Actor Perry King Unhurt After Racing Accident In the 'Extreme Sport' of Pro Rally at the Maine Forest Rally

King, who has an extensive background in auto racing, was entered in the Production Class for round five of the 2000 Sports Car Club of America's ProRally Championship driving a specially prepared Hyundai Tiburon. King had successfully completed the first night of racing when he went off the road at speed on Saturday, wedging the car between two trees high-centering it on a rock. He was philosophic after the crash, telling a rally spokesperson that he ran out of talent before he ran out of road.

``I came over a crest and didn't expect to a washout in the road. I tried to avoid it at speed, but it was too late and I slid into a ditch. I'm fine, and the car wasn't really damaged, but it took two hours to free the car and we were time-barred -- thus disqualified -- from the event,'' said King, who would like to run another rally if the opportunity arose.

In Sports Car Club of American (SCCA) ProRally competition the objective is to cover the rally route as quickly as possible, but there's one little hitch. Neither the driver nor navigator gets to see the rally instructions or the course until just before they are scheduled to leave the starting line.

The timed special stages are run on dirt roads or fire roads and the cars are sideways more than straight as the drivers follow the instructions of the navigator. While on the outside it appears the cars are careening wildly though the forest coming within inches of bushes and trees, the story on the inside is quite different as the driver smoothly coordinates the steering wheel, throttle pedal, brake and clutch in a thundering mechanical ballet.

``I'd give up acting to race full-time in a heart beat,'' said King. ``But if I quit acting, I doubt I'd have the wonderful opportunities to race so many great machines.''

King's new show, ``Titans'' centers around the turmoil swirling inside a wealthy Beverly Hills family and co-stars two beautiful actresses, Victoria Principal and Yasmine Bleeth. His acting career includes the hit 1980s television series Riptide, as well as starring roles in numerous feature films, television shows and mini-series.

King's Hyundai co-stars and teammates, are talented drivers and series rivals Paul Choiniere and Noel Lawler, who finished first and second overall at the Maine Forest Rally. The two, along with their respective co-drivers Jeff Becker and Charlie Bradley raced identically prepared 2000 Hyundai Tiburons, powered by 2.0-liter, 381-horsepower turbocharged powerplants. A more docile 2.0-liter, DOHC in-line four-cylinder, 140-horsepower engine powers the Production Class Hyundai Tiburon King drove in the event.

SOURCE: Hyundai Motor America