For Immediate Release

July 4, 2004 Bangor, Maine

Maine based Last Ditch Racing brought home a sixth place overall and fourth in Open class finish in the 2004 Rallye Baie Des Chaleurs in New Richmond, Quebec.  The rally is the third round of the Canadian Rally Championship.

The team started the 17 stage event in fifteenth position, and steadily moved up the tally board.  In the process of rally, the team set a third fastest stage time on both Stage B-6 and Stage C-2.  They finished fourth in Leg B of the event.

Going into the third and final leg of the rally, driver John Cassidy and Co-Driver Dave Getchell were 35 seconds behind the Impreza of Randy Zimmer and Dave Shindle.  The team pushed and were able to close the gap significantly, finishing the event 7 seconds out of fifth position.  Said Cassidy, we pushed quite hard the last two stages to try and catch Randy and Dave, but ran out of stage miles.  We've always admired Randy's speed in his normally aspirated Impreza."  The final stage of the event, and second running of Stage C-2, saw the team 25 seconds faster than their first time through it.

Cassidy and Getchell were extremely pleased with the car and had no mechanical issues or tire punctures all weekend.  "Our crew did a fantastic job keeping us on track throughout the weekend.  We're finally coming to grips with our turbo-charged car and can't wait to get back in it and improve on this success."

The team thoroughly enjoyed the event and after flying over the large jump at the end of the Camp Brule stage, co-driver Dave Getchell was giggling and laughing too hard to speak to the final control worker.  Said Cassidy, "This was Dave's first time at Baie, and I told him to put the notes down and just look out the window and enjoy the spectacle of the crowd while we were in the air."

Despite having a fantastic event,  the highlight of the event for Cassidy and Getchell came when they were able to pull fellow driver Peter Thompson and Co-Driver Rod Hendrickson out of a ditch in Leg A of the event.  Said Cassidy, "We were heartsick after not being able to pull Peter and Rod out of the snowbank at Rally Perce Neige earlier in the season.  Our clutch was marginal at best and we couldn't risk it.  When we saw Rod with the tow-strap out, we were more than happy to give their WRX a tug out of the bushes."

The team would like to thank the LDR team present at the event for their support and attention to detail.  Team Manager Eric Wages, Crew Chief Duncan Matlack and Crew Margaret Wages.

Last Ditch Racing would like to thank their 2004 team partners:
http://www.carbotecheng.com
http://www.teamoneil.com
http://www.mainehost.com
http://www.triplecaution.us
http://www.primmracing.com

For more information on Last Ditch Racing, please visit  http://www.lastditchracing.net
For more information on the Rallye Baie Des Chaleurs, please see http://www.rallyebdc.com
For more information on the Maine Forest Rally, please see http://www.maineforestrally.com
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Well done, Last Ditch Racing!

John, it sounds as though you know how to keep your co-driver happy, too!   Nothing like those yumps for bringing on the giggles.

Jean

Thanks everyone!  

As MLRC members, we're pleased to finally be hitting our stride!  We're hoping to carry the feeling from Baie through the rest of the season and fast approaching Maine Forest Rally.

The Thong PR should be out later tonight, but was won by locals in a Toyota MR2.  The criteria will be revealed in the PR.

Cheers!  John