San Diego Female Firefighter Blazes Dunlop Drivers Cup Berth

AKRON, Ohio, Sept. 5 -- A Ramona, Calif., female firefighter for the California Department of Forestry has been selected to participate in the Dunlop Drivers Cup driving challenge.

Dallas Tinsman, 28, of Escondido, Calif., will be competing against 11 other amateur drivers at the U.S. Regional Qualifier in Danville, Va., on Sept. 11-15. Tinsman recently advanced to the Ramona Air Attack Base, the oldest permanent aerial fire fighting base in the United States and one of the most active.

Tinsman said the Virginia International Raceway event fits her active lifestyle perfectly. Reared in San Diego, she spent most of her youth in the nearby desert in off-road buggies and in rivers enjoying water sports. She also built a custom all-terrain vehicle that was featured in Sand Sports magazine.

"I've spent my life trying to beat the boys and trying to figure out how to gain the upper hand on the competition," she said. If having the most toys is any measure, Tinsman definitely holds the cards. She owns five ATVs - including her own custom Honda ATC 70 - a Honda XR 50 motorcycle and Kawasaki 750 jet ski.

Tinsman and a Pflugerville, Texas, woman will be competing with 10 men. Both are self-described tomboys, and they say they're up to the task.

Tinsman said she 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 Tinsman's passion for adventure. "Dallas' competitive fire will serve her well in this competition. She also has the endurance to go the distance."

Tinsman is proud that she stands out in a crowd. She grew up disliking her first name, but now "wears it as a badge of honor. I always wanted to be different. As a child, I took all my toys apart and put them back together. I even took the roof off my doll house.

"Unfortunately, I never could get my bike back together. I had two older brothers and was always getting into their stuff," she said.

The firefighter said Drivers Cup is another milestone in her lifelong love of ATVs and sports bikes. Her lifestyle has kept her fitness level high, and she figures that might give her a leg up in the event.

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.

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/.