Mike Shaw

PR – Trouble in Maine for Team RallyErika

July 27, 2015 Mike Shaw

Chelsmford, MA: Narrowly missing a spot at a Regional Podium on Friday, the team of Erika Detota and Mary Warren left New England Forest Rally disappointed and hungry for another shot. The 25th anniversary running of New England Forest Rally, July 17-18 was filled with excitement, competition and some unfortunate twists for many teams including Detota & Warren. The event featured more than 100 stage miles over two days of competition, which included a variety of stages ranging from jumps, smooth, fast, flowing to narrow and rough road conditions. Detota…

PR: Red Bull GRC – Detroit

July 24, 2015 Mike Shaw

After multiple attempts over the past few years, the Red Bull Global Rallycross Championship finally makes it to the Motor City. The host location is the famed (or maybe infamous if you’re an IndyCar fan) streets of Belle Isle. The track hits my personal sweet spot being 0.757 miles long, and the joker lap is very unique with the standard lap and joker encompassing different paths around the signature fountain. I do have concerns about the tight Turn 1 potentially causing red flags as the exit is extremely narrow…

Episode 276 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

July 24, 2015 Mike Shaw

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadPodcast #276 for Tuesday, July 21, 2015 In this week’s podcast we kick off with a detailed report from the New England Forest Rally with special media guest Matt Kalish who was at the “Battle of the Titans” event. Matt has done motorsports reporting and photography for Rally America, the Red Bull GRC, and more. Be sure to follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and his web page here. In our Unexplainable Mixed Malgamation of Motorsports Mayhem section, we mourn the loss of Jules Bianchi and opine that the only…

The 2015 New England Forest Rally

July 22, 2015 Mike Shaw

The 2015 New England Forest Rally was dubbed “The Battle of the Titans” with a list of entries not seen at a Rally America event in years. OpenPaddock.net teamed up with Andrew Pascarella of racedinanger.com to get us all the details of how the event went down last weekend… Higgins and Drew topped a stacked field at the 2015 New England Forest Rally. Their biggest rivals Ken Block and Alex Gelsomino fought hard to beat the top Subaru, but dry and dusty conditions on Friday turned into slick and muddy…

Episode 275 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

July 19, 2015July 19, 2015 Mike Shaw

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadPodcast #275 for Wednesday, July 14, 2015 Sorry for this being up so late, but due to the make-up podcast we ran long making editing that much harder to fit into life’s ever busy schedule. In this episode we start the first hour with an exclusive interview with Nick Roberts of the Nick Roberts Global Rally Team. I unfortunately must have jinxed him even though this interview wasn’t public yet. Sorry for your DNF at NEFR Nick! Then Mike and Doug preview the New England…

2015 New England Forest Rally – OpenPaddock’s Ones to Watch

July 17, 2015 Mike Shaw

Many have called this weekend’s 25th Anniversary New England Forest Rally the “Super Bowl” for rallying in America or even an All-Star event. And the big stars are what is drawing the initial attention to this event, however there is a lot going down at NEFR that goes well beyond the big names we all know so well. Okay, let’s start with those big names and get it out of the way. Yes indeed we have the return of Ken Block in his HFHV (Hybrid Function Hoon Vehicle) Ford Fiesta…

WRC 2017 – A Return of Group B?

July 11, 2015July 12, 2015 Mike Shaw

In a decision opposite of what we normally hear from the World Motorsports Council, the FIA has agreed to increase the power and open up many design elements for 2017 World Rally Championship manufacturers. The basics are an increase to 380 HP, lighter weight, and a more “dynamic and distinct appearance that exhibits character and diversity”. Some have said to be careful what you wish for as more power is dangerous and could bring back the tragedies from the days of Group B. In the simplest of terms that is in fact…

Chris Greenhouse – Top of the Podium, Again!

July 8, 2015July 8, 2015 Mike Shaw

After a dominant performance at the NASA Rally Sport Sandblast Rally in South Carolina earlier this year, Chris Greenhouse went up to the Great White North to compete in Rallye Baie des Chaleurs, round 3 of the Canadian Rally Championship. Below is the press release form his latest win. Greenhouse unstoppable at Rallye Baie des Chaleurs, wins 2-wheel-drive photo by Danny Bujold New Richmond, QC, Canada: Chris Greenhouse drove to another Canadian Rally Championship 2-wheel-drive victory at Rallye Baie des Chaleurs 2015. The team of Chris Greenhouse and…

Ryan Millen Debuts New Rally RAV4 at Idaho Rally

June 12, 2015 Mike Shaw

Massive thanks to our friend Matt Kalish for providing this in-depth interview with one of rally’s most legendary racing family members. Ryan Millen: “It kind of feels like a perfect fit.“ When a driver named Millen decides to enter a rally in the United States big things are expected to follow. Ryan Millen, son of rally champion Rod and brother of Pike’s Peak legend Rhys has made a name in desert racing, most notably winning the 2014 running of the Baja 1000 in a Toyota Tundra. This weekend, he…

Episode 272 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

June 11, 2015June 11, 2015 Mike Shaw

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadPodcast #272 for Tuesday June 9th, 2015. This week in Rally we review some of the happenings out at STPR round 5 of the Rally America Championship, preview WRC Sardinia, and discuss Red Bull GRC round 1 in Ft. Lauderdale as well as the results from GRC X-Games. In our mixed motorsports John gives us his viewpoints on the Grand Prix of Montreal, and we tell you how best to watch the upcoming 24hrs of Le Mans this weekend. IndyCar has been extra busy with their compressed…