Tigard, OREGON -- While other teams wrenched on their cars over the winter and others scrambled to make the SnoDrift ProRally event in chilly Michigan, Primitive Racing gave their sponsors some exposure at major autoshows around the country.

The Primitive Racing Impreza USX spent 14 days in the Subaru booth at the huge Los Angeles Autoshow in early January. Hundreds of thousands of people and press passed through the gates of the show. Driver Paul Eklund and navigator Scott Huhn made personal appearances throughout the show and Hairpin Racing's Lee Shadbolt and Bob Sherman spent the entire show educating the public on rallying and the history of Subaru performance in America. Their green WRX conversion car sat right beside the 2002 Subaru WRX which arrives March 15th in the USA.

"The public really reacted positively to the new performance image that Subaru has begun to develop," said Eklund at a dinner for long-time Subaru and rally enthusiasts in LA. "We were surprised how many people knew about rallying and actually followed the US series on the Internet and occassional Speedvision broadcast. It was good to give our long-time sponsors like Taylor Made Labels, T-Scandia Motors of Tigard, Oregon, www.subaru.net and Royal Moore Subaru some additional exposure."

The LA Autoshow was filmed by Speedvision for a upcoming documentary event.

With rallying poised to become even more popular in America, the time is perfect to reflect how rally cars such as Shadbolt's and Eklund's have paved the way for the introduction of the new turbocharged WRX, and how Subaru is no stranger to the victory circle.

Eklund's screaming yellow rally car and Shadbolt's emerald green machine are currently on display at the Portland Autoshow giving their local sponsors a little boost. The show runs through Sunday. The cars make an appearance the week after at the Portland Sportsman's Show for 4 days. Subaru is popular with the outdoors crowd, which of course includes rally fanatics.

Primitive Racing has announced that they will be racing a new WRX beginning this summer. More details to follow in the upcoming months. "We are still looking for sponsors to make this endeavour a complete success," says team owner Eklund. "The car should be the darling of the ProRally circuit and get lots of press."

To get involved or simply for more information about Primitive or rallying, please contact Paul Eklund at (503) 624-2139 or email at: PaulEklund@aol.com

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