News from Team Jardevall - 2003

2003
• 14 July 2003 - Blown engine ends Oregon Trail effort
• 28 April 2003 - Improvements to Evo IV during the off season.

Blown engine ends Oregon Trail Effort

Photo © by Chris Scurti, Go Fast Photo.

Engine failure led to the retirement of the Nordic Motors in Motion Mistubishi Lancer Evolution IV after only a few stages at the SCCA Oregon Trail ProRally. Though the car had a major overhaul during the off season, problems started on the first competitive stage. Driver Carl Jardevall and co-driver Amity Trowbridge were left stranded alongside the road after a cascade of mechanical problems.

"About halfway through the first stage the turbo started to go bad," said Jardevall. "We were still twelfth fastest on that stage, but gave up quite a bit of time. On the next stage the car ran so badly that we were very slow; it was all we could do to get to the finish. We were able to make repairs in service, thanks in part to a spare turbocharger that Leon Styles loaned to us, but the damage was apparently already done. On the third stage the car was running pretty well when all of a sudden there were flames coming out from under the hood. We quickly stopped and were able to put the fire out with our on board extinguishers, but we were done for the weekend."

The Oregon Trail rally was the first event this season for the Nordic Motors in Motion team. Jardevall intends to have repairs made in time to enter the Wild West ProRally in Washington in September.

The first stage of the rally was cancelled following an accident that took the lives of Subaru Rally Team USA driver Mark Lovell and co-driver Roger Freeman. Their WRX hit a tree at high speed less than a mile into the stage. Both died instantly. The Nordic Motors in Motion team extends sincerest condolences to the families of Mark and Roger, and to the rally community which has lost two great ambassadors to the sport.

Nordic Motors Evo IV is freshened up for the new season

The Nordic Motors in Motion crew has spent the months since their last rally in Washington performing a major overhaul on their car. The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV has received considerable attention under the skin, with a rebuilt engine and a new transmission and transfer case, rebuilt Proflex front shocks, and several modifications to improve reliability and comfort. The skin has also been changed courtesy of a new paint job. The #39 car is a lighter shade of blue for the 2003 season, and the graphics have changed a bit.