Author: Doug Patterson

Motorsports enthusiast since ...well... always. Grew up watching Mario and AJ, took my first lap around IMS in the tour bus in 1977, fell in love with anything that went fast. Currently, I work as a professor of astronomy and physics at a college in the suburbs of Kansas City, http://staff.jccc.edu/dpatter/, and own a photography business, Patterson Prints, with my wife. http://www.pattersonprints.com/

SCCA – KCRSCCA Solo Event #2 Wrap-Up

Doug Patterson

Sunday’s Solo Event #2 for the Kansas City Region of the Sports Car Club of America was a tale of two heats with weather affecting Heat 2 significantly more than Heat 1. Normally, there are three heats per event with total entries often topping 100 among all classes. Sunday’s forecast of thunderstorms, however, kept many of the less dedicated racers away. With fewer contenders, the event officials reduced the normal three-heat format to two heats so that each heat would have enough course workers to keep things running smoothly. The…

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Episode 226 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Doug Patterson

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadOpenPaddock.net Podcast, Episode #226 – Tuesday, April 8th, 2014 Rally Dave Henderson – SP – Oregon Trail and Olympus – Cascadia I.R.C. Rally America on NBC Sports review Shaw’s GRC adventure GRC’s Indy Connection Barracuda Racing to GRC Andretti to promote GRC in DC Austin Cindric in GRC Lites Red Bull GRC Announces Sanctioning Agreement With USAC Reinvigorated Rhys Millen backed by Red Bull & Hyundai…again Also supporting new young talent Tyler Benson Ford / OMSE welcomes Red Bull & Bluebeam sponsors for their…

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SCCA – KCRSCCA Solo Event #1 in Photos

Doug Patterson

Well the Solo season is underway in the Kansas City Region of the SCCA, and it’s time for me to start the defense of my Street Touring FWD class championship. Some maintenance on Friday to replace the passenger side drive shaft on the Focus SVT didn’t go as planned thanks to a rounded-off nut. …and we were two nuts away from having the damned thing out, too. Oh, well, screw it. Popped the top on another beer, bolted it all together, and went to the pre-season testing session on Saturday…

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IndyCar – Relive the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in Photos

Doug Patterson

Two of our top photographers, Brian McKay of TenPesos.com and Tom Turk of PiraticalPhotography.com, were down in Florida for the season opening races for the Verizon IndyCar Series, Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires, the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires, the Cooper Tires USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda, and the SCCA Pro Racing Pirelli World Challenge. Yes, it was a busy weekend and a crowded race track! Brian and Tom did incredible work, and you can enjoy the fantastic racing action all over again through their photos.…

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Episode 225 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Doug Patterson

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadShaun, his co-host Mike, and his other co-host Mike (yeah, that joke never gets old) lead you through our first big open-wheel weekend with IndyCar and the Mazda Road to Indy in St. Petersburg, and Formula 1 in Malaysia. Mr. Shaw reviews the news in rally and previews WRC’s Rally Portugal and looks with excitement to his time this week down in LA with the GRC. OpenPaddock.net Podcast: Episode 225 – Tuesday, April 1st, 2014 Misc. Talk that Formula E could replace F1 in…

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Episode 224 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Doug Patterson

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIt’s a long one, but a good one! We are proud to welcome not one, but TWO fantastic drivers to the show. 2WD rally star Chris Duplessis joins us to talk about his experiences in the European rally scene, and Peter Portante fills in as guest host as Whitesell and Pechin are AWOL. The Intern and the Photog have the show tonight, so it gets a little sketchy as we preview all the racing goodness on offer on the Streets of St. Petersburg! OpenPaddock.net…

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Inside The Helmet – Gabby Chaves, A Family Tradition of Motor Racing

Doug Patterson

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadGabby Chaves, driver of the #5 Belardi Auto Racing machine for the 2014 Indy Lights season visits with us and talks about his unique family racing history, his experiences racing in America versus Europe, his progress through the Mazda Road to Indy system, and his expectations for the 2014 Indy Lights season. Gabby Chaves: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gabby-Chaves/ Twitter: @GabbyChaves Website: http://http://www.gabbychaves.com/ Belardi Auto Racing: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BelardiAutoRacing Twitter: @BelardiRacing Website: http://belardiautoracing.com/

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Inside the Helmet – Shelby Blackstock, A Multidisciplinary Racer

Doug Patterson

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadShelby Blackstock joins us to talk about his unique start (and late) start into the world of motorsport, how he moved up through the ranks, and how he now does double-duty as both an open-wheel racer in the Indy Lights Series Presented by Cooper Tires as well as the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge. Be sure to connect with Shelby and Andretti Autosport to keep track of their progress through the 2014 racing season. Shelby Blackstock: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ShelbyBlackstock Twitter: @Shelbilly Website: http://shelbyblackstock.com/ Andretti Autosport:…

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Inside the Helmet – Matthew Brabham Looks Back as 2013 and Ahead to 2014.

Doug Patterson

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadYour 2013 Pro Mazda Champion Matthew Brabham joins us to talk about his dominating season in Pro Mazda, how he’s adapted to the Indy Lights platform in pre-season testing, and his expectations for the 2014 Indy Lights season. Be sure to connect with Matthew Brabham and Andretti Autosport to keep track of their progress through the 2014 racing season. Matthew Brabham: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Matthew-Brabham/197733736993240 Twitter: @MattyBrabs Website: http://matthewbrabham.com/ Andretti Autosport: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndrettiAutosport Twitter: @FollowAndretti Website: http://www.andrettiautosport.com/

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Episode 223 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Doug Patterson

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadMike, Doug, and Mike take over the show as Fearless Leader Shaun is pulled away on other business. We review the IndyCar testing results, consider the implications of Verizon signing a long-term deal as entitlement sponsor, and review the news from the Mazda Road to Indy. Mr. Shaw shares news of Foust and Block competing in World RallyCross, and he previews the WRC Rally Portugal. Whitesell leads us through a review of the Formula One season opener at Melbourne, and we all shake our…

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