MEDIA ALERT - SCCA ProRally - Round #7 -
Ojibwe Forests
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For immediate release 11 August, 2001
MEDIA ALERT
SCCA ProRally Championship Round #7 - Ojibwe Forests
DENVER, CO: Seventh round (of ten) for the 2001 season. A huge 85 car
field, the third record breaking entry list in as many events, of SCCA and
FIA Performance Rally cars are slated to start the Ojibwe Forests SCCA
ProRally; competing on fast and smooth state Forestry roads in northwestern
Minnesota. This performance rally event is sanctioned by the Sports Car Club
of America.
When & Where:
17-18 August 2001; Bemidji, MN; approximately 180 miles (275 kilometers)
northwest of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Headquarters Hotel - Friday/Saturday Press Room; Event and Media registration
Northern Inn and Convention Center
Adjacent to Bemidji-Beltrami Airport; Bemidji, MN 56601
Hotel Main: 218.751.9500
Media & Fan Reception - Wednesday 15 August - Minnetonka, MN
Morrie's Subaru, an authorized reseller of Subaru automobiles, will be
hosting a reception for the media and performance rally fans at their
dealership on Wednesday evening, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. This is an
excellent opportunity for the media to meet the lead drivers, co-drivers and
view the top running Subaru automobiles in the SCCA ProRally Championship.
Minnetonka is approximately 10 miles west of downtown Minneapolis.
Scheduled to be on-hand will be the Subaru Rally Team USA (and current
overall points leaders) 2002 Impreza WRXs of Mark Lovell and Karl Scheible.
Other Subaru rally cars on hand will include Paul Eklund's SCCA Open class
1995 Impreza; Lee Shadbolt's turbocharged 2.0 Litre 1998 Impreza, and Henry
and Cindi Krolikowski's Prodrive built Impreza WRX-STi. A host of non-Subaru
performance rally cars, including Michael Halley's famous VW 'Cute Car' New
Beetle from the television commercials (now renamed the 'Stud Bug'), and Mark
Utecht's class leading Mitsubishi Eclipse will be on display as well.
Complete Event Schedule: (subject to change)
Wednesday, 15 August, 2001
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM Subaru Media Reception - Morrie's Subaru - Minnetonka, MN
*
Thursday, 16 August, 2001
7:00 PM - 11:00 PM "Triple Caution" RallyCross - Bemidji Speedway - open to
public
Friday, 17 August, 2001
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM Entrant and Media registration at the Northern Inn -
Bemidji
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Scrutineering - Chalet Center Car Wash - 703 Paul Bunyan
Dr.
5:30 PM Start of Ojibwe Forests SCCA ProRally Leg One - Northern Inn
12:30 AM Approximate first car arrival - Finish of Leg One - Northern Inn
12:30 AM - 2:00 AM Pizza Party - credentialed Press & VIPs invited -
Northern Inn *
Saturday, 18 August, 2001
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM Press Room open, Late Press Registration
12:00 Noon Start of Ojibwe Forests ProRally Leg Two - Bemidji Speedway
3:45 PM - 8:00 PM Service Area Open - location of spectator stage* - NJK
Ranch - Akeley
9:00 PM Approximate first car arrival - Finish of Leg Two - Northern Inn
10:00 PM - 2:00 AM Awards Banquet - Northern Inn - credentialed Press & VIPs
invited *
* Recommended time and location for media interviews.
SCCA ProRally Championship Round #7 - Ojibwe Forests
Selected entries (driver/co-driver):
· 2001 Sno*Drift overall winners and 7-time overall champion team of Paul
Choiniere and Jeff Becker; SCCA Open Class 2000 Hyundai Tiburon.
· 1999 Overall Manufacturer, Driver and Co-Driver Champions Noel Lawler &
Charles Bradley; SCCA Open Class 2000 Hyundai Tiburon .
· 2001 Overall points leader, Mark Lovell, with Steve Turvey, SCCA Open
Class 2002 Subaru WRX.
· 6-time 2001 podium finisher and 2nd place overall point holder, Seamus
Burke with 1st place overall co-driver points leader Frank Cunningham, 2000
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI.
· Overall winner of the 2000 Rim of the World and Susquehannock Trail
events, 2001 Gr N points leaders, Karl Scheible with Brian Maxwell, FIA Gr N
2002 Subaru WRX.
Additional news interest:
· The rally features two special spectator stages on Saturday, the first at
start at the Bemidji Speedway, and the other combined with the afternoon
service area at a local area cattle ranch. All will offer excellent viewing
opportunities, and spectator amenities including food service and comfort
facilities.
· Heat is expected to be a major factor at this year, with much of the
mid-west USA under the siege of a fierce heat wave that has lasted several
weeks. The SCCA's National Safety Steward, Dr. Floyd Shrader, has posted a
health advisory and steps are being taken to ensure the well-being of the
competitors. Spectators and Press are advised to bring plenty of drinking
water.
· Mazda officially joins the Manufacturers Championship at Ojibwe Forests,
with the debut of their new Protégé MP3 rally car. Built by Burmeister
Motorsports of Dearborn Heights, MI, the all-new car shares its appearance
and several key performance components with the manufacturer's highly
successful SCCA World Challenge series road-race cars. The car, built from
the ground up for SCCA Group 2 (2 wheel drive, under 2.4 litre) competition,
will re-establish the former championship winning automaker in SCCA rally
competition. Mazda's last overall SCCA ProRally championship was earned by
multi-time SCCA ProRally drivers champion Rod Millen, in 1989.
Event Rank:
This rally is a full points SCCA ProRally Championship event. Drivers earn
points towards the national championship, and supporting manufacturers
(Hyundai, Subaru, Mazda and Mitsubishi) earn points towards overall and class
Manufacturers' Championships.
Press Credentials:
Event Press/Photo credentials will be available at registration on Friday and
pre-event Saturday morning. Access to press-only photo areas, and to the
post event activities will require a press pass. Credentials are available
only to members of the working press. Identification and/or work assignment
required.
Visuals, Interviews & Media information:
During the event, action photography will be possible from spectator and
select press-only viewing areas along the rally course. Drivers, co-drivers
and crew will be accessible throughout the event, including the Saturday
afternoon Service. Media relations will be able to provide driver and
co-driver interviews, event results and other information via telephone and
Email.
Contact: Kurt Spitzner - SCCA ProRally Championship Director
Pre-event: 303.967.9660; 303.694.3654 Fax (USA Country
Code: 1)
direct inquiry Email: kspitzner@scca.org
Press Room phone: 218.751.9500 ask for Press Room. The operator will
transfer call.
Time zone at event: Central Daylight Time (GMT - 6 hours)
· SCCA ProRally: http://www.sccaprorally.org/
· SCCA Ojibwe Forest ProRally: http://www.ojibweforestsrally.com
The SCCA ProRally Championship is presented by Hyundai and Subaru
