Author: Mike Shaw

Rally – Kubica, A Rally Legend in the Making?

Mike Shaw

When Robert Kubica came on to the World Rally Championship scene in the WRC2 category last year, it caused quite a stir.  Rally had another former F1 winner coming over to what many of us rally fans deem to be the pinnacle of motorsport.  This would help draw considerable attention to rally which has been recovering from a period of lackluster spectator and TV viewer counts.  Unlike Raikkonen though, Kubica feels he has unfinished business in Formula 1.  Most recall that Kubica’s F1 career was cut short after a nasty…

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WRC Musical Chairs

Mike Shaw

We all remember the game as kids.  When the music stops everyone grabs a seat except for one odd man out.  Similarly there seems to never be enough manufacturer seats with the current depth of talent available in the WRC.   So here’s a quick look at the drivers that snagged a seat and who was left standing.   As we all know, the Volkswagen World Rally Team has their drivers firmly bolted to their carbon fiber seats for at least one more year.  There is no real need for…

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Good Food, Good Beer, Great Company, And Racing – USGP Watch Party

Mike Shaw

Friends and Competitors Gather To Watch The USGP So a short drive into downtown Leavenworth and you see a big sign that says High Noon Saloon and Brewery go that way (right), a couple blocks over and there you are parking outside an older building, that is hiding a nice little gathering place.   The location has a very large view screen as you can see from the photo above, and plenty of room for a gathering of friends and competitors.  As you enter the door, off to the left was…

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Rally America Adds Mt. Washington Hill Climb as 2014 Round

Mike Shaw

The mythical “To Be Determined” 8th round of the Rally America National Championship has now been confirmed.  The below press release from Rally America announces that the Mt. Washington Hillclimb will be counted as an official round of the 2014 Rally America schedule.  The iconic Mt. Washington “Climb to the Clouds” is located in Pinkham Notch, NH and slated to run June 26-29th.  Although not run as regularly as the famed Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado, the Mt. Washington event is technically the oldest racing event in American history…

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WRC Rally de Espana – Preview and On-Air Times

Mike Shaw

Rally de Espana, or the Rally of Spain is the penultimate round of the WRC and the only mixed surface event on the calendar.  The first two day swill run on fast smooth tarmac outside of the seaside resort of Salou on Spain’s Costa Daurada.  The stages are so fast that it is largely compared to circuit racing, but with much more picturesque surroundings.  Sunday’s final stages will be on gravel which adds a bit of controversy as the running order will not be in reverse order when they hit the…

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BREAKING NEWS – Brendan Reeves Takes 2wd Rally America Championship!

Mike Shaw

After what has to have been one of the best championship battles in Rally America history, Brendan Reeves and Rhianon Gelsomino pulled off the win and with it the 2013 2wd Rally America National Championship crown!     At the end of Day 1, Brendan Reeves and Rhianon Gelsomino piloted their Team O’Neil Ford Fiesta R2 into 13.4 second lead over Andrew Comrie-Picard and Jeremy Wimpy’s Scion XD.  Both drivers pushed as hard as possible in Saturday’s drier conditions.  Reeves’ lead didn’t last though as ACP clawed back to a…

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BREAKING NEWS – David Higgins 2013 Rally America Champion

Mike Shaw

BREAKING NEWS – Confirmed reports are saying that Hoonigan Racing Division’s Ken Block and Alex Gelsomino rolled their HFHV Fiesta on Special Stage 12 about a mile from the finish.  That means Subaru Rally Team USA’s David Higgins and Craig Drew are the 2013 Rally America champions.   It was a great battle while it lasted with Ken Block clawing back about 5 seconds from a 13 second deficit.  I think the visiting former British Rally Champion – Guy Wilks – said it best “…Better to go going hard than…

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LSPR Day 1 – Rally America Championship Still Too Close To Call

Mike Shaw

If you don’t follow rally racing, then this would be a good time to start.  These are the events that rally fans dream about.  A final championship battle that wages between great competitors who are willing to go flat out and not conserve anything to be crowned champion.  Mother nature threw a bit of a curve ball preventing top speeds, but the battle continues with leaders barely ahead of their rivals.   Hoonigan Racing Division’s Ken Block and Craig Drew started first on the road in wet slippery, or as he put…

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Rally America Season Finale – Champions To Be Crowned

Mike Shaw

It all comes down to this weekend.  The final race of the 7 round Rally America Championship season.  There is nothing left to conserve.  It will be win it or bin it at the Lake Superior Forest Rally on the forest roads outside Houghton, Michigan.     Thanks to the Federal Government shutdown taking so long to be resolved, the originally scheduled stages for Friday that were on federal forest lands are no longer available.  Instead Saturday’s scheduled stages on private lands are going to be repeated on Friday as well.…

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What Next Year Holds – 2014 Tudor United Sports Car Schedule

Mike Shaw

On September 20th 2013 IMSA announced the Tudor United SportsCar Championship Schedule.   The season will be a total of 12 events visiting many of the old standbys but there will no doubt be some people missing some of the old venues.   The finalized schedule is below. 2014 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship Schedule Date Event Jan 25-26 Daytona International Speedway Mar 15 Sebring International Raceway Apr 12 Long Beach Street Circuit May 4 Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca May 31 Detroit Belle Isle Jun 29 Watkins Glen International Jul 13 Canadian Tire…

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