RUMFORD, MAINE -- Despite a good start in near-perfect rally weather, Team Paradox / RallyRhybuddRacing failed to finish the Maine Forest ProRally, headquartered at Rumford, Maine, over the weekend of July 27-28, 2001. The Team had entered the two-day ProRally as well as both accompanying ClubRallies, confident in recent improvements to their MGBGT as well as fresh from further instruction at the Team O’Neil rally school. Indeed, their stage time over the first Friday stage, a spectator stage held in Mexico Park near Rumford, was solidly mid-pack. However, about three miles into the next stage, the car lost all power, later determined to be the result of a failed head gasket and its collateral damage. Despite heroic efforts by crew members Dan Kirby and Fred Snyder on Friday night, the engine could not be repaired in time for a restart for the second ClubRally held on Saturday.

The Maine Forest ProRally was round 6 in the 2001 SCCA ProRally series. It is held in the vicinity of Rumford, Maine, using logging roads of the Mead paper company. The stages have a reputation of being rough, especially the Friday stages. Attrition was high at this year’s rally, with only 64 of an entry field of 121 cars finishing. In fast and very dusty conditions, Seamus Burke and Frank Cunningham in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI took the overall lead on the third stage and carried their lead to the finish.

The RallyRhybuddRacing program was launched in 1997 by dedicated MG enthusiasts Phil and Dallas Smith, aka Team Paradox, to campaign an MG in the SCCA Performance Rally series. Two years were required to find and prepare a 1968 BGT for the rigors of Performance Rally. After obtaining their rally licenses at the Ski Sawmill Performance Rally school, Team Paradox made their ProRally debut at the Susquehannock Trail ProRally in 1999. As the Team’s rally skills and car preparation knowledge increases, a more aggressive rally schedule has been pursued each year, and participation in most of the eastern ProRally events is planned for 2001.

For further information about RallyRhybuddRacing, Team Paradox, and the rally MGBGT, check out their website at www.rhybudd.com. Information about the SCCA Performance Rally series can be found at www.scca.com.