Dust is the one thing that makes being first on the road an advantage in SCCA ProRally and the Rim of the World ProRally had plenty of dust this year. The Angeles National Forest hasn't seen rain in quite a while and, even with two-minute start windows for the fastest competitors, seeing was difficult.
"We had to nearly stop on two [Leg One] stages. It was very dangerous," says Hyundai's Mark Higgins. "You couldn't see anything in front of you."
The rally also had hundreds of water bars, the car-eating, anti-erosion ditches across the high-desert roads that help make Rim the season's most brutal event. "This rally is just as hard as I remembered it," says last year's winner, Mark Lovell. "Still, Rim's the best round of the championship." Only 25 of the 44 National starters finished the event.
The rally started in style with a sunset spectator stage behind the headquarter's hotel. Subaru held an owner's appreciation event to celebrate the first anniversary of WRX's U.S. debut at Rim and, by the start of Friday night's Leg One, more than 350 cars had shown and more than 800 Sube fans had registered. The large Subaru contingent had a chance to check out a number of aftermarket suppliers and get an autograph from WRC star, Petter Solberg. Mitsubishi and Hyundai added to the colorful carnival atmosphere with tents, t-shirts, displays and autograph sessions of their own.
Leg One was unbelievably competitive as six drivers each posted a fastest time on at least one of the six stages. Mitsubishi's Rhys Millen tied with Subaru's Mark Lovell on SS1 and set a fast time through SS2. Hyundai's Paul Choiniere set the pace on SS3 and tied with Subaru's Ramana Lagemann on SS4. David Higgins led the way on SS5 in his independently entered WRX, while brother, Mark, was quickest through SS6 in his factory Tiburon. The Hyundai driver led after Leg One by slightly more than 40 seconds with only 10 seconds covering Lagemann, David Higgins and Lovell in second, third and fourth, respectively.
Paul Choiniere's luck seemed to change as the Vermonter took position number one and led the rally after the spectator stage. The eight-time national champion was still leading when a viscous coupling failed, ending his rally on SS5 and making it four DNFs in a row.
He wasn't alone in his misery, however. Rhys Millen debuted his new EVO VII at Rim and talked his father, former Asia-Pacific and U.S. national champion Rod Millen, into driving the team's EVO 6.5. The two switched cars at the last minute, with Rhys taking the well-sorted 6.5. As it turned out, the new EVO left Dad stopped in the very first stage with a separated ball joint.
"I got tired. It's getting dark and time for my bed," jokes the elder Millen. Rhys later had troubles of his own as a flat cost nearly seven minutes on SS3. His troubles continued on SS5 when he found himself high-centered with two wheels hanging over a very steep edge.
Meanwhile, Lagemann "had a 'moment' at the same corner Mark (Subaru teammate Lovell) did. You're going about 90 mph in fifth gear and there's a really tight turn. The notes were way too optimistic."
Of Lovell's 'moment', co-driver Steve Turvey says, "We were tied with Mark Higgins at the start of the stage and wanted to get to the front and get a clear run [through SS5 and SS6] after the reseed [at the SS4 service break]. We came over a crest and were way too committed. The car went wide and the back end dropped over the edge of the road. Then it went in on the co-driver's door, as is normal, and rolled once. Before it even stopped moving, Mark had it in gear and we drove out, losing 30 seconds.
"Obviously, you're then a bit nervous about the condition of the car, so you take it easy." Somehow, the Prodrive team pounded the car back into shape during the 20-minute service and kept it in the fray.