SCCA: Wild West ProRally Press Notes 4
19 June 1999
Wild West ProRally Press notes Page 4 21.) Karl Scheible is in a conservative mode in the Production Class Volkswagen New Beetle “I’m taking it easy. There are lots of holes in the course. I’m going to keep down the middle of the road. I’m in the points lead and want to keep it. I’ll drive fast and take chances at the next event in Maine.” 22.) According to Paul Truess, crew chief of the Production GT Mazda 323 GTX driven by his wife, Gail, their car is good. “We made some changes and put softer tires on the car. She hasn’t run Simpson roads before, so she’s learning how to drive them and learn the rhythms of the course.” 23.) Things are drastically different on opposite sides of the Libra Racing camp. Mechanic Brian Oldfield says that Noel Lawler is happy with his Hyundai Tiburon. “It’s running very well. No problems.” However, John Buffum’s Elantra is overheating. Oldfield says that the car is blowing water, so Buffum is taking it easy. 24.) Buffum’s troubles apparently started very early, as Ralph Kosmides and Joe Noyes (Group5 Toyota Supra)caught him on the first stage and had to struggle with his dust. 25.) The roads seem to suit Lawler just fine. After three stages, he is leading the event by 94 seconds over Doo Wop winner Lauchlin O’Sullivan (Audi quattro), 110 seconds over Buffum and 111 over the Shraders. 26.) In Group 5, Doug Schrenk and Rob Walton (Saab) had pulled ahead of Kosmides and Noyes by 29 seconds. 27.) In Group 2, Todd Hartmann and Shan Callahan (six-speed Volkswagen Golf GTi) have a slim, one-second lead over Chad Dykes and Deborah Fuller (Toyota). 28.) Doo Wop Production GT winner Gail Truess and Cindy Krolikowski (Mazda 323 GTX) have a 51-second lead over Rim of the World PGT winners Lee Shadbolt and Claire Chizma (Subaru Impreza). Truess’ regular navigator, Pattie Hughes had a commitment that predated the rescheduling of this event. So she is missing this event, and Truess’ longtime friend Krolikowki is filling in for her. 29.) Karl Scheible and Gail McGuire are running unopposed in Production, in the New Beetle. So they are taking their time and having an enjoyabe run. 30.) John Forespring (Group 5 Ford Mustang) had problems with the dust early on until they closed co-driver Tony Lemon’s window, which fixed the problem.