Author: Mike Shaw

RallyCast Episode 94 – Sno*Drift 2021 Preview

Mike Shaw

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIn this episode we speak with the Marketing Director of ARA Jeremy Meyer about the new changes including the addition of RallySafe and their media partnership with Dirtfish.  We also chat with Dirtfish Media’s Trevor Wert about their new role, and with Kelsey Steven’s of Cooper Autoworks who’s also going to be at Sno*Drift with a small media team.  This is looking to be one of the best covered Sno*Drift rallies in ages! And no, your ears do not deceive you.  I apparently can’t…

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RallyCast Episode 93 – James and Ryan Pryzbylkowski of Vilko Motorsports

Mike Shaw

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIn this episode we talk to a couple of grassroots competitors. Brothers James and Ryan Pryzbylkowski are newer to the sport from the competition side, but have been spectating rallies for several years until they had the opportunity and means to finally build cars of their own.   It’s a fun chat about how they first learned about rallying and what it’s like to do that first event. Follow Vilko Motorsports on the following social media channels:

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RallyCast Episode 92 – Dirtfish Media’s Colin Clark

Mike Shaw

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIn this episode we chat with one of our favorite WRC reporters, Colin Clark.  Colin gives us his thoughts on the upcoming Monte Carlo Rally, what it’s like to ride in one of the newest generation Hyundai i20 WRC’s at speed, and the upcoming 2022 regulations.  Be sure to also stick around for the end where we introduce a new segment we’re calling “The View From the Right Seat” where this time we have a short chat with Alex Gelsomino about his years of…

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RallyCast Episode 91 – Our Annual Chat with Co-Driver Alex Kihurani

Mike Shaw

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadHappy New Year listeners!  In this episode Co-Driver Alex Kihurani chats with us about the challenges of their condensed 2020 WRC3 season, working with the FIA’s new Rally Star young driver program and how sim racing plays a part, getting used to the speeds of Rally2 machinery, and the exciting plans Sean and Alex have for the 2021 season which starts in just a few weeks.  We also have a brief chat with Scott Alderson of Scott Alderson Art who’s seeking a little bit…

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RallyCast Episode 90 – Alex and Rhianon Gelsomino Return

Mike Shaw

In this show Alex and Rhianon discuss their pandemic shortened 2020 season and how what started out as quite the blow to their business and livelihood, suddenly opened a new opportunity when Rhianon got the call to ride with Travis in the #199 Subaru. We also talk about how American rally rules encourage good sportsmanship vs. other places in the world, and how Alex and Ken used that to their advantage in their early years competing in an Olsbergs Fiesta. We also chat about the crazy contraption Subaru came up…

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RallyCast Episode 89 – Olympus 2020 Part 2

Mike Shaw

In Part 2 of our Olympus review show, we conclude our interview with Regional overall winner Dave Clark, and then provide some thoughts and insight from our commentary crew which includes our host Mike Shaw, rally photographer Tedrick Mealy, and recently announced 2020 Eastern Regional Open 2WD champion co-driver, Kelsey Stephens of Cooper Autoworks.  

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RallyCast Episode 88 – Olympus 2020 Part 1 with Regional Overall Winner Dave Clark

Mike Shaw

In this episode we welcome a man who’s smile we didn’t think could get any bigger, but then he won the overall regional in his BMW E36 M3. It isn’t often a 2WD car can make it to an overall podium, let alone an all out win, especially in the dumping rain and slippery conditions that Olympus 2020 had on offer. Mike Shaw and guests hosts Kelsey Stephens and Tedrick Mealy find out how he was able to pull if off and how he got started doing this crazy little…

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RallyCast Episode 87 – ARA’s New Series Competition Director Preston Osborn and Ojibwe Forests Rally Review

Mike Shaw

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIn this episode we welcome back friend of the RallyCast Preston Osborn. After toasting to his new role as ARA’s new Series Competition Director, we chat about what interested him in taking up the new position, areas he plans on focusing first, and what his recent skills as a team manager and competitor at O.D.D. Racing can bring to the sanctioning body’s management team. From there  we delve deep into a review of the Ojibwe Forests Rally and learn why everyone should keep an…

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Are Hyundai and US Rallying a Match Made in Heaven?

Mike Shaw

By Jon Scoltock Hyundai have been on my mind a lot recently. That sentence would have been unimaginable 10 years ago, but the South Korean manufacturer has undergone something of a transformation in recent years. In fact, I think I would go as far as to say that they are probably one of the most exciting car makers in the world right now. I know that might seem like a far-fetched idea, but hear me out. When I was a kid, Hyundai made fairly dependable, but pretty crappy family cars.…

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Lake Superior Performance Rally (LSPR) Elects New Chairmen and Host City

Mike Shaw

Open Paddock has learned that the Lake Superior Performance Rally has elected Steve Gingras and Eric Carlson as their new co-chairmen. Steve told Open Paddock “It’s going to be a big challenge but we want to build an event that is going to be strong for several years.” This is yet another ‘changing of the guard’ we’ve been seeing over the past several years as a younger generation begins to run events. “Only somewhat younger” as Steve jokingly put it. This is quite the change for the former Production GT…

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