Topanga Rock Climber 'Climbs' Into Dunlop Drivers Cup

AKRON, Ohio, Sept. 5 -- A Los Angeles consultant for Employers Group, the nation's largest and oldest nonprofit employer organization dedicated to human resource services, has been selected to participate in the Dunlop Drivers Cup driving challenge.

Lee A.G. Clark, 43, of Topanga, Calif., will be competing against 11 other amateur drivers at the U.S. Regional Qualifier in Danville, Va., on Sept. 11-15. He said his race experience is complemented by his rock-climbing expertise.

A native of England, Clark said the Virginia International Raceway event fits perfectly his "true alpha style. I was brought up driving fast -- in all conditions, on all roads, in just about every car out there.

"Thankfully, I survived my youthful exuberance. I now combine those experiences with a degree of intelligence," he said.

Clark said he realizes Dunlop Drivers Cup is completely different from any other type of driving challenge. A unique competition, it includes on-track racing, autocross, off-road sport-utility, off-road all-terrain vehicle and motocross events to test the skills of hard-core driving enthusiasts.

Two two-driver teams from the three-day U.S. Regional Qualifier will represent Dunlop USA at the world Drivers Cup next year. The 10-day excursion is scheduled to travel through six European countries -- with driving events in each nation -- and finish on the African continent.

Janice Consolacion, brand planning manager for Dunlop in North America, said Cup organizers were impressed by Clark's 15 years of international rallying experience. "Lee has used his racing skills as an avenue to reach the mountains quicker to climb rock."

Clark said, "Racing to the mountains on a Friday night after school became my way to beat my colleagues to the rocks. Driving and climbing have helped me to better control my movements ... to stop and think before I make my next move."

The management consultant said Drivers Cup is another milestone in his lifelong love of the automobile and driving. His most memorable experience was flipping his vehicle three times before hitting trees during the Scottish International Rally in 1994.

"I've rallied everything from BMW M3s to Porsche 911s, but my favorite was an Audi A2 Quattro, originally driven by Hannu Mikkola, that I used for a season in the early 1990s. It snarled, growled and belched flames, spinning all four wheels when exiting muddy forest corners.

"Jeez, the thought of it has me trembling with excitement, even now."

European Dunlop officials started Drivers Cup in 1998 to showcase Dunlop's racing heritage and its broad range of passenger, truck, motorcycle and all- terrain-vehicle tire lines. Dunlop SP Sport Maxx ultra-performance tires and Mud Rover off-road tires will be featured in the competition.

Dunlop is a global tire brand with an excellent reputation among performance car enthusiasts. Well known for its prestigious original- equipment fitments and sports car racing heritage, Dunlop is also a key supplier to sport compact enthusiasts featuring "tuner" tire sizes and race series sponsorships.

Clark applied for Dunlop Drivers Cup after seeing an item in Automobile magazine.

Applications are being accepted now for those interested in competing in the 2007 Dunlop Drivers Cup U.S. Regionals. To apply, go to http://www.dunloptires.com/.