Rim of the World ProRally

Top: Rough and dusty stages are the trademarks of the Rim of the World ProRally.

Bottom Right: No other ProRally event offers stages with as many twists or elevation changes.

Below: The EJ20 4-cylinder, 4-cam 2.0l turbo engine produces 260 hp.

Photo by Lee Shadbolt

Photo © Darkrooms Plus

Covering over 100 timed stage miles, the 2000 event will be remembered for rougher than normal roads and a high attrition rate. It was the 17th consecutive Rim of the World ProRally. The Hairpin Racing team had competed in this event for the past three years, winning PGT honors at every entry. The Hairpin Racing team spent the prior eight weeks preparing their 1997 Subaru Impreza for the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) Group A class recognized by the SCCA. This required installing a Japanese market, turbocharged, and intercooled 2.0 liter boxer engine, special factory alloy control arms, upgraded ventilated front and rear disc brakes, WRX model sheet metal, and a number of other "homologated" (approved by the FIA) components. The ambitious modifications required were not fully sorted and the engine suffered from hesitation below 3000 rpm (an electrical problem that could not be repaired at the event).

The rally began with a dirt spectator stage next to the Palmdale Holiday Inn. The next stage took the 36 teams into the Angeles National Forest after dark on partially paved roads. The team hit a rock on stage three with the driver side front wheel causing a flat and a severely bent strut. The team limped the car to the end of the stage and replaced the wheel. The strut held together for another stage despite the wheel being at an odd angle. Back in service, the crew replaced the strut in 13 minutes and the team was able to complete the last two stages of Friday night.

The racing resumed on Saturday afternoon with the famous Del Sur turn around stage. The team suffered no mechanical problems going up and down Del Sur. The final four stages featured numerous water bars - places in the road where water is diverted to minimize erosion. A careful approach was required to keep from nosing the car into the dirt on the entry and to keep the car from jumping too high on the exit. The rally cars then donned off-road lights for the final two nighttime stages.

Hairpin Racing finished 12th overall, and brought home the first place trophy for the Group A class. Of the 36 starting competitors, 21 did not finish (DNF).