% S.Kara 1333 3%
S.Brya 1561 8% S.Brya 1316 7% H.Gent 1364 6%
D.Whit 1601 11% C.Merr 1324 7% S.Wint 1424 10%
V.Samu 1610 11% D.Whit 1334 8% M.Whit 1427 11%
H.Gent 1618 12% H.Gent 1340 9% B.Mali 1439 12%
B.Mali 1622 12% B.Mali 1385 12% R.Kosm 1442 12%
J.Grif 1630 13% S.Wint 1385 12% V.Samu 1442 12%
T.Chav 1644 14% M.Whit 1386 12% J.Benh 1446 12%
G.Plse 1695 17% V.Samu 1391 13% K.Cass 1453 13%
L.Shad 1714 19% R.Wood 1405 14% S.Brya 1473 14%
S.Kara 1715 19% J.Benh 1406 14% R.Lose 1474 14%
P.Lahm 1719 19% K.Cass 1408 14% R.Wood 1477 15%
K.Stew 1720 19% P.Lahm 1420 15% C.Merr 1487 15%
M.Whit 1722 19% R.Tall 1440 17% J.Brue 1501 16%
K.Cass 1752 21% J.Brue 1445 17% P.Lahm 1514 17%
G.Vale 1755 21% T.Chav 1448 18% D.Whit 1521 18%
L.Sudd 1758 22% R.Lose 1450 18% B.Mede 1529 19%
P.Morr 1795 24% L.Sudd 1470 19% K.Stew 1532 19%
R.Pend 1833 27% L.Shad 1471 19% L.Shad 1542 20%
R.Port 1842 27% G.Plse 1475 20% T.Chav 1555 21%
R.Lose 1988 38% K.Stew 1485 21% F.Pare 1567 22%
R.Kosm 2290 59% F.Pare 1488 21% R.Dela 1574 22%
B.Mede 1495 21% A.Scot 1589 23%
J.Nels 1521 23% P.Morr 1596 24%
P.Morr 1535 25% T.Bier 1617 25%
A.Scot 1545 25% L.Sudd 1633 27%
R.Dela 1548 26% G.Vale 1636 27%
T.Bier 1549 26% T.Dela 1639 27%
R.Kosm 1564 27% M.Kilp 1645 28%
T.Dela 1583 29% R.Tall 1655 28%
M.Kilp 1589 29% R.Pend 1672 30%
R.Pend 1618 31% D.Robi 1684 31%
J.Grif 1804 47% J.Nels 1689 31%
D.Robi 1954 59% G.Plse 1710 33%
G.Vale 2114 72%
C.Jard 2260 84%
STAGE 8 STAGE 9 STAGE 10
P.Choi 1606 P.Choi 995 H.Joy 1404
H.Joy 1639 2% H.Joy 1006 1% P.Choi 1428 1%
C.Merr 1728 7% C.Merr 1065 7% C.Merr 1460 3%
S.Kara 1744 8% S.Brya 1073 7% S.Kara 1494 6%
S.Brya 1757 9% S.Kara 1076 8% S.Brya 1518 8%
H.Gent 1790 11% B.Mali 1098 10% B.Mali 1526 8%
B.Mali 1796 11% D.Whit 1106 11% R.Kosm 1527 8%
D.Whit 1814 12% J.Benh 1108 11% D.Whit 1534 9%
J.Benh 1828 13% R.Kosm 1112 11% R.Lose 1560 11%
M.Whit 1836 14% V.Samu 1116 12% M.Whit 1565 11%
V.Samu 1836 14% R.Lose 1122 12% S.Wint 1584 12%
R.Kosm 1842 14% K.Cass 1126 13% T.Chav 1586 12%
T.Chav 1870 16% T.Chav 1134 13% V.Samu 1589 13%
R.Wood 1870 16% G.Plse 1163 16% K.Cass 1590 13%
K.Cass 1871 16% S.Wint 1163 16% G.Plse 1612 14%
J.Brue 1878 16% B.Mede 1171 17% J.Benh 1639 16%
R.Lose 1881 17% J.Brue 1191 19% J.Brue 1642 16%
S.Wint 1890 17% T.Bier 1194 20% F.Pare 1656 17%
B.Mede 1903 18% L.Shad 1196 20% B.Mede 1656 17%
G.Plse 1914 19% K.Stew 1208 21% P.Lahm 1673 19%
L.Shad 1915 19% P.Lahm 1210 21% G.Vale 1677 19%
K.Stew 1923 19% R.Wood 1218 22% P.Morr 1703 21%
T.Bier 1972 22% F.Pare 1218 22% R.Wood 1708 21%
F.Pare 1975 22% G.Vale 1223 22% K.Stew 1710 21%
D.Robi 1979 23% A.Scot 1230 23% T.Bier 1719 22%
R.Dela 1994 24% D.Robi 1235 24% L.Shad 1736 23%
P.Lahm 2011 25% R.Dela 1238 24% A.Scot 1738 23%
L.Sudd 2017 25% M.Whit 1250 25% L.Sudd 1758 25%
G.Vale 2022 25% M.Kilp 1262 26% D.Robi 1773 26%
M.Kilp 2025 26% J.Nels 1269 27% M.Kilp 1792 27%
A.Scot 2038 26% T.Dela 1289 29% J.Nels 1793 27%
J.Nels 2080 29% P.Morr 1292 29% R.Pend 1799 28%
R.Pend 2082 29% D.Hack 1296 30% T.Dela 1809 28%
T.Dela 2082 29% L.Sudd 1300 30% R.Dela 1846 31%
D.Hack 2162 34% R.Pend 1301 30%
P.Morr 2265 41%
R.Tall 2351 46%
Rim of the World - LEG SCORES
STAGE 11 STAGE 12 STAGE 13
P.Choi 1109 H.Joy 1095 H.Joy 1137
H.Joy 1160 4% C.Merr 1116 1% C.Merr 1164 2%
S.Kara 1200 8% S.Brya 1135 3% S.Kara 1182 3%
S.Brya 1200 8% S.Kara 1141 4% S.Brya 1201 5%
C.Merr 1240 11% P.Choi 1152 5% B.Mali 1206 6%
D.Whit 1252 12% B.Mali 1159 5% D.Whit 1211 6%
T.Chav 1262 13% R.Lose 1167 6% V.Samu 1221 7%
B.Mali 1270 14% D.Whit 1174 7% R.Lose 1234 8%
R.Lose 1272 14% V.Samu 1183 8% T.Chav 1269 11%
M.Whit 1296 16% M.Whit 1186 8% L.Shad 1287 13%
G.Plse 1296 16% T.Chav 1201 9% K.Stew 1324 16%
V.Samu 1310 18% L.Shad 1222 11% P.Lahm 1326 16%
L.Shad 1342 21% K.Cass 1239 13% R.Kosm 1349 18%
P.Morr 1383 24% G.Plse 1242 13% M.Whit 1349 18%
L.Sudd 1388 25% P.Lahm 1263 15% G.Plse 1358 19%
K.Stew 1389 25% P.Morr 1292 17% P.Morr 1396 22%
P.Lahm 1406 26% L.Sudd 1306 19% G.Vale 1399 23%
R.Pend 1424 28% K.Stew 1308 19% R.Pend 1433 26%
R.Kosm 1433 29% R.Kosm 1319 20% L.Sudd 1436 26%
K.Cass 1443 30% R.Pend 1364 24% K.Cass 1557 36%
G.Vale 1449 30% G.Vale 1386 26%
NATIONAL STAGE TIMES
CAR DRIVER 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
7 H Joy 582 1615 566 1119 1480 0 1228 1284
2 C Merril 636 1643 595 1149 1546 0 1324 1487
900 S Bryan 712 1679 596 1194 1561 0 1316 1473
28 D White 666 1777 634 1258 1601 0 1334 1521
21 B Malik 662 1782 631 1316 1622 0 1385 1439
3 S Karama 620 1964 736 1429 1715 0 1299 1333
51 V Samuel 669 1761 620 1251 1610 0 1391 1442
85 T Chavez 692 1804 636 1330 1644 0 1448 1555
8 M Whitma 678 1808 653 1308 1722 0 1386 1427
19 G Plsek 681 1817 644 1342 1695 0 1475 1710
79 L Shadbo 691 1876 672 1358 1714 0 1471 1542
6 R Kosmid 655 1746 607 1222 2290 0 1564 1442
31 K Cassid 740 1875 680 1398 1752 0 1408 1453
117 K Stewar 711 1929 644 1342 1720 0 1485 1532
38 L Suddar 711 1904 653 1442 1758 0 1470 1633
22 P Lahm 717 1862 661 2261 1719 0 1420 1514
15 P Morris 750 2022 737 1480 1795 80 1535 1596
53 G Valent 751 1939 694 1427 1755 0 2114 1636
14 R Pender 767 2096 712 1380 1833 20 1618 1672
81 R Losee 672 2355 1438 2057 1988 440 1450 1474
1 P Choini 598 1590 548 1082 1440 0 1227 1306
4 R Brasil 680 2015 596 0
10 L Peters 688
96 B Newey 673 1754 623 1268 0
30 H Genta 657 1713 612 1206 1618 0 1340 1364
35 R Hocker 666 1795 605
36 J Griffi 682 1776 640 1292 1630 0 1804
97 R Porta 766 2020 679 1452 1842 920
82 D Hacket 802
8 9 10 11 12 13 16 TOTAL
7 H Joy 1639 1006 1404 0 1160 1095 1137 0 153.15
2 C Merril 1728 1065 1460 0 1240 1116 1164 0 161.53
900 S Bryan 1757 1073 1518 0 1200 1135 1201 0 164.15
28 D White 1814 1106 1534 0 1252 1174 1211 0 168.82
21 B Malik 1796 1098 1526 0 1270 1159 1206 0 168.92
3 S Karama 1744 1076 1494 0 1200 1141 1182 0 169.33
51 V Samuel 1836 1116 1589 0 1310 1183 1221 0 169.99
85 T Chavez 1870 1134 1586 0 1262 1201 1269 0 174.31
8 M Whitma 1836 1250 1565 0 1296 1186 1349 0 174.64
19 G Plsek 1914 1163 1612 0 1296 1242 1358 0 179.49
79 L Shadbo 1915 1196 1736 0 1342 1222 1287 0 180.22
6 R Kosmid 1842 1112 1527 0 1433 1319 1349 0 181.08
31 K Cassid 1871 1126 1590 0 1443 1239 1557 40 181.72
117 K Stewar 1923 1208 1710 0 1389 1308 1324 0 182.25
38 L Suddar 2017 1300 1758 0 1388 1306 1436 0 187.76
22 P Lahm 2011 1210 1673 0 1406 1263 1326 0 190.43
15 P Morris 2265 1292 1703 40 1383 1292 1396 0 193.66
53 G Valent 2022 1223 1677 0 1449 1386 1399 0 194.72
14 R Pender 2082 1301 1799 0 1424 1364 1433 0 195.01
81 R Losee 1881 1122 1560 0 1272 1167 1234 0 201.10
1 P Choini 1606 995 1428 0 1109 1152 DNF
4 R Brasil DNF
10 L Peters DNF
96 B Newey DNF
30 H Genta 1790 DNF
35 R Hocker DNF
36 J Griffi DNF
97 R Porta DNF
82 D Hacket 2162 1296 DNF
Rim of the World PRO Rally, Palmdale, CA
Round #4 - Michelin PRO Rally Championship
May 4, 1997 - 9:00 AM PDT
Press Notes #9
28. Lots of stories (as the PR guy catches up with the rally):
--For Henry Joy, this victory represented a win of frustration as past
Rims have produced two seconds and a third, but no victories. The win
also vaults Henry into the points lead going into STPR with 50 points,
while Choiniere gets the two starting points for this event, and now has
36 points.
--The effort put forth by the Libra Racing crew to reconstruct Choiniere's
Tiburon after the wheel snapped off should not be overlooked, and the
team came within a couple of miles of winning the event for a sixth
straight time. But co-driver Becker, who could hardly talk at the end of
the event, said the dust that came into the cockpit as a result of the
holes in the body from the extensive repair could have caused a DNF in
its own right.
--Although he finished second, you could hardly call Carl Merrill's day a
banner one. The leaking water from the car on Friday night which caused
the overheating came from a slit radiator hose - much less serious than
first feared - and Merrill/Smith seemed ready to go on Saturday morning.
But then, a broken CV joint left Merrill with 3WD for several stages, and
a broken shifter knob caused further problems, leaving him in no position
to chase Joy.
--The Sam Bryan/Rob Walden Saab 900 won Group 5 in fine fashion, with their
only Saturday problem being a blown turbo exhaust gasket which caused a
slight loss of power early in the afternoon. Sam takes a commanding lead
in Group 5, and with the series headed to the faster roads in the
East and Midwest, the 300 hp Saab might be hard to catch.
--The best battle of the rally was the Group 2 tussle, and, even after the
event was over, both combatants could claim victory. The Dave White/Ben
Greisler VW GTI, with car builder Guy Light leading the service crew,
finished fourth overall and first in Group 2 by a mere six seconds over
the Bill Malik/Farina O'Sullivan Volvo 240 and their new sponsor Coffee
Fresh International. Malik lost some of his power on Saturday as he was
limited to first and fourth gear during most of the day, but that didn't
turn out to be as bad a problem on the slow, twisty rim roads as it would
have been at a faster event. Also, because only selected stages counted
towards the divisional standings, Malik edged White for the divisional
title.
--Selcuk Karamanoglu's Saturday was pretty uneventful after his Friday
turbo exploits, and he made up 10 places in the standings, but was too
far behind to catch the leaders in the end. The Karamanoglu/Lumino Eagle
Talon finished 5th overall.
--The Hiroyuki/Nomura Subaru Impreza was running as high as fifth overall
when electrical problems sidelined the right-hand-drive car after stage
#10, causing a DNF.
# # #
Rim of the World - LEG SCORES
STAGE 1 STAGE 2 STAGE 3
H.Joy 582 P.Choi 1590 P.Choi 548
P.Choi 598 2% H.Joy 1615 1% H.Joy 566 3%
S.Kara 620 6% C.Merr 1643 3% C.Merr 595 8%
C.Merr 636 9% S.Brya 1679 5% R.Bras 596 8%
R.Kosm 655 12% H.Gent 1713 7% S.Brya 596 8%
H.Gent 657 12% R.Kosm 1746 9% R.Hock 605 10%
C.Jard 659 13% B.Newe 1754 10% R.Kosm 607 10%
B.Mali 662 13% V.Samu 1761 10% H.Gent 612 11%
D.Whit 666 14% J.Grif 1776 11% V.Samu 620 13%
R.Hock 666 14% D.Whit 1777 11% B.Newe 623 13%
V.Samu 669 14% B.Mali 1782 12% B.Mali 631 15%
R.Lose 672 15% R.Hock 1795 12% J.Benh 632 15%
B.Newe 673 15% S.Wint 1798 13% D.Whit 634 15%
R.Wood 676 16% T.Chav 1804 13% T.Chav 636 16%
M.Whit 678 16% M.Whit 1808 13% S.Wint 638 16%
S.Wint 679 16% G.Plse 1817 14% J.Grif 640 16%
R.Bras 680 16% R.Tall 1838 15% K.Stew 644 17%
G.Plse 681 17% J.Benh 1839 15% G.Plse 644 17%
J.Grif 682 17% R.Dela 1842 15% R.Tall 647 18%
J.Brue 683 17% P.Lahm 1862 17% R.Wood 651 18%
L.Pete 688 18% K.Cass 1875 17% M.Whit 653 19%
L.Shad 691 18% L.Shad 1876 17% L.Sudd 653 19%
T.Chav 692 18% L.Sudd 1904 19% J.Brue 660 20%
R.Tall 695 19% J.Brue 1911 20% P.Lahm 661 20%
J.Benh 695 19% K.Stew 1929 21% L.Shad 672 22%
K.Stew 711 22% G.Vale 1939 21% D.Robi 676 23%
L.Sudd 711 22% M.Kilp 1947 22% R.Port 679 23%
S.Brya 712 22% T.Bier 1955 22% K.Cass 680 24%
P.Lahm 717 23% S.Kara 1964 23% T.Bier 684 24%
K.Cass 740 27% R.Wood 1966 23% B.Mede 686 25%
M.Kilp 743 27% D.Robi 1982 24% A.Scot 688 25%
P.Morr 750 28% A.Scot 1986 24% F.Pare 690 25%
R.Dela 750 28% R.Bras 2015 26% G.Vale 694 26%
G.Vale 751 29% R.Port 2020 27% M.Kilp 697 27%
D.Robi 751 29% P.Morr 2022 27% R.Pend 712 29%
T.Bier 753 29% B.Mede 2049 28% J.Nels 733 33%
B.Mede 764 31% F.Pare 2058 29% S.Kara 736 34%
R.Port 766 31% H.Mank 2061 29% P.Morr 737 34%
R.Pend 767 31% R.Pend 2096 31% T.Dela 749 36%
T.Dela 776 33% J.Nels 2172 36% H.Mank 758 38%
A.Scot 784 34% T.Dela 2326 46% C.Jard 1156 110%
H.Mank 796 36% R.Lose 2355 48% R.Lose 1438 162%
D.Hack 802 37% C.Jard 2634 65% R.Dela 5546 912%
STAGE 4
P.Choi 1082
H.Joy 1119 3%
C.Merr 1149 6%
S.Brya 1194 10%
H.Gent 1206 11%
R.Kosm 1222 12%
V.Samu 1251 15%
D.Whit 1258 16%
B.Newe 1268 17%
J.Grif 1292 19%
M.Whit 1308 20%
B.Mali 1316 21%
T.Chav 1330 22%
K.Stew 1342 24%
G.Plse 1342 24%
L.Shad 1358 25%
R.Pend 1380 27%
K.Cass 1398 29%
G.Vale 1427 31%
S.Kara 1429 32%
L.Sudd 1442 33%
R.Port 1452 34%
P.Morr 1480 36%
R.Lose 2057 90%
P.Lahm 2261 108%
STAGE 5 STAGE 6 STAGE 7
P.Choi 1440 P.Choi 1227 H.Joy 1284
H.Joy 1480 2% H.Joy 1228 0% P.Choi 1306 1%
C.Merr 1546 7% S.Kara 1299 5% S.Kara 1333 3%
S.Brya 1561 8% S.Brya 1316 7% H.Gent 1364 6%
D.Whit 1601 11% C.Merr 1324 7% S.Wint 1424 10%
V.Samu 1610 11% D.Whit 1334 8% M.Whit 1427 11%
H.Gent 1618 12% H.Gent 1340 9% B.Mali 1439 12%
B.Mali 1622 12% B.Mali 1385 12% R.Kosm 1442 12%
J.Grif 1630 13% S.Wint 1385 12% V.Samu 1442 12%
T.Chav 1644 14% M.Whit 1386 12% J.Benh 1446 12%
G.Plse 1695 17% V.Samu 1391 13% K.Cass 1453 13%
L.Shad 1714 19% R.Wood 1405 14% S.Brya 1473 14%
S.Kara 1715 19% J.Benh 1406 14% R.Lose 1474 14%
P.Lahm 1719 19% K.Cass 1408 14% R.Wood 1477 15%
K.Stew 1720 19% P.Lahm 1420 15% C.Merr 1487 15%
M.Whit 1722 19% R.Tall 1440 17% J.Brue 1501 16%
K.Cass 1752 21% J.Brue 1445 17% P.Lahm 1514 17%
G.Vale 1755 21% T.Chav 1448 18% D.Whit 1521 18%
L.Sudd 1758 22% R.Lose 1450 18% B.Mede 1529 19%
P.Morr 1795 24% L.Sudd 1470 19% K.Stew 1532 19%
R.Pend 1833 27% L.Shad 1471 19% L.Shad 1542 20%
R.Port 1842 27% G.Plse 1475 20% T.Chav 1555 21%
R.Lose 1988 38% K.Stew 1485 21% F.Pare 1567 22%
R.Kosm 2290 59% F.Pare 1488 21% R.Dela 1574 22%
B.Mede 1495 21% A.Scot 1589 23%
J.Nels 1521 23% P.Morr 1596 24%
P.Morr 1535 25% T.Bier 1617 25%
A.Scot 1545 25% L.Sudd 1633 27%
R.Dela 1548 26% G.Vale 1636 27%
T.Bier 1549 26% T.Dela 1639 27%
R.Kosm 1564 27% M.Kilp 1645 28%
T.Dela 1583 29% R.Tall 1655 28%
M.Kilp 1589 29% R.Pend 1672 30%
R.Pend 1618 31% D.Robi 1684 31%
J.Grif 1804 47% J.Nels 1689 31%
D.Robi 1954 59% G.Plse 1710 33%
G.Vale 2114 72%
C.Jard 2260 84%
STAGE 8 STAGE 9 STAGE 10
P.Choi 1606 P.Choi 995 H.Joy 1404
H.Joy 1639 2% H.Joy 1006 1% P.Choi 1428 1%
C.Merr 1728 7% C.Merr 1065 7% C.Merr 1460 3%
S.Kara 1744 8% S.Brya 1073 7% S.Kara 1494 6%
S.Brya 1757 9% S.Kara 1076 8% S.Brya 1518 8%
H.Gent 1790 11% B.Mali 1098 10% B.Mali 1526 8%
B.Mali 1796 11% D.Whit 1106 11% R.Kosm 1527 8%
D.Whit 1814 12% J.Benh 1108 11% D.Whit 1534 9%
J.Benh 1828 13% R.Kosm 1112 11% R.Lose 1560 11%
M.Whit 1836 14% V.Samu 1116 12% M.Whit 1565 11%
V.Samu 1836 14% R.Lose 1122 12% S.Wint 1584 12%
R.Kosm 1842 14% K.Cass 1126 13% T.Chav 1586 12%
T.Chav 1870 16% T.Chav 1134 13% V.Samu 1589 13%
R.Wood 1870 16% G.Plse 1163 16% K.Cass 1590 13%
K.Cass 1871 16% S.Wint 1163 16% G.Plse 1612 14%
J.Brue 1878 16% B.Mede 1171 17% J.Benh 1639 16%
R.Lose 1881 17% J.Brue 1191 19% J.Brue 1642 16%
S.Wint 1890 17% T.Bier 1194 20% F.Pare 1656 17%
B.Mede 1903 18% L.Shad 1196 20% B.Mede 1656 17%
G.Plse 1914 19% K.Stew 1208 21% P.Lahm 1673 19%
L.Shad 1915 19% P.Lahm 1210 21% G.Vale 1677 19%
K.Stew 1923 19% R.Wood 1218 22% P.Morr 1703 21%
T.Bier 1972 22% F.Pare 1218 22% R.Wood 1708 21%
F.Pare 1975 22% G.Vale 1223 22% K.Stew 1710 21%
D.Robi 1979 23% A.Scot 1230 23% T.Bier 1719 22%
R.Dela 1994 24% D.Robi 1235 24% L.Shad 1736 23%
P.Lahm 2011 25% R.Dela 1238 24% A.Scot 1738 23%
L.Sudd 2017 25% M.Whit 1250 25% L.Sudd 1758 25%
G.Vale 2022 25% M.Kilp 1262 26% D.Robi 1773 26%
M.Kilp 2025 26% J.Nels 1269 27% M.Kilp 1792 27%
A.Scot 2038 26% T.Dela 1289 29% J.Nels 1793 27%
J.Nels 2080 29% P.Morr 1292 29% R.Pend 1799 28%
R.Pend 2082 29% D.Hack 1296 30% T.Dela 1809 28%
T.Dela 2082 29% L.Sudd 1300 30% R.Dela 1846 31%
D.Hack 2162 34% R.Pend 1301 30%
P.Morr 2265 41%
R.Tall 2351 46%
Rim of the World - LEG SCORES
STAGE 11 STAGE 12 STAGE 13
P.Choi 1109 H.Joy 1095 H.Joy 1137
H.Joy 1160 4% C.Merr 1116 1% C.Merr 1164 2%
S.Kara 1200 8% S.Brya 1135 3% S.Kara 1182 3%
S.Brya 1200 8% S.Kara 1141 4% S.Brya 1201 5%
C.Merr 1240 11% P.Choi 1152 5% B.Mali 1206 6%
D.Whit 1252 12% B.Mali 1159 5% D.Whit 1211 6%
T.Chav 1262 13% R.Lose 1167 6% V.Samu 1221 7%
B.Mali 1270 14% D.Whit 1174 7% R.Lose 1234 8%
R.Lose 1272 14% V.Samu 1183 8% T.Chav 1269 11%
M.Whit 1296 16% M.Whit 1186 8% L.Shad 1287 13%
G.Plse 1296 16% T.Chav 1201 9% K.Stew 1324 16%
V.Samu 1310 18% L.Shad 1222 11% P.Lahm 1326 16%
L.Shad 1342 21% K.Cass 1239 13% R.Kosm 1349 18%
P.Morr 1383 24% G.Plse 1242 13% M.Whit 1349 18%
L.Sudd 1388 25% P.Lahm 1263 15% G.Plse 1358 19%
K.Stew 1389 25% P.Morr 1292 17% P.Morr 1396 22%
P.Lahm 1406 26% L.Sudd 1306 19% G.Vale 1399 23%
R.Pend 1424 28% K.Stew 1308 19% R.Pend 1433 26%
R.Kosm 1433 29% R.Kosm 1319 20% L.Sudd 1436 26%
K.Cass 1443 30% R.Pend 1364 24% K.Cass 1557 36%
G.Vale 1449 30% G.Vale 1386 26%
For Immediate Release Contact: Andy Schupack--------(401) 739-5677
or
5/4 until 7:00 PM PDT (805) 947-8055, ext 153
HENRY JOY BOLTS INTO MICHELIN PRO RALLY POINTS LEAD WITH UPSET MITSUBISHI
WIN AT RIM OF THE WORLD PRO RALLY; CHOINIERE OUT OF LUCK AFTER FIVE YEARS
PALMDALE, Calif. -- May 4 -- The Henry Joy/Michael Fennell Mitsubishi
Lancer Evolution II, which broke while leading the Rim of the World PRO
Rally on two previous occasions, turned the tables on defending Michelin
PRO Rally champions Paul Choiniere and Jeff Becker to win the 14th annual
event in the Angeles National Forest here.
Choiniere's Hyundai Tiburon looked headed for its sixth straight Rim win
until he pushed the rear end into a burm and snapped off the left rear
wheel, forcing co-driver Becker to ride on the hood for ballast until the
car could get to service. The Libra Racing crew rebuilt the entire
wheel/axle/suspension assembly, and Choiniere even lengthened his lead
over Joy in the next stage, but an unrelated broken strut with just one
stage remaining gave Joy the win, and ended the day for the Hyundai. The
Atlanta, Michigan resident now has a win and two seconds to forge 14
points ahead of Choiniere in the standings.
Despite an array of problems ranging from a broken CV joint to a shifter
which came off in his hand, Carl Merrill with co-driver Lance Smith
piloted the Ford Escort Cosworth to a second-place finish, while the
300 hp Saab 900 of Sam Bryan/Rob Walden won the 2WD Group 5 class and
finished third overall for the second straight event.
With temperatures in the high 80's F and dust adding to the challenge of
the rough roads, cars with reliability rather than horsepower dominated
the other classes.
The best battle of the rally was the Group 2 2WD tussle, and, even after
the event was over, both combatants could claim victory. The Dave
White/Ben Greisler VW GTI finished fourth overall and first in Group 2 by
a mere six seconds over the Bill Malik/Farina O'Sullivan Volvo 240.
But, because only selected stages counted towards the divisional
standings, Malik edged White for the divisional title.
Other class winners included the Lee Shadbolt/Paul Eklund Subaru Impreza
(Production GT), and the Pete Morris/Eric Oyague/Toyota Corolla
(Production).
Produced by Replica Productions, of Cambridge, Mass., the event will be
telecast by ESPN2 with half-hour broadcasts Sun., June 1, 1997
at 7:30 PM and Tue., June 4, 1997, at 2:00 AM (EDT).
The 1997 Michelin PRO Rally Championship consists of ten events, and is
sponsored by Michelin Tire Corporation, and sanctioned by the Sports Car
Club of America. The 1997 Rim of the World PRO Rally was
presented by the Cal Club Region of the Sports Car Club of America, and
the Rim of the World organizing committee.
The next Michelin PRO Rally Championship event - the Susquehannock Trail
PRO Rally - will take place June 6 - 7, 1997 in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania.
# # #
Round #4 - 1997 Michelin PRO Rally Championship
Rim of the World PRO Rally - Palmdale, California
National Results
Fin. Car Driver/ Co-Driver/ Make/Model/Class/
Pos. No. Hometown Hometown Division/Tires/Time
----- ---- ------------------ ----------------- -------------------
1 7 Henry Joy IV Michael Fennell Mitsubishi Lancer/Open
Atlanta, MI Kingston, Jamaica National/Michelin/2:33:09
2 2 Carl Merrill Lance Smith 97 Ford Esc Cosworth/Open
Ogunquit, ME S. Burlington, VT National/Michelin/2:41:31
3 900 Sam Bryan Rob Walden Saab 900/Group 5
Kent, WA Seattle, WA National/Michelin/244:09
4 28 Dave White Ben Greisler VW GTI/Group 2
Benicia, CA Exton, PA Nat./Div./Michelin/2:48:49
5 21 Bill Malik Farina O'Sullivan Volvo 240/Group 2
Burbank, CA San Francsico, CA Nat./Div./Michelin/2:48:55
6 3 Selcuk Karamanoglu Tony Lumino Eagle Talon/Open
Bath, ME Westbrook, ME National/Michelin/2:49:19
7 51 Vartan Samuelian Ara Manoukian Mitsubishi Eclipse/Open
Pasadena, CA Pasadena, CA Nat/Div./Michelin/2:49:59
8 85 Tony Chavez John Elkin VW GTI/Group 2
Santa Fe Springs, CA Portland, OR Nat/Div,/Michelin/2:54:18
9 8 Mike Whitman Kevin Linville Ford Sierra Cosworth/Open
Farmington, NM Durango, CO National/Michelin/2:54:38
10 19 George Plsek Mark Rathsam Saab 99/Group 5
Del Mar, CA Del Mar, CA Nat/Div/Michelin/2:59:29
11 79 Lee Shadbolt Paul Eklund Subaru Impreza/PGT
Tigard, OR Tigard, OR Nat/Div/Michelin/3:00:13
12 6 Ralph Kosmides Joe Noyes Toyota Supra/Group 5
Newport Beach, CA Seattle, WA Nat/Div./Michelin/3:01:04
13 31 Ken Cassidy Sean Gallagher Mitsubishi Galant 4WD/PGT
Tempe, AZ Santa Ana, CA National/Michelin/3:01:43
14 117 Ken Stewart Doc Schrader Chevy S-10 Pickup/Open
Grove, OK West Memphis, AK Nat./Div./Cooper/3:02:15
15 38 Leslie Suddard Anne Thomas Dodge Charger/Group 5
Wilmington, DE Nashua, NH Nat./Div./Michelin/3:07:45
16 22 Pete Lahm Jimmy Brandt Datsun 510/Group 2
Phoenix, AZ Lake Odessa, MI National/Michelin/3:10:25
17 15 Pete Morris Eric Oyague Toyota Corolla/Production
Los Angeles, CA Van Nuys, CA Nat/Div./Michelin/3:13:39
18 53 Gerry Valentini Lee Sorenson Mazda RX-7/Group 5
Sacramento, CA Fair Oaks, CA National/Michelin/3:14:43
19 14 Robert Pendergrass Jon Weigley Chevy Blazer/Open
Palos Verdes, CA Lawndale, CA Nat./Div/3:15:00
20 81 Richard Losee Kent Livingston VW GTI/Group 2
Provo, Utah Salt Lake City, UT Nat./Div./3:21:06
# # #
Did_Not_Finish
Broken 1 Paul Choiniere Jeff Becker Hyundai Tiburon/Open
strut Shelburne, VT Great Neck, NY National/Michelin
Engine 4 Rui Brasil Carlos Tavares Audi Quattro/Open
San Jose, CA San Jose, CA Nat./Div./Michelin
Engine 10 Lon Peterson Bill Gutzmann Plymouth Arrow/Group 5
Victorville, CA Ontario, CA Nat./Div./Michelin
Engine 96 Bruce Newey Matt Chester Toyota Celica/Group 5
Atlanta, GA Atlanta, GA National/Michelin
Electric 30 Hiroyuki Genta Yasuaki Nomura Subaru Impreza/Open
Kyoto, JAPAN Kyoto, JAPAN National/Dunlop
Turbo 35 Ray Hocker Lynnette Allison Subaru RX Turbo/Open
Ridgecrest, CA Corona, CA Nat./Div.
Suspen- 36 Jeff Griffin Danny Williams Volvo 142/Group 5
sion Arvada, CA Broomfield, CO Nat./Div.
Disqual 97 Ricardo Porta Mario Azernitzky Mazda RX-7/Group 5
Santa Clarita, CA Santa Clarita, CA Nat./Div.
Suspen- 82 Dave Hackett John Forespring Ford RS 2000/Group 5
sion Reno, NV Olympia, WA Nat./Div.
# # #
Rim of the World PRO Rally, Palmdale, CA
Round #4 - Michelin PRO Rally Championship
May 4, 1997 - 11:00 AM PDT
Press Notes #10
29. More post-event notes:
--Perhaps the best story in the top ten was the 7th place finish of
Open class Mitsubishi Eclipse of Vartan Sameilian/Ara Manoukian.
Veteran rallyists who had not competed in a while, the pair took a
stock 4WD Eclipse (in the Open class only because it didn't have a
back seat), and ran with the big boys all day.
--Another "giant killer" was the MuliPack VW GTI of Tony Chavez/John
Elkin, who also cracked the top ten by finishing eighth overall and
third in Group 2. Elkin reported that the oil pressure guage kept
showing low pressure, and they would add oil in service, but it
turned out to be a faulty guage rather than an engine problem, and
Chavez ran strong all day.
--The rough Rim roads were not kind to the Mike Whitman/Kevin Linville
Ford Sierra Cosworth, as Whitman lost a ball joint on Friday night
and drove conservatively on Saturday so as not to destroy the car,
which he says is much more well suited for the smooth, fast roads of
Pennsylvania, Maine, and Minnesota - the next three events.
--Although Lesley Suddard and Anne Thomas had a good time during their
West Coast PRO Rally swing, their on-stage luck wasn't so good,
either in Washington or here at Rim. After fixing a multitute of
transaxle problems in Washington, the pair came here and promptly
lost a lot of oil from a blown turbo and other ills. They finished
fourth in class, but don't look for Lesley to give rides in the
Charger at the upcoming Ski Sawmill Rally School, which she co-
chairs this coming week.
--The Lee Shadbolt/Paul Eklund Subaru Impreza was resigned to a
second-place finish in Production GT when the Ken Cassidy/Sean
Gallagher Mitsubishi Galant high-centered near the end of the event,
give the Impreza the class win and the lead in the Production GT
class. As mentioned earlier, the Pete Morris/Eric Oyague, as the
only Production entry in their Toyota Corolla, assumed the lead in
that class by finishing the event.
--After making their exciting announcement about the 1998 season, the
Ralph Kosmides/Joe Noyes Ruby's Toyota Supra had its luck go south
the entire event, with flat tires tto trailing arms to driver error
plague them. Yet, they still finished third in class behind the
George Plsek/Mark Rathsam Saab 99, which ran a strong event after
transmission problems on Friday.
# # #
Results 97 Index
RRN Index