Category: Rally America

News and commentary on our domestic rally championship, the Rally America Series.

Rally America 2013 Schedule Released

Mike Shaw

Rally America has released their schedule for the 2013 season.  Of note are the return of two mid-west rallies to the schedule and the removal of the Olympus Rally.  This increases the total number events from six to seven.  The new season will kick off in just eight weeks time at the always exciting Sno*Drift Rally in northern Michigan. Although the absence of the Olympus Rally from the Rally America series is a bit upsetting to Pacific Northwest rally fans such as myself, the event will still run.  The Olympus…

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Episode 162 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Doug Patterson

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadKevin Neely joins Shaun and Doug for the first time as they discuss the sad sick world of IndyCar politics and the soap opera that has unfolded over the past few weeks. The boys also welcome 2012 SCCA Rallycross National Champion Brianne Corn to discuss her beginnings in motorsport, her transition from photographer to racer, and her exploits in rally, rallycross, and racing motorcycles up Pikes Peak. Talk about sketchy!! Shaun and Doug also review the Formula 1 Indian Grand Prix and preview this…

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Rally – Rally America Returns to Lake Superior in 2013

Doug Patterson
Henry and Cynthia Krolikowski take a high speed jump at LSPR Rally.

Well, it looks like I might actually make it to a couple of rallies next year! Every year, I make it to the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood that takes place in Salem, MO in late February, but the rest of the Rally America National Championship events all happen either near the East or West coasts. Ok, yes, there’s the Sno*Drift Rally in northern Michigan, but in addition to the fact that I’m a total wimp when it comes to cold weather, Sno*Drift also takes place right as the…

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Episode 161 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Doug Patterson

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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadThis week on the OpenPaddock.net Podcast, Shaun and Doug welcome special guest Sage Karam, driver of the #88 Comfort Revolution Star Mazda car for Andretti Autosport this past season. He speaks to us about how he became connected with the Andretti’s, how his 2012 season went, and his recent testing of a Firestone Indy Lights car. Sage also talks about how important it is for him to lead a normal teenage life in a public school in spite of his full-time racing career. Doug…

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Rally – Olympus Rally, a Fan’s Perspective

Doug Patterson

Editor’s Note: Mike Shaw has once again given us a remarkable rally article. He and his wife attended the final round of the Rally America National Championship, the Olympus Rally. This was Mike’s second rally of the year, having been to the Oregon Trail Rally earlier this year. In spite of the on-stage spectator areas being closed, the service park and super special stage still offered plenty of excitement. We welcome Mike’s contributions and encourage the rest of you to follow in his footsteps. Have an motorsports opinion, or been…

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Rally – Risk of Forest Fire Shut Fans Out of Olympus Rally

Doug Patterson

Rally America released an announcement yesterday stating that due to the drought much of the country has experienced this summer, spectator access to the Olympus Rally, final round in the Rally America National Championship, will be limited to the Super Special. No spectators will be permitted on the stages, and many of the afternoon stages have been cancelled or rescheduled. This is a very late change to the schedule, and certainly not one welcomed by fans and I can’t imagine that event and series officials are pleased about it either.…

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Rally – Olympus Rally Sees Record 78-Team Entry List

Doug Patterson

The last round of the Rally America National Championship is almost here! Next weekend, 78 teams will take to the back roads in the mountains around Olympus, WA. That’s a record turnout for the Rally America Series! All season long, the Rally America events have been recording record entries and seeing record crowds come to enjoy rally racing. It all points to the rising popularity of rally racing and seeing competition between real cars. IndyCar racing is exciting, but the cars are nothing like anything you’d see in the showroom,…

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Rally – New England Forest Rally Preview

Doug Patterson

The 2012 New England Forest Rally is this weekend, and our friends at Last Ditch Racing return to Rally America to compete in their home event. Driver John Cassidy and co-driver Jennifer Daly will be taking his 2003 Subaru WRX-STi to the difficult Maine roads in their one Rally America appearance of the season. “We haven’t missed a Maine Forest Rally / New England Forest Rally for the past thirteen years, but I think we still have more speed to show on our home roads. We really enjoy the rough…

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