"Grommit"

Car #554

Press Release:

Date: September 16, 2000

PRESS RELEASE: Buskirk/Burmeister racing team

Munising, MI
Magnum Opus Pro Rally


The Buskirk/Burmeister team loaded up Car #554 for it's second adventure
in Pro Rally racing on Friday to head to Munising to compete in the Magnum 
Opus Rally.  The team hooked up with Jerry and Jim of Team YO and Colin and
Jeff of Team Sierra Rallysports and began the trek to Munising.

The team arrived early evening in Munising and enjoyed a relaxing night
off in preparation for the rally to follow.  Start times were posted Friday
night with team starting in seed 6.  The start order was quickly adjusted
by Bruce Weinman leaving the team in the bottom of seed 4; a 6 car jump 
from the bottom of seed 6.

Saturday brought the arrival of the team's Rally Boss Art Burmeister for
service.  With registration out of the way and a quick trip through tech
inspection, the car was ready for battle in the woods of Munising.  Mark
went through the Terra Trip computer functions with Eric, getting him
used to co-driving again after 3 years of being in the driver's seat.
Mark and Eric completed the Odo check and the team was ready.

The Buskirk/Burmeister team could be seen displaying their team shirts
and doing an interview with the local channel 6 television reporter.  The
reporter was very interested in how they became ralliest in the sport and
what they enjoyed about the rally experience.  Both Eric and Mark attended
Michigan Tech (aka Rally University) and spectated many events in the area.
Although their interview didn't make the 11:00 o'clock news, pictures
of the car at the spectator point on stage 3 did.

The race began at 6:00pm Saturday night.  With Mark and Eric both nervous
about switching roles, the team quickly fell into the groove after the
first few stages.  Eric was calling instructions like a Pro while Mark
was getting used to the feel of the newly prepared GTI.  Mark was even
practicing his "left foot braking" and getting to know how the car
handled under breaking conditions.

With 6 stages down, the second service and long dinner break helped
calm the team's nerves.  After starting the rally 26 on the road, the
reseed after the first 3 stages brought the team to 17th on the road
following the service.  A 9 car position advancement in only 3 stages!

Before leaving the dinner service, Rally Boss and crew chief Art Burmeister
said "Now your going to do the airport stage.  Put the car in the ruts
and hold on!".  He couldn't have said it better as Stage 7 beat the car
and occupants pretty bad.  Although the battering was rough, the car
emerged unscathed and still in working order.  Mark quoted, "I can't
believe the car is still running after that 5.71 miles of pure torture".

The co-driver's bug was catching up with Eric as the night wore on.  He
didn't lose spirit, but was fighting off a little motion disorder.
With only a few stages left and another merciless beating of the airport
stage backwards, the team rally'd on into the early morning hours.

Finishing the rally at around 3:20 in the morning Sunday, the team parked
the car and headed to the awards room to swap stories and adventures.
With many DNF's, the team felt a great accomplishment to finish the rally
in one piece with no damage to the car.  Awards soon followed with the
Buskirk/Burmeister team taking 12th overall and 3rd in Group 2.  A
respectable finish for a first time rally; As Mark and Eric swapped seats.

I'd like to thank Eric for giving up a chance to drive in a local event
and co-drive for me in my first rally.  Special thanks to our devoted 
service crew Art Burmesiter, Pat Burmeister, and Sharon Buskirk (event 
photographer).  And even more thanks to John Elders, John and Michelene 
Elders, and Don and Diane Mohr for helping to work the event.  It was a 
great first time rally and look forward to the next event in 2 years.

Mark Buskirk