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14 July 2003 - For immediate release
For more information, contact: John Dillon
Creativity in Action
P. O. Box 1231
Thousand Oaks, CA 91358-0231
Widget web site: www.WidgetRacing.com
e-mail: John @ WidgetRacing.com

Oregon Trail Rally Report

Tragedy Strikes the Rally Community in Oregon

Hillsboro, OR. The Oregon Trail Rally had barely begun when tragedy struck. The first car on the road, driven by 2001 champion Mark Lovell and codriven by Roger Freeman, struck a tree less than a mile into the stage, killing both occupants. Against this backdrop, the results of the Widget Rally Team (Leon Styles, Mission Viejo, CA and John Dillon, Thousand Oaks, CA) and the other competitors meant nothing. Though eventually the rally restarted, it was more of a therapy race than an exuberant challenge amongst friends.

Styles, driver for the Widget Rally Team, made it clear that results were unimportant this weekend. "I had a chance to spend some time with Mark at Pike's Peak. His kids are the same age as mine and we had a great time swapping stories." Clearly affected by the loss, he added, "I still can't believe they're gone."

Dillon came to grips by writing a reflective editorial for a rally site, explaining in part: "For some the fires of our rally passion may be dampened, but for many of us, they'll reignite soon enough, tempered by the harsh realities of any motor sport and the memories of our fallen comrades. Even as we remember those who will no longer climb the start ramp before blasting into the forest, we'll rally on. It's what made them formidable competitors, this ability to contend with unimaginable challenges, and what drives us to compete as well.

"We'll rally on, because that's what rallyists do, donning helmets full of memories, tightening harnesses over heavy hearts, gripping wheels and route books with solemn determination, then staring forward as we watch the countdown clock, looking ahead to the next stage. We'll face the immediate future, our focus renewed on the task at hand, preparing for the challenge thrown down by each new road, while workers address their own critical tasks with renewed commitment and fierce concentration. It's what gave Mark and Roger character, this 'rally on' attitude, and each of us wants a bit of that character in our own lives."

The Widget Rally Team is supported by Perforce Software (www.perforce.com/wrt), who had two representatives on site for the event. They learned a lot about our sport and enjoyed being a part of the team for the day, though they were clearly saddened by the loss. Additional financial support comes from Worr Games (www.worr.com) and Team Slam (www.teamslam.com). 7-24 AirXtransports the race car around the country, while Shults Dot Com (www.shults.com) provides internet services and Porterfield Enterprises (www.porterfield-brakes.com) supplies the brakes needed by a high-performance race car like the team's Mitsubishi Evolution.

When racing finally resumed, the team lost several positions right away after a flat tire forced them to stop on stage. Then, while changing the tire, a following competitor kicked up a rock in passing and shattered the codriver's window. "After losing several minutes on stage because of the flat," said Dillon. "Then we lost a lot more because of all the dust in the car. I could barely read the routebook and Leon had difficulty seeing through the cloud inside the car."

The results are trivial in light of what happened on the first stage, but here they are. After plunging to 29th place because of the flat, the team clawed back up to finish 13th (6th in class) at the end. Additionally, they won the Sunday "Trail's End" support rally. As a result, Styles is now fourth in the national drivers championship while Dillon remains in third place on the codrivers side. Additionally, Dillon currently leads the Open class codrivers championship battle in the Western States Rally Championship.

Styles will skip the next event, the Maine Forest Rally, but the team returns to action together in late August at the Ojibwe Forest Rally in Minnesota. The entire Tombstone Paintball Widget Rally Team continues to carry memories of Mark and Roger in their hearts, and their families in their thoughts.

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