ROUTE:  The 1998 Alcan will start near Seattle and finish 4,100 miles later in Jasper, Alberta.   The route will include Hyder, Prionde Rupert, Skagway, Dawson City and the inside passage, plus many of North America's most scenic and remote roads such as the Alaska, Campbell, Klondike, Dalton, and Bighorn highways. The 1998 route will highlight the Alaska coast and the Gold Rush Trail, and for the first time will not include any all-night drives.

CONCEPT:  The Alcan 5000 was conceived as a new event based on the old concept of rallying as a grand tour, motoring adventure, and gentleman’s sport.  Original examples were long distance events such as the Thousand Miles Trail (1900), Monte Carlo (1911), Tulip, RAC (1932), Mille Miglia (1911), and Circuit of Ireland.  The 1984 Alcan 5000 Rally had 23 starting cars, 22 at the finish 4,700 miles later, and was at that time the longest rally ever conducted in North America.  Looking for new challenges, organizers began alternating with a winter Alcan in 1988.  The 1990 Alcan became "the world's longest, coldest winter rally" at -58 F and 6,275 miles.

VISION:   A competitition that rewards experience, good judgement, consistency, reliability and rescourcefulness. A "level playing field" that lets private and factory teams compete on even terms.

ENTRANTS:  Have included factory teams from Audi, Chrysler, Ford, Isuzu, Mazda, Oldsmobile, and Subaru in the past.  For 1998, teams from Cadillac, Isuzu, and Subaru are expected.  Novice rallyists are also common on the Alcan, the more important requirement is common sense and driving experience.

ENTRY FEE: $2350 for a team, including ferry transport and 9 nights accomodations for two people. Third driver $450.

PAST WINNERS:

1984 Tim Paterson/Douglas Paterson                      Mazda RX7
1985 John Buffum/Tom Grimshaw/Paul Choiniere            Audi 5000 CS Quattro
1986 Gene Henderson/Mike VanLoo                         Subaru RX 4x4
1987 Ken Maytag/Glen Bjorkman/Steve Richards            Audi 5000 CS Quattro
1988 Ken Maytag/Glen Bjorkman/Steve Richards            Audi 5000 CS Quattro
1989 Tim Paterson/Penny Thomas                          Porsche 911
1990 Gene Henderson/Ralph Beckman                       Subaru Legacy Wagon
1991 Ken Knight/Bob Dart                                Subaru SVX
1992 Ken Knight/Greg Lester                             Subaru Legacy Touring Wagon
1993 Russ Kraushaar/Satch Carlson                       BMW 2002ti
1994 Paul Dallenbach/Johnny Unser/Tom Grimshaw          Isuzu Rodeo
1996 Paul Dallenbach/Johnny Unser/Tom Grimshaw          Isuzu Rodeo

INQUIRIES or COMMENTS: 

Jerry Hines                     |       jhines@eskimo.com
Alcan 5000 Rally                |       www.eskimo.com/~jhines/ 
13 Central Way #300             |       (425)823-6343 
Kirkland, Washington 98033      |       (425)823-6307 Fax

1998 rules & regulations

1998 entries:

• AUDI QUATTRO: Ron & Michelle Clyborne. Ron is a regular Alcan entrant, with a wide variety of experience including the Baja 1000, Round Australia Rally, and Trans-Amazon Rally. (This team is also entered in the African Shield, and will miss Alcan 98 if that happens on schedule).
• Sharon Turley, tba. Sharon's a grandmother of 4 and instructor at Eastern Arizona College, will likely run with her son and grandson. An experienced off-roader, Sharon's first rally was the 1996 Alcan Winter event.
• ISUZU RODEO: Revere Jones, Brian Deno. Rev Jones was a member of the 2nd place team in the 1996 Alcan.  Brian is a nephew of the late Jack Deno, founder of RASC's Nor'wester Auto Rally.
• SUBARU SUS SEDAN: Jack FitzGerald, TJ Johnson, Mary Lowry. Jack & Tom are from Ohio. Mary is doing a newspaper feature and daily updates for the Everett Herald. These 3 also completed the 96 Alcan Winter Rally, Mary in a Discovery and the FitzGeralds in a Montero.
• FORD RANGER: Jeff Armstrong, tba
• HONDA PASSPORT:  Stephen Jencks, tba
• SUBARU IMPREZA 2.5 RS: Christopher Cramer, Jeff Gowdy.  Avid followers of rallying, vintage racing, and autocross with the SCCA and PCA.  This will be their first Alcan.
• Chris Butler, Joseph Sheehan.
• JEEP CHEROKEE:  Ker Boyce, Donna Dolan. Veterans of the 1996 One Lap of America, this is their first Alcan Rally.
• SAAB 900 TURBO:  Brian Johnson, Raymond Johansen, Anne-Marie Gregory.  From Conneticut, this team will also do a long commute to the northwest just to start the event.
• FORD EXPEDITION: John Street, Matt Graham. Lots of vintage racing and mechanical expertise here, these two chose an SUV so they won't have to turn wrenches this week.  John also completed the 96 Alcan Winter Rally in a Land Rover Discovery.
• Jim Arnold, tba.  Jim ran the first Alcan 5000 in 1984.
• BMW 325ix: Walt Kammer & Jackie Adams. Regular team with lengthy rally experience.
• Peter & Joanne Schneider.  Experienced ralliests from New Jersey out here for their first Alcan.
• FORD F350 (Press vehicle): Jim and Suzanne Elder, Jackson Hole, WY. Jim is a long-time professional photographer and does a lot of automotive work. He is also our Alcan 5000 Media Coordinator and will do a story for Open Road.  Jim & Suzanne ran the 96 winter rally in a Bravada.
• CADILLAC CATERA:  Ken Knight, Greg Lester.  A factory team of prior Alcan winners in a completely new vehicle to the Alcan Rally.  (Looks like a serious statement about the capabilities of Caddy's new "car that zigs"...) Cancelled due to the GM strike....

1998 product sponsors:

• Isuzu Motors. An Alcan rally sponsor since 1992, Isuzu sees this as a great showcase for their vehicles. While the average person won't drive his Rodeo to the Arctic Circle, it's nice to know one could.
• PIAA Driving Lights. The choice of professionals, PIAA offers a wide range of very well made products.
• Red Line Oil. Red Line has long been a synthetic fluids pioneer. In addition to engine oil, they also offer a variety of gear lubricants and other products. These enhance the life of your vehicle in everyday use, and can be necessary for it's survival at 50 below zero!
• StonGard headlight & finish protectors. Urethane film 'to protect your automotive investment'.
• Magellan is loaning GPS units to each team for a special "Magellan Cup" competition within the rally.
• Boost Nutritional Energy Drink (a Mead Johnson product).  This was a 1996 Alcan sponsor who didn't pay their $800 bill for a breakfast and special decals made at their request.  Their account was sent to collection and we are not interested in their help again.