Inside the Helmet – Lisa Noble

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIt’s been a while since we’ve had a stand-alone Inside the Helmet feature, but I promise this episode is well worth the wait! We are happy to introduce Lisa Noble, 2013 Chairman of the Board for the Sports Car Club of America, long-time member of the SCCA, and National-caliber race-winning Formula Vee driver. Lisa shares with us her journey in motorsport beginning with her epiphany as a teenager that motor racing was something that she wanted as part of her life, through her time…

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Episode 175 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadThe whole crew, save for Shaun as we await his safe return from deployment, are on this episode of the OpenPaddock.net Podcast. Mike Shaw recaps the amazing Rally Sweden and the dominance Sebastian Ogier in his new Volkswagen Polo, and one of the best photos ever in the history of the WRC (of course it’s of Petter). Kevin Neely and Mike Whitesell share their opinions on the latest news from IndyCar, including the proposed tax incentive the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is seeking from the…

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Op-Ed – A Pro Mazda Carol: Part 3, The Future of Pro Mazda

Finally, we come to last in our trio of articles on the new Pro Mazda Series which will succeed the Star Mazda Series as the second stage of the Mazda Road to Indy. We’ve seen the story behind the rise and fall of Star Mazda, and the phoenixal story of USF2000, now let’s put all the pieces together and see where Andersen Promotion may steer Pro Mazda in the coming seasons. Let me start with the caveat that the following speculations are solely my own based on the observations delineated…

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Op-Ed – A Pro Mazda Carol: Part 2, The Present USF2000

Part Two of my three-part series looking at the future of the new Pro Mazda Series focuses on the success the new owners of Pro Mazda, Andersen Promotions, has had with the revived Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda. I feel safe in assuming that the leadership philosophy that has lead to a strong first step on the Mazda Road to Indy, the USF2000 series, will also be applied to the Pro Mazda Series in the coming seasons. The Evolution of USF2000 My thoughts on where the…

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Op-Ed – A Pro Mazda Carol: Part I, History of Star Mazda

Star Mazda at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course -- Photo by Eric McCombs, Star Mazda

Ok, I know the new Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires is barely a week old, but given who has taken over the old Star Mazda series, I’m willing to offer some speculation on how the new series will evolve over the next few seasons. All of my speculation hinges upon observations of how Dan Andersen and his company Andersen Promotions have managed the Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda over the past few seasons. This is a long article, so bear with me as I…

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OpenPaddock Podcast – Episode 165

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadThis week on the OpenPaddock Podcast, we have a packed show and a full house! Mike, Doug, and Kevin are joined by our new Rally reporter Mike Shaw and friend of the show John Olsakovsky. We begin with analysis from Mike Shaw on Petter Solberg’s future in rally and the sad sorry state of M-Sport. Whitesell and Patterson get excited about the addition of GT3 cars in the SCCA Pirelli World Challenge, for our money, some of the absolute best sports car racing to…

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Edpisode 164 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadKevin, Mike, and Doug stumble and stagger their way through the weekly news in Rally, Formula 1, and IndyCar. We recap Loeb’s unsurprising win at Spain, and preview the upcoming return of the USGP at COTA in Austin.

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Episode 162 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast

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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SCCA – KCRSCCA Halloweenie Event

The Kansas City Region of the Sports Car Club of America held its final Solo event of the season this past weekend at the Metropolitan Community College Precision Driving Center. This final event was in part solo race, part masquerade ball, and all charity event. All of the profits from the event were donated to the club’s various charities as was the money raised from donations from the club’s various sponsors and partners including Patterson Prints. Attendees earned raffle tickets by bringing non-perishable food items that were donated to the…

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