XXXXX PULP REPORT XXXXX SUN,JAN 25 2004 16:00:58 PST XXXXX

MESSLEY SCORES DOUBLE WIN AT WILLOW SPRINGS AT VIPER DAYS

**Exclusive**
Erik Messley showed up Saturday morning to drive Marko's Viper Comp Coupe in the Viper Days Race Group.  After doing a quick "eyeball" alignment, Erik entered the qualifying session late, did 7 laps, and ran a 1.22x, about 3/10ths behind pole sitter Goldman in his 360 GT.  In the hot pit prior to the race, there was much friendly smack talking going on between the Viper drivers.  Gridded 3rd was ex-WC GT champ/ex-SCCA T1 champ Bobby Archer.  Messley proceeded to let Goldman and Archer take the lead going into turn 1, then waited a few laps before passing Goldman, and then getting side by side with Archer down the front straight (so the crowd could see Messley winking at them) and then disposed of Archer on the inside of turn 1.

In Sunday morning practice, Messley turned an incredible 1:20.x. Sunday's race was an inverted grid, with Messley starting at the back of the 16 car pack due to his win on Saturday.  Within a couple of laps, Messley passed 14 cars, and then chased down Goldman and Archer. Spectators in turn 4 saw Messley doing a "countdown" as to what lap he was going to take the lead, and then Messley did yet another side by side pass of Archer going down the front straight into turn 1, but this time passing Archer on the OUTSIDE of turn 1 to make it more exciting for the spectators.  Messley then cruised to his 2nd victory of the weekend. Bystanders were reported seeing PMUM smiling down from Heaven, as PMUM loved kicking ass and taking names at Viper Days events in a similar fashion.  Rumor has it that sponsors are starting to swarm around Messley. Perhaps he'll get another ride for the next Viper Days event at Buttonwillow on February 21/22, as he becomes the leading Viper nominee to become President of All Things Viper Related.