Contact: Andy
Schupack, Media Liaison 401-739-5677
- now through April 26, 2006 MEDIA
ALERT Note to the media: We will hold the Subaru Media Stage, where you can ride in a rally car, take before-the-event photos, and interview the top drivers, on Friday morning April 28. We will send out details in a few days. Meanwhile, media can register for credentials at www.rimoftheworldrally.com. 23nd
ANNUAL LANCASTER RALLY IS BACK IN THE HIGH DESERT ONE WEEK EARLY –
LANCASTER, Calif. – April 17 – The 23nd running of the Subaru Rim of the World Rally coming up April 28 - 29 will be the most exciting, most entertaining high performance auto rally ever held in Southern California, with two days of dynamic programs running at the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds and on the fire rim roads of the Angeles National Forest. “In the history of the Rim of the World Rally, the Forest Service staff of the Angeles National Forest has been a vital part of the event, and the grading of the entire course this year – with both organizations working as a team – has result in the best forest roads we have ever had,” said Ray Hocker, from Ridgecrest, chairman of the event. Combine
that with the more than 50 race cars, special closed racing stages at
the 7,500-seat Antelope Valley Fairgrounds arena, and day-long entertainment
including world-class drifting competition will make the weekend a favorite
destination for Southern California families. Extreme motorcross champion
Travis Pastrana, who has made the transition from bikes to rally cars
quite successfully, will lead a large group of experienced rally competitors
in his Subaru WRX STi. In the Subaru Rim of the World Rally, the cars race one-at-a-time against the clock on closed ridge-top fire roads – each time trial is called a stage - in the Angeles National Forest, with the cars recording the lowest total elapsed time at the end of the event being the winners in each class. The co-driver, who sits in the passenger seat, has stage notes which guide the team through the course turn-by-turn, and has a rally computer to aid him or her by keeping track of mileage intervals and elapsed time. The driver will go as fast as he or she can – no speed limits – with coaching from the co-driver describing the road configuration ahead. The drivers meet their crew back at the Fairgrounds every couple of stages for service on the cars, and drivers must obey all local traffic regulations when their cars are not actually driving on the closed stage road. Unlike traditional racetrack driving, where repetition on the same course can lead to the “best line” or “best setup” for each corner, rally drivers must react to blind conditions at racetrack speed. This event is sanctioned by the United States Auto Club (USAC) and presented by the National Auto Sports Association (NASA). Parts of the event count for points in the Western States Rally Championship (WSRC) and the California Rally Series (CRS) as well. The rally will cover 272 miles including 93 stage miles. On Friday,
April 28, the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds in Lancaster opens to the public The event will be broadcast on HDNet, the channel available to high definition subscribers on DirectTV, the Dish Network, and many cable systems. The USRC is the only rally series in the world to broadcast all its events in high definition. The event will also be covered on local Adelphia Cable Channel 3 – check local listings for broadcast times. The Subaru Rim of the World Rally will also have a radio network online at www.rimoftheworldrally.com, with broadcasts starting at 5:00 PM on April 28.
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to editors: We have high res. photos available for editorial use –
please use this URL:
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