Category: OP-Ed

Check out the opinions of the guys on the site and you the fans!! Post your own article here!

The Missed Shift – Gimmee Gimmee Gimmee!

John Olsakovsky
Robin Miller Fan Club

I have a three year old, so the refrain of “I want!”  and “Gimmee!” is common ’round these parts.  It’s part and parcel for a child of that age, and as a parent I (as well as Mrs. Race Fan) do our best to instill non-materialistic values and quell the desire for instant gratification. Three year olds are extremely resistant to this sort of life lesson. As a middle-aged guy, I have an inner three year old that wants all kinds of things.  OK, more like twelve and not three,…

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Rally America – Serious Problems Ahead

Mike Shaw

Remember last season where every major class came down to the final event to decide the championship?  Two of those titles came down to the final day, and one wasn’t sealed until the final stage.  It was simply epic.  There were some great battles between Ken Block and David Higgins all season long.  David Sterckx overcame his mechanical issues from the previous year to take the championship in Super Production and Mason Moyle had his best season yet finishing second in the class.  In 2wd Brendan Reeves showed us American’s…

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Rally – WRC’s Manufacturing Winner is M-Sport

Mike Shaw

Wait, does that title infer what I think it does?  Didn’t Volkswagen win the FIA WRC manufacturers title in a dominant fashion last season?  Yes, Volkswagen did win the manufacturer’s title as far as the FIA is concerned, but please note that I said “manufacturing” not “manufacturer” title. First let me be clear, I’m not a Ford fanboy or a Malcolm Wilson fanboy or anything like that.  Regardless I think I can make a good case as to why M-Sport is the current rally manufacturing winner even if they don’t…

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The Missed Shift – Get It In Gear, Already!

John Olsakovsky

Welcome to The Missed Shift, a new weekly column about my favorite subject, racing. What else, right? I’ll do my best to be thought-provoking, entertaining and even insightful on occasion. I welcome discussion, contrasting opinions, criticisms and suggestions.  I’m honored to be a part of the OpenPaddock family. I’ll try not to be that one relative that everyone tries to avoid at Thanksgiving dinner, but I can’t promise anything. This past year has been a tough one for a lot of reasons.  First and foremost, the loss of my brother-in-law…

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Episode 213 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Doug Patterson

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadMike, Mike, and Doug make one last appearance in 2013 and talk about the few bits of motorsport news that’s around. Formula E seems to have a lot more traction that we expected, Ganassi and Briscoe are reunited, as is Paul Page and IMS radio. Fan Force United returns to Indy Lights, Sutil safe at Sauber, and Kubica confirmed at M-Sport. In each category, we also look back at the best and worst from each segment we cover. It’s been another great year, and…

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Episode 212 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Doug Patterson

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIn our penultimate show of 2013, Mike, Doug, and Mike continue to be stunned at the enthusiasm shown for the new Formula E all-electric racing series, Panoz sues Nissan (who didn’t see that coming?), and TUSCAR has aero and tire issues with the prototypes. Whitesell leads us through the news in IndyCar and Formula 1, Patterson brings us up to speed on Indy Light’s new chassis and engine for 2015, and Shaw shakes his head at the T&S errors in the WRC and takes…

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Episode 211 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Doug Patterson

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadDoug, Mike, and Mike debate who should fill the #10 seat at TCGR, and review a bevey of driver signings and tests. Doug gives us a MRTI silly season summary, Whitesell leads us through a recap of the USGP, and Shaw brings us up to speed on Rally GB. OpenPaddock.net Podcast – Episode 211, Tuesday, November 19th, 2013 IndyCar IndyCar legend Dario Franchitti retires from racing who replaces him? #10 or #8 car? Penske, Sam Hornish part ways after decade together IndyCar Series outlines…

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Episode 210 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Doug Patterson

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadWhitesell, Shaw, and Patterson are at it again! Not much news this week in IndyCar, but we talk about some driver announcements in MRTI and announce that OpenPaddock and Belardi Auto Racing will continue their partnership in 2014. Max is back in the news while the new 2014 F1 regulations result in a near obscene nosecone. Kimi is out and Alonso is in for the support race to the Longhorns football game. In rally, Shaw previews Rally GB, gives Gymkhana 6 a “meh” rating,…

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Episode 209 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Doug Patterson

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadWhitesell, Patterson, and Shaw examine the news from INDYCAR and the organizational changes surrounding IMS and INDYCAR, and we’re agog at the stunning revelation that Dallara will produce the 2015 IndyLights chassis. Whitesell leads us through the news from Formula 1, the Kimi drama, and we review the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Shaw wraps up the show with all the news from the WRC, Rally America, and the Global Rallycross including a discussion of Kubica’s future, a recap of the Perryville Farms Rally, a…

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Episode 208 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Doug Patterson

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadThis week Doug, Mike, and Mike review the IndyCar and IndyLights finales at Fontana and begin looking at the silly season news and rumors. Mr. Whitesell leads us through the news in Formula 1 and we preview the final Indian Grand Prix. Wrapping up the show, Mr. Shaw recaps the glorious event that was LSPR and gives us a preview of the WRC Rally de Espana. OpenPaddock.net Podcast: Episode 208 – Tuesday, October 22nd, 2013 IndyCar Fontana Review IndyCar title rivals get grid penalties…

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