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Bildon Motorsport - News
For Immediate Release:
Team RallyVW Wins At Sno*Drift!
Team RallyVW captured a Production Class win at the Sno*Drift ProRally in
Atlanta, Michigan on January 30-31 2004. The Sno*Drift Pro Rally is the only
snow rally in the SCCA ProRally series and is always a challenging event.
Brutal weather conditions, slick road surfaces and deep snow banks make for
extremely difficult driving conditions.
RallyVW driver Jon Hamilton said that "momentum, traction and car control are
the determining factors for who is quickest on the stages." Hamilton obviously
knows what he is talking about, as he won the production class by over ten
minutes, outpacing the Ford focus of Lesley Suddard, and finishing 3rd overall
in the 2WD category behind the quick factory backed Group 2 & Group 5 Dodge
Neons.
Hamilton and Sabo jumped out to an early lead on Friday night with six
consecutive stage wins. Hamilton got caught out on a square left on stage
seven that left the Golf TDI firmly planted in a snow bank. Hamilton and Sabo
managed to free the car with some quick shoveling and a push from some helpful
spectators. The team lost over seven minutes on the stage, but still remained
in first place as they returned back to Lewiston for the overnight service.
The RallyVW crew of Rich Lipstreu, Jim Chenoweth, Jon Frush set about getting
the car back in shape for the Saturday stages under the watchful eye of Crew
Chief Brett Fairbanks. The crew spent a lot of time digging packed snow out of
the chassis and suspension of the car, carefully checking for damage from the
snow banks. Tire choices and suspension settings were evaluated and modified
for the following day.
Saturday's treacherous road conditions were even worse then Friday night, with
polished glare ice under a dusting of fresh snow. Enjoying a two minute lead,
Hamilton and Sabo had the luxury of setting their own pace, and weren't forced
to take any chances. The 2000 VW Golf TDI performed flawlessly on Saturday,
allowing RallyVW to steadily advance in the field, climbing to 18th position
overall, beating several more powerful all wheel drive vehicles.
Hamilton's Volkswagen Golf TDI is the only diesel currently competing in the
ProRally series. The fuel is a Soylect Biodiesel blend supplied by McWherter
Petroleum. This environmentally friendly fuel, made from domestically grown
soybeans, reduces our dependency on foreign oil and cuts harmful exhaust
emissions. Biodiesel also fuels RallyVW's service truck.
Performance Rally takes place on real roads, usually dirt, gravel, or two-
tracks in forested areas. The terrain can change quickly. The winding roads are
peppered with washouts, large rocks, tight turns, and jumps. The driver relies
heavily on the co-driver, who reads instructions and maintains mileage
calculations while the driver is pushing the car to impossibly fast speeds
through the woods and fields.
For more information, check the team's website at www.rallyvw.com.
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