GETTING THEIR BLOOD RACING RIM OF THE WORLD ATTRACTS TOP DRIVERS.

Byline: Greg Botonis Staff Writer

PALMDALE - Palmdale streets rumbled with the sound of high-performance auto engines Friday as more than a dozen of the world's top rally drivers headed off on the Rim of the World Rally.

The two-day race covers nearly 150 miles of dirt roads in the Angeles National Forest between Palmdale and Santa Clarita, drawing drivers from as far away as England, Belgium and New Zealand.

``I love this sport,'' said M&M Motorsports team driver Lauchlin O'Sullivan, who drives a turbocharged four-wheel-drive 1993 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX. ``It's in my blood. To be in control but out of control at the same time is pretty intense.''

The race began Friday night with six individual stages of varying lengths and continues today at 9 a.m. with nine more stages through twisting fire roads in the foothills near Lake Hughes.

The cars are typically race-bred compact models with modified suspension and safety features like roll bars but are basically stock.

Speeds can easily exceed 90 or 100 mph along roads many of the racers have never driven before.

The Rim of the World rally is the fourth of 10 such races in the Sports Car Club of America's Pro Rally Championship.

After the 10th race, held at Lake Superior in Houghton, Mich., points will be tallied and the top drivers will be awarded their plaques and the prestigious title of champion.

Racers like O'Sullivan consider Rim of the World to be one of the country's most grueling races and the most rewarding to finish.

O'Sullivan began his racing career as a co-driver with his father at age 14. He moved into the driver's seat at 23.

O'Sullivan, a San Francisco resident who races with a Los Angeles-based team, says the competition this year is tougher than ever because rally cars are getting faster and more reliable.

``For our team and others based in Los Angeles, this is our home event, so we have to push it,'' O'Sullivan said. ``The way we have been running, I'm hoping we can make it into the top 15. We're running a new car that's not quite as fast and is a lot heavier but I still think we'll do well.''

People can take rides in rally cars today during the Charity Rally Sprint at 9 a.m. at the Palmdale Holiday Inn, on Palmdale Boulevard at Fifth Street West. The cars will drive around a dirt course near the hotel. Donation is $20. Proceeds go to the South Antelope Valley Emergency Services food bank and the Healthy Start intervention program.

Spectators can view the race from a viewing area this afternoon. A $5 Forest Adventure pass must be purchased from the U.S. Forest Service to park within Angeles National Forest. Forest passes will be sold near the parking area.

The spectator area will be located off Spunky Canyon Road between Bouquet Canyon Road and San Francisquito Canyon Road. The rally cars are expected to reach the spectator area starting around 2:45 p.m.

People can also buy hamburgers and watch rally crews service their cars starting at 5:30 p.m. today at the Lake Hughes Community Club on Elizabeth Lake Road.

The race will end tonight.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color AV only -- ran in AV and SAC edition only) Karl Scheible takes a bump in his Subaru Impreza during the Rim of the World Rally, which covers dirt roads in the Angeles National Forest.

(2 -- color AV only -- ran in AV and SAC edition only) Tim Paterson churns dust as he races his Lancer Evo 1V.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer