Author: Mike Shaw

Rally – Sandblast Underway With Record Entries

Mike Shaw

One of the biggest events of the NASA Rally Sport National Championship kicks off today with a massive entry list.  46 cars and 47 “Rally Moto” (Dakar style motorcycle entries) are set to take on the back roads outside of Cheraw, South Carolina.  The one-day event features 70 miles of sandy soil flinging fun.  Although the southeast part of the country was hit with a deep freeze earlier this week, today the area starts out just above freezing and will warm to a much more comfortable high of 60 degrees.…

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WRC Rally Mexico – USA Live Coverage

Mike Shaw

This week continues the saga that is the World Rally Championship.  Will road sweeping finally stop two time World Champion Sebastien Ogier’s winning streak?  Or will the dust prove to be to his advantage leading the pack?  Who else will contend for the top of the podium?  Will we see another dramatic fight for the win like Sweden or another desperate transit to the final time control like Thierry Neuville experienced last year?  Get ready for the high altitude and hot action that is Rally Mexico!!   WRC Live Radio will…

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Rally Photographers – A Passion That Endures All Conditions

Mike Shaw

Before I post up the official Open Paddock review from the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood, I wanted to say a little something about our good friend and photographer Doug Patterson and the other photographers at the event.  This weekend Doug, and many other media “photogs” drove many hours in icy conditions to then freeze their butts off (actually I think it is their hands that suffer the most) standing for many hours in the middle of the forests to capture the images that describe the action and atmosphere better…

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Day 1 – 2015 Rally in the 100 Acre Wood

Mike Shaw

The best description I’ve heard of the 2015 Rally in the 100 Acre Wood with its varying conditions and grip levels was a gravel version of Rally Monte Carlo.  Monte Carlo is well known for on a single stage for drives to go from dry pavement to ice to snow and back to try pavement again.  At the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood it isn’t much different.   Tire choice was critical as up and down the paddock teams were saying that at some points they would have really good grip from frozen gravel, but…

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Rally – OpenPaddock On-Site at Rally in the 100 Acre Wood

Mike Shaw

Today kicks off round 2 of the Rally America Championship at the storied Rally in the 100 Acre Wood.  Based in the foothills of the Ozarks around Salem, Missouri the roads here are very fast and wide consisting mostly of hard packed dirt.  In previous years open class drivers have been so fast that they eclipsed the maximum allowed average speed for a stage.  That won’t be happening this year as the conditions are going to be very slippery with the a couple of inches of snow that fell overnight and temperatures…

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Episode 263 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Mike Shaw

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadWe have a heck of a show this week with multiple special guests!  To kick things off we have FY Racing’s Brenten Kelly and his Irish co-driver Niall Burns to talk Rally America and help us preview the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood that takes place this weekend in Salem, Missouri.  We also have our good friend and favorite astrophysicist Doug Patterson on the line, who’s been off doing other endeavors but has come back to OpenPaddock to satisfy his rally fix.  We’ll…

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Rally – Subaru Rally Team USA New Livery & Wide Body Kit

Mike Shaw

Subaru released images today of the updated body kit for the #75 2015 WRX STi rally car driven by David Higgins and co-driven by Craig Drew.  Of note is the wider stance in the rear of the car adding stability and the narrowed and more aerodynamic front grill.  The new livery is also much improved in our opinion.  This updated edition of the Subaru Rally Team USA car will be competing at the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood this Friday and Saturday outside of Salem, Missouri.  What do you…

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Op-Ed – Daytona 500 isn’t about the fastest car or driver

Mike Shaw

As many of you that listen to our podcasts know, we are not too big on NASCAR and it’s primarily left turn only championship.  However there are always exceptions and the Daytona 500 with its historical significance is one of of those.  The “Great American Race” isn’t what it used to be though.  With the advent of restricter plates, template car bodies, and other strict regulations, it doesn’t matter if your car is a little bit faster than the other guy anymore.  The draft more than makes up for most…

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Episode 262- OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Mike Shaw

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadFrom Tuesday February 10th, 2015. This week in rally we review Rally America’s Sno*Drift Rally, preview Rally Sweden, and discuss Toyota’s return to the WRC.  In our miscellaneous motorports segment we talk about the awesomeness that is the Bathurst 12 hour race and kangaroo dodging, NISMO GT Academy, and a few bits regarding F1.  We finish up with IndyCar ranting and question whether they are on the cusp of a golden era, then have a whole lot of Mazda Road to Indy as they did a…

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