Category: Rally

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Rally America Adds Mt. Washington Hill Climb as 2014 Round

Mike Shaw

The mythical “To Be Determined” 8th round of the Rally America National Championship has now been confirmed.  The below press release from Rally America announces that the Mt. Washington Hillclimb will be counted as an official round of the 2014 Rally America schedule.  The iconic Mt. Washington “Climb to the Clouds” is located in Pinkham Notch, NH and slated to run June 26-29th.  Although not run as regularly as the famed Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado, the Mt. Washington event is technically the oldest racing event in American history…

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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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Rally – 2013 Perryville Farm & Forest Rally

Josh Tons

The Rally America Regional, the Perryville Farm & Forest Rally held in Perryville, MO, began early Saturday morning with sun and light winds greeting the 22 teams, ready to tackle the very fast and smoothly flowing farming and forest roads of Southeastern Missouri. Prior to the event, many teams and rally enthusiast had deemed the event to be an Open Light and Group2 showdown, with nearly 20 out of the 23 entries split evenly between the two classes. St. Louis based rally enthusiast Matt and Lauren Conte began their first…

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SCCA – Drifting in the Dirt at the SCCA Rallycross Nationals

Doug Patterson

Editor’s Note: Mark Hill is a member of the Kansas City Region SCCA and a regular competitor in the Region’s Solo racing events in his Evo IX. He also competes in Rallycross in his Subaru Impreza RS. Mark was kind enough to give us the following report from this season’s SCCA Rallycross National Championship held at Tulsa Raceway Park in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We thank Mark for his contribution, and look forward to seeing him at the upcoming Solo and RallyX events. If the SCCA Solo National Championships in Lincoln take…

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WRC Rally de Espana – Preview and On-Air Times

Mike Shaw

Rally de Espana, or the Rally of Spain is the penultimate round of the WRC and the only mixed surface event on the calendar.  The first two day swill run on fast smooth tarmac outside of the seaside resort of Salou on Spain’s Costa Daurada.  The stages are so fast that it is largely compared to circuit racing, but with much more picturesque surroundings.  Sunday’s final stages will be on gravel which adds a bit of controversy as the running order will not be in reverse order when they hit the…

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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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BREAKING NEWS – Brendan Reeves Takes 2wd Rally America Championship!

Mike Shaw

After what has to have been one of the best championship battles in Rally America history, Brendan Reeves and Rhianon Gelsomino pulled off the win and with it the 2013 2wd Rally America National Championship crown!     At the end of Day 1, Brendan Reeves and Rhianon Gelsomino piloted their Team O’Neil Ford Fiesta R2 into 13.4 second lead over Andrew Comrie-Picard and Jeremy Wimpy’s Scion XD.  Both drivers pushed as hard as possible in Saturday’s drier conditions.  Reeves’ lead didn’t last though as ACP clawed back to a…

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BREAKING NEWS – David Higgins 2013 Rally America Champion

Mike Shaw

BREAKING NEWS – Confirmed reports are saying that Hoonigan Racing Division’s Ken Block and Alex Gelsomino rolled their HFHV Fiesta on Special Stage 12 about a mile from the finish.  That means Subaru Rally Team USA’s David Higgins and Craig Drew are the 2013 Rally America champions.   It was a great battle while it lasted with Ken Block clawing back about 5 seconds from a 13 second deficit.  I think the visiting former British Rally Champion – Guy Wilks – said it best “…Better to go going hard than…

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