Author: Mike Shaw

Red Bull GRC Returns to Seattle

Mike Shaw

The Red Bull Global Rallycross Championship Series returns to the Pacific Northwest this weekend, and once again large crowds of spectators are expected.  Two years ago Red Bull GRC was hosted at the DirtFish Rally School in Snoqualmie, Washington just 30 minutes east of Seattle.  The combined promotional efforts of Red Bull GRC, Subaru, and DirtFish brought in a record sold out crowd that was multiple times what other venues had seen.  It proved that there is a thirst for motor racing, especially anything with rally in the name, in the…

Read More

RallyCast Episode 09 – An Interview with the American Rally Association

Mike Shaw

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIn this episode we have something special!  With all the questions and controversy surrounding the new American Rally Association we decided to call them up and find out the details!  We devoted the entire show to an interview with Chris Cyr, Vice President and Tim O’Neil the Chairman of the ARA. We wanted to know what makes the ARA different and how they plan on succeeding where other attempts at creating new sanctioning bodies had failed.  If you have any of your own questions, please…

Read More

Kris Meeke Flies to Fastest Ever Victory at WRC Finland

Mike Shaw

WRC Finland.  Known as the Spiritual Home of Rally or the Grand Prix of the WRC due to its high speeds and massive fan base.  Regardless of what they call it, Finland is a special place for ralliests.  It is like going to Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Le Mans, or Monaco.  Steeped in history as the then Rally of 1000 Lakes, Finland has been on the World Championship calendar ever since the WRC was created.  The gravel roads here are as wide as a major thoroughfare, but are littered with crests, jumps,…

Read More

New American Rally Association Coup Apparently Not Yet Complete

Mike Shaw

Yesterday one of the biggest bombshells in American rally racing was dropped with the announcement of the new American Rally Association as a new sanctioning body.  Admittedly we’ve seen this before when just a year ago the formation of the US Rally Association threatened to replace the often criticized Rally America Championship Series, but it never came to fruition.  So what’s different this time, and will ARA be successful?   As stated in the press release below from the American Rally Association and Team O’Neil, the ARA already has 4 of the…

Read More

RallyCast Episode 08

Mike Shaw

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIn this episode Mike, Matt, and Andrew Pascarella (a.k.a. Raced in Anger), review the New England Forest Rally from a week ago.  At the 1:26 mark we get a bit more local as Mike and Doug Patterson talk with special guest Kito Brielmaier of the Northwest Rally Association and about SCCA RallyCross and some new technologies being developed to bring RallyCross into a new era.  Thanks for listening!

Read More

STPR 2016 – Review & Photo Gallery

Mike Shaw

By Andrew Pascarella   We were hoping the 2016 Waste Management Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally would provide a continuation of the close battles at the front we saw from the previous rounds that included Subaru Rally Team USA Teammates David Higgins and Travis Pastrana.  Coming into the event, Travis had won 100 Acre Wood while David won the Oregon Trail Rally.  They had one victory each with the two trading stage wins and gaps so close that each event was only decided on the final stages.  Unfortunately before STPR began the gap between Travis and David…

Read More

RallyCast Episode 07 – Featuring Special Guest Dillon Van Way

Mike Shaw

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIn this week’s show Mike, Doug, and Matt start with an exclusive interview with Dillon Van Way after his return from WRC Portugal.  Dillon gives us all the details on what it’s like competing in the Drive DMACK Fiesta Trophy against some of the best young rally drivers in the world.  From there we spliced in last week’s recording of where we reviewed the Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally.

Read More

Meanwhile out West…. Rocky Mountain Rally!

Mike Shaw

While today continues the 2nd day of STPR in the states, out west and a wee bit north of the border in Canada the Rocky Mountain Rally kicks off.  The 2 day event is the 2nd round of the Canadian Rally Championship and is a favorite among drivers.  The entry list may not be large in number, but is big on competition.  A number of Pacific Northwest competitors cross both borders for the regional Cascadia International Rally Championship which mixes CRC, Rally America, and regional events.   The Rocky Mountain Rally consists of…

Read More

STPR Starts Today! – Links to Follow Round 5 of the Rally America National Championship!

Mike Shaw

Bouncing back across to the eastern side of the country after the west coast swing of Oregon Trail Rally and Olympus Rally we’ve now reached the halfway point in the Rally America National Championship.  The Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally is round 5 and it is set to be a barnstormer of an event.   At the top Open Class we have the returning battle between Subaru Rally Team USA teammates David Higgins and Craig Drew vs. Travis Pastrana and Christian Edstrom.  So far the score is one win apiece, so who will…

Read More

2016 Olympus Rally Review

Mike Shaw

As we get ready for this weekend’s Waste Management Susquahannock Trail Performance Rally, let’s review what took place a couple of weeks ago at the Olympus Rally.   Whereas the Oregon Trail Rally was more about the drivers and battles going down to the final stage, the 2016 Olympus Rally was the complete opposite where the battle was against attrition and simply finishing was a challenge in and of itself. The Olympus Rally consisted of 125 competitive miles over 12 challenging twisty stages in the forests near Shelton, Washington.  Most notable was the Wildcat Pass…

Read More