Category: OP-Ed

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

Op-Ed: American Rally Championships Expected to be a 5 to 4 Split for 2017

Mike Shaw

After yesterday’s announcement that the Oregon Trail Rally will switch to the newly formed American Rally Association, there was a quick response from the organizers of the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood that they would remain under the existing Rally America sanctioning. We would like to announce that Rally in the 100 Acre Wood will be March 17-18, 2017 and will be Round 2 of the Rally America Championship. The 100AW group is starting its planning now and hopes the sanction has little bearing on who can come to…

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New American Rally Association Coup Apparently Not Yet Complete

Mike Shaw

Yesterday one of the biggest bombshells in American rally racing was dropped with the announcement of the new American Rally Association as a new sanctioning body.  Admittedly we’ve seen this before when just a year ago the formation of the US Rally Association threatened to replace the often criticized Rally America Championship Series, but it never came to fruition.  So what’s different this time, and will ARA be successful?   As stated in the press release below from the American Rally Association and Team O’Neil, the ARA already has 4 of the…

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RallyCast Episode 08

Mike Shaw

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIn this episode Mike, Matt, and Andrew Pascarella (a.k.a. Raced in Anger), review the New England Forest Rally from a week ago.  At the 1:26 mark we get a bit more local as Mike and Doug Patterson talk with special guest Kito Brielmaier of the Northwest Rally Association and about SCCA RallyCross and some new technologies being developed to bring RallyCross into a new era.  Thanks for listening!

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Op Ed – A Racing Travesty

John Olsakovsky

The Pike’s Peak International Hill Climb is one of those events that every racer looks at with respect and admiration, if not a desire to attempt. The race has claimed lives with hairpin curves winding up and around a mountain peak with no guardrails. That is FiA Grade “Are you kidding me?!?” Despite this, it’s almost a complete unknown that this is 100th Anniversary of The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Let that sink in for a moment. Racers have been challenging themselves to climb up this mountain, risking…

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IndyCar – How To Be Successful at Indianapolis as A Rookie

John Olsakovsky

I’ve started, erased and rewritten this piece three times now. Three weeks after the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race, countless articles have been written about Alexander Rossi’s incredible win and the history he has made. That is a phenomenal story, no doubt.  However, there’s a deeper tale that has parallels with my own rookie experience at The Brickyard. Much like the 2016 Indianapolis 500 Champion, I had an ace in the hole going into the month of May to insure not only a fun race weekend, but…

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RallyCast Episode 07 – Featuring Special Guest Dillon Van Way

Mike Shaw

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIn this week’s show Mike, Doug, and Matt start with an exclusive interview with Dillon Van Way after his return from WRC Portugal.  Dillon gives us all the details on what it’s like competing in the Drive DMACK Fiesta Trophy against some of the best young rally drivers in the world.  From there we spliced in last week’s recording of where we reviewed the Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally.

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2016 Indy 500 Preview – Live from Indianapolis!

Mike Shaw

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadFor the first time the latest edition of the OpenPaddock band has come together in person at the most famous racing venue in the world.  After having a splendid Cajun dinner at Yats on Mass in downtown Indianapolis, Mike Shaw, John Olsakovski, Doug Patterson, and the long lost Mike Whitesell give some impromptu predictions (if you can call it that) for tomorrows 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race.  Enjoy!

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Episode 295 UMMM-Cast – OpenPaddock.net

John Olsakovsky

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadThis is likely the last UMMM Cast until after Indy. Tom and I share morning beverages (for once!) as we discuss the great Red Bull driver swap going into the the Spanish Grand Prix. The Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis was a great race, but it’s overshadowed by our excitement about the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race. Tickets are in hand, hotel is reserved and Bronze Badges are waiting at the IMS credential office. Marshall Pruett speculates about the end…

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Episode 293 UMMM-Cast – OpenPaddock.net

John Olsakovsky

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadJohn, Doug and Tom wander the deserts of the world seeking exciting open-wheel racing. Was there any to be found in the oil-rich sands of Bahrain where the sheiks and the Eccelstones play? Perhaps thrills were afoot amidst the rocky crags around Phoenix International Raceway where IndyCar returned after over a decade! Come along on our nomadic journey of all things UMMM…. Don’t forget your canteen!

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