Ojibwe, continued from page 8
cently completed Subaru Impreza out from Washington state to take first place in Production GT, over PGT points leader Mark Utecht and Brenda Lewis in a Mitsubishi Eclipse. The margin between the two was 1 minute, 6 seconds. Third place went to Gail Truess and Jeff Secor in a Mazda 323-GTX.
Sport Compact Car magazine technical editor Dave Coleman, with Rim of the World organizer Paula Gibeault co-driving, was the winner in Production class aboard the Hyundai Tiburon Media car. Coleman, who recently completed the course at Team O’Neil Rally School in New Hampshire, led all of the two-wheel drive cars and was 16th overall after Friday’s run. Nearly five minutes behind Coleman at the finish was Tom Young and Jim LeBeau in a Dodge Neon, with Craig Peeper and Ian Bevan in a Ford Focus another two-and-a-half minutes back in third place.
Group 5 was the closest battle of the weekend, with the Ford Mustang V8 of Mike Hurst and Rob Bohn beating the first generation Mazda RX7 of Andrew Havas and John Allen by only six seconds. Hurst led the class by 42 seconds after Friday’s six stages, and improved to 1:12 by Stage 9. Then Havas turned up the wick and was fastest in the class over the final five stages, but could only close to the final gap. They finished 11th and 12th overall respectively. Dave and Rick Hintz were third in their Mazda RX7 Turbo, only three seconds ahead of the Gp. 5 Ford Escort ZX2 of Tad Ohtake and Martin Dapot.
The Group 2 win went to Bob Nielsen and Ed Wahl in a VW Golf. Nielsen, the 2000 SCCA ProRally Group 2 Champion, led from Stage 1 over
Dave White and Jimmy Brandt in a similar VW Golf, ultimately stretching the margin to 1 minute. Nielsen is known as the "Father of the Ojibwe Rally" as he first organized the event as a local rally in 1981. Eric Burmeister debuted his Mazda-backed Protege MP3 in Group 2 with a third place finish, with Eric Adams in the co-driver’s seat. There were two stages on the Ojibwe rally designed specifically so spectators and service crews could get the opportunity to see the cars in action. The first was held at the Bemidji Speedway, a 1/4-mile dirt oval. Cars started outside the track, then entered the track on the back straight and around the banked turns 3/4, into the infield for several chicanes, back onto the track surface through turns 2 and 1, and onto the front straight for a final chicane into the finish. Rains the previous day had turned the clay surface into mud that quickly filled the tire treads, making for very little traction. The field started in reverse order, from last to first based on Friday’s standings. Lovell set the fastest time, but Seed 6 driver Ryan Brooks placed third on the stage with a steady drive in his Acura on the slimy surface.
The other Spectator Superspecial - SS10 - was held at NJK Ranch near Akeley, on a motocross course set up in a cow pasture. Viewers could see most of the stage from one hilltop location, and were treated to some fine driving exhibitions, as well as some not so fine.
Lovell continues to lead in Driver’s points with 121, while Burke still holds second with 112. Scheible moves ahead of Choiniere into third at 66, while Choiniere now has 58. Tim Paterson moves into fifth place ahead of Richard Tuthill, 45 and 41 points respectively.
With Subaru’s win, and Hyundai’s misfortune, the Manufacturers Championship is beginning to stretch out - unofficial overall standings are: Subaru 119, Mitsubishi 107, and Hyundai 103. Scheible’s Group N victory gives Subaru a firm lock on that championship over its global Group N rally nemesis, Mitsubishi, 120 to 50. Round eight of the SCCA ProRally Championship, the Wild West Rally, will be held in the logging areas northwest of Olympia, Washington, on September 7-8.
FOR SALE: Comp T/A 205/50VR15’s (6/32 left) mounted and balanced on excellent condition Elite 5 spoke aluminum wheels ( VW bolt pattern ). Full set of four available. (One tire is not repairable ). Asking $400. Please call Mark at 612-761-5909(d) or 651-698-5816(e).FREE SLICKS: 8 13x7-8 Bridgestone slicks. New, never mounted, several years old, always stored indoors in a closet. Bridgestone/Firestone says they can be mounted on seven-inch wheels, but I have my doubts because they have very stiff sidewalls. Bought ‘em for my long-gone GT4 car. Would make good autocross rubber or regional rubber if you can get them on seven-inch wheels. Free. Come get them in Woodbury and save me the $40 recycling fee. John, 651-731-4207.
Tonneau On-Line October 2001
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Copyright 2001, Land O'Lakes Region Last revised: March 13, 2003
