Doo Wop PRO Rally
Round #1, 1998 Michelin PRO Rally Championship
MEDIA_ALERT
Event: 1998 Doo Wop PRO Rally, round #1 of the 1998 Michelin PRO Rally
Championship. Race cars from around the country will compete at
high speeds on the challenging forest roads through the Capitol
Forest and in the Montesano City Forest in Olympia/Aberdeen areas of
Washington State.
When: Saturday and Sunday, March 14 and 15
Schedule:
Saturday (all times Pacific Standard)
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM - Registration, Tech inspection - PDE Auto
Body, Olympia, Wash.
11:00 AM - First car starts - PDE Auto Body, Olympia, Wash.
5:58 PM - First car finishes - PBE Auto Body. Olympia, Wash.
Sunday
11:00 AM - First car starts, PDE Auto Body, Olympia, Wash.
5:02 PM - First car finishes, Oakville Grange
6:30 PM - Awards, Oakville Grange
Where: Rally headquarters will be at PDE Auto Body, in Olympia
(360) 352-5888. On Saturday and Sunday morning, rally information
will and instructions on where to view the event will be available.
Duration: 84.16 stage miles, 240 total miles, 10 stages (combined two days).
Rank: Coefficient 2 Divisional PRO Rally (Sat.) and coefficient 1 (Sun.) in
which drivers and co-drivers with national competition licenses can
score points towards the national championship. National points will
be awarded with a multiplier of .6 (first place finishers, normally
awarded 20 points, will receive 12 points - no national starting
points/no manufacturers point). Those competing only in the
Divisional competition will be skipped over in the overall
computation of national points. Presented by the Northwest Region
of the Sports Car Club of America. The National PRO Rally series is
sponsored by Michelin Tire Corporation and is sanctioned by the
Sports Car Club of America.
Interviews: Drivers will be available at the times and locations mentioned
above in the schedule. Phone number at PDE Auto Body is (360)
352-5888. If there are questions, or if national results are
needed via fax or e-mail, call Andy Schupack at (401) 739-5677.
Expected Top National Entries:
Paul Choiniere, seven-time defendingnational champion, in season debut
with 1997 4WD Hyundai Tiburon; Carl Merrill, in North America's fastest
rally car - 410 h.p. Ford Escort Cosworth 4WD; Rui Brasil, Open class
Audi Quattro S-2 - brand new car/won Doo Wop II last month; Janice
Damitio, Production GT Toyota Celica All-trac, missed national
championship by only a few points in '95 - won Doo Wops I last month;
Ralph Kosmides, in '92 Supra as brand new Group 5 Toyota Supra is not
ready - finished a close second in '96 Group 5 title chase; Sam Bryan,
Boeing engineer, in the fastest Saab 900 in the country/Group 5 champion
in '97; Lee Shadbolt - held first place most of '97 in Production
GT - in a Subaru Impreza.
Visuals:
There will be escorts to take photographers and video crews onto
the course on Saturday and Sunday.
Media Info:
We will provide phone-ins on event information, driver
interviews, and results. We will fax stories and agate
Saturday and Sunday. We have B-roll available for TV.
Contact: Andy Schupack - Michelin PRO Rally Championship
national media liaison:
(401) 739-5677
Ray Damitio - Event organizer
(360) 352-5888
# # #
HOW A PRO RALLY WORKS:
Each team consists of a driver and a co-driver (or navigator), and the
exact course is kept secret until just before the event - different from
World Rally, where practice and course notes are allowed). The cars start
at one-minute intervals and race against the clock over 10 stages
(competition course consisting of closed public roads) which range in length
from four to 25 miles. Most of the rallies include night stages, making it
necessary for competitors to adjust their driving style. Speeds of more
than 120 miles-per-hour could be reached on long straight-aways, with the
team going the fastest over the competition course winning the rally.
For Immediate Release Contact: Andy Schupack (401) 739-5677
MICHELIN PRO RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP STARTS '98 SEASON WITH WASHINGTON'S
DOO WOP EVENT; CHOINIERE EYES CAR OWNER BUFFUM'S CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- March 10 -- The 1997 Michelin PRO Rally Championship
season kicks off its 26th season this weekend, March 14 - 15, with the
running of the Doo Wops III and IV PRO Rally in Olympia, Washington, and
PRO Rally's main man - Paul Choiniere - has his eyes on the record book.
Only his car owner (and step-father) John Buffum shares Choiniere's six
straight championships performance, and Paul - along with co-driver Jeff
Becker - would love to make it seven in a row. Choiniere and Becker, who
won the Doo Wops III & IV event last year in their Hyundai Tiburon 4WD -
one of five events they won on the way to the '97 title - are the overall
favorites for this year's rally as well.
Challenging Choiniere will be the 410 h.p. Carl Merrill/Lance Smith Ford
Escort Cosworth, winner of the Susquehannock Trail event last year in
Pennsylvania, and contender for the crown until electrical problems put
him out of the hunt in Minnesota last summer.
Rui Brasil, a Portuguese-born racer now living in San Jose, Calif.,
will also be in the hunt with his new Audi Quattro S-2, which won one of
the Doo Wop divisional events last month. Rui, always at top three
threat, replaced his older Quattro with an new S-2 over the winter.
The event, which leaves PDE Auto Body in Olympia (in the Capitol Auto
Mall) on Saturday morning, March 14, will run approximately 85 racing
miles over 10 different stages through the Capitol and Montesano City
forests between Olympia and Aberdeen.
In a PRO Rally, each team consists of a driver and a co-driver (or
navigator), and the exact course is kept secret until just before the
event - different from World Rally, where practice is allowed. The cars
start at one-minute intervals and race against the clock over 10 stages
which range in length from four to 25 miles. The racing stages, closed
forest roads in the Capitol and Montesano City forests, present a variety
of conditions challenging to the drivers.
Most of the rallies include night stages, making it necessary for
competitors to adjust their driving style. Speeds of more than 120 miles-
per-hour could be reached on long straight-aways, with the team achieving
the fastest combined times winning the event.
Besides the fastest, overall competitors, there are less exotic cars
running in different classes which allow less modifications. The cars
mentioned above are all highly-modified racers - most with 4WD and
turbocharging, while various Production classes allow very few changes to
the stock vehicles driven on the street. All PRO Rally cars have safety
equipment including aircraft-style safety harnesses, roll cages, and fire
extinguishers.
In some of the other classes, defending national Group 5 champion Sam
Bryan is the favorite in his factory-sponsored Saab 900 turbo. Bryan, a
Boeing engineer, also won the Group 2 championship in 1995 in a 2WD
Saab 900. Ralph Kosmides/Joe Noyes, also a Northwest-based team, will
challenge Bryan in a Group 5 Toyota Supra. The Group 5 class, the two-
wheel-drive version of the Open class (cars over 2.4-liters adjusted
displacement, but with open engine, transmission and suspension options),
are not quite as fast as the Open cars, but will finish well overall in
this event.
The other top contenders are in the Production GT class, which allows
turbocharging and four-wheel-drive, but limited suspension and almost no
engine modifications. Oregon's Lee Shadbolt lead the class for much of
the season in '97, only to miss out on the championship when he rolled his
car last fall in Arizona. Challenging Shadbolt will be local favorites -
Janice Damitio from Montesano and co-driver Amity Trowbridge, whose Toyota
Celica 4WD won one of the Doo Wop divisionals last month.
The other two classes include Group 2 - modified 2WD cars with
displacements less than 2.4 liters - and the Production class, in which
vehicles must be completely stock except for the roll bar and safety
equipment.
Racing fans who want to watch the rally action should pick up observer
instructions from PDE Auto Body on Saturday morning, or call PDE t (360)
352-5888 for additional information. As always, all the rally activities
are free of charge (schedule follows this release).
The Michelin PRO Rally Championship is not only a contest of who is the
best driver on forest roads, at high speed in the middle of the night, but
also a competition between car preparers and manufacturers. Competitors
whose car is sturdily built and who can avoid damaging off-course
excursions into trees or ditches, stand a chance of winning.
Tires play an important part in a winning rally effort. They must be
equally reliable on many driving surfaces; the asphalt of the transit
roads that rallyists traverse to get to the competition stages, as well as
varying conditions on the competition stages themselves. Stages, many of
which are unpaved, can change from sandy to clay to gravel in the space of
a few hundred feet. Sometimes rain will turn a perfectly ordinary dirt
road into a quagmire within minutes.
Most of the top competitors will be using specially constructed Michelin
Pilot High Performance XGT Rally tires, which not only come in various
compounds for different road surfaces, but have rugged carcass and
sidewall designs to resist puncturing under the stressful rally
conditions. The tire company sponsors the series to promote one of the
fastest growing motorsports in the country as well as its Pilot line of
high performance street tires.
Michelin, which brought the radial tire to the world more than 50 years
ago, is the world's largest tire company. It has 19 plants in North
America and produces tires to fit every type of vehicle, from bicycles to
the Space Shuttle.
The 1998 Michelin PRO Rally Championship consists of eight events, and is
sponsored by Michelin Tire Corporation, and sanctioned by the Sports Car
Club of America (SCCA). The 1998 Doo Wops PRO Rally is presented by the
Northwest Region, SCCA. PRO Rally information, as well as scores,
updates, membership, or other SCCA material can be found on the SCCA web
site at .
# # #
Round #1 - 1998 Michelin PRO Rally Championship
Doo Wops III & IV PRO Rally - Olympia, Washington
Preliminary Entry List - 3/10/99
Start Car Driver/ Co-Driver/ Make/Model/Class/
Pos. No. Hometown Hometown Division/Tires
----- ---- ------------------ ----------------- -------------------
1 Paul Choiniere Jeff Becker Hyundai Tiburon/Open
Shelburne, VT Great Neck, NY National/Michelin
3 Carl Merrill Lance Smith Ford Escort Cosworth/Open
Ogunquit, ME S. Burlington, VT National/Michelin
900 Sam Bryan Rob Walden Saab 900 Turbo/Group 5
Kent, WA Seattle, WA National/Michelin
Ralph Kosmides Joe Noyes Toyota Supra/Group 5
Newport Beach, CA Seattle, WA Nat./Div./Michelin
Rui Brasil Carlos Tavares Audi Quattro S-2/Open
San Jose, CA San Jose, CA Nat./Div./Michelin
17 Janice Damitio Amity Trowbridge Toyota Celica GTS/PGT
Montesano, WA Seattle, WA Nat./Div./Michelin
Tim Paterson Joel Wright Mazda 323GTX/04
Redmond, WA Seattle, WA Div.
Garen Shrader Doc Shrader Ford Sierra Cosworth/Open
West Memphis, AK West Memphis, AK National/Michelin
Todd Hartmann Kirk Knestis VW GTI/U2
Issaquah, WA Seattle, WA Div.
Dave White David Watts VW GTI/Group 2
Benicia, CA Carson City, NV Nat./Div./Michelin
John Lane Scott Huhn Volvo 262/02
Bellevue, WA Seattle, WA Div.
Jake Dekovic Katie Callahan Mazda 323/02
Lynnwood, WA Seattle, WA Div.
John Forespring Chris Forespring Ford Mustang/Group 5
Olympia, WA Olympia, WA Nat.Div./Michelin
Nate Tennis Nat Stowe Saab 99EMS/U2
Seattle, WA Carnation, WA Div.
Simon LeVear Kevin Poirrer Datsun 510/U2
Tigard, OR Ranier, OR Div.
Scott Fuller Ben Bradley VW GTI/Group 2
Eugene, OR Portland, OR Nat./Div./Michelin
Shawn Callahan Jim Hake VW Scirocco/U2
Rochester, WA Seattle, WA Div.
Chris Koube John Allen Mazda RX-7/02
Milwaukie, OR Portland, OR Div.
79 Lee Shadbolt Paul Eklund Subaru Impreza/PGT
Tigard, OR Tigard, OR National/Michelin
Kirk Simons TBA Dodge Omni/U2
Bothell, WA Div.
Karen Burrows Sean Gallagher Mitsubishi Galant VR4/PGT
Tempe, AZ Santa Ana, CA Nat./Div.
Bob Reaves Tammy Reaves Mazda RX-3/O2
North Bend, OR North Bend, OR Div.
Todd Lengacher Tina Warner Datsun B-210/U2
Beaverton, OR Beaverton, OR Div.
Kendall Russell Catherine Roso Dodge Shadow/PGT
Knoxville, TN Portland, OR National/Michelin
Noah Third Jason Lane VW Rabbit/U2
Anthony Dienstel Bryant Alden Datsun 510/U2
Brad Bliven Jon Molotte Toyota Celica/U2
Round #1 - 1998 Michelin PRO Rally Championship
Doo Wops III & IV PRO Rally - Olympia, Washington
Preliminary Entry List/Start Order - 3/13/98 - 11:00 PM
Start Car Driver/ Co-Driver/ Make/Model/Class/
Pos. No. Hometown Hometown Division/Tires
1 1 Paul Choiniere Jeff Becker Hyundai Tiburon/Open
Shelburne, VT Great Neck, NY National/Michelin
2 3 Carl Merrill Lance Smith Ford Escort Cosworth/Open
Ogunquit, ME S. Burlington, VT National/Michelin
3 Rui Brasil Carlos Tavares Audi Quattro S-2/Open
San Jose, CA San Jose, CA National/Michelin
4 Ralph Kosmides Joe Noyes Toyota Supra/Group 5
Newport Beach, CA Seattle, WA Nat./Div./Michelin
5 Sam Bryan Mark Simons Audi Quattro/Open
Seattle, WA Seattle, WA National/Michelin
6 17 Janice Damitio Amity Trowbridge Toyota All-trac/Prod.GT
Montesano, WA Seattle, WA Nat./Div./Michelin
7 Doug Schrenk Dave Schrenk Saab 900/02
Seattle, WA Seattle, WA Divisional
8 Tim Paterson Joel Wright Mazda 323GTX/04
Redmond, WA Seattle, WA Divisional
9 Dave White W. David Watts VW GTI/Group 2
Benicia, CA Carson City, NV Nat./Div./Michelin
10 Todd Hartmann Kirk Knestis VW GTI/U2
Issaquah, WA Seattle, WA Divisional
11 Vance Walker Karen Laylor Mazda RX-3/02
Divisional
12 John Lane Scott Huhn Volvo 262/02
Bellevue, WA Seattle, WA Divisional
13 George Plsek Mark Rathsam Saab 99 Turbo/Group 5
Del Mar, CA San Diego, CA Nat./Div./Michelin
14 22 Jake Dekovic Katie Callahan Mazda 323GTX/02
Lynnwood, WA Seattle, WA Divisional
15 Garen Schrader Doc Schrader Mitsubishi Galant/Open
West Memphis, AK West Memphis, AK National/Michelin
16 10 Scott Fuller Ben Bradley VW GTI/Group 2
Eugene, OR Portland, OR Nat./Div./Michelin
17 49 Shawn Callahan Jim Hake VW Scirocco/U2
Rochester, WA Seattle, WA Divisional
18 27 Karen Burrows Sean Gallagher Mitsubishi Galant/Prod. GT
Mesa, AZ Santa Ana, CA Nat./Div./Michelin
19 33 Kirk Simons Geof Case Dodge Omni/U2
Bothell, WA Divisional
20 Kendall Russell Catherine Roso Dodge Shadow/Prod. GT
Knoxville, TN Portland, OR National/Michelin
21 38 Todd Lengacher Tina Warner Datsun B-210/U2
Beaverton, OR Beaverton, OR Divisional
22 48 Simon LeVear Kevin Poirrer Datsun 510/U2
Tigard, OR Ranier, WA Divisional
23 34 John Forespring Jiselle Waterhouse Ford Mustang/Group 5
Olympia, Wa Olympia, WA Nat./Div.
24 Neville Green TBA Merkur XR4Ti/02
Olympia, WA Divisional
25 Rick Hintz Doug Chase Datsun 240Z/02
Divisional
26 44 Nate Tennis Nat Stowe Saab 99EMS/U2
Seattle, WA Carnation, WA Divisional
27 Noah Third Jason Lane VW Rabbit/U2
Divisional
28 Chris Kouba John Allen Mazda RX-7/02
Milwaukie, OR Portland, OR Divisional
29 79 Lee Shadbolt Paul Eklund Subaru Impreza/Prod. GT
Tigard, OR Tigard, OR National/Michelin
30 68 Bob Reaves Tammy Reaves Mazda RX-3/02
North Bend, OR North Bend, OR Divisional
31 Trevor Donison Eric Schild Plymouth Neon/Production
Nat./Div./Michelin
32 Anthony Dienstel Bryant Alden Datsun 510/U2
Divisional
33 Greg Lingelbach Steven Andrews Dodge Colt/U2
Divisional
34 John Elkin TBA Mitsubishi Pick-up/Prod.
Portland, OR Nat./Div./Toyo
# # #
Doo Wops III & IV PRO Rally
Olympia, Washington
March 14 - 15, 1998
Press Notes #1 - March 13 - 11:00 PM
1. A new season - PRO Rally's 26th - begins in Olympia,
Washington with the running of the Doo Wops III & IV PRO
Rally, round #1 of the Michelin PRO Rally Championship.
The season was supposed to start last month at the
SNO*Drift PRO rally in Atlanta, Michigan, but warm, wet
weather caused the road conditions to be unacceptable,
forcing cancellation.
2. With only seven events on the '98 schedule, and
championship points being awarded for the best six
finishes, each event takes on additional significance.
Doo Wops will be the only divisional event at which
national license-holders can score national points (60
percent points will be awards with no starting points -
first place receives 12 points, with 9, 7.2, 6.0, 4.8,
3.6, 2.4, 1.8, 1.2, and 0.6 points awarded respectively
for the top 10 national finishers in each class as well
as overall).
3. The top two overall contenders for the 1998 Michelin PRO
Rally Championship are entered in this event - the
defending champions Paul Choiniere/Jeff Becker in their
Hyundai Tiburon and Carl Merrill/Lance Smith in the Ford
Escort Cosworth. Other Open class competitors for the
weekend include:
--The Rui Brasil/Carlos Tavaras Audi Quattro S-2, an new
entry for '98, started the season by winning one of the
Doo Wop divisional events in February.
--Sam Bryan, the defending national champion driver in
Group 5, will be driving Mark Simon's Audi Quattro
with Simon in the navigator's seat. With Bryan being
transferred to England this spring by his employer,
Boeing, and Saab USA uncertain about '98 factory
support, the championship Group 5 Saab 900 turbo has
been parked for now.
--Garen and Doc Shrader, who have spent the winter
building a Ford Sierra Cosworth, could not quite
complete the project for this event (they will be ready
for Wild West next month), but they have entered Rob
Hansen's Mitsubishi Galant. This car, built by
Vermont Sports Car and driven to a Coachman Stages PRO
Rally overall win by Tim O'Neal in 1992, has been
upgraded from Production GT to Open since O'Neal drove
it.
# # #
Round #1 - 1998 Michelin PRO Rally Championship
Doo Wops III & IV PRO Rally - Olympia, Washington
Entry List/Start Order - Day #1 (3/14/98 - 11:00 AM PST)
Start Car Driver/ Co-Driver/ Make/Model/Class/
Pos. No. Hometown Hometown Division/Tires
1 1 Paul Choiniere Jeff Becker Hyundai Tiburon/Open
Shelburne, VT Great Neck, NY National/Michelin
2 3 Carl Merrill Lance Smith Ford Escort Cosworth/Open
Ogunquit, ME S. Burlington, VT National/Michelin
3 41 Rui Brasil Carlos Tavares Audi Quattro S-2/Open
San Jose, CA San Jose, CA National/Michelin
4 11 Ralph Kosmides Joe Noyes Toyota Supra/Group 5
Newport Beach, CA Seattle, WA Nat./Div./Michelin
5 4 Sam Bryan Mark Simons Audi Quattro/Open
Seattle, WA Seattle, WA National/Michelin
6 17 Janice Damitio Amity Trowbridge Toyota All-trac/Prod.GT
Montesano, WA Seattle, WA Nat./Div./Michelin
7 18 Doug Schrenk Dave Schrenk Saab 900/02
Seattle, WA Seattle, WA Divisional
8 111 Tim Paterson Joel Wright Mazda 323GTX/04
Redmond, WA Seattle, WA Divisional
9 58 Dave White W. David Watts VW GTI/Group 2
Benicia, CA Carson City, NV Nat./Div./Michelin
10 2 Todd Hartmann Kirk Knestis VW GTI/U2
Issaquah, WA Seattle, WA Divisional
11 47 Vance Walker Karen Laylor Mazda RX-3/02
Newberg, OR Newberg, WA Divisional
12 26 John Lane Scott Huhn Volvo 262/02
Bellevue, WA Seattle, WA Divisional
13 12 George Plsek Mark Rathsam Saab 99 Turbo/Group 5
Del Mar, CA San Diego, CA Nat./Div./Michelin
14 22 Jake Dekovic Katie Callahan Mazda 323GTX/02
Lynnwood, WA Seattle, WA Divisional
15 14 Garen Schrader Doc Schrader Mitsubishi Galant/Open
West Memphis, AK West Memphis, AK National/Michelin
16 10 Scott Fuller Ben Bradley VW GTI/Group 2
Eugene, OR Portland, OR Nat./Div./Michelin
17 49 Shawn Callahan Jim Hake VW Scirocco/U2
Rochester, WA Seattle, WA Divisional
18 27 Karen Burrows Sean Gallagher Mitsubishi Galant/Prod. GT
Mesa, AZ Santa Ana, CA Nat./Div./Michelin
19 33 Kirk Simons Geof Case Dodge Omni/U2
Bothell, WA Standwood, WA Divisional
20 30 Kendall Russell Catherine Roso Dodge Shadow/Prod. GT
Knoxville, TN Portland, OR National/Michelin
21 31 Monte Horn Jack Horn Datsun 510/U2
Olympia, WA Olympia, WA Divisional
22 46 Michael Leonard Leon Owens Saab 99 turbo/O2
Bothell, WA Tacoma, WA
23 38 Todd Lengacher Tina Warner Datsun B-210/U2
Beaverton, OR Beaverton, OR Divisional
24 48 Simon LeVear Kevin Poirrer Datsun 510/U2
Tigard, OR Ranier, WA Divisional
25 34 John Forespring Jiselle Waterhouse Ford Mustang/Group 5
Olympia, Wa Olympia, WA Nat./Div.
26 52 Neville Green TBA Merkur XR4Ti/02
Olympia, WA Divisional
27 53 Rick Hintz Doug Chase Datsun 240Z/02
Spring Valley, CA Everett, WA Divisional
28 44 Nate Tennis Nat Stowe Saab 99EMS/U2
Seattle, WA Carnation, WA Divisional
29 76 Noah Third Jason Lane VW Rabbit/U2
N. Vancouver, BC Burneby, BC Divisional
30 76 Chris Kouba John Allen Mazda RX-7/02
Milwaukie, OR Portland, OR Divisional
31 79 Lee Shadbolt Paul Eklund Subaru Impreza/Prod. GT
Tigard, OR Tigard, OR National/Michelin
32 68 Bob Reaves Tammy Reaves Mazda RX-3/02
North Bend, OR North Bend, OR Divisional
33 21 Trevor Donison Eric Schild Plymouth Neon/Production
Vancouver, WA Olympia, WA Nat./Div./Michelin
34 63 Anthony Dienstel Bryant Alden Datsun 510/U2
Portland, OR Gresham, OR Divisional
35 98 Greg Lingelbach Steven Andrews Dodge Colt/U2
Portland, OR Battle Ground, WA Divisional
36 77 John Elkin Tim Dutton Mitsubishi Pick-up/Prod.
Portland, OR Kirkland, WA Nat./Div./Toyo
# # #
Doo Wops III & IV PRO Rally
Olympia, Washington
March 14 - 15, 1998
Press Notes #2 - March 14 - 8:00 AM
4. As we begin the '98 season, we have news about other
competitors not here this weekend:
--Henry Joy, as previously announced, will not be running
for the championship, but has committed to run his
Mitsubishi Lancer at Rim of the World in May and the
Lake Superior event in October. Joy, who also resigned
his position on the PRO Rally Board, hopes to return to
the series in the year 2000.
--The Mike Whitman/Paula Gibeault Ford Sierra Cosworth
will make its season debut at the STPR event in early
June.
--The Metro Rallye Sport Toyota Celica Group 5 car, which
Bruce Newey and Matt Chester piloted to a close second
place last year, has an uncertain future. The car will
definitely not appear until at least STPR.
--Selcuk Karamanoglu, 1994 and 1996 Production GT
champion (and winner of Doo Wops III & IV in 1996),
hopes to join the Michelin PRO Rally fray latter this
year if he can secure sponsorship. Selcuk and co-
driver Tony Lumino ran an abbreviated season last year
in Selcuk's Open class Eagle Talon.
5. There is no new news from the ESPN2 front. As of early
this week, Replica Production, of Cambridge, Mass., was
still planning to produce all six national events for
airing on The Deuce, and airdates wil be announced
pending finalization of sponsorships.
6. 36 cars marks the largest entry ever for Doo
Wops III & IV, breaking last year's record of 34 entries.
The breakdown looks like this: 16 national cars and 27
divisional entries (some cars are running both).
Congratulations to organizer Ray Damitio and his
committee for attracting such a fine field. Many of the
national drivers will leave their cars in the Olympia
area for next month's Little Creek Casino Wild West PRO
Rally.
7. For those who missed them, the March issue of
ROAD & TRACK has a PRO Rally feature from the Maine
Forest Winter Rally, while the April issue of SPORT
COMPACT CAR has a season wrap-up for the '97 PRO Rally
campaign. Andy Schupack is currently compiling a list of
all the clippings which ran in 1997, along with
circulation and exposure numbers. They should be
available next week from Andy via return e-mail at
<andrew_schupack@compuserve.com>.
# # #
Doo Wops III & IV PRO Rally
Olympia, Washington
March 14 - 15, 1998
Press Notes #3 - March 15 - 9:00 AM
8. Although we don't have any stage times or results from
Saturday's rallying (Doo Wops III), we do know that the
Paul Choiniere/Jeff Becker Hyundai Elantra is out in
front by a wide margin over the Ford Escort Cosworth of
Carl Merrill/Lance Smith with six of ten stages
completed.
9. Again, with details to follow, we can report the
following cars did not finish the day's event. With
tomorrow's stages (Doo Wop IV) counting as a separate
divisional, anyone who can fix their car (divisional
entries) overnight will probably start Sunday.
Rui Brasil/Carlos Tavares Audi Quattro S-2/Open - lost a wheel on stage #2.
Sam Bryan/Mark Simons Audi Quattro/Open - out.
Doug Schrenk/Dave Schrenk/Saab 900/02 - out.
Tim Paterson/Joel Wright Mazda 323GTX/04 - did not start.
Kirk Simons/Geof Case Dodge Omni/U2 - out/engine.
Simon LeVear/Kevin Poirrer Datsun 510/U2 - ran off the road/towed out.
John Forespring/Jiselle Waterhouse Ford Mustang/Group 5 - broke shock/
Ms. Waterhouse DNS due to illness.
Neville Green/TBA Merkur XR4Ti/02 - out.
Rick Hintz/Doug Chase Datsun 240Z/02 - out.
Noah Third/Jason Lane VW Rabbit/U2 - out.
Chris Kouba/John Allen Mazda RX-7/02 - out.
We'll report scores and details as soon as we get them.
10. We mentioned the SPORT COMPACT CAR season summary in an earlier press
note. Despite what you read, it is not true that the Production class
is being eliminated after this year.
Everyone involved apologizes for the error.
# # #
Doo Wops III & IV PRO Rally
Olympia, Washington
March 14 - 15, 1998
Press Notes #4 - March 16 - 1:00 AM
11. The Doo Wops III & IV PRO Rally is over, and the defending
national champions - Paul Choiniere and Jeff Becker - cruised to
a six-minute win in the first event of the 1998 Michelin PRO
Rally championship.
The challenge that was supposed to come from the Carl
Merrill/Lance Smith Ford Escort Cosworth and the Rui
Brasil/Carlos Tavares Audi Quattro S-2 never materialized,
as Rui broke a wheel on Saturday and Merrill had turbo problems.
Although Brasil was a DNF in the national, he came back on Sunday
to win the divisional event (Doo Wops IV). Merrill finished a
distant fourth in the national event.
Second overall and winner in Group 2 was the Dave White/W. David
Watts VW GTI, which contended for the Group 2 title last year
with a couple of class wins. Third overall was also a Group 2
car - the local entry of Scott Fuller and Ben Bradley in Fuller's
VW GTI.
Other class winners included the new twin-turbo Toyota Supra of
Ralph Kosmides/Joe Noyes (Group 5); Lee Shadbolt/Paul Eklund in a
Subaru Impreza (Production GT); and, in his first national event,
former co-driver John Elkin with Tim Dutton in a Mitsubishi Pick-
up (Production).
Significant DNF's included Rui Brasil (mentioned above); Sam
Bryan/Mark Simons in an Audi Quattro (engine); and Garen
Shrader/Doc Shrader in Rob Hansen's Mitsubishi Galant
(transmission). Janice Damitio/Amity Trowbridge, who were in the
top five in their Toyota All-trac after Saturday night, went off
the road during Sunday's first stage and finished way back in the
pack.
In the divisional events, Doo Wop III (Saturday) went to the
O2 Mazda RX-3 team of Vance Walker/Karen Laylor, which beat the
Dave White/David Watts team by 19 seconds - although White/Watts
won the U2 class. Damitio/Trowbridge were third overall and
first in 4WD. On Sunday, as we already mentioned, Rui
Brasil/Carlos Tavares ruled the roost, with Walker second (again
winning 02) and White third (again winning U2).
Results will follow. Anyone wanting stages times can reply by
return e-mail and we can fax them to you - just give us your fax
number.
# # #
Round #1 - 1998 Michelin PRO Rally Championship
Doo Wops III & IV PRO Rally - Olympia, Washington
Final National Results
Car Driver/ Co-Driver/ Make/Model/Class/
No. Hometown Hometown Division/Tires/Time
1 Paul Choiniere Jeff Becker Hyundai Tiburon/Open
Shelburne, VT Great Neck, NY National/Michelin/1:29:20
58 Dave White W. David Watts VW GTI/Group 2
Benicia, CA Carson City, NV Nat./Div./Michelin/1:35:49
10 Scott Fuller Ben Bradley VW GTI/Group 2
Eugene, OR Portland, OR Nat./Div./Michelin/1:37:16
3 Carl Merrill Lance Smith Ford Escort Cosworth/Open
Ogunquit, ME S. Burlington, VT National/Michelin/1:37:53
11 Ralph Kosmides Joe Noyes Toyota Supra/Group 5
Newport Beach, CA Seattle, WA Nat./Div./Michelin/1:38:44
26 John Lane Scott Huhn Volvo 262/Group 5
Bellevue, WA Seattle, WA Nat./Div./Michelin/1:40:13
49 Shawn Callahan Jim Hake VW Scirocco/Group 2
Rochester, WA Seattle, WA Nat./Div./Michelin/1:42:17
79 Lee Shadbolt Paul Eklund Subaru Impreza/Prod. GT
Tigard, OR Tigard, OR National/Michelin/1:47:23
27 Karen Burrows Sean Gallagher Mitsubishi Galant/Prod. GT
Mesa, AZ Santa Ana, CA Nat./Div./Michelin/1:55:18
77 John Elkin Tim Dutton Mitsubishi Pick-up/Prod.
Portland, OR Kirkland, WA Nat./Div./BFGoodrich/1:58:51
21 Trevor Donison Eric Schild Plymouth Neon/Production
Vancouver, WA Olympia, WA Nat./Div./Michelin/1:59:43
30 Kendall Russell Catherine Roso Dodge Shadow/Prod. GT
Knoxville, TN Portland, OR National/Michelin/2:00:54
17 Janice Damitio Amity Trowbridge Toyota All-trac/Open
Montesano, WA Seattle, WA Nat./Div./Michelin/2:06:39
12 George Plsek Mark Rathsam Saab 99 Turbo/Group 5
Del Mar, CA San Diego, CA Nat./Div./Michelin/2:28:01
# # #
Did Not Finish
41 Rui Brasil Carlos Tavares Audi Quattro S-2/Open
San Jose, CA San Jose, CA Broke a wheel
4 Sam Bryan Mark Simons Audi Quattro/Open
Seattle, WA Seattle, WA Engine problems
14 Garen Schrader Doc Schrader Mitsubishi Galant/Open
West Memphis, AK West Memphis, AK Transmission
52 Neville Green Chuck Wiles Merkur XR4Ti/02
Olympia, WA Olympia, WA Mechanical
18 Doug Schrenk Dave Schrenk Saab 900/02
Seattle, WA Seattle, WA Mechanical
# # #
Note: Divisional-only competitors are not included in the national
standings, and do not earn national points. Competitors with a
national license receive 60 percent of points awarded for a full
national, but no starting points.
Doo Wops III Final Results - Olympia, Washington
(Saturday)
Car Driver/ Co-Driver/ Make/Model/Class/
No. Hometown Hometown Division/Time
47 Vance Walker Karen Laylor Mazda RX-3/02
Newberg, OR Newberg, WA Divisional/57:49
58 Dave White W. David Watts VW GTI/U2
Benicia, CA Carson City, NV Nat./Div./58:08
17 Janice Damitio Amity Trowbridge Toyota All-trac/4WD
Montesano, WA Seattle, WA Nat./Div./58:16
10 Scott Fuller Ben Bradley VW GTI/U2
Eugene, OR Portland, OR Nat./Div./59:25
11 Ralph Kosmides Joe Noyes Toyota Supra/02
Newport Beach, CA Seattle, WA Nat./Div./1:00:10
14 Garen Schrader Doc Schrader Mitsubishi Galant/4WD
West Memphis, AK West Memphis, AK Nat./Div./1:01:00
26 John Lane Scott Huhn Volvo 262/02
Bellevue, WA Seattle, WA Nat./Div./1:01:54
49 Shawn Callahan Jim Hake VW Scirocco/U2
Rochester, WA Seattle, WA Nat./Div./1:02:29
38 Todd Lengacher Tina Warner Datsun B-210/U2
Beaverton, OR Beaverton, OR Divisional/1:03:01
46 Michael Leonard Leon Owens Saab 99 turbo/O2
Bothell, WA Tacoma, WA Divisional/1:03:04
68 Bob Reaves Tammy Reaves Mazda RX-3/02
North Bend, OR North Bend, OR Divisional/1:03:17
22 Jake Dekovic Katie Callahan Mazda 323GTX/02
Lynnwood, WA Seattle, WA Divisional/1:03:20
31 Monte Horn Jack Horn Datsun 510/U2
Olympia, WA Olympia, WA Divisional/1:03:20
2 Todd Hartmann Kirk Knestis VW GTI/U2
Issaquah, WA Seattle, WA Divisional/1:03:50
12 George Plsek Mark Rathsam Saab 99 Turbo/02
Del Mar, CA San Diego, CA Nat./Div./1:03:51
79 Lee Shadbolt Paul Eklund Subaru Impreza/4WD
Tigard, OR Tigard, OR Nat./Div./1:05:29
44 Nate Tennis Nat Stowe Saab 99EMS/U2
Seattle, WA Carnation, WA Divisional/1:08:43
27 Karen Burrows Sean Gallagher Mitsubishi Galant/4WD
Mesa, AZ Santa Ana, CA Nat./Div./1:09:20
63 Anthony Dienstel Bryant Alden Datsun 510/U2
Portland, OR Gresham, OR Divisional/1:12:00
98 Greg Lingelbach Steven Andrews Dodge Colt/U2
Portland, OR Battle Ground, WA Divisional/1:12:20
21 Trevor Donison Eric Schild Plymouth Neon/U2
Vancouver, WA Olympia, WA Nat./Div./1:14:46
30 Kendall Russell Catherine Roso Dodge Shadow/02
Knoxville, TN Portland, OR National/1:14:36
77 John Elkin Tim Dutton Mitsubishi Pick-up/U2
Portland, OR Kirkland, WA Nat./Div./1:15:17
# # #
Did Not Finish
41 Rui Brasil Carlos Tavares Audi Quattro S-2/4wd
San Jose, CA San Jose, CA Nat./Div.
18 Doug Schrenk Dave Schrenk Saab 900/02
Seattle, WA Seattle, WA Nat./Div.
33 Kirk Simons Geof Case Dodge Omni/U2
Bothell, WA Standwood, WA Divisional
48 Simon LeVear Kevin Poirrer Datsun 510/U2
Tigard, OR Ranier, WA Divisional
34 John Forespring Ryan Jones Ford Mustang/02
Olympia, Wa Olympia, WA Nat./Div.
52 Neville Green Chuck Wiles Merkur XR4Ti/02
Olympia, WA Olympia, WA Divisional
53 Rick Hintz Doug Chase Datsun 240Z/02
Spring Valley, CA Everett, WA Divisional
76 Noah Third Jason Lane VW Rabbit/U2
N. Vancouver, BC Burneby, BC Divisional
76 Chris Kouba John Allen Mazda RX-7/02
Milwaukie, OR Portland, OR Divisional
# # #
Doo Wops IV Final Results - Olympia, Washington
(Sunday)
Car Driver/ Co-Driver/ Make/Model/Class/
No. Hometown Hometown Division/Time
41 Rui Brasil Carlos Tavares Audi Quattro S-2/4WD
San Jose, CA San Jose, CA Nat./Div./36:41
47 Vance Walker Karen Laylor Mazda RX-3/02
Newberg, OR Newberg, WA Divisional/37:28
58 Dave White W. David Watts VW GTI/U2
Benicia, CA Carson City, NV Nat./Div./37:41
10 Scott Fuller Ben Bradley VW GTI/U2
Eugene, OR Portland, OR Nat./Div./37:51
26 John Lane Scott Huhn Volvo 262/02
Bellevue, WA Seattle, WA Nat./Div./38:19
11 Ralph Kosmides Joe Noyes Toyota Supra/02
Newport Beach, CA Seattle, WA Nat./Div./38:34
22 Jake Dekovic Katie Callahan Mazda 323GTX/02
Lynnwood, WA Seattle, WA Divisional/39:00
49 Shawn Callahan Jim Hake VW Scirocco/U2
Rochester, WA Seattle, WA Nat./Div./39:48
88 Mike Mailman Shelly Kruse VW GTI/U2/39:49
(Sunday-only/late entry)
38 Todd Lengacher Tina Warner Datsun B-210/U2
Beaverton, OR Beaverton, OR Divisional/40:32
73 Noah Third Jason Lane VW Rabbit/U2
N. Vancouver, BC Burneby, BC Divisional/40:50
76 Chris Kouba John Allen Mazda RX-7/02
Milwaukie, OR Portland, OR Divisional/41:04
98 Greg Lingelbach Steven Andrews Dodge Colt/U2
Portland, OR Battle Ground, WA Divisional/41:51
79 Lee Shadbolt Paul Eklund Subaru Impreza/4WD
Tigard, OR Tigard, OR Nat./Div./41:54
345 John Forespring Tony Lemon Ford Mustang/02
Olympia, Wa Olympia, WA Nat./Div./42:03
48 Simon LeVear Kevin Poirrer Datsun 510/U2
Tigard, OR Ranier, WA Divisional/42:07
53 Rick Hintz Doug Chase Datsun 240Z/02
Spring Valley, CA Everett, WA Divisional/43:23
51 Jack Horn Monty Horn Datsun 510/U2
Olympia, WA Olympia, WA Divisional/43:38
77 John Elkin Tim Dutton Mitsubishi Pick-up/U2
Portland, OR Kirkland, WA Nat./Div./43:39
63 Anthony Dienstel Bryant Alden Datsun 510/U2
Portland, OR Gresham, OR Divisional/44:55
21 Trevor Donison Eric Schild Plymouth Neon/U2
Vancouver, WA Olympia, WA Nat./Div./45:07
27 Karen Burrows Sean Gallagher Mitsubishi Galant/4WD
Mesa, AZ Santa Ana, CA Nat./Div./45:58
30 Kendall Russell Catherine Roso Dodge Shadow/02
Knoxville, TN Portland, OR Nat./Div./46:18
68 Bob Reaves Tammy Reaves Mazda RX-3/02
North Bend, OR North Bend, OR Divisional/1:04:59
17 Janice Damitio Amity Trowbridge Toyota All-trac/4WD
Montesano, WA Seattle, WA Nat./Div./1:08:23
12 George Plsek Mark Rathsam Saab 99 Turbo/02
Del Mar, CA San Diego, CA Nat./Div./1:24:10
Did Not Finish
46 Michael Leonard Leon Owens Saab 99 turbo/O2
Bothell, WA Tacoma, WA Divisional/1:03:04
2 Todd Hartmann Kirk Knestis VW GTI/U2
Issaquah, WA Seattle, WA Divisional/1:03:50
44 Nate Tennis Nat Stowe Saab 99EMS/U2
Seattle, WA Carnation, WA Divisional/1:08:43
18 Doug Schrenk Dave Schrenk Saab 900/02
Seattle, WA Seattle, WA Nat./Div.
33 Kirk Simons Geof Case Dodge Omni/U2
Bothell, WA Standwood, WA Divisional
52 Neville Green Chuck Wiles Merkur XR4Ti/02
Olympia, WA Olympia, WA Divisional
# # #
Results 98 Index
RRN Index