Rim of the World I
Coefficient 2 Divisional PRO Rally
May 3, 1996
Palmdale, CA
Div CRS
Fin Cls Cls Driver/Co-Driver Vehicle Time
1 4WD 4WD Rui Brasil/Carlos Tavares Audi Quattro 1:02:32
2 O2L 2WD Bill Holmes/Brian Maxwell Ford F150 Pickup 1:04:45
2 U2L 2WD David Peterson/Gregg Chaloupka VW GTi 1:04:45
4 4WD 4WD Vartan Samuelina/Ara Manoukian Mitsu Eclipse 1:04:58
5 U2L PSt Jeff Hendricks/Noble Jones Jeep Commanche 1:06:16
6 O2L 2WD George Plsek/Mark Rathsam Saab 99 1:06:52
7 4WD 4WD Dennis Chizma/John Forespring Mitsubishi 3000 1:06:55
8 U2L 2WD Doug Schrenk/Sean Tennis Saab 900 1:07:25
9 4WD 4WD Ron Wood/Kelly Walsh Audi Quattro 1:07:36
10 O2L 2WD Ralph Kosmides/Joe Noyes Toyota Supra 1:08:24
11 U2L PSt Robert Tallini/Steve Scott Toyota Corolla 1:13:03
12 O2L 2WD Mick Kilpatrick/Chris Bradshaw Dodge Colt 1:14:39
13 U2L 2WD Bill Malik/Renn Phillips Volvo 240 1:16:38
14 4WD 4WD Bob Pendergrass/Jon Weigley Chevrolet Blazer 1:18:00
15 U2L St Frank Paredes/Bill Staley Datsun 510 1:21:04
16 U2L PSt Harry Manku/R. Nyotta VW Scirocco 1:24:13
17 U2L St Pete Morris/Eric Oyague Toyota Corolla 1:24:32
18 U2L St Bobby Webb/Tim Sardelich Datsun 510 1:27:03
19 U2L St Lincoln Woodard/Claire Shelton Toyota Corolla 1:32:49
20 O2L 2WD Sam Bryan/Rob Walden Saab 900 1:43:32
4WD 4WD Janice Damitio/Amity Trowbridge Toyota Celica DNF
U2L PSt Lon Peterson/Bill Gutzmann Kia Sephia DNF
O2L 2WD Tony Chavez/John Elkin Mitsu Eclipse DNF
4WD 4WD Kurosh Jahromi/Erik Thompson Audi Quattro DNF
U2L 2WD Jose Soares/Luis Romero VW GTi DNF
4WD 4WD Ben Medeiros/T. Medeiros Mazda 323 GTX DNF
U2L St Gordon Swenson/Tom Carter Toyota Celica DNF
O2L St Justin Hill/Jason Bailey Plymouth Sapporo DNF
U2L 2WD Gary English/Brian Paul Alfa Romeo GTV DNF
4WD 4WD Roger Hull/Sean Gallagher Eagle Talon DNS
SCCA Divisional Classes:
4WD = Four-Wheel-Drive
O2L = Over-Two-Litre
U2L = Under-Two-Litre
California Rally Series Classes:
4WD = Four Wheel Drive Open
2WD = Two Wheel Drive Open
St = Stock
PST = Performance Stock
Rim of the World Pro Rally
copyright 1996 by John P. M. Dillon
FRIDAY DIVISIONAL:
Rui Brasil and Carlos Tavares won the Friday divisional overall (and in 4WD) in an Audi Quattro. Brasil beamed, "It was a good feeling cause I'd been coming to Rim for so long and always had such bad luck." Last year he brought two cars to Rim (one for each divisional) and broke both. Meanwhile, Bill Holmes, who last rallied seven years ago, picked up navigator Brian Maxwell and drove their Ford Pickup to second overall (first in O2). What made the win more incredible was their lack of an odometer throughout the evening. Said Maxwell, "The odo died just a mile into the first transit, but fear is a good motivator."
David Peterson and Greg Chaloupka finished third (first in U2) in a VW GTI despite physical problems. "The toughest stage was the first stage, the asphalt," stated navigator Chaloupka. "I was terribly carsick." During that same stage, Peterson thought he'd flattened a tire after hitting a rock, so he let up on the pace, only to learn later it was not the case. Following them in a Mitsubishi Eclipse was Vartan Samuelian/Ara Manoukian to claim second in 4WD.
Another pickup, this one the Jeep of Jeff Hendricks and Noble Jones, crossed the line fifth overall (second in U2). Noble pointed out that "The rougher stages were better for us in a lot of cases, because the truck is tougher. On the other hand, 'tight' isn't to our advantage," but Rim has both characteristics in abundance. Hendricks added, "To finish first you must first finish," pointing out that the "service people, navigator, driver, truck, and all their pieces have to fit together" to cross the line in front.
Of 31 starters, only 21 cars finished, proving once again how rough and challenging the Rim of the World can be.
Rim of the World II
Coefficient 3 Divisional PRO Rally
May 4, 1996
Palmdale, CA
Div CRS
Fin Cls Cls Driver/Co-Driver Vehicle Time
1 O2L 2WD Bill Holmes/Brian Maxwell Ford F150 Pickup 1:44:34
2 4WD 4WD Dennis Chizma/John Forespring Mitsubishi 3000 1:47:37
3 4WD 4WD Rui Brasil/Carlos Tavares Audi Quattro 1:48:10
4 U2L 2WD David Peterson/Gregg Chaloupka VW GTi 1:48:13
5 U2L PSt Robert Tallini/Steve Scott Toyota Corolla 1:51:19
6 U2L PSt Jeff Hendricks/Noble Jones Jeep Commanche 1:51:57
7 O2L 2WD Ralph Kosmides/Joe Noyes Toyota Supra 1:53:38
8 4WD 4WD Ron Wood/Kelly Walsh Audi Quattro 1:53:42
9 4WD 4WD Roger Hull/Sean Gallagher Eagle Talon 1:54:37
10 U2L St Frank Paredes/Bill Staley Datsun 510 1:57:49
11 U2L St Bobby Webb/Tim Sardelich Datsun 510 1:58:34
12 U2L St Pete Morris/Eric Oyague Toyota Corolla 2:00:58
13 U2L 2WD Gary English/Brian Paul Alfa Romeo GTV 2:01:58
14 O2L 2WD Mick Kilpatrick/Chris Bradshaw Dodge Colt 2:02:48
15 O2L 2WD George Plsek/Mark Rathsam Saab 99 2:04:28
16 U2L PSt Harry Manku/R. Nyotta VW Scirocco 2:05:42
17 4WD 4WD Bob Pendergrass/Jon Weigley Chevrolet Blazer 2:10:24
18 O2L St Justin Hill/Tyler Rhodes Plymouth Sapporo 2:10:33
19 U2L St Gordon Swenson/Tom Carter Toyota Celica 2:23:58
4WD 4WD Janice Damitio/Amity Trowbridge Toyota Celica DNS
U2L PSt Lon Peterson/Bill Gutzmann Kia Sephia DNS
O2L 2WD Tony Chavez/John Elkin Mitsu Eclipse DNS
4WD 4WD Kurosh Jahromi/Erik Thompson Audi Quattro DNS
O2L 2WD Sam Bryan/Rob Walden Saab 900 DNF
U2L 2WD Bill Malik/Renn Phillips Volvo 240 DNF
4WD 4WD Vartan Samuelian/Ara Manoukian Mitsu Eclipse DNF
U2L 2WD Jose Soares/Luis Romero VW GTi DNF
4WD 4WD Ben Medeiros/T. Medeiros Mazda 323 GTX DNF
U2L 2WD Jose Pauletti/Colleen McKay Plymouth Arrow DNF
U2L St Lincoln Woodard/Claire Shelton Toyota Corolla DNF
U2L 2WD Doug Schrenk/Sean Tennis Saab 900 DNF
SCCA Divisional Classes:
4WD = Four-Wheel-Drive
O2L = Over-Two-Litre
U2L = Under-Two-Litre
California Rally Series Classes:
4WD = Four Wheel Drive Open
2WD = Two Wheel Drive Open
St = Stock
PST = Performance Stock
Rim of the World Pro Rally
copyright 1996 by John P. M. Dillon
SATURDAY DIVISIONAL:
On Saturday, Holmes and Maxwell used a newly-repaired odometer to overcome the entire field in their Ford pickup truck (classed as an O2). Dennis Chizma and John Forespring lumbered into second overall (winning 4WD) driving a heavily weighted Mitsubishi 3000 GT. "We added 400 lbs to the undercarriage for protection. Since it runs in a production class, you can't take out weight--you can only add it." The car tips the scales at about 4000 pounds.
Rui Brasil and Carlos Tavares, fresh from their Friday overall win, had to settle for third on Saturday (second in 4WD). "Today we lost the accelerator cable, so Carlos had to drive by our shoe strings on stage 8." They fashioned a new cable from their laces, then ran it through the passenger window for Tavares to operate, proving once again the rallying is a team sport.
As on Friday, David Peterson and Greg Chaloupka finished first in U2 (fourth overall) in their VW GTI. This time their problems were mechanical, not physical. Noted the navigator, "We'd been using a tire with a bubbling problem. David likes the tires because they grip well, but we were a little worried." The pair also had to contend with a driver's door which refused to remain shut.
Robert Tallini and Steve Scott drove a Corolla to second in U2, less than a minute ahead of Jeff Hendricks and Noble Jones in a Jeep pickup. Tallini has a reputation for "being crazy and impetuous" but he said "I'm maturing fast," claiming "We could have gone faster, but we played it safe and it paid off. Scott complimented the whole team, calling the support "tremendous." Tony LaArgo, their "crew chief pro temp under protest" reminded us to "Be sure to stress the importance of clean windshields." Clean or otherwise, only 19 of the 31 windshields saw the finish line. All the faces behind them, however, were looking forward to 1997 and another year at the Rim.