RACE: Merloy Racing DSR test set

ALBUQUEQUE, N.M., Aug. 14 - Merloy Racing will hold a test for prospective buyers of its brand-new Merloy SCCA D-Sports Racer Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 26-27, at Sandia Motorsports Park here.

Several drivers are already scheduled to test the car and visit the nearby Merloy factory during these two days, but a few more can be accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Reservations are required, and may be made by contacting Tom Volk at (419) 535-5665, ext. 117, for more information. Volk is the car's exclusive distributor.

The formal test follows successful shakedown runs of three brand-new Merloy D-Sports Racers earlier this month at Sandia. Three different chassis powered by Kawasaki, Yamaha and Suzuki engines were used for that test, although a Honda package is also available.

Several hundred laps were completed around the 1.5-mile road course during the shakedown runs. Tom White, a local restaurateur and amateur racer, drove all three cars, while guest driver Bob Brown of the local ABC affiliate's Action7News also participated.

Two Merloy D-Sports Racers were also displayed at the Super Kart USA (SKUSA) National Runoffs at Sandia Aug. 2-3. Tim Lamkin, the SKUSA regional director, had a brief run in one of them, as did one of the SKUSA drivers competing there that weekend.

Merloy Racing, which is owned by renown engineer Alan Mertens, construction company executive Mike Maloy and two-time Indy 500 winner Al Unser Jr., will also have the car on display at the Valvoline Runoffs at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio on Sept. 14-21.

"All of the drivers, like Al Unser Jr. after his initial testing of the car back in March, were delighted with its performance," Mertens said.

Initial rollers are available for $45,000 each.

For more information contact Volk at the number given above or Mertens at (505) 247-3222.

-lm-