Author: Mike Shaw

RallyCast Episode 103 – Alex and Rhianon Gelsomino Return

Mike Shaw

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadWe bring back our good friends Alex and Rhianon Gelsomino which is now an all Subaru family.  In this episode we discuss their recent vacation travels, review their experiences from the Olympus Rally, and delve into what to expect as challenges at SOFR this weekend. We also take a tangent into the WRC which was in Sardegna last weekend, where Rhianon shares the humorous tale of a long ride on, not in, a tow truck.

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RallyCast Episode 102 – Co-Driver Krista Skucas

Mike Shaw

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadWe caught up with Krista Skucas after a dominant win at the Mike Nagle Regional Rally co-driving for Derik Nelson in the Nordic Motorsports BRZ. We chatted about the event and it’s new stages, a dramatic moment that almost ended it all, as well as how she got started co-driving. 

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RallyCast Episode 101 – Rally in the 100 Acre Wood Part 3 with Ryan and Rachel Rethy, Katie Gingras, and Arek Bialobrzeski

Mike Shaw

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadPart 3 of the 100 Acre Wood review, it’s all about NA4WD. We kick it off with regional overall winners Ryan and Rachel Rethy who had a fabulous run with some extremely close competition. Then it’s Co-Driver Katie Gingras who with driver Chuck Surdyke was battling the Rethy’s until they got a little over ambitious into a fast left hander. And finally it’s a chat with Arek Bialobrzeski about his killer H6 swapped 2011 Subaru WRX hatchback that was so fast that it was…

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RallyCast Episode 100 – Rally in the 100 Acre Wood Part 2 with Barry McKenna, Martin Brady, and Cameron Carr

Mike Shaw

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIt’s our 100th episode! We start our chat with current ARA champion Barry McKenna who gives us all the details on his World Rally Car and all the changes they did to have it meet ARA regulations. It’s always a treat to be joined by Martin Brady. 100 Acre Wood didn’t go so well for he and Seamus, but their speed was remarkable. Then it’s co-driver Cameron Carr with some stories about recce and what it’s like to compete in an R5 for the…

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RallyCast Episode 99 – 100 Acre Wood Review Part 1

Mike Shaw

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIn this show we chatted with a bevy of 2WD competitors including National 2WD winners Michael Hooper and Kevin Allen, 2nd in National Limited 2WD Ryan Sanders, 2nd overall Regional and 2WD class winner Steve Olona, and 3rd overall Regional 2nd in 2WD Al Dantes Jr.  Be sure to follow these competitors at their social media links below: River City Rally TeamTower City Race TeamVerve RacingGoSPEED Racing

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RallyCast Episode 98 – The Rally Race Book Project

Mike Shaw

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIn this episode we chatted with Dr. “Koz” – Michele Kozimor, Dr. Barbara Prince, and Emalie Rell about a study they’re doing about the culture of rally racing in North America. A long time Subaru fan, Michele had never been to a rally until a friend called about a bunch of Subarus running around Wellsboro, Pennsylvania.  That visit to STPR and her interaction with teams, fans, and volunteers inspired the project now in it’s 3rd year of research. Follow the Rally Race Book project…

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The Revolution Has Started, but is it Good or Bad?

Mike Shaw

In my very first column for OpenPaddock.net, I talked about how much of the magic in US rallying is created by the unique variety of cars and the “can-do” attitude of crews. While I would love to see a US round of the WRC, I would never want the US rally scene to lose the care-free approach that makes it so special. With eight R5 cars on the entry list for the upcoming 100 Acre Wood Rally, it’s fair to say that momentum is increasing when it comes to the…

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RallyCast Episode 97 – Sno*Drift 2021 Part 3

Mike Shaw

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIn this last segment from Sno*Drift 2021 we chatted with Limited 4WD competitor Travis Nease, Co-Drivers Alex and Rhianon Gelsomino, and finish off with a talk with American Rally Association’s Competition Director Preston Osborn about the choice to use RallySafe and how different it is running an event with this new tool.

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RallyCast Episode 96 – Sno*Drift 2021 Part 2 – The Young Guns

Mike Shaw

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIn this episode we chatted with three of the youngest talents that competed at SnoDrift and all of them had podium results. Cian McCormack comes from a family with a strong rallying history and SnoDrift was his first national event. The youngest of the three at 17, Patrick Gruszka is the son of well known privateer Art Gruszka and is beginning to blaze his own path. We also had Patrick’s co-driver Alison LaRoza to get her perspective on working with someone so new to…

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RallyCast Episode 95 – SnoDrift 2021 Part 1 “Winners and Binners”

Mike Shaw

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadOkay, maybe Winners and Binners is a bit harsh, but indeed that’s what happened with the guests in part 1 of our Sno*Drift rally review.  The father daughter team of Stephen and Katie Gingras have shown impressive performance at other events, but unfortunately the icy conditions caught out the #12 NA4WD Subaru.  If it was slick for 4WD machinery, just imagine what it was like for a RWD Subaru BRZ!  And that’s exactly what our next guest Santiago Iglasias of Escudería Boricua Rally drove…

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