Portland, OR. Following a class win at the Rim of the World PRO Rally on May 9th, driver Lee Shadbolt and co-driver Paul Eklund lead the 1998 Production GT class in the Michelin / SCCA PRO Rally Championship. The team, competing in the Hairpin Racing Subaru Impreza, plans to attend the Maine Forest Summer Rally on July 31st. The current points standing is as follows:
Driver / Co-Driver Make Model Points Shadbolt / Eklund Subaru Impreza 51.0 Russell / Dillon Dodge Shadow 45.2 Gingras / Westrick Eagle Talon 24.0 Landau / Marcus Mitsubishi Eclipse 22.0 Chizma / Marie Mitsubishi 3000GT 17.0In PRO Rally, teams must negotiate the rough terrain with only a route book to guide them. This route book gives exact mileage to intersections and road hazards along the course. Special stages are timed with teams departing at one or two minute intervals. Rally cars are equipped with special odometers, skid plates, lighting, and other safety equipment to help them negotiate these special stages. The challenge is to post a good time on a stage without damaging the vehicle or being delayed.
The Hairpin Racing Team has been a consistent finisher since its first appearance in an SCCA PRO Rally in February of 1997. In that event, the Doo Wops I Rally, the Impreza finished 20th overall. It was the debut event for an Impreza in a US Rally. They posted their first top 10 finish in June of 1997 in the popular Oregon Trail PRO Rally. The team lead the Production GT class in 1997 until the final event of the season, which they did not attend, and finished third for the season.
Hairpin Racing plans to compete in the following national points events:
Maine Forest Summer Rally July 31 - August 1 Ojibwe Forest PRO Rally August 28 - 29 Prescott Forest PRO Rally October 2 - 3Additional information regarding these events is available at
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Hairpin Racing is available for comment at (503) 624-6366, contact Tamara Shadbolt.