Doo Wops 3-4
March 13-14, 1999
Press Notes
by Ed Jacobs/Wind River Group
Results
Event Flyer
MEDIA ALERT
Event:
Doo Wops III & IV; Round 2 of the 1999 Michelin SCCA Pro Rally Championship.
ProRally cars from across North America will race on the demanding forest
roads
of western Washington.
When:
March 12-14, 1999
Where:
Olympia, Washington
Headquarters:
PDE Auto Body; Capitol Auto Mall; Olympia, Wash.
Sanction:
Doo Wops III and IV are sanctioned by the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA)
Schedule:
Friday, March 12
1:15 p.m. Media leave PDE Auto Body; Capitol Auto Mall;
Olympia, Wash., for press stage
2:00-4:00 p.m. Press stage (media action video/photo opportunity);
Al Davis Rd.
Saturday, March 13
8:00-10:00 a.m. Registration, technical inspection; PDE Auto Body;
Capitol Mall; Olympia, Wash.
9:00-9:45 a.m. Novice drivers' meeting
10:30 a.m. First vehicle starts Doo Wops III
5:00 p.m. First vehicle finishes Doo Wop III
Sunday, March 14
8:30-9:30 a.m. Technical inspection
10:00 a.m. First vehicle starts Doo Wop IV
4:30 p.m. First vehicle finishes Doo Wop IV
Format:
Events in the Michelin SCCA ProRally Championship consist of flat-out
racing --
in any weather condition -- on challenging forest, mountain or desert
roads. No
practice is allowed. Competitors generally see the course for the first
time as
they race it.
ProRallies consist of roads designated "stages" and "transits." Racing takes
place only on the stages -- demanding roads closed by local authorities for
the
event. Transits connect the racing sections and are driven at normal highway
speeds, with teams subject to all traffic laws.
ProRally vehicles are production-based cars (and some trucks) from
manufacturers around the world. They compete both for the overall victory and
wins within a class structure that groups together vehicles with similar
performance. Each vehicle carries a driver and a co-driver/navigator. Using a
detailed route book and a sophisticated rally computer, the co-driver keeps
the
team on-course and advises the driver of any hazards noted in the route book.
This role is as critical as the driver's skill, since the team is traveling at
full racing speeds over roads they have never before seen, in any type of
weather.
Doo Wop III and IV will use forest roads provided by the Washington Department
of Natural Resources, Pacific County, Grays Harbor County and the city of
Montesano. Doo Wop III will have six stages; Doo Wop IV, four. The locally
famous 6.99-mile Brooklyn Tavern Stage will be used, with everyone taking the
ongoing challenge to complete the distance in less than seven minutes. It has
only been done four times.
Selected entries (driver/co-driver):
- Six-time overall series champion Paul Choiniere and multi-time overall
co-driver champion Jeff Becker, in an Open Class Hyundai Tiburon; first '99
series event for both
- Janice Damitio and Amity Trowbridge, in an Open Class Toyota Celica; local
favorites with good knowledge of area roads and driving conditions;
first'99
series event for both
- Defending Group 5 champions Ralph Kosmides and Joe Noyes, in a Toyota
Supra;
first '99 series event for both
- Gail Truess and Pattie Hughes, in a Production GT Class Mazda 323 GTX;
second
overall at season-opener until sidelined by overheating
- Lee Shadbolt and Claire Chizma in a Production GT Class Subaru Impreza
Brighton; Shadbolt was runner-up in '98 class championship; local favorites
with good knowledge of area roads and driving conditions; first '99 series
event for both
- Defending Group 2 champions Dave White and David Watts in a Volkswagen Golf
GTi; first '99 series event for both
- Group 2 runners-up in '98 Bill Malik and Christian Edstrom in a Volvo 240;
first '99 series event for both
- Defending Production Class champion Trevor Donnison and Paula Gibeault (4th
in '98 overall co-driver points) in a Plymouth Neon
Event rank:
Doo Wops III and IV comprise a Coefficient 3 event in the Michelin SCCA
ProRally Championship. SCCA National license-holders will receive 60
percent of
National points.
Interviews:
Drivers, co-drivers and crewmembers will be accessible throughout much of the
event, especially Friday, March 12, at the press stage.
Visuals:
Prior to the event, media will have the opportunity for exciting video and
photographic action of rally cars at speed during the press stage, Friday,
March 12. Media should assemble at PDE Auto Body, in the Capitol Auto Mall
(Olympia, Wash.) prior to 1:15 p.m. During the event, action photography and
video will be possible from special viewing areas set up along the rally
course, as well as other sites.
Media rally-car rides at speed:
Media will be given the opportunity to experience the intense excitement of
ProRally cars at speed during the press stage. Assembly point for the press
stage is PDE Auto Body, in the Capitol Auto Mall, (Olympia, Wash.), prior to
1:15 p.m. on Friday, March 12.
Media info:
Media relations will be able to provide video of ProRally cars in action,
driver and co-driver interviews, event results and other information via
telephone, fax and Email.
Contact: Ed Jacobs -- Michelin SCCA Pro Rally Championship
330/644-7774; 330/645-2045 Fax
Email, at any time: windrivr@ix/netcom.com
Entry List
March 12; 1:00 p.m.
(Not in start order)
Driver/Co-Driver Car Class
1. Jeff Call Volkswagen Golf GTi Group 5
Brent Dille
2. Ralph Kosmides Toyota Supra Group 5
Joe Noyes
3. Lee Shadbolt Subaru Impreza Prod. GT
Claire Chizma
4. Doug Robinson Mazda 323 GTX Open
Sue Robinson
5. Gail Truess Mazda 323 GTX Prod. GT
Pattie Hughes
6. Dave White Volkswagen Golf GTi Group 2
David Watts
7. Robert Reaves Mazda RX-3 Group 5
Tammy Reaves
8. Paul Choiniere Hyundai Tiburon Open
Jeff Becker
9. John Lane Volvo 262 Group 5
Scott Huhn
10. Laughlin O'Sullivan Audi 4000 quattro Open
Farina O'Sullivan
11. Carl Jardevall Volvo 740T Group 5
John Elkin
12. Bill Malik Volvo 240 Group 2
Christian Edstrom
13. Dave Hintz Mazda RX-7 Group 5
Doug Chase
14. Carey Wright Dodge Colt Group 5
Alan Wright
15. Gordon Gaude Volkswagen Rabbit Group 2
Tim Maple
16. Trevor Donison Plymouth Neon Production
Paula Gibeault
17. Greg Lingelbach Mitsubishi Starion Group 5
Steve Andrews
18. Janice Damitio Toyota Celica AllTrac Open
Amity Trowbridge
19. Rick Beson Mazda Protégé Open
Ben Bradley
20. Kendall Russell Dodge Shadow Prod. GT
John Dillon
21. Nate Tennis Saab 99 Group 2
Nat Tharrington-Stow
22. R. Scott Koch Datsun 210 Group 5
Tina Warner
23. Chad Dykes Toyota Pickup Group 2
Deborah Fuller
24. Vance Walker Mazda RX-3 Group 5
Karen Walker
25. Rui Brasil Audi S2 quattro Open
Carlos Tavares
26. Marc Thielke Lancia Scorpion Group 2
John Allen
27. Noah Third Volkswagen Rabbit Group 2
Jason Lane
28. Chris Kouba Mazda RX-7 Group 5
Cindy Beckman
29. Todd Hartmann Volkswagen Golf GTi Group 2
Peter Yeeles
30. Mike Mailman Volkswagen Golf GTi Group 2
Shelly Kruse
31. Rick Davis BMW 318ti Group 5
Ben Greisler
32. Nao Hirata Toyota Celica AllTrac Prod. GT
Don Swier
33. Matt Tabor Toyota Corolla Group 2
Chris Hoke
34. Mark Tabor Mazda 323 GTX Prod. GT
Kristen Tabor
35. Jon Tabor Nissan Sentra Production
Kevin Poirier
36. Peter Lahm Mitsubishi Lancer Open
Matt Chester Evolution IV
37. Eric Eaton Mazda 323 GTX Prod. GT
Kenny Almquist
38. Rick Hintz Datsun 240Z Group 5
Marc Swalley
1999 Doo Wop III ProRally
Round 2; Part 1
Michelin SCCA ProRally Championship
Olympia, Washington; March 13, 1999
Start Order
Start Car
Pos. No. Driver/Co-driver Car Class
1. 3 Paul Choiniere/Jeff Becker Hyundai Tiburon Open
2. 2 Rui Brasil/Carlos Tavares Audi S2 quattro Open
3. 34 Peter Lahm/Matt Chester Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV Open
4. 90 Laughlin O'Sullivan/Farina O'Sullivan Audi 4000 quattro Open
5. 17 Janice Damitio/Amity Trowbridge Toyota Celica AllTrac Open
6. 7 Ralph Kosmides/Joe Noyes Toyota Supra Gr5
7. 50 Rick Davis/Ben Greisler BMW 318ti Gr5
8. 16 Gail Truess/Pattie Hughes Mazda 323 GTX PGT
9. 249 Vance Walker/Karen Walker Mazda RX-3 Gr5
10. 39 Carl Jardevall/John Elkin Volvo 740T Gr5
11. 272 Robert Reaves/Tammy Reaves Mazda RX-3 Gr5
12. 198 John Lane/Scott Huhn Volvo 262 Gr5
13. 10 Bill Malik/Christian Edstrom Volvo 240 Gr2
14. 201 Todd Hartmann/Peter Yeeles Volkswagen Golf GTi Gr2
15. 247 Rick Beson/Ben Bradley Mazda Protégé Open
16. 45 Jake Dekovik/Dave McFarland tba tba
17. 9 Guy Light/David White Volkswagen Golf GTi Gr2
18. 35 Lee Shadbolt/Claire Chizma Subaru Impreza PGT
19. 243 Chris Kouba/Cindy Beckman Mazda RX-7 Gr5
20. 207 Dave Hintz/Doug Chase Mazda RX-7 Gr5
21. 223 Greg Lingelbach/Steve Andrews Mitsubishi Starion Gr5
22. 250 Jeff Call/Brent Dille Volkswagen Golf GTi Gr5
23. 248 Mike Mailman/Shelly Kruse Volkswagen Golf GTi Gr2
24. 253 Noah Third/Jason Lane Volkswagen Rabbit Gr2
25. 70 Kendall Russell/John Dillon Dodge Shadow PGT
26. 127 Chad Dykes/Deborah Fuller Toyota Pickup Gr2
27. 240 Rick Hintz/Marc Swalley Datsun 240Z Gr5
28. 21 Trevor Donison/Paula Gibeault Plymouth Neon Prod.
29. 256 Neville Green/Chuck Wiles Mercury Merkur XR4ti Gr5
30. 222 Jon Tabor/Kevin Poirier Nissan Sentra Prod.
31. 254 Eric Eaton/Kenny Almquist Mazda 323 GTX PGT
32. 232 Mark Tabor/Kristen Tabor Mazda 323 GTX PGT
33. 271 Matt Tabor/Chris Hoke Toyota Corolla Gr2
34. 245 Carey Wright/Alan Wright Dodge Colt Gr5
35. 244 Marc Thielke/John Allen Lancia Scorpion Gr2
36. 202 Nao Hirato/Don Swier Toyota Celica AllTrac PGT
37. 246 Gordon Gaude/Tim Maple Volkswagen Rabbit Gr2
38. 242 R. Scott Koch/Tina Warner Datsun 210 Gr5
Scratch:
Nate Tennis/Nat Tharrington-Stow Saab 99 Gr2
Doug Robinson/Sue Robinson Mazda 323 GTX Open
Crazee Espresso Doo Wop ProRally
Round 2
1999 Michelin SCCA ProRally Championship
Olympia, Washington
March 13-14, 1999
Press Notes #1
Good morning and welcome to a slightly hazy but otherwise clear Olympia,
Washington, home of the 1999 Crazee Espresso Doo Wop ProRally. This
event will consist of two one-day rallies, Doo Wop III and Doo Wop IV.
Combined, they comprise round 2 of the 1999 Michelin SCCA ProRally
Championship. Yesterday's lingering rain is gone, and temperatures are
in the low 40s, with a light breeze. Thirty-eight cars are expected to
start the event.
1.) These reports are being produced by "remote control" from Wind River
Group's office in Ohio. So there will be some time lag in their
generation. Rally/Solo marketing manager Kurt Spitzner is on the scene,
reporting information back frequently by fax, phone and Email.
2.) Long periods of rain and snow over recent weeks have left the roads
in the rally area wet, muddy and slick.
3.) The Forest Service has graded three of the stage roads in the past
couple of days, making them very smooth, but leaving sizable amounts of
loose gravel over the underlying slimy mud. Based on reports from
yesterday's press stage, this gravel is somewhat larger than normal pea
gravel, and is very sharp. Although there were no flats, many tires
showed evidence of cuts from the gravel on the 1.5-mile stage.
4.) Olympia-area coffee-house chain Crazee Espresso has come aboard as
sponsor the for ClubRally portions of this event. Crazee Espresso also
sponsors Janice Damitio's Open Class Toyota Celica AllTrac.
5.) The event originally schedule to take place next on the 1999
Michelin SCCA ProRally calendar, the Little Creek Casino Wild West
ProRally, officially has been postponed for environmental reasons.
Weather is the underlying cause of the postponement. Both Doo Wop and
Wild West take place in the same general area of western Washington.
This winter, the effected counties have endured a combination of
all-time record snowfall and an all-time record for consecutive days of
rainfall. This produced very high levels of runoff and silting of area
waterways. Doo Wop was permitted to run, but authorities felt that
continued use of the roads would prolong or worsen the silting and
interfere with the forthcoming salmon migration. Therefore, organized
use of the area roads -- including commercial logging -- has been
temporarily put on hold until after the migration.
6.) Wild West has been rescheduled for June 18-19. For a while, there
was some debate about the date, but it now has been finalized.
Crazee Espresso Doo Wop ProRally
Press notes
Page 2
7.) Following the press stage yesterday, Janice Damitio reported that
her Open Class Crazee Espresso Toyota Celica AllTrac was well down on
power. The crew worked on the car through the night but isn't sure that
the problem is solved.
8.) Six-time overall series champion Paul Choiniere is here this weekend
for his first series outing of the year. He's driving the same Hyundai
Tiburon he piloted last year, but this will be his last time in it. He
has a new car set to make its debut in what is now the next event on the
calendar. That will be the April 30-May 1 Rim of the World ProRally,
which will be based in Palmdale, California. Teammate Noel Lawler will
take over the current car from Choiniere for the rest of the year.
9.) One car that is making its debut here is the striking new Toyota
Celica AllTrac being driven by Nao Hirato. Not only is it the car's
first event, it's also Hirato's first ProRally. He will compete in the
Production GT class.
10.) A late entry has added Neville Green and Chuck Wiles in a Group 5
Mercury Merkur ZR4ti. The heavily subscribed class is beginning to look
though it may be the most competitive in this event.
11.) Three cars are entered on Silverstone rally tires. These Japanese
tires are little known in America, but apparently are quite popular in
the Pacific Rim countries. The three Silverstone-equipped cars have been
entered by the rallying Tabor family. There's Production Class Nissan
Sentra for Jon and navigator Kevin Poirier, a Production GT Class Mazda
3233 GTX for Matt and Kristen, and Group 2 Toyota Corolla for Matt and
navigator Chris Hoke.
12.) A total of 40 cars were entered for this event, but two have been
scratched: The Group 2 Saab 99 of Nate Tennis and Nat Tharrington-Snow,
and the Open Class Mazda 323 GTX of Doug and Sue Robinson.
13.) Defending Group 2 champions Dave White and navigator David Watts
will not be taking the class victory here this weekend. Watts may go
home with a trophy, but White will not. An infection in his right hand
serious enough to require IV antibiotics has forced him to step aside
for this rally. Friend and car-builder Guy Light will be taking his
place. Light was a long-time frontrunner when he was active as a driver
full-time. So this will be a combination to watch.
14.) Event chairman Ray Damitio is stepping down at the end of the
weekend. Damitio founded this long-running series of rallies, now in its
11th iteration, and has built it into very popular group of events for
Northwest rallyists. Diane Duran is expected to become the new
chairperson.
Crazee Espresso Doo Wop ProRally
Press notes
Page 3
15.) The drivers' meeting is held outdoors and, naturally, just as it
starts rain begins to fall. The forecast is for hazy skies, but the
Weather Channel's time-lapse doppler radar for the area suggests that
people in that part of the state should start looking for their
waterproof boots, rain slickers -- and canoes.
16.) At the drivers' meeting, crews are told that the snow has melted on
Stage 1, but that it still may be wet.
17.) Crews also are advised that there was some apparent confusion about
road-closure dates in one area. As a result there was active logging
taking place on Stage 2 earlier today. However, that situation has been
fixed.
18.) Drivers are advised that Stage 3 will be the fastest of the event,
and that the very fast flying finish is downhill. This admonition is
doubly important in the slippery conditions, because Stage 3 will be
re-run as Stage 6.
19.) Corrections to the start order released earlier: Rui Brasil's car
number is 92, not 2. David Watts is the co-driver with Guy Light in car
9, not Dave White.
20.) Following the end of Stage 1, the Group 2 Lancia Scorpion of Marc
Thielke and John Allen retires with a damaged radiator.
21.) Chris Kouba and Cindy Beckman went off on Stage 1 in their Group 5
Mazda RX-7, ending up in a ditch. However, they were pulled out and are
continuing.
22.) Greg Lingelbach and Steve Andrews withdrew their Mitsubishi Starion
after Stage 2 with head-gasket failure. First to go was a radiator hose.
About 20 seconds later the head gasket let go and they were finished.
23.) Late entrants Neville Green and Chuck Wiles had a big off in their
Merkur XR4ti about 1.5 miles into Stage 2, but were able to get
themselves out and continue.
24.) The Kouba/Beckman RX-7, which had been off on the previous stage,
went off again on Stage 2. This time they were stuck in such away that
people were calling for a chainsaw to get them out. However, the sweep
vehicle was able to wiggle them free.
25.) Since this is a comparatively short, all-daylight event, there will
be no re-seeding.
26.) By the time that Stage 3 is run, it is drizzling, but there is no
wind.
27.) On Stage 3, the Group 5 Mazda RX-3 of Robert and Tammy Reeves gets
crossed up in the mud and slides off into a berm. The co-driver's side
is heavily crunched, but no one is injured. As they are trying to get
their warning triangles out, the John Lane/Scott Huhn Group 5 Volvo 262
arrives on the scene and slides into the back of the Mazda. Everyone is
okay and both cars eventually continue.
Crazee Espresso Doo Wop ProRally
Press notes
Page 4
28.) Also on Stage 3, the Group 2 Volkswagen Golf GTi of Mike Mailman
and Shelly Kruse found its way into a ditch. Sweep towed the car out and
they rejoined the rally, running last; but the driver-side front
suspension is badly bent and it seems questionable whether they will
continue.
29.) The Reeves & Reeves RX-3, which went off on Stage 3, has a broken
rear axle and has withdrawn from today's event. They have a spare, which
they will install overnight, and will run in Doo Wop IV tomorrow.
30.) Defending Group 5 champion Ralph Kosmides and navigator Joe Noyes
are getting half the fuel mileage they got last year, apparently due to
a change of rear-axle ratios. Kosmides, however, is making a bit of a
fashion statement with his Toyota Supra, running chromed wheels.
31.) The Rick Hintz/Marc Swalley Datsun 240-Z, which sports number 240,
was missing its hood after Stage 3, as well as second and third gears.
This historic car is a former Carrera Panamericana race car.
32.) A few times reported after Stage 2 show that Paul Choiniere was
fastest, and was the only driver under seven minutes. Surprisingly, Carl
Jardevall and John Elkin were second-fastest with their Group 5 Volvo
740T, edging past Rui Brasil and Carlos Tavares in their Audi S2 quattro
and Laughlin and Farina O'Sullivan in their Audi 4000 quattro.
33.) The rain that has been on-again, off-again throughout the day
returns as teams head to service after Stage 5. Kurt Spitzner reports
that the Seattle-area crowd has pronounced that it now "officially"
pouring, because the rain is falling so hard that it is bouncing six
inches off the pavement.
34.) On Stage 5, Jeff Call and Brent Dille wound up on their roof in
their Group 2 Volkswagen Golf GTi. While upside down, they lost all of
their coolant. After sweep rolled the car back on its wheel, they
refilled the radiator from a nearby stream and got back in action.
35.) Also on Stage 5, the Noah Third/Jason Lane Group 2 Volkswagen
Rabbit nosed into a ditch and partially blocked the road. Sweep pulled
them out and they, too, continued.
36.) The crew of the Mike Mailman/Shelly Kruse Golf, which went off on
Stage 3 and damaged its left-front suspension, has replaced the bent
parts. The team is continuing.
37.) Todd Hartmann and Peter Yeeles have retired their Group 2
Volkswagen Golf GTi after Stage 5. Differential failure is the cause.
38.) The big drama of the event so far took place at the end of Stage 5,
as Paul Choiniere appeared at service on the end of a tow rope behind
Rui Brasil's car. Choiniere stopped after completing the stage, and
Brasil gave him a tow back to service.
Crazee Espresso Doo Wop ProRally
Press notes
Page 5
39.) The cause of Choiniere's problems is the same as one of the
problems he experienced in the final event last year: A thrown
water-pump belt. The crew made repairs during the service halt. When
asked if they were "back in it," team manager John Buffum replied
simply, "For the moment."
40.) At the end of service, the 240-Z's hood has magically reappeared.
Miraculously, so have its missing gears.
41.) The Jeff Call/Brent Dille Golf that rolled on Stage 5 has withdrawn
from today's event due to a cracked radiator. The car will be back
tomorrow.
42.) Gaill Truess and Pattie Hughes called in from the car after
completing the event's final stage. They were in high spirits and wanted
everyone to know that "All is well with Team Tango." Truess said that
she had faced a bit of a learning curve, as she hadn't been on Northwest
roads in 11 years, but felt that things were going well. She reported
that the gravel was so bad on Stage 3 (the rally's fastest) that it
backed the bonjo bolt out of one of the rear brake calipers. So they
suddenly went from poor brakes to no brakes. But the crew made repairs
and they signed off with "Life is good."
43.) Paul Choiniere finished Stage 6 but came into service on only about
two cylinders. The crew reported that the engine was leaking a lot of
oil, but replacing a freeze plug cured the problem. In addition, when
they did a compression check they found two smashed spark plugs, as well
as only 40 lbs of compression in the number-two cylinder. They
immediately began tearing the engine down to make repairs. Choiniere
expects to start tomorrow.
44.) Pete Lahm called in and reported that he and Matt Chester were
going well in their Open Class Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV, as he
learned how the supercar behaved on gravel. He reported taking off his
left-side mirror on the same branch that ate Rick Davis' (BMW 318ti) at
the end of Stage 6. Lahm reports that the car is running strongly and
smoothly, but that he experienced brake problems early on. A change of
pads helped the situation.
45.) Results - hours/minutes/seconds
Brasil/Tevares 45:57
O'Sullivan/O'Sullivan 46:13
Jardevall/Elkin 46:49
Lane/Huhn 47:40
Davis/Greisler 48:53
Damitio/Trowbridge 48:55
Lahm/Chester 49:01
Kosmides/Noyes 49:06
Truess/Hughes 49:32
Choiniere/Becker 50:04
Hintz/Chase 50:21
Light/Watts 50:40
Malik/Edstrom 50:48
Hintz/Swalley 52:02
Shadbolt/Chizma 52:19
Tabor/Tabor 52:23
Beson/Bradley 53:03
Russell/Dillon 53:21
Wright/Wright 53:35
Dykes/Fuller 53:50
Dekovic/McFarland 54:12
Tabor/Poirier 54:53
Donison/Gibeault 56:31
Tabor/Hoke 57:05
Hirato/Swier 57:06
Thielke/Allen 57:39
Gaude/Maple 57:50
Koch/Warner 1:00:07
Green/Wiles 1:04:59
Third/Lane 1:07:41
Mailman/Kruse 1:25:55
Walker/Walker 1:27.48
Hartmann/Yeeles DNF
Kouba/Beckman DNF
Lingelbach/Andrews DNF
Call/Dille DNF
Reaves/Reaves DNF
Doo Wop ProRally
presented by Whitney's Chevrolet
Press notes
Page 8
The start order for Doo Wop IV ProRally presented by Whitney Chevrolet is as follows:
Start Car
Pos. No. Driver/Co-driver Car Class
1. 3 Paul Choiniere/Jeff Becker Hyundai Tiburon Open
2. 92 Rui Brasil/Carlos Tavares Audi S2 quattro Open
3. 90 Laughlin O'Sullivan/Farina O'Sullivan Audi 4000 quattro Open.
4. 39 Carl Jardevall/John Elkin Volvo 740T Gr5
5. 198 John Lane/Scott Huhn Volvo 262 Gr5
6. 249 Vance Walker/Karen Walker Mazda RX-3 Gr5
7. 34 Peter Lahm/Matt Chester Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV Open
8. 17 Janice Damitio/Amity Trowbridge Toyota Celica AllTrac Open
9. 50 Rick Davis/Ben Greisler BMW 318ti Gr5
10. 7 Ralph Kosmides/Joe Noyes Toyota Supra Gr5
11. 16 Gail Truess/Pattie Hughes Mazda 323 GTX PGT
12. 272 Robert Reaves/Tammy Reaves Mazda RX-3 Gr5
13. 9 Guy Light/David Watts Volkswagen Golf GTi Gr2
14. 10 Bill Malik/Christian Edstrom Volvo 240 Gr2
15. 247 Rick Beson/Ben Bradley Mazda Protégé Open
16. 207 Dave Hintz/Doug Chase Mazda RX-7 Gr5
17. 35 Lee Shadbolt/Claire Chizma Subaru Impreza PGT
18. 127 Chad Dykes/Deborah Fuller Toyota Pickup Gr2
19. 240 Rick Hintz/Marc Swalley Datsun 240Z Gr5
20. 45 Jake Dekovik/Dave McFarland Mazda 323 GTX Open
21. 232 Mark Tabor/Kristen Tabor Mazda 323 GTX PGT
22. 245 Carey Wright/Alan Wright Dodge Colt Gr5
23. 70 Kendall Russell/John Dillon Dodge Shadow PGT
24. 253 Noah Third/Jason Lane Volkswagen Rabbit Gr2
25. 248 Mike Mailman/Shelly Kruse Volkswagen Golf GTi Gr2
26. 222 Jon Tabor/Kevin Poirier Nissan Sentra Prod.
27. 250 Jeff Call/Brent Dille Volkswagen Golf GTi Gr5
28. 21 Trevor Donison/Paula Gibeault Plymouth Neon Prod.
29. 260 Eric Eaton/Kenny Almquist Mazda 323 GTX PGT
30. 271 Matt Tabor/Chris Hoke Toyota Corolla Gr2
31. 202 Nao Hirato/Don Swier Toyota Celica AllTrac PGT
32. 244 Marc Thielke/John Allen Lancia Scorpion Gr2
33. 246 Gordon Gaude/Tim Maple Volkswagen Rabbit Gr2
34. 242 R. Scott Koch/Tina Warner Datsun 210 Gr5
35. 256 Neville Green/Chuck Wiles Mercury Merkur XR4ti Gr5
Doo Wop ProRally
presented by Whitney's Chevrolet
Press notes
Page 9
51.) Special thanks are in order for Weyerheuser this weekend. The giant
timber company has been a friend of rallying in the Northwest for years.
Although this event does not actually run stages on Weyerheuser
property, the company graciously allowed the organizers to use some of
their private logging roads for access during the rally.
52.) Some of the roads that are being used for stages today are owned by
the city of Montesano. They are reported to be very smooth and
spectacular, with smaller gravel than that on yesterday's stages.
53.) Prior to today's start a Parc Expose was held in front of the Grays
Harbor County Courthouse. The entire field was on display and looking
sharp, according to Kurt Spitzner.
54.) The Group 5 Ralph Kosmides/Joe Noyes Toyota Supra was late to Parc
Expose after the crew had a morning thrash dealing with an unidentified
problem. Earlier, Kosmides said that the different final-drive ratio he
is running here versus last year put him in different gears than he is
used to in many familiar places. He felt that threw off his
concentration and kept him off the pace yesterday. Last evening he spoke
of going out to "find his commitment switch." Today, he says that he has
found it.
55.) On the way out to today's first stage, Stage 7, Spitzner reported
seeing a herd of roughly 70 elk in the vicinity of what had been Stage 4
yesterday. The presence of elk in that area is so constant that the
route book even had a tulip on that stage bearing an elk and a
single-caution exclamation point.
56.) Corrections/updates: Jake Dekovic and Dave McFarland are in an Open
Class Mazda 323 GTX. The Marc Thielke/John Allen Group 2 Lancia Scorpion
that was erroneously reported as retired early yesterday actually
completed Crazee Espresso Doo Wop III. Gary Bockman was the co-driver
with Chris Kouba in their Group 5 Mazda RX-7. We had listed Cindy
Beckman. Thanks to eagle-eyed Jim Culp for the information.
57.) Culp's most interesting tidbit concerns a big "save" for co-drivers
Jeff Becker(Paul Choiniere) and Carlos Tavares(Rui Brasil)yesterday.
When Choiniere finished Stage 5 with his injured Hyundai Tiburon, after
losing the water-pump belt earlier, he immediately jumped out of the car
and grabbed the tow rope. In what Culp described as looking like a
planned move, Brasil pulled his Audi S2 quattro right in front. As the
two were preparing to hook up the Hyundai for a tow, both co-drivers
pointed out that the cars were still within the control zone -- where no
work or assistance is permitted. After the Tiburon was gotten out of the
control the two cars were hooked up and Brasil towed Choiniere to
service, where the car was repaired and continued.
Doo Wop ProRally
presented by Whitney's Chevrolet
Press notes
Page 10
58.) Culp also reported that the fast downhill sections of Stage 9, the
well-known Brooklyn Tavern stage, are covered with sharp gravel. He says
that this gravel ate one of his new tires while he was scouting photo
locations Friday. If the gravel is still there, it could pose a problem
for teams twice, as Stage 10 is the same road run in the opposite
direction.
59.) The Chris Kouba/Gary Bockman Group 5 Mazda RX-7 that retired from
the event yesterday was put out by transmission damage inflicted during
an off when they stuck a tree stump and then a tree.
60.) Following today's first stage, Stage 7, Kurt Spitzner reports that
it is now pouring. The locals, he says, insist that is only drizzling.
61.) From his vantage point, Spitzner felt that Choinier was running
very well, having gained perhaps 30 seconds on Brasil. Ralph Kosmides
also appeared to be picking up the pace and seemed to have gained a
similar amount on Rick Davis.
62.) Another entry that he felt was doing well was the Group 2 Toyota
pickup of Chad Dykes and Deborah Fuller.
63.) The Mike Mailman/Shelly Kruse Group 2 Volkswagen Golf GTi has found
another ditch, but will continue.
64.) The historic Group 5 Datsun 240-Z of Rick Hintz and Marc Swalley
has its left-front fender flapping in the breeze, but Spitzner reports
that there are still a couple of bolts holding it on.
65.) Prior to the start the day's second stage, the Mailman/Kruse Golf
GTi retires with transmission failure.
66.) The Open Class Mazda Protégé of Rick Beson and Ben Bradley retired
following Stage 7 for unknown reasons. However, Spitzner noted that it
had a pronounced noise sounding like a cracked exhaust manifold when it
passed his vantage point.
67.) After a receiving a new rear axle and a liberal application of
200-mph tape to deal with damage from yesterday's altercation with a
bank and another rally car, the Robert Reeves/Tammy Reeves Group 5 Mazda
RX-3 is running very strongly again.
68.) The Group 5 Golf GTi of Jeff Call and Brent Dille, which rolled
yesterday, is running today with glass borrowed from the Golf of Todd
Hartmann and Peter Yeeles. That car retired yesterday following
differential failure.
69.) Spitzner reports that the spectator turnout is very large in the
viewing areas and unofficial vantage points, and that the scenic vistas
on today's stages are nothing short of spectacular.
Doo Wop ProRally
presented by Whitney's Chevrolet
Press notes
Page 11
70.) From three miles into Stage 8, Kurt Spitzner reported that
Chioniere's Hyundai Tiburon was running rough and a little off the pace,
though still fast. Rui Brasil appeared to have picked up about 10
seconds on him. Spitzner figured that Ralph Kosmides had picked up about
the same on Rick Davis (Group 5 BMW 318ti with Ben Greisler navigating).
71.) Two miles into Stage 9, Brooklyn Tavern, the Group 5 Mercury Merkur
XR4ti of Neville Green and Chuck Wiles dropped out of the event with a
holed piston.
72.) Because of today's layout, there were no further reports until
teams arrived at the finish at the Oakville Grange. We were able to talk
by cell phone to some top finishers. Paul Choiniere felt that things
went pretty well. "We started the day hoping to do well enough to move
up to fifth (overall), but I think we're fourth, based on what I just
heard." That information was correct.
73.) Choiniere said that his engine was down on power, and that his crew
was felt that the engine had ingested something that bent or chipped a
valve. Most of the lost time on-stage yesterday was due to having to put
four quarts of oil in the engine after it lost the water-pump belt,
overheated and began leaking oil heavily.
74.) Choiniere thought that he was fastest on the Brooklyn Tavern stage.
At 7:01, he just missed the seven-minute barrier on the 6.99-mile stage
that he and navigator Jeff Becker both love. Running the reverse
direction, his time was 6:45. He attributes the big time swing to loose
gravel on the road on the first trip through, which was swept off by
successive cars. He thinks that these two stages may the best
back-to-back stages anywhere in America.
75.) Ralph Kosmides (third in Group 5) said that he and Joe Noyes had a
great day. Other than bleeding the brakes once, the crew never put a
wrench to the car all day. He said that there was no thrash this
morning. The crew just was unsure of what time to arrive at the Parc
Expose. He added that the gear-ratio change for this event threw him off
for about the first four stages yesterday, because he was consistently
running one gear higher than he was used to in similar circumstances.
Once he adjusted to that he felt fine.
76.) Rui Brasil felt that, except for a couple of problems, he had a
great rally. He lost a power-steering belt at one point and had to fight
heavy steering for a couple of stages. On another stage, the car was
starving for fuel and wouldn't run well. The problem was traced to a
clogged fuel filter. Unfortunately, the difficulties were just enough to
snatch away the overall win -- which he lost by just one second to
Laughlin and Farina O'Sullivan in an Audi 4000 quattro.
Doo Wop ProRally
presented by Whitney's Chevrolet
Press notes
Page 12
77.) Production GT winner Gail Truess felt that this was "just an
awesome event." She said that she was on a bit of a learning curve,
because the roads are so different from those in the East and because
she hadn't been to there for 11 years. However, once she got in tune she
obviously was flying. She said that she was really surprised by the
amount of traction she had in the heavy rain, which was much higher than
she had expected.
78.) Rick Davis brought his BMW 318ti out for some early season points,
as well as the 1998 Divisional Rally Runoffs, which were held as part of
this event. He is going home champion of the O2 class, which he said
would not have been possible without the support of Otto's BMW. He had a
great time and said that he and navigator Ben Greisler had no bad
experiences, although they were very surprised by the abrasive nature of
the roads. They used up his available tire supply very quickly and
forced him to run quite a lot with worn-out tires.
79.) Group 2 winner Guy Light said that he had just finished harassing
Dave White, who was home nursing an infected hand. White owns and
normally drives the Golf GTi which Light piloted as a last-minute
substitute. Light said that he told White, "If I can do this well…you're
going too slow!"
80.) Pete Lahm and Matt Chester finished sixth overall in their Open
Class Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV. Both had an enjoyable time as Lahm
learned the characteristics of the supercar in his first time on gravel
in it. They had a disappointing time on Stage 8, and fell back two
places. However, Lahm said that he drove the final two stages with much
more confidence and aggressiveness, and paid particular compliments to
the preparation and assistance of TAD Motorsports. Chester called
Brooklyn Tavern one of the most enjoyable stages ever.
81.) Preliminary results show Laughlin and Farina O'Sullivan as overall
winners, driving an Audi 4000 quattro and finishing just one second
ahead of Rui Brasil and Carlos Tavares in an Audi S2 quattro. Group 5
winners Carl Jardevall and John Elkin were third overall in a Volvo
740T. Gail Truess and Pattie Hughes were PGT winners in their Mazda 323
GTX, 10th overall. Right behind them came Group 2 winners Guy Light and
David Watts, in a Volkswagen Golf GTi. Jon Tabor and Kevin Poirier were
the Production winners in a Nissan Sentra, 21st overall.
presented by Whitney's Chevrolet
Press notes
Page 13
1.) Here are the complete preliminary results for the Doo Wop ProRally
(time = hours, minutes, seconds):
OA Cl Driver/Co-Driver Car Time
1. 1 O Laughlin O'Sullivan/Farina O'Sullivan Audi 4000 Quattro 1:23:27
2. 2 O Rui Brasil/Carlos Tavares Audi S2 Quattro 1:23.28
3. 1 G5 Carl Jardevall/John Elkin Volvo 740T 1:24.43
4. 3 O Paul Choiniere/Jeff Becker Hyundai Tiburon 1:25.05
5. 2 G5 John Lane/Scott Huhn Volvo 262 1:25.40
6. 4 O Peter Lahm/Matt Chester Mitsubishi Evo IV 1:27.11
7. 5 O Janice Damitio/Amity Trowbridge Toyota Celica 1:27.13
8. 3 G5 Ralph Kosmides/Joe Noyes Toyota Supra 1:27:22
9. 4 G5 Rick Davis/Ben Greisler BMW 318ti 1:28.34
10. PGT Gail Truess/Pattie Hughes Mazda 323 GTX 1:28:56
11. 1 G2 Guy Light/David Watts Volkswagen Golf GTi 1:30.20
12. 5 G5 Dave Hintz/Doug Chase Mazda RX-7 1:30.20
13. 2 G2 Bill Malik/Christian Edstrom Volvo 240 1:30.26
14. PGT Eric Eaton/Kenny Almquist Mazda 323 GTX 1:32:06
15. 3 G2 Chad Dykes/Deborah Fuller Toyota Pickup 1:32:27
16. PGT Mark Tabor/Kristen Tabor Mazda 323 GTX 1:33:14
17. PGT Lee Shadbolt/Claire Chizma Subaru Impreza 1:33:29
18. 6 G5 Rick Hintz/Marc Swalley Datsun 240Z 1:33:42
19. 7 G5 Carey Wright/Alan Wright Dodge Colt 1:34:18
20. PGT Kendall Russell/John Dillon Dodge Shadow 1:35:34
21. 1 P Jon Tabor/Kevin Poirier Nissan Sentra 1:36:10
22. 6 O Jake Dekovik/Dave McFarland Mazda 323 GTX 1:38:55
23. PGT Nao Hirato/Don Swier Toyota Celica 1:39:50
24. 1 P Trevor Donison/Paula Gibeault Plymouth Neon 1:40:37
25. 4 G2 Matt Tabor/Chris Hoke Toyota Corolla 1:41:19
26. 5 G2 Gordon Gaude/Tim Maple Volkswagen Rabbit 1:41:49
27. 6 G2 Marc Thielke/John Allen Lancia Scorpion 1:42:33
28. 8 G5 R. Scott Koch/Tina Warner Datsun 210 1:44:15
29. 7 G2 Noah Third/Jason Lane Volkswagen Rabbit 1:48:46
30. 9 G5 John Lane/Scott Huhn Volvo 262 2:06:09
DNF Robert Reaves/Tammy Reaves Mazda RX-3 DNF
DNF Rick Beson/Ben Bradley Mazda Protege DNF
DNF Mike Mailman/Shelly Kruse Volkswagen Golf GTi DNF
DNF Jeff Call/Brent Dille Volkswagen Golf GTi DNF
DNF Neville Green/Chuck Wiles Mercury Merkur XR4ti DNF
2.) In conjunction with the Doo Wop ProRally presented by Whitney's Chevrolet,
the runoffs to determine the 1998 SCCA Divisional Rally champions were held.
Rui Brasil (Audi S2 quattro) is champion in the O4 Class, followed by Gail
Truess. Rick Davis (BMW 318ti) is champion in O2, while Noah Third (Volkswagen
Rabbit) has taken the title in U2. Congratulations to the champions and their
crews for their hard-earned victories.
This concludes this evening's reports. Any additional information will be
distributed as it becomes available. Thank you and good night.
Results 99 Index
RRN Index