ProRally: Doo Wops III & IV Preview

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:

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 Wop 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; ran 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.