RALLY: ProRally: Mayhem Racing Susquehannock Trail report

STACY, MINNESOTA Mayhem Racing's Mark Utecht and Brenda Lewis took their Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX to their second ProRally class win of the season at the Susquehannock Trails ProRally, putting them into a strong lead in the Production GT class halfway through the 2001 ProRally season. Team Mayhem finished 4.19 minutes ahead of the second place car in PGT, a Mazda 323 GTX driven by former PGT champion Gail Truess, with Jeff Secor filling in for regular co-driver, Pattie Hughes-Mayer. The Mayhem Racing team finished 12th overall.

"It wasn't an easy victory as we did some damage to the car that slowed us for awhile," said Utecht, "plus we had some luck when other front runners in our class went out." The damage came on Stage 3 when the Eclipse slid wide on a left turn and the right front hit the bank. The suspension was bent, making steering difficult. They struggled through the remainder of that stage plus another before reaching a scheduled service, where the crew was able to make repairs.

"We were running second after Stage 2, but the damaged suspension slowed us," said co-driver Lewis. "That allowed another car to get ahead of us, but then the PGT leader, Celsus Donnelly, rolled his Eagle Talon on Stage 4. In the meantime, Lauchlin O'Sullivan took over the class lead." O'Sullivan's rally ended on Stage 6 when the turbocharger on his Eclipse gave out.

"From that point on, we took it a little easier," said Utecht. "We had the lead, but had to make sure the cars in second and third didn't catch us." Rain from Stage 8 through the end of the rally made driving treacherous as it turned several sections into mud, and caused the demise of several teams who slid off the road and were unable to continue.

Utecht and Lewis currently lead the Production GT class in the SCCA ProRally Championship with 61 points, while Truess is second with 51 points. Production GT is considered a "stock" class, allowing very few modifications other than for safety.

Utecht and Lewis won the SCCA ProRally Group 5 driver and co-driver titles in 2000 aboard a Dodge Omni GLH. In addition, they were awarded the Jon Woodner Cup, presented to the most successful two-wheel drive competitors in the ProRally series. The pair were also given the SCCA Land O' Lakes Region Rally Driver and Rally Co-driver of the Year trophies at the region's annual awards banquet.

Sponsors of the 2001 Mayhem Racing ProRally effort include: * Morrie's Subaru - Minnetonka, Minnesota * FirstCom - business telephone communications * ProGraphics - custom vinyl lettering for business and racing * SpecialStage.com - on-line newsletter covering the sport of Performance Rallying. * Warranty Solutions - warranty claims processing and consulting for automobile dealerships.

Mayhem Racing is based in Stacy, Minnesota, just north of the Twin Cities. Team manager is Mark's wife, Mary Utecht. J. B. Lewis is Chief Mechanic on the team's 1992 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX.

<pre> Mayhem Racing's 2001 ProRally and ClubRally Results Date Event PGT Overall 1/29 Sno*Drift, Atlanta, Michigan 1st 6th Sno ClubRally 1st 1 Drift ClubRally 1st 1st 3/15-17 Cherokee Trails, Chatanooga, Tennessee Did not enter 4/7-8 Oregon Trail, Tillamook, Oregon 2nd 13th 5/4-5 Rim of the World, Lancaster, Calif. Did not enter 5/12 Headwaters ClubRally, Park Rapids, MN 1st 1st 6/2 Susquehannock Trail, Wellsboro, PA 1st 12th

2000 SCCA ProRally Season results: Mark Utecht: Jon Woodner Cup Driver SCCA ProRally Group 5 Driver Champion Central Division ClubRally Group 5 Driver Champion Land O' Lakes Region Rally Driver of the Year

Brenda Corneliusen (Lewis) Jon Woodner Cup Co-driver SCCA ProRally Group 5 Co-driver Champion Central Division ClubRally Group 5 Co-driver Champion Land O' Lakes Region Rally Co-driver of the Year

The team finished 10th overall in SCCA ProRally series points for 2000.

-Mayhem Racing