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May 2000 - For immediate release
For more information, contact: John Dillon
Widget Rally Team
P. O. Box 1231
Thousand Oaks, CA 91358-0231
Phone: 805.906.7797
Widget web site: www.WidgetRacing.com
e-mail: John @ WidgetRacing.com

Sierra Motorsport Returns to Podium at Rim of the World Rally

Despite Broken Suspension, Nelson and Dillon Claim Second in Group N

Palmdale, California. Driver Mark Nelson of Incline Village, NV, and co-driver (navigator) John Dillon of Thousand Oaks, CA finished second in Group N at the Rim of the World ProRally last weekend despite racing with a crash-damaged suspension for three stages of the event. The team reprised its Oregon Trail ProRally finish (in April) with another visit to the Group N podium.

Sierra Motorsport fields a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV in the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) ProRally series. The car was damaged on Stage 2 after clipping the side of a mountain. "The road surface was unpredictable and slippery," explained Nelson. "Sections of the concrete road were covered in gravel--it was like racing on marbles." The impact bent an A-arm and lower control arm and shoved the right front tire into the fender.

"Pirelli makes a phenomenal rally tire," praised the co-driver. "We drove over 50 miles with the tire chafing against a fender rivet. Even though the rivet dug a groove into the tire all the way to the cord, the tire never went flat." When the rallyists finally limped into the service area, their crew launched into action. Crew chief Murray Thomas, along with John Nelson and Stephen Thomas, completely replaced the right front suspension components including the axle in only 22 minutes. "These guys are great!" commented the driver.

Rim of the World, considered by many to be the roughest rally on the U.S. circuit, covers over 100 miles in two days. One only has to review the results sheet to see how the rough roads and steep exposures (cliffs) can take their toll on competitors and equipment. At the conclusion of the race on Saturday night, only 15 National competitors were shown as finishers. Another xxx had fallen by the wayside (some literally) with mechanical problems. At the end, Sierra Motorsport's Evo finished 13th overall despite losing over 30 minutes due to their early crash.

The team's next race is June 3rd, the Susqhehannock Trail ProRally (STPR) headquartered in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania. "The Mitsubishi took the punishment of the Rim without complaint," said Nelson. "Now we get to enjoy the horsepower of our turbocharged Evo back east where the roads are smoother, wider, and faster." Mark Nelson has never raced east of the Sierras, but Dillon has some familiarity with the venues, having co-driven for the full 1999 National season. Crew chief Murray Thomas also brings years of experience to the remaining events. "We're looking forward to the rest of the season," said Dillon. "We continue to gain confidence in the car and each other, so expect to see us climbing the results charts."

Thanks to the power of the internet and services provided by Shults Dot Com the Sierra Motorsport Rally Team stays organized despite geographic complications. Nelson lives in central Nevada, Dillon in Ventura County, California, and Thomas near Chicago, Illinois while the car and team are based at a Sears Point Raceway shop in northern California. The team races exclusively on Pirelli tires, with a Drummond suspension and JRZ springs carrying the load. For more information, visit www.SierraMotorsport.com, hosted by Shults Dot Com.

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