Sans background in motorsports began at the age of 16 in an Austin Healey Sprite. A 4-year stint in the Navy curtailed the racing activities except on a limited basis. Discharged in 1972 from the Navy, a Formula Ford was then purchased and a long career in SCCA Road racing was started. This included many years in various open wheeled cars from Formula Fords, Formula C, Formula B, Formula A, and Formula Atlantic. In 1978 Sans was a crew chief to Chip Mead and Bobby Rahal in the Players Atlantic Championship in Canada, while still racing his own car in the U.S. as often as possible.
1979 brought an offer to campaign a car in the European Formula 2 Championship, however contract and family problems did not allow that offer to be accepted. 1981 saw Sans turn to the SCCA Pro Rally series for a place to drive competitively. A Dodge Colt was purchased and run out of Sans's race shop and a Top 10 finish was recorded in 9 events. In late 1982 an offer from Toyota came to drive the new body style Celica but developmental problems precluded anything except a dismal finish record for two years in that car.
In 1985 Sans acquired a Dodge Shelby from the engineering department at Chrysler. This car was run with success for several years and Sans spent his time between the car, various road racing cars, and as organizer of the Dodge Barbary Coast Rally sponsored by Dodge. In 1990 Sans retired from racing and began concentrating on building a profitable business until 2002 when Sans was talked into competiting once again in the SCCA ProRally Series. A 1994 Mitsubishi Eclipse AWD was purchased, built, and made ready for a limited 2003 season in the PGT Class.
The first event, Rim of the World, left Sans and long time friend and co-driver Erick Hauge in the woods with a blown motor. Two more events were entered and run in 2003 including Oregon Trail with a close 3rd place class finish and Wild West in Washington where a 4th place class finish was attained after a 40 minute "off" which included a slight hit by a tree.
Phone: 916-708-1511
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