Merritt, British Columbia -- RSport Rally did not finish the 2003 Oregon Trail Pro Rally.

Subaru Rally Team USA driver Mark Lovell and co-driver Roger Freeman crashed and died instantly on stage one of the event. The loss has been felt throughout the world rally community. Everyone at RSport Rally would like to send their condolences to the families.

The balance of the event saw teams continue in tribute to Mark and Roger. RSport Rally driver Scott Trinder and navigator Robert Trinder were (unknowingly) leading the PGT class in the National portion of the rally when on the last stage they crashed out of the rally. "If you don’t crash every now and then your not trying, we were lucky to be OK and the car is in good shape,” says Scott. Throughout the event RSport Rally was listed in the results as being 2nd in class nationally. It was not’t until after the event that the car listed as 1st was shown as a club only competitor. "If we had the correct information we would have cruised to the finish for the PGT national win," says Bob.

The crash occurred due to a late stage note.

"The note read: 3R 50/C INTO 5R>3 By the time I heard tightens to 3 we were already at the crest and I had committed to the 5 right flat in 4th gear -- so I shifted down to 3rd hitting the rev limiter. We made it around the corner but upon exit still had the back wheels in the weeds. My door was heading straight for a big tree and just before the tree the rear of the car elevated sky-ward and we flew by the tree vertically just missing it. We rolled the car 3-4 times narrowly missing the tree, and somehow ended up 15 feet down an embankment on the other side of the tree. We landed in a very, very soft 6+-foot pile of downed rotten tree branches. The car came out unscathed, and needs just some right rear suspension components and a windshield. We drove the car out of the stage once it was winched onto the road. I would like to thank everyone involved in the effort to get the car back up on the road. " Says Scott.

RSport Rally continues to lead the Western Canadian Rally Championship in class. "We are still in the hunt for the Canadian National Rally Championship, and need to assess the remaining US events to determine our position in the North American Rally Championship," says Scott.

The next event for the team is TBA. RSport Rally would like to thank: RICHMOND AUTO BODY "we’ll see you guys next week!" Dragon Optical, SHIFT, Pacific Parts, TOTAL Autosport, Ad-Print "the decal people"