ProRally: Prescott Final Report, Results

Prescott Forest PRO Rally Round #8 - 1998 Michelin PRO Rally Championship Prescott, Arizona

44. The eleventh running of the Prescott Forest PRO Rally, and we have yet another overall winner - the fifth different one this year - as the Hyundai Elantra of Noel Lawler/Charles Bradley scored a 23-second victory over the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV of David Summerbell/Michael Fennell. Summerbell was 14 seconds with one stage remaining, but the last stage got narrow and rough near the end - and knowing Choiniere was back in the pack - the Jamaicans opted for the cautious approach to secure a good finish. Meanwhile, Lawler went for broke and beat Summerbell by almost a minute on the last stage.

The Mike Whitman/Paula Gibeault Ford Sierra Cosworth was third, 50 seconds back.

In the classes, Arthur Odero-Jowi/Farina O'Sullivan were fourth overall and first in Production GT - a good performance following their strong running in Maine which was negated by a scoring omission. The Ralph Kosmides/Joe Noyes Toyota Supra twin turbo was fifth overall and first in Group 5 - clinching that class championship and making progress towards the Woodner Cup. Dave White/David Watts in the VW GTI edged closer to the Group 2 championship by winning that class, while the Roland McIvor/John Forespring Nissan Sentra SER scored its first national win in Production.

National provisional results - top finishers CAR # (DRIVER/CO-DRIVER) CAR SEED SCORE CLASS

18 Noel Lawler/C Bradley Elantra 1 54:05 1 Open 16 D Summerbell/M Fennell Lancer 1 54:28 2 Open 43 Mike Whitman/P Gibeault Sierra 1 55:18 3 Open 45 A Odero-Jowi/F O'Sullivan Eclipse 5 59:27 1 GT 11 Ralph Kosmides/Joe Noyes Supra 1 59:54 1 Group 5 6 Steve Gingrass/E Carlson Talon 1 1:00:32 2 GT 119 Lon Peterson/Peter Workum Arrow 2 1:00:54 2 Group 5 22 David White/David Watts VW GTI 1 1:03:31 1 Group 2 117 Ken Stewart/Jim Dale Chevy S-10 3 1:04:52 4 Open 17 J Damitio/A Trowbridge Celica 2 1:06:37 5 Open 35 Lee Shadbolt/Paul Eklund Impreza 3 1:06:50 3 GT 1 Paul Choiniere/J Becker Tiburon 0 1:07:04 6 Open 55 Tony Takaori/Ken Cassidy Lancer 2 1:07:13 7 Open 82 Roland McIvor Sentra 5 1:07:45 1 Production 66 Doug Robinson/C Beavis RX-7 5 1:07:58 3 Group 5 7 Sergi Bellesov/C Roso Mazda 626 5 1:11:50 2 Group 2 21 Trevor Donison/John Allen Neon 5 1:13:16 2 Production

45. FINAL DIVISIONAL RESULTS

CAR CRS # (DRIVER/CO-DRIVER) CAR SEED SCORE CLASS CLASS

45 A Odero-Jowi/F O'Sullivan Eclipse 3 59:27 1 4WD 1 4WD

6 Steve Gingrass/E Carlson Talon 1 1:00:32 2 4WD 2 4WD

119 Lon Peterson/Peter Workum Arrow 1 1:00:54 1 Stock 1 O2

323 Paul Timmerman/S Martin Mazda 323 3 1:02:21 3 4WD 3 4WD

77 Harris Done/Ray Hocker Mazda RX-7 1 1:03:22 1 Two WD 2 O2

22 David White/David Watts VW GTI 1 1:03:31 2 Two WD 1 U2

117 Ken Stewart/Jim Dale Chevy S-10 1 1:04:52 4 4WD 4 4WD

28 Bobbie Whitman/D Mitchell Datsun 510 4 1:06:26 3 Two WD 2 U2

17 J Damitio/A Trowbridge Celica 1 1:06:37 5 4WD 5 4WD

66 Doug Robinson/C Beavis RX-7 3 1:07:58 1 Perf Stk 3 O2

52 Steve Bender/Craig McHugh Rabbit 3 1:08:13 2 Stock 3 U2

50 Eric Oyague/A Oyague Corolla 3 1:10:52 3 Stock 4 U2

24 M Kilpatrick/J Gillaspy Colt 3 1:11:34 4 Two WD 4 O2

5 Mark Brown/Shane Polhamus Corolla 3 1:12:38 2 Perf Stk 5 U2

21 Trevor Donison/John Allen Neon 3 1:13:16 3 Perf Stk 6 U2

93 Neal Gaborno/Claire Marie Mitsubushi 4 1:13:24 4 Stock 5 O2

26 Tom Bier/Ole Holter Saab 99 3 1:27:29 5 Two WD 7 U2

8 Bill Malik/C Edstrom Volvo 240 1 DNF

25 Fred Ronn/John Dillon Celica 3 DNF

4 Ron Wood/Kelly Walsh Quattro 1 DNF

601 R Holland/J Whittington Ford F150 4 DNF

222 Cable Rhodes/Tyler Rhodes Mazda RX-7 3 DNF

45. DIVISIONAL PROVISIONAL RESULTS

CAR CRS CRS # (DRIVER/CO-DRIVER) CAR SEED SCORE CLASS CLASS

45 A Odero-Jowi/F O'Sullivan Eclipse 3 48:04 1 4WD 1 4WD 6 Steve Gingrass/E Carlson Talon 1 49:16 2 4WD 2 4WD 119 Lon Peterson/Peter Workum Arrow 1 49:16 1 Stock 1 O2 323 Paul Timmerman/S Martin Mazda 323 3 49:37 3 4WD 3 4WD 77 Harris Done/Ray Hocker Mazda RX-7 1 51:15 1 Two WD 2 O2 22 David White/David Watts VW GTI 1 51:30 2 Two WD 1 U2 117 Ken Stewart/Jim Dale Chevy S-10 1 51:44 4 4WD 4 4WD 17 J Damitio/A Trowbridge Celica 1 53:46 5 4WD 5 4WD 66 Doug Robinson/C Beavis RX-7 3 53:54 1 Perf Stk 3 O2 21 Trevor Donison/John Allen Neon 3 58:45 2 Perf Stk 2 U2 8 Bill Malik/C Edstrom Volvo 240 1 DNF 25 Fred Ronn/John Dillon Celica 3 DNF 26 Tom Bier/Ole Holter Saab 99 3 DNF 4 Ron Wood/Kelly Walsh Quattro 1 DNF 601 R Holland/J Whittington Ford F150 4 DNF 5 Mark Brown/Shane Polhamus Corolla 3 DNF 28 Bobbie Whitman/D Mitchell Datsun 510 4 DNF 222 Cable Rhodes/Tyler Rhodes Mazda RX-7 3 DNF 24 M Kilpatrick/J Gillaspy Colt 3 DNF 50 Eric Oyague/A Oyague Corolla 3 DNF 52 Steve Bender/Craig McHugh Rabbit 3 DNF 93 Neal Gaborno/Claire Marie Mitsubushi 4 DNF

FINAL NATIONAL RESULTS CAR # (DRIVER/CO-DRIVER) CAR SEED SCORE PLACE CLASS

18 Noel Lawler/C Bradley Elantra 1 54:05 1 Open 16 D Summerbell/M Fennell Lancer 1 54:28 2 Open 43 Mike Whitman/P Gibeault Sierra 1 55:18 3 Open 45 A Odero-Jowi/F O'Sullivan Eclipse 5 59:27 1 GT 11 Ralph Kosmides/Joe Noyes Supra 1 59:54 1 Group 5 6 Steve Gingrass/E Carlson Talon 1 1:00:32 2 GT 119 Lon Peterson/Peter Workum Arrow 2 1:00:54 2 Group 5 22 David White/David Watts VW GTI 1 1:03:31 1 Group 2 117 Ken Stewart/Jim Dale Chevy S-10 3 1:04:52 4 Open 17 J Damitio/A Trowbridge Celica 2 1:06:37 5 Open 35 Lee Shadbolt/Paul Eklund Impreza 3 1:06:50 3 GT 55 Tony Takaori/Ken Cassidy Lancer 2 1:07:12 6 Open 1 Paul Choiniere/J Becker Tiburon 0 1:07:34 7 Open 82 Roland McIvor/J. Sentra 5 1:07:45 1 Production 66 Doug Robinson/C Beavis RX-7 5 1:07:58 3 Group 5 7 Sergi Bellesov/C Roso Mazda 626 5 1:11:41 2 Group 2 21 Trevor Donison/John Allen Neon 5 1:13:16 2 Production 88 Kendall Russell/L Dillon Shadow 5 1:15:57 4 GT 26 Tom Bier/Ole Holter Saab 99 4 1:27:29 3 Group 2 3 Carl Merrill/Lance Smith Escort 0 DNF 30 Hiroyuki Genta/K Takata Impreza 1 DNF 8 Bill Malik/C Edstrom Volvo 240 1 DNF 27 Roger Hull/Sean Gallagher Talon 2 DNF 14 Garen Shrader/Doc Shrader Sierra 3 DNF 15 Carl Jardevall/John Elkin Volvo 740 3 DNF 25 Fred Ronn/John Dillon Celica 4 DNF

46. With all the activity yesterday, we had neglected to mention that the results of Lance Smith's chest x-ray was negative, and that he was otherwise unhurt.

47. Barbara (wife) and Scott (son) Merrill are flying from Phoenix to Boston today (Sunday), and will probably not decide on any arrangements until Monday. We will post the arrangement here on Monday, or you can call Andy Schupack (401) 739-5677.

48. Hiroyuki Genta/Kazmasa Takata Subaru Impreza took a bad spill on stage #8, going off the road and up onto a banking, and then flying off the banking and dropping back down onto the stage, blocking traffic. Genta said he was in 4th gear at 80 mph when he went over a crest and found no road on the other side. Competitors Tony Takaori and Dave White were first on the scene, and needed to get our of their cars to move fallen trees and rocks to clear the road as Genta could not move his car. Both Takaori and White lost significant time to the field.

49. The Ralph Kosmides/Joe Noyes Toyota Supra twin turbo not only clinched the Group 5 national championship - their first - but have clinched the Manufacturers Championship for Toyota, its second in Group 5.

50. Although the Garen Shrader/Doc Shrader Ford Sierra Cosworth was able to start the event, they again had half-shaft problems which forced them to retire from the event. There was some Joy in Mudville, however, as Garen turned the fastest time on stage #5, beating Paul Choiniere by 4 seconds, and running third behind Choiniere and Summerbell after two stages.

51. We were very pleased to have Jerry Bernardo from "Motoworld 2 - Rev it Up", a racing show on ESPN2, here this weekend to do a story on PRO Rally. The segment will air on Friday, October 16, at 6:30 PM Pacific time (9:30 PM Eastern) on ESPN2. It should be a good piece.

52. Bill Malik's chances for a Group 2 championship went down the tubes as his Volvo 240 suffered electrical failure after stage #7 and could not continue. Despite his hold-up with the Genta accident, Dave White still won Group 2 and clinched the class national title. Christian Edstrom, Malik's co-driver, will win the co-driving championship unless White and co-driver David Watts go the last event in Michigan. Currently, Edstrom leads Watts by four points.

53. The Carl Jardevall/John Elkin Volvo 740 suffered a multitude of problems which prevented them from running at full speed right from the transit to stage #5, but it was a faulty fuel pump - one that had just been installed new this week - that put them out.

54. The overall points battle will go down to the last event, but Paul Choiniere/Jeff Becker will have an uphill battle to capture their seventh straight national title. After their rear suspension problems, they managed to scratch their way back to 13th overall in their Hyundai Tiburon, winning stage #9, but the David Summerbell/Michael Fennell Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV scored 17 big points to take a 15-point lead going into the last event. With neither driver having to drop points, Summerbell can clinch the championship by finishing 6th or higher, no matter where Choiniere finishes. Obviously, if Choiniere doesn't win, then Summerbell can finish even lower and still win the title. The overall co-driver points are much closer, with Becker leading Fennell by only five points.

55. With the Noel Lawler Hyundai Elantra victory, Hyundai clinches the overall manufacturers championship - the Korean marques third straight win. With Lawler's third place finish at STPR and his win here this weekend, Noel made a significant contribution to the championship -along with John Buffum's victory at Minnesota - picked up the slack when Choiniere had some of his bad luck this season.

56. In Production GT, it will go right down to the wire between Lee Shadbolt (81 points) and Steve Gringras (80 points). Part of the reason for that was the outstanding performance of Arthur Odero- Jowi/Farina O'Sullivan Mitsubishi Eclipse. Odero-Jowi, originally from Kenya and now living in the Dallas area, had some frustrating DNFs early in the season, but finished a fine fourth overall and first in PGT at this event. Gingras/Carlson were second, more than a minute back after electrical problems left them with just headlights for night vision. Shadbolt/Eklund were third in their Subaru Impreza.

57. In Production, Trevor Donison/John Allen in the Plymouth Neon finished second in class to take an 83 - 66 points lead over the Honda Civic of Jay Kowalik/Scott Embree. Embree has already clinched the co-drivers national title, but Kowalik will have to win the Lake Superior PRO Rally if Donison shows up to protect his lead, if Jay wants to win the national title.

National LEG SCORES

STAGE 1 STAGE 2 STAGE 3 STAGE 4

G.Shra 805 P.Choi 680 T.Taka 1075 D.Summ 1042 P.Choi 812 D.Summ 686 N.Lawl 1077 N.Lawl 1069 M.Whit 812 N.Lawl 696 D.Summ 1096 M.Whit 1100 T.Taka 828 G.Shra 713 M.Whit 1103 P.Choi 1146 D.Summ 833 M.Whit 718 D.Whit 1143 A.Oder 1174 N.Lawl 843 H.Gent 723 B.Mali 1163 C.Jard 1181 D.Whit 852 T.Taka 727 H.Gent 1164 L.Pete 1244 R.Kosm 856 B.Mali 749 R.Kosm 1169 P.Timm 1262 L.Pete 888 R.Kosm 751 S.Ging 1182 R.Kosm 1293 B.Mali 893 S.Ging 754 C.Jard 1182 H.Done 1294 P.Timm 894 D.Whit 761 L.Pete 1194 K.Stew 1335 J.Dami 903 A.Oder 762 A.Oder 1206 S.Ging 1337 R.Wood 910 J.Dami 770 P.Timm 1215 B.Whit 1349 S.Ging 913 P.Timm 770 J.Dami 1225 S.Bend 1380 C.Jard 914 R.Wood 788 K.Stew 1248 S.Bell 1389 A.Oder 916 L.Pete 793 R.Wood 1261 L.Shad 1407 B.Whit 920 R.McIv 798 D.Robi 1273 M.Brow 1437 H.Gent 929 H.Done 809 H.Done 1281 E.Oyag 1446 H.Done 930 K.Stew 811 S.Bend 1328 N.Gabo 1446 R.McIv 934 D.Robi 824 L.Shad 1342 M.Kilp 1467 D.Robi 940 L.Shad 832 T.Bier 1365 K.Russ 1477 K.Stew 949 C.Jard 838 B.Whit 1381 D.Robi 1497 S.Bend 959 S.Bend 839 R.McIv 1415 T.Doni 1508 C.Rhod 963 B.Whit 844 E.Oyag 1439 R.McIv 1559 T.Bier 971 C.Rhod 846 G.Shra 1442 D.Whit 1588 L.Shad 985 M.Kilp 871 M.Kilp 1477 J.Dami 1646 M.Kilp 991 E.Oyag 879 S.Bell 1488 C.Rhod 1673 E.Oyag 991 M.Brow 882 T.Doni 1503 T.Taka 1890 S.Bell 998 T.Doni 886 K.Russ 1510 T.Bier 3275 T.Doni 1035 T.Bier 893 N.Gabo 1517 N.Gabo 1080 K.Russ 909 M.Brow 1552 M.Brow 1086 S.Bell 922 C.Rhod 1815 K.Russ 1107 N.Gabo 947 P.Choi 2367

STAGE 5 STAGE 6

P.Choi 693 N.Lawl 1015 N.Lawl 709 P.Choi 1060 M.Whit 712 D.Summ 1074 D.Summ 716 M.Whit 1085 S.Ging 742 S.Ging 1126 A.Oder 750 A.Oder 1137 R.Kosm 753 L.Pete 1163 D.Whit 807 R.Kosm 1169 L.Pete 809 D.Whit 1202 H.Done 811 H.Done 1213 P.Timm 821 R.McIv 1224 K.Stew 831 L.Shad 1271 J.Dami 833 P.Timm 1273 R.McIv 845 J.Dami 1285 L.Shad 847 T.Taka 1287 D.Robi 857 B.Whit 1291 B.Whit 859 K.Stew 1314 S.Bend 905 T.Bier 1336 M.Brow 906 M.Brow 1401 T.Bier 909 D.Robi 1406 T.Taka 913 M.Kilp 1409 S.Bell 914 S.Bend 1411 E.Oyag 918 N.Gabo 1412 N.Gabo 938 E.Oyag 1414 K.Russ 943 T.Doni 1452 T.Doni 943 S.Bell 1458 M.Kilp 943 K.Russ 1650

Divisional Stage Times

CAR DRIVER 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 TOTAL 45 A Odero- 916 762 1206 1174 750 1137 0 59.45 6 S Gingra 913 754 1182 1337 742 1126 0 60.54 119 L Peters 888 793 1194 1244 809 1163 0 60.91 323 P Timmer 894 770 1215 1262 821 1273 0 62.35 77 H Done 930 809 1281 1294 811 1213 0 63.38 22 D White 852 761 1143 1588 807 1202 0 63.53 117 K Stewar 949 811 1248 1335 831 1314 0 64.88 28 B Whitma 920 844 1381 1349 859 1291 0 66.44 17 J Damiti 903 770 1225 1646 833 1285 0 66.62 66 D Robins 940 824 1273 1497 857 1406 0 67.97 52 S Bender 959 839 1328 1380 905 1411 0 68.22 50 E Oyague 991 879 1439 1446 918 1414 0 70.87 24 M Kilpat 991 871 1477 1467 943 1409 0 71.58 5 M Brown 1086 882 1552 1437 906 1401 0 72.64 21 T Doniso 1035 886 1503 1508 943 1452 0 73.27 93 N Gaborn 1080 947 1517 1446 938 1412 0 73.40 26 T Bier 971 893 1365 3275 909 1336 0 87.49 8 B Malik 893 749 1163 DNF 25 F Ronn DNF 4 R Wood 910 788 1261 DNF 601 R Hollan DNF 222 C Rhodes 963 846 1815 1673 DNF