Salem, Missouri -- In the first SCCA ClubRally hosting an Historic Class competition, Team Paradox and the RallyRhybuddRacing program brought their MGB GT to the Historic Class victory at the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood. In the Group 2 competition, the Team took third place, and placed second among the ClubRally National Championship Group 2 entries. Randy Bailey and Will Perry, in an Isuzu Impulse, claimed top honors in the CRNC Group 2 championship, as well as winning Group 2 overall.

After an absence of twenty years from the rally calendar, the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood marked the return of a popular rally. It was also the scene of the first Historic Class competition since the class¡¯ creation last year, as well as hosting the ClubRally National Championship. Fine clear weather, unseasonably warm for late February, made for superb rally conditions in the vicinity of Salem, Missouri. A total of 54 cars started the rally, with 37 finishing this very fast and challenging event. The Historic Class, as expected, had the smallest participation, with three cars. In addition to the MGBGT of Team Paradox, Richard Byford of Byway Racing brought his BMW 2002 from California, and Keith Wheeler / Team Sanctuary rounded out the class in another MGBGT. Despite the small size of the class, all three cars proved extremely popular with the spectators and rally workers, provided good competition to each other as well as the more modern cars, and all three completed the rally.

CoDriver Dallas Smith commented after the rally, ¡°We knew that Randy Bailey and Will Perry were probably unbeatable in Group 2, and that the Byway Racing BMW 2002 would be a very serious contender for Historic Class honors when we saw the entry list for the rally. Our performance and the results in Historic Class as well as Group 2 were as good as we realistically hoped for.¡± Driver Phil Smith added, ¡°Considering we¡¯re rallying a 34 year old MGB, we were a little surprised at our Group 2 success in CenDiv in 2001, and felt the invitation to the ClubRally National Championship was a real treat. To have finished second only to Randy and Will in the CRNC event is certainly a pleasing finale to the 2001 rally season. And both of us were glad to be part of the first Historic Class competition and look forward to seeing this class grow in popularity.¡±

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. Since their ProRally debut at Susquehannock Trails in 1999, the Team has pursued a steady program of development of the car and their skills, thus far culminating in their winning of the 2001 Central Division Group 2 championship. Their 2002 plans also include continuing to help build and support the year-old Historic Class in Performance Rally.

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.