Who is Hairpin Racing?
The Hairpin Racing team was formed in 1990 by Tamara Shadbolt. During the first year, Tamara participated in Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) Solo II events. She drove a 1967 Austin-Healey Sprite to a first place finish in the SCCA Solo II D-Street Prepared Ladies class for 1991, 1992, and 1994.
Lee Shadbolt started his PRO Rally career in 1992 as the co-driver for Paul Eklund. Lee and Paul successfully raced Eklund's 1974 Opel until the 1993 Twin Peaks Rally where they hit a tree and destroyed the car. In 1994 Lee again became a co-driver, this time for Simon Levear running a 1975 Datsun 510. Simon and Lee competed together until the end of the 1995 season.
During 1996, the Shadbolt's put together a plan to compete in the National SCCA PRO Rally Series. In December 1996, a Subaru Impreza was purchased. The car was driven home from the showroom and seven weeks later was attending its first PRO Rally event. Lee assumed the role of driver while Paul Eklund co-drove.
They led the 1997 points race for the Production GT class up until the Prescott Forest PRO Rally where they rolled the car. Even though the team was not able to finish the season, their points standing was enough to earn them third place. In 1998, the team took second in the PGT Driver's Championship, and first in the PGT Co-Driver's Championship.
For 1999 Hairpin Racing will again compete for the PGT Championship title, this time with Claire Chizma as co-driver. The Impreza, entering its third season, is a well sorted rally car and continues to be reliable.
Hairpin Racing became a corporate entity in May of 1998. Hairpin Racing is listed in the Manufacturer's Directory of Engineered Automotive Products and the Worldwide Automotive Supplier Directory both published by the Society of Automotive Engineers. Product testing, after-market parts for Subaru Imprezas, and marketing partnerships are a few of the services that Hairpin Racing now offers.
E-mail: shadbolt@interserv.com