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Former Subaru Rally Team USA Driver Dave Mirra Dies at 41

February 4, 2016 Mike Shaw

We are sorry to report that multiple X-Games gold medalist and frankly BMX God, Dave Mirra has passed away due to an apparent suicide in Greenville, North Carolina. Dave made the transition from pedal power to Subaru Rally Team USA and competed in both Rally America and the earlier years of Red Bull Global Rallycross. Mirra was known as one of the most approachable guys in professional motorsports. As many have probably already said, he seemed like “your average Joe” and was very easy to talk to. I remember spectating at Oregon…

Six Tenths. Six Tenths Gave Them The Story of a Lifetime

January 31, 2016January 31, 2016 Mike Shaw

This Year’s Sno*Drift Rally had the closest finish that you’ll unfortunately never see. This is where my bitterness in the lack of media from Rally America hits a boiling point. Beyond the interviews on Rally America Radio, there has been little to no effort in detailing what happened out on the stages. It sadly feels like the organization just doesn’t really care anymore. Even their social media was lacking this weekend with a handful of tweets, and some pictures here and there on Facebook and absolutely nothing on their web…

Sno*Drift 2016 Day 1 Complete, on to Day 2

January 30, 2016January 30, 2016 Mike Shaw

Results from Day 1 of Sno*Drift National Rally show what we all typically expect from the slippery snowy event. Staying on the road and out of the snowbanks is key, as is using the right tire, especially since studs are not allowed. Top seed SP driver Lauchlin O’Sullivan and co-driver Scott Putnam used their advantageous first on road position to good use and lead the overall standings by almost 3 minutes. Last year’s 2WD champion Troy Miller has moved to SP class and has a new co-driver in Steven…

PR – Travis Nease and Krista Skucas at Portland International Auto Show

January 27, 2016 Mike Shaw

Portland, OR (25 January, 2016) – The #81 Open Class Stage Rally car of Travis Nease and Krista Skucas will be joining the Oregon Rally Group/Subaru booth at the Portland International Auto Show this weekend, January 28-31st with driver and co-driver in attendance. Travis Nease and Krista Skucas will be contending all eight rounds of the 2016 Cascadia International Rally Championship in their 2004 Open Class Subaru WRX STi. Krista brought her five years of co-driving experience when she joined the team on Travis’ sixth event of his…

OREGON TRAIL RALLY PARTICIPATES IN PORTLAND INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW

January 26, 2016 Mike Shaw

@ PORTLAND, OREGON (January 26, 2016) – Billed as the premier Auto Show of the Pacific Northwest, the Portland International Auto Show will again this year include a display from the Oregon Trail Rally. The Oregon Trail Rally, round 3 of the 2016 Rally America National Championship calendar, will present an Open Class Subaru WRX competition vehicle as part of the Subaru display at the Auto Show. On the main floor of the Oregon Convention Center, fans will have the opportunity to view the finely prepared competition Subaru…

Familiar Faces Grace Podium of 2016 Dakar Rally

January 16, 2016 Mike Shaw

The final stage from Villa Carlos Pas to Rosario just finished, bringing the 2016 edition of the Dakar Rally to an end. The top 3 steps of the podium are all faces that we would have expected the last 3 or 4 years in Dakar. Stephane Peterhansel takes his 12th Dakar win, adding to an unbelievable career and giving Peugeot their first win since 1990. It’s obvious why they call him Monsieur Dakar! Thirty minutes back was last year’s champion and two time winner Nasser Al-Attiyah in the Mini X-Raid.…

Dakar Rally Report – Loeb Does it Again

January 5, 2016January 5, 2016 Mike Shaw

9 times World Rally Champion has now won Stage 3, exciting many stage rally fans and showing that yesterday wasn’t a fluke. That’s now two for two for Sebastien “The Master” Loeb and the powerhouse Peugeot Dakar team. It didn’t take long for the cheers and jeers to start on social media of course. We heard everything from: So now Loeb is making the Dakar as boring as he made the WRC. Thank goodness for the bikes To: Peugeot have done their homework since last year…

Are You Following Dakar 2016? If Not, You Should Be!

January 2, 2016 Mike Shaw

Every year we talk about the Dakar Rally, but what is it about Dakar that makes it such a special event? First and foremost it is the scale. Each day’s racing stage is equal to an entire modern WRC event in length with transits as long or longer than the racing stages. It is not unheard of for teams to leave their bivouac before dawn and arrive at the next overnight stop after midnight. Then there are the conditions. The Dakar throws everything at the teams from wet and muddy…

The Inaugural SCCA Northwest Rally Sprint and Rallycross

December 16, 2015December 16, 2015 Mike Shaw

The first SCCA Rally Sprint in the Pacific Northwest was wet and wild, but still a major success. The Northwest has been battered with rainstorm after rainstorm saturating the soil causing floods, landslides, and even a tornado hit Vancouver. Thankfully the venue at DirtFish Rally School was free of tornadoes, and the early morning albeit cold was looking rather promising with only a light shower. That all changed once the racing commenced as the clouds descended and the rain came. The harsh wet conditions made the event that much more…

F1 – FiA Gets One Right

December 7, 2015 John Olsakovsky

A lot is being made of the FiA’s recent decision to allow Formula One teams choice among three available compounds of Pirelli tires. It’s a huge change, no matter how you slice it, but on that I like. OK, I don’t advocate slicing tires, but I do advocate options that result in differing team strategies and, ideally, better racing on track. I even appreciate the idea of keeping teams’ compound selection secret, at least from other teams. If a team knew another teams strategy, they could counter it, and it…