CACHE CREEK, BC - British Columbia's challenging winter driving adventure, the Specialty Subaru Thunderbird Rally presented by Nokian Tyres, was won last weekend by the bi-coastal American team of driver Gary Webb, from Mechanics Falls, Maine, and navigator John Kisela, from Seattle, Washington.

Beating out a record field of 54 cars, Webb and Kisela piloted their Subaru Legacy through ice and snow covered gravel roads over 1000 km between Cache Creek and Williams Lake.  Although they have placed near the top several years in a row, they have never won this event before.

The rally was waved off from Kal Tire in Cache Creek by mayor John Ranta, and the crews headed into the Arrowstone Hills, before trekking up to Green Lake, Bridge Lake and Canim Lake, on their way to a well deserved rest stop in 100 Mile House.  The retirements started early: the venerable Dodge Colt of Edmonton team Chichak and Basford lost its alternator near Green Lake, and the crew decided wisely against trying night driving without lights.  The "Hog of Steel", the Alaska Rally Team's classic Saab 96, piloted by Garth Ankeny and John Joyce, made a wrong turn early in the event, losing a great deal of time before mechanical difficulties put them out of the event.

Tanks refilled and lights uncovered, the teams headed up past Rail Lake and along a road nick-named the Luge Run, for its narrow twisty sections and high snowbanks.  Here the driving got more challenging, and several more crews got marooned in the snow, several at one corner in fact!  The route continued across the Fraser River, to a spectacular loop around Meldrum Creek in pitch darkness, and then to the overnight stop in Williams Lake.

The second day started off with freshly falling snow hiding all manner of icy patches along the Dog Creek Road, tracing the east rim of the Fraser Canyon.  Spectacular drop-offs and treacherous road conditions didn't slow down the crews much, but it was enough to separate the scores of the front runners.  After the final timed section, the crews took a few fun laps around the ice racing course on Barkes Lake, and then retired to the Wander Inn in Cache Creek for dinner and awards.

When all was said and done, Webb and Kisela had won by just one point over R. Dale Kraushaar, of Fountain Hills, Arizona, and Larry Richardson of Costa Mesa, California.  Top historic team by a wide margin, and taking the Wilkinson's Automobilia prize, was the head of the colourful Alaska Rally Team, Satch "på taket" Carlson, of Anchorage, and navigator Russ Kraushaar, of Battle Ground, Washington, in a 1969 Saab Sonett, with a 70's vintage Zeron rally computer.

Many thanks go out to all of the volunteers who make the event possible, and to the event sponsors, Nokian Tyres, Specialty Subaru, Wilkinson's Automobilia and Polaris Water, and to all of the teams who have continued to support this historic event year after year.

The next event in the BC Rally Championship is April 21, The Heart of Darkness.  For more information or photographs, please see www.rallybc.com or contact Paul Westwick paul@rallybc.com (604) 682-3296.