Mark Lovell and Roger Freeman, driver and co-driver of the #4 Subaru USA Rally Team car, were tragically killed in competition at the Oregon Trails ProRally last weekend. A relative newbie to the sport, I had the opportunity to meet Mark Lovell at Maine Forest 2002. The consummate competitor, he spent time with his fans discussing the rally, the sport, and life, and tired out his hands to sign posters and hats for our whole group. He presented an example of the articulate sportsman, equally at home behind the wheel and ahead of the camera. Roger accompanied Mark throughout his career, and kept him on the straight, narrow, and slippy. They will both be sorely missed in the rally community, and my thoughts and prayers are with their families and friends.
In a post on SpecialStage, John Dillon, the co-driver for Widget Racing, expressed the collective resolve of the rally community to soldier on through tragedy, and I'm going to quote him here (with minor edits):
"For some, the fires of our rally passion may be dampened, but for many of us, they'll reignite soon enough, tempered by the harsh realities of any motor sport and the memories of our fallen comrades. Even as we remember those who will no longer climb the start ramp before blasting into the forest, we'll rally on.
"It's what made them formidable competitors, this ability to contend with unimaginable challenges, and what drives us to compete as well. We'll rally on, because that's what rallyists do, donning helmets full of memories, tightening harnesses over heavy hearts, gripping wheels and route books with solemn determination, then staring forward as we watch the countdown clock, looking ahead at the next stage, focus renewed on the task at hand, the challenge thrown down by each new road.
"It's what gave them character, this 'rally on' attitude, and each of us wants a bit of that character in our own lives."
- John Dillon, Widget Racing
I couldn't have said it better myself.
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