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12 Amateur Racers Face Reality of U.S. Dunlop Drivers Cup
AKRON, Ohio, Sept. 10, 2007 — It was bound to happen sooner or later: an editor on the Survivor reality series has qualified for what some have called a driver's version of Survivor.
H.A. Arnarson, of Los Angeles, and 11 other amateur drivers will get a dose of reality Sept. 18-20 at VIRginia International Raceway during the U.S. Regional Qualifier for the international Dunlop Drivers Cup.
Just don't expect an Arnarson advantage in the test of driving skills. In fact, his profession had nothing to do with getting picked for three days of driving. It's more about who he is, and what he's done behind a steering wheel or atop an all-terrain vehicle.
For example, well-known Icelandic radio and TV host Arnarson is now in Los Angeles editing the wildly popular Survivor reality series for Mark Burnett Productions. In an essay that he wrote as part of the application process, the 43-year-old Iceland native wrote that he began motocross racing at 14, and at 16, purchased a four-speed Ford Escort for drifting on the icy dirt roads around Reykjavik.
That and some other racing experiences landed the editor a spot at VIR, Dunlop officials said.
Location wasn't a deciding factor in the selection process, either, although Rick Hughey, 53, of Watkins Glen, N.Y., began his Drivers Cup essay entry: "I was born on a race weekend at Watkins Glen," the legendary road course in New York's Finger Lakes region.
That carried little weight in the final analysis for the 54-year-old corrections officer, said Janice Consolacion, marketing manager for the Dunlop tire brand. More importantly, Hughey grew up on a farm, riding trail bikes and ATVs, and had participated in two performance driving programs. He also is a member of the Glen region SCCA sports-car association.
Consolacion said the 2007 contingent of amateur drivers is as diverse as she's seen. They come from such far-reaching locales as Bethesda, Md.; Brighton, Colo.; Lake Stevens, Wash.; Glendale, Ariz.; Grapevine, Texas; Stonington, Conn.; Maryville, Tenn.; and Elk Grove, Montrose and El Cajon, Calif.
The group includes a U.S. Army hero who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, a California homemaker, a nuclear test engineer, an aspiring actor and two remodeling contractors.
"Although their backgrounds are varied, the competitors share a bond, a passion for driving. Drivers Cup brings people together to improve and challenge their driving skills. It also provides a showcase for tires proven at the track, approved by prestigious car manufacturers and preferred by enthusiasts everywhere," Consolacion said.
Dunlop Drivers Cup is unusual in that it tests amateur drivers on all aspects of driving. "On the racetrack, racing around cones in an autocross, driving up steep hills and through mud on an off-road trail, climbing mounds of dirt and rocks on four-wheelers or on a dirt bike. It literally tests every driving and racing skill," she said.
It also teaches a few lessons. Morning sessions begin with briefings that include safety messages, and the event uses experienced instructors from the United States and Europe to help participants hone their driving skills, she added.
The following are competing for the opportunity to drive in the World Finals next year:
- Rafael Roman, 25, of Bethesda, Md., a business analyst for the Oracle Corporation's Wounded Warrior program. The former Army sergeant was awarded a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts for service in Afghanistan and Iraq.
- Troy Allen, 40, of Brighton, Colo., an aspiring actor and owner of P.A.E. Services Inc., a remodeling company specializing in high-end kitchens and baths.
- Chad Norley, 34, of Lake Stevens, Wash., director of IT for Synrad Inc., a leading CO2 laser manufacturer.
- Rick Hughey, 53, of Watkins Glen, N.Y., part-time broadcaster and correction officer for the New York State Monterey Shock Incarceration Correctional Facility.
- Eric Rud, 37, of Maryville, Tenn., remodeling contractor for Viking Renovations Inc.
- Jeff Frank, 44, of Glendale, Ariz., owner of Jeff Frank Video Inc., a production, presentation and photography company.
- H.A. Arnarson, 42, of Los Angeles, editor of Survivor and completing his first feature-length documentary called "Decoding Iceland."
- Jennifer Jo Larsen, 26, of Elk Grove, Calif., single homemaker with three children.
- Joe Scopelite, 46, of Grapevine, Texas, technical support manager at Siplast, a developer and manufacturer of advanced roofing and waterproofing systems.
- Adam Strelczuk, 28, of Stonington, Conn., nuclear test engineer for a company that builds nuclear-powered submarines in Connecticut. He gets a second chance this year; he was selected last year but broke his leg prior to the competition.
- Nicole Widick, 35, of Montrose, Calif., parts and accessories manager for Pro Italia Motorcycles in Glendale, Calif.
- Ryan Arroyo, 25, El Cajon, Calif., project manager of Rich Ltd., a wholesale designer, manufacturer and importer of point-of-purchase displays.
Dunlop officials in Europe started Drivers Cup nine years ago to showcase Dunlop's racing heritage and its broad range of passenger, truck, motorcycle and all-terrain-vehicle tire lines. Dunlop USA teams finished first, third and fourth at the latest World Finals in Spain. For more on the tires that drive enthusiasts, go to http://www.dunloptires.com.
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