Posted to the Quattro and Rally Lists:

After the sudden death of my friend Carl Merrill, I was at loss like so
many other people that had the knew Carl and loved him so much. It was and
still is an honor to be involved in the construction of his web site, and out
of respect for Carl and WeeGee Smith, I am happy to release the following
announcement for the 1999 Season.

WeeGee Smith, mechanic for Carl over the last four years has bought the
Escort and what was left of the Rally Team. He is in the middle of
rebuilding the car now. At the moment he has only two events on the
calendar.

As a way to show respect of Carl, WeeGee is preparing the Escort to run
in the Mt. Washington Hillclimb, June 26-27 1999. This would have been
Carl's tenth year running the hillclimb. The Escort will be left in the same
design as Carl ran.

The second event so far that the Escort will run will be in the Maine
Summer Rally, July 30-31 1999. WeeGee has made an agreement with 1984 World
Champion Stig Blomquist to drive the Escort in Carl's Home Rally. Stig
Blomquist is one of the most respected and well known drivers in the
sport, so it seemed only right to ask him to drive Carl's Escort. The
co-driving duties will be taken up by Lance Smith.

To WeeGee this is the only way Carl would have wanted it, they both
loved the Escort and the wonderful sport of Rallying. This is the best way
that WeeGee could think of to bring more interest to the sport and to say
thank you to Carl for the trust he had in him.

If you would please contact the rallying world and let them know of this
important announcement and a link to http://www.cybertours.com/~karl
"Norseman Resorts Home Page"

For more information or any questions please call WeeGee Smith at
1-207-646-0299, or you may contact myself at biskitt@yahoo.com.

Thank You

David E. Eaton Sr.

Post to the Rally List 3/27/99

Contact: Ed Jacobs (330) 644-7774
Date: March 27, 1999

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Former World Champion Stig Blomqvist to Drive in Maine Forest
ProRally, Rumford, Maine " On top of the stiff competition they normally would
expect to face in the Maine Forest ProRally, teams now will have an
additional and highly formidable opponent in the form of Stig Blomqvist.
The 1984 World Rally Champion has agreed to compete in the event in the
powerful Escort Cosworth formerly driven by the late Carl Merrill.
Merrill, a long-time frontrunner in the Michelin SCCA ProRally
Championship, suffered cardiac arrest while competing in the Prescott
Forest ProRally late last year. Other competitors, including a doctor,
stopped and administered medical aid to Merrill, who then was
transported by helicopter to an area hospital. He passed away there the
following day.
WeeGee Smith, who was Merrill's mechanic for his final four years in
the sport, purchased the Escort Cosworth and the team's equipment. He is
bringing the car back to top form, in its familiar livery, and " as a
mark of respect to his departed friend " is preparing to enter it in two
events that were very special to Merrill.
The first is the celebrated Mt. Washington Hillclimb, in New
Hampshire. The June 26-27 event would have been Merrill's 10th time in
the famous hillclimb. Smith will pilot the car himself, with his brother
Lance navigating in this largely ceremonial tribute to their late
friend.
The second event will be the July 30-31 Maine Forest ProRally, which
will be based in Rumford, Maine. This time, however, the car will be
entered for maximum effect.
Earlier this year, the Smiths visited England, where they met with
Blomqvist and proposed to him that he drive the Escort Cosworth in this
event. The former World Champion agreed and the wheels quickly were set
in motion for him to drive the car in what was Merrill's home event,
with Lance Smith as his navigator.
Although retired from regular competition on the World Championship
circuit, Blomqvist is still active in the cockpit of rally cars, and has
done quite a bit of behind-the-scenes testing for Ford's extensive and
very successful rally programs. He also competes in selected rallies and
hillclimbs around the world from time to time.
The Maine Forrest ProRally will be the sixth round of the resurgent
nine-event Michelin SCCA ProRally Championship. The next event on the
calendar will be round three, Rim of the World ProRally, which will take
place April 30-May 1 in mountains and high desert near Palmdale,
California.
" WRG "

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