Drivers Can’t Lose Their Edge During Rim of the World Race

When the participants in the Rim of the World Pro Rally race invade the Antelope Valley this weekend, one thing is assured:

These guys won’t be out for a leisurely spin.

Nearly 60 two-man teams from around the nation are expected to compete on a grueling road course in the Angeles National Forest.

On East Coast courses, modified street-legal cars are capable of speeds of up to 130 miles an hour, but because of the hilly terrain and steep mountains in the Angeles National Forest, extra caution is a necessity.

“This course is full of twists and turns,” driver Dennis Chizma of Simi Valley said. “The turns can be registered in feet, that’s how tight it is.”

The rally race, which is run in 12 timed stages over a two-day span, takes place on rugged, unpaved fire roads that stretch across the forest.

During the last portion of today’s race, drivers will navigate one of the toughest courses in the United States.

“Rim of the World offers some of the most-difficult challenges a rally racer can find,” organizer Paula Gibeault said.

And for some, that is exactly what makes the 228-mile trip so appealing.

“The unknown element is a big thrill,” Chizma said. “You’re racing against a cliff where you could drive right off a ledge with the littlest mistake.”

The race is run on a time-trial format in which drivers are released from a central starting point in two-minute intervals.

“It is not a wheel-to-wheel type of race,” Gibeault said. “So when a driver starts, they’re going all-out to beat the clock.”

On such a dangerous course, the navigator is nearly as important as the driver. One teammate drives the vehicle while his partner navigates with maps. Because competitors are not allowed on the course for at least three weeks before the event, there is little room for error.

“At night, the navigator uses a flashlight to read maps and the driver has to count on him,” Gibeault said.

*

With virtually every level of NASCAR in the Northwest in action this weekend, few drivers will be as busy as Ron Hornaday Jr. of Palmdale.

Hornaday, a top driver in the SuperTruck series, is scheduled to compete in today’s feature event at Portland Speedway.

That’s the easy part.

From there, Hornaday is expected to fly to Sonoma for Sunday’s Winston West Series event at Sears Point Raceway.

Hornaday will be the backup driver for Ricky Craven, who suffered an injured back last weekend at the Talledega racetrack in Alabama.

Craven will take the first lap on the 2.52-mile road course and will continue as long as he feels fit enough.

Don Hawk, the president of the Dale Earnhardt racing team that has Hornaday under contract, said Craven can call on Hornaday with complete confidence.

“Ron is prepared to go,” Hawk said. “If he gets into the race, the rest of the field is going to have their hands full.

“I feel Ron is the best available driver in the country.”

Reportedly, the Craven racing team wasn’t the only group to inquire about Hornaday’s availability.

Bill Elliott, who also was injured at Talledega, was interested in Hornaday as a driver.

But because of Hornaday’s contractual agreement with Chevrolet, the idea of driving for Elliott, a Ford driver, apparently was aborted.

“I can’t confirm that happened, but I won’t deny it,” Hawk said. “Right now the important thing is that everything worked out best.”

*

Lance Hooper is another driver from Palmdale who could figure in the Winston West race at Sonoma.

Time trials are today and it is expected that Hooper, who is the Winston West Series points leader, will qualify in the combined-level race.

Hooper has run well in previous races at Sonoma and lost the lead late in last year’s race when his car ran out of gas.

*

Southwest Tour drivers also will race at Sears Point after a weeklong break in the schedule. Through six races the Raudman brothers, Craig and Chris, have dominated.

Chris Raudman of Redding is the series point leader and Craig Raudman is a close second. He also is the only driver with two victories this season.

Craig, who lives in Valencia, is seeking his second victory in a row after taking the checkered flag at Stockton two weeks ago.

Also entered in the race is M.K. Kanke of Granada Hills, who won at Bakersfield last month but has not raced since.