Palmdale, California -- Widget Rally Team principals John Dillon, Lauchlin O'Sullivan, and Tom Laeng thanked their newest crew members Chris and Tina Shields by sending them to rally school on Oct 27th. The school, hosted by the California Rally Series and sanctioned by the Sports Car Club of America, is designed to teach the basic skills of competing in a rally as well as providing extensive in-car training for both drivers and navigators. Chris put his new-found knowledge to good use by competing in the Fox Field RallyCross on Sunday and winning in the Open 4WD category, driving the Widget Team's Mitsubishi Eclipse.

Crew chief Laeng commented, "Chris really helped us out when we bought the Eclipse and has taken time from his busy schedule to help us get to rallies in Washington and Arizona. His enthusiasm and can-do attitude helped us to win at the Prescott Forest Rally."

Noted O'Sullivan, the team's driver, "Tom, Aaron, Chris, and all the rest of the crew really pulled together to make it possible for us to succeed in Arizona. Tom and John and I all agreed that it would be a nice thank you to Chris and Tina to pay their entry fees for the rally school and RallyCross and to let them use the rally car for the school." Dillon added, "For Chris to win the RallyCross is delicious icing on the cake... we're delighted he took his lessons to heart!"

The Eclipse returns to the hands of O'Sullivan and Dillon in mid-November when they challenge the roads above West Covina, CA at the Treeline Rally on November 17th. Following Treeline, the crew will take almost a month to refresh the car in preparation for the final rally of the season, the Ramada Express International Rally hosted in Laughlin, Nevada on Dec 14th-16th. The team finished third overall (first in PGT class) last year and hopes to do even better in the 2001 edition. Plans are still in development for the 2002 season as the team seeks additional sponsors and partners.