24 Drivers Compete in U.S. Dunlop Drivers Cup Qualifier
PHOENIX, Sept. 7 -- In its search for America's best non- professional drivers, Dunlop officials found a police officer, firefighter, dentist, eye doctor, Hollywood stuntman and former trumpeter for Santana -- among others.
Thirteen Americans -- including six Californians and two New Yorkers -- are set to compete Saturday and Sunday in Phoenix for the U.S. Dunlop Drivers Cup Qualifier. Add a couple Dunlop dealers, four BMW and Porsche club members and media from MotorWeek, and 24 will be suited up for two days of intense driving.
Most drivers say they're ready -- or at least they claim they are -- for the unique international driving competition on-track autocross and off-road SUV, motocross and all-terrain-vehicle events.
Some say they're adept when they leave the pavement; others feel more at home on a racetrack. Most say they can drive anything that has wheels. Two women will man the steering wheel.
They've already answered a bevy of racing-related questions and written an essay to qualify for Dunlop Drivers Cup. Now the finalists must strap on a racing helmet and slip on specially fitted driving suits.
The U.S. finalists include:
* Dr. Sam Burg, a dentist from Santa Maria, Calif.;
* Philip Challinor, a firefighter/paramedic from Diamond Springs, Calif.;
* Scott Haag, a sign producer from Phoenix;
* Mike Hansen, a police officer from Mt. Vernon, Wash.;
* Jeff Jensen, a movie/television stuntman and director from Malibu,
Calif.;
* Brian Killourhy, musician/courier from Brooklyn, N.Y.;
* Julius Melendez, solo artist and trumpeter (formerly of Santana) from
Richmond, Calif.;
* Ritchie Ortiz, New Jersey government executive from Bayonne, N.J.;
* Dr. Giorgio Schirripa, eye doctor from Yonkers, N.Y.;
* Robert Sullivan, engineer from West Palm Beach, Fla.;
* Bradley Sutika, ad executive from Farmington Hills, Mich.;
* Wallace Hattenhauer, telephone network engineer from Little Rock;
* Valerie Zegarelli, newspaper sales director from Lafayette, Ala.;
* Jim McCaluley, of Las Vegas, and Albert Andrade, of Rialto, Calif.,
both of Discount Tire;
* Julio Aleman, of Chicago, and Richard Kaufman, of Buena Park, Calif.,
both of Just Tires.
Competing in the journalist/media category are Dave Farnsworth, of Schaumburg, Ill., and Sam Smith, of Streamwood, Ill., of BMW Roundel; advertising writer Gary Witzenburg, of East Lansing, Mich., of AutoWeek; Henry Kopacz and Brian Robinson of MotorWeek, of Owings Mills, Md.; and Kurt and Angie Gibson of Porsche Panorama, of Springfield, Mo.
Dunlop officials started Drivers Cup to showcase Dunlop's racing heritage and its broad range of passenger, truck, motorcycle and all-terrain-vehicle tire lines. Dunlop SP Sport Maxx and Direzza DZ101 ultra-performance tires will be featured in the competition.
For more on Drivers Cup, go to http://www.dunloptires.com/ .
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