Nevada Rally 1978


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 21, 1978

BALDWIN/JOHNSTON BEAT ODDS TO WIN PREMIER NEVADA PRO RALLY

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Californian's Wayne Baldwin from Hermosa Beach and
co-driver Donald Johnston of Livermore took advantage of an early accident
and subsequent retirement of top seed, odds-on favorite Hendrik Blok to
speed to a solid victory at the Nevada Rally, held Nov. 20.

Blok, the 1976 SCCA National Pro Rally Champion, slid his Plymouth
Arrow into a dirt embankment after only 150 yards of the opening stage,
forcing the Dutch driving ace to exit with terminal steering and
suspension problems.

Defending SCCA Pro Rally Champion John Buffum from S. Burlington, Vt.,
not in attendance at the Nevada event, has once again been crowned as the
1978 Champion, finishing the series with 480 points. Doug Shepherd
received overall co-driver honors also with 480 points, and Datsun won the
series manufacturer's championship with a total of 630 points.

Driving a Volvo 142, Baldwin and Johnston turned in the quickest times
from the Cottonwood Pass to Sandy Valley stage to capture the first five
of the nine-stage event, and finish with 8109 penalty points, enough to
edge out the rapidly-closing team of Ian Gerrard and Bill Gutzmann.
Gerrard, of Corona, Calif., and Gutzmann of Ontario, managed to win the
final four stages from Mesquite Valley to Goldfield Hills, but 8515 points
placed them and their Plymouth Arrow in the runner-up position.

The 500-miles of rugged concrete-colored Nevada terrain continually
took its toll on man and machine, reducing the 18-car field which rolled
out of glittering Las Vegas to only nine at the rustic Tonopah, Nev. finish line.

Placing third was the husband-wife team of Bob and Phyllis Chandler
from Seattle, Wash., with 8724 points, in a Datsun 240Z a mere 20 penalty
points ahead of a Jeep pickup driven by Fred Bear and Leo McKinney.

This year's Nevada Rally marked the first performance rally ever held
in the state and the only SCCA Pro Rally event of 1978 to be held totally
during daylight hours, providing a unique finish to the '78 season.

SCCA CONTACT: Bruce Haun, Public Relations (303) 751-4900

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