Tag: Subaru

Rally – Oregon Trail 2014 Preview

Mike Shaw

Round three of the Rally America National Championship gets underway this week with the Oregon Trail Rally.  The only event on the calendar in the western United States, Oregon Trail is also the longest event spanning 3 days.   The Weather: Over the last week the Pacific Northwest has had some fairly heavy rain, however drying conditions are in the forecast with temperatures in the 70’s for Friday and Saturday with only a slight possibility of a few scattered showers on Sunday.  Their could be some dusty conditions on Saturday…

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Rally – Red Bull Global Rallycross Media Day

Mike Shaw

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadWow, what an incredible day.  I got the amazing opportunity to represent OpenPaddock.net at the launch of the newly re-branded Red Bull Global Rallycross Championship at their Media Day in Los Angeles, California.  The location for this media event was at the Port of LA, where after passing by mile after mile of shipping containers my route diverted me to a more scenic drive lined with palm trees and even passing by the historic USS Iowa battleship.  Finally at the end of the road…

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Rally America Returns to TV Tomorrow …and it Looks Good!

Mike Shaw

[youtube_sc url=”http://youtu.be/k_51JVOg1uo”]

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Up close and personal: Experiencing my first rally

Mike Shaw

Having been a rally fan for some time, I always felt a slight sense of inauthenticity when I told people rally is my favorite motorsport. Although I’d followed Rally America, WRC and other series from the comfort of home, and attended and photographed rallycross events (GRC and SCCA), I had never been to a stage rally. Last year, I was planning on going to the 2013 Rally in the 100 Acre Wood, but got snowed in, here in Kansas City. I had been looking forward to the event for months…

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Rally America – Serious Opportunity Ahead

Mike Shaw

A month ago I stated that Rally America had some serious issues with so many of last years’ champions or championship contenders not returning for 2014.  I received many comments, some in support of my statements and some thinking I was nothing but a Rally America hater which couldn’t be farther from the truth.  A few others said “just wait good things are coming,” and those were the people that were right.  Maybe I should have been more patient.  I will say that based on the information available at the time,…

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Rally – 2014 Rally in the 100 Acre Wood Preview

Mike Shaw

Round 2 of the Rally America National Championship gets underway this Friday and Saturday at what is traditionally the fastest event of the season, The Rally in the 100 Acre Wood.  Wide roads with firmly packed dirt make for high speeds with drivers frequently butting up against the rev-limiter.  Last year such speeds weren’t possible as a freak storm pounded the area with ice pellets and freezing temperatures that turned the event into Sno*Drift 2.0.  That won’t be the case for 2014 though as the forecast is showing temps in…

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Rally – And Now its Official – Rally America on NBC Sports

Mike Shaw

So we finally have the much anticipated official announcement and press release!   2014 RALLY AMERICA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TO AIR ON NBC SPORTS NETWORK Williston, VT (February 3, 2014) — NBC SportsNetwork and Rally America, Inc. have reached an agreement to bring eight episodes of the 2014 Rally America National Championship to NBC viewers.Each one-hour show will be jointly produced by Rally America and Rage Productions and will showcase each of the National Championship events. In addition to top quality action sports coverage, episodes will feature personal stories of national…

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Rally America – Exciting New Developments

Mike Shaw

Yes, it is not all doom and gloom.  Last week I posted an article that was admittedly a bit vague, with concern for Rally America’s national championships.  Two of the 2013 champions, plus Ken Block and a few other regular national entrants stated that they are unable to continue in the 2014 national championship season.  There were quite a few comments here on the site as well as on Facebook and Twitter and I must say I really appreciate hearing from all of you as passionate about the sport as…

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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 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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