Houghton, MI, USA -- 2009 Central Open Light Champion, Mason Moyle didn’t run into the best luck at the first round of the Rally America Championship, Sno*Drift. With a new turbo, a new Co-Driver, and the most treacherous conditions the rally has ever seen, the weekend did not go according to plan.
The opening stage of the rally, the young duo of Moyle and Co-Driver Gary Barton ran into some mechanical trouble when tie-rod snapped half-way through the stage. The car made it to the end of the stage, but not much further. “We got to the start of Stage 2 on our minute, and when we went to launch the car, the tie rod decided to not cooperate anymore so we were stuck 10 feet from the start of the stage.” explained Moyle.
Things didn’t get much better for the team the next day either. After completing the Super Special with a 9th place stage time, Moyle and Barton went out to tackle the remaining stages of the day. The team fought with car after blowing both front tires. They had one spare. “We drove 22 miles on one rim!” said Barton, “We got through one of the longest stages of the rally on one rim, but as soon as we got out of the stage, the car decided to not cooperate again.”
Sno*Drift was a learning experience for the young team. But Rally in the 100 Acre Wood will be a different story.
Moyle Racing will be teaming up with veteran Co-Driver Scott Putnam again, due to a scheduling conflict with regular Co-Driver, Gary Barton.
Scott has finished as high as 6th in 2007 with Lauchlin O’Sullivan. This will be the first time Mason has seen these roads.