We got a pleasant surprise from the gaming world this week. Codemasters, famous for the Colin McRae and Dirt series ninja released their next installment to the franchise with Dirt Rally, an early access Steam title on PC. Taking a step away from precious Dirt titles, Dirt Rally has a primary focus on stage rally and is closer to simulation than we’ve seen in any rally game in awhile. For fans of the series, or if you’re looking for a challenge Dirt Rally is a game worth checking out.
Codemasters, Dirt Rally, featured, PC games, rally, video games
Oregon Trail is always one of the most beautiful rally locations of the Rally America National Championship season. This year was no different, with Mt. Hood as the backdrop and wide open flowing gravel roads creating the perfect scenery.
With no Ken Block, Travis Pastrana or other factory sponsored driver, the 2015 Rally America Championship is Subaru Rally Team’s David Higgins and Craig Drew’s to lose. And lose, they have not. SRTUSA has been dominant all year, taking victories at Sno*Drift, 100 Acre Wood and now Oregon Trail. It’s gonna be a steep road for anyone trying to make a run at them the rest of the season.
More…
David Higgins, featured, Oregon Trail Rally, rally, Rally America, SRTUSA, Subaru
There goes an old saying…”Sometimes monkeys die.” It’s not a particularly good saying, and it hardly fits in this instance. So moving on, in an update to the Jeremy Clarkson debacle from a couple weeks ago, it has been made official by the BBC that they will not be renewing his contract. Shortly thereafter a statement was made by James May in one of the most oddly surreal front porch interviews I’ve ever seen, that James, Richard and Jeremy are, effectively, a package deal; echoing the statements made by James and Richard initially when Clarkson was suspended on why they wouldn’t be doing the last three episodes without him. So here we are. Top Gear as we know it is ending after 13 years, in a very sad, and ultimately unnecessary way. More…
featured, James May, Jeremy Clarkson, news, Richard Hammond, The Stig, Top Gear, TV
Well, we are now almost a fourth of the way through 2015, so I guess it’s about time one of the most famous driving personalities in the U.S. announced his schedule for the year. Apparently rally will not be a priority for Mr. Hoonigan himself in 2015, with only 4 rally events in total on the calendar and only 2 of those will be stateside at Rally America New England Forest Rally and Lake Superior Performance Rally. If you want to see one of the most exciting drivers in the world ripping it up on gravel roads, hopefully you live in the East half of the country or New Zealand. More…
featured, Ford, Global Rallycross, Hoonigan, Ken Block, rally, Rallycross
So by now it has become pretty well known that long-time TV favorite Jeremy “Jezza” Clarkson, has gotten himself into a splash of hot water. “So what?” you say, continuing to respond to written text verbally like some kind of reverse stenographer. “Jeremy is always in trouble, why not just tell me the sky is blue??”
Well you have a good point, though I’d appreciate you not throwing your sandwich at the monitor like that. Clarkson certainly has a way about him, but the question is really if it’s as big of a deal as it seems. I’ve been discussing this with a smattering of friends over the last week or so and it’s kind of difficult to see what all the fuss is about. I mean sure, he punched some guy in the face over something as ridiculous as a meal being cooked, but this is Jeremy “actually-only-2-years-older-than-Tom-Cruise” Clarkson. I won’t go as far as to make comparisons to a certain C. Montgomery Burns, but there are slightly more intimidating people to have throw a ham-fist towards the middle of your face, if i’m honest. It could be argued that, had he not already caused so many other rabbles in the past, this issue might have been of lesser consequence. But to be honest, even coming from the perspective of someone in the U.S., a place where Ray Rice is a thing, trying to get on the level with suspensions, hearings, lawyers, and show postponements for what has already far outgrown its original (and very fitting) Fracas-labeled jeans, seems like too much.
More…
When you think about the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood, immediately visions of fast sweeping gravel roads pop into your head. It’s no wonder that it’s one of the most popular Rally America events of the year. This year was set to be no exception with 65 entries, but Mother Nature had her own plan. With snow and ice already on the ground, bitterly cold temps moved in for Friday morning. Shakedown started at 8 AM and the temp on my BMW 128i’s dash read 3 degrees Fahrenheit. Why had I got up at 5:30 AM for this, I thought to myself as I pulled on my Columbia snow pants over top of my jeans to try to stay warm. Then as I wandered down the ice covered gravel road towards a tight corner at the top of the hill I remembered just how beautiful the forest was at this time in the morning. It was quiet and peaceful and soon to be filled with the glorious sound of rally cars tearing through it. More…
100 Acre Wood, featured, rally, Rally America, stage rally, Subaru
Out of the water and darkness of night
Emerges a roaring chariot made of metal and light
1991 BMW 318i
Steve Egger / Alexandria Pearl
2014 Rally America Oregon Trail Rally
More…
BMW, HD wallpaper, Oregon Trail Rally, photos, rally, Rally America, stage rally
I haven’t been a Formula 1 fan for very long. I believe my first season of interest was when Jenson Button took Brawn GP to the championship in front of Vettel in 2009. In the short time that I’ve been a fan, however, I have done my best to be a proper one; learning about all the glory that was Senna and his rivalry with Prost, watching the “Killer Years” documentary just shy of a thousand times, and most importantly, picking favorites. In the world of sports, F1 is a very interesting animal in this regard compared to others. Like the rest, you can pick a favorite team, but each team only has 2 players. You have a real opportunity to be a fan of individual drivers and to understand their specific racing styles. Whether it’s Alonso’s adaptability, Perez’s all-or-nothing aggression, or Maldonado’s seemingly impossible feat of crashing more times in an hour and half than a pirated copy of Windows Vista, you really have the privilege of minimal selection. More…
The 2015 version of the autocross index you love to hate is now out. The PAX/RTP index is used to compare SCCA event results across classes. This year all street tire and stock classes now require a minimum tread wear rating of 200 on all tires. Also gone are the race tire ‘stock’ classes. More…
Throwback Thursday to 2012 Rally America Rally in the 100 Acre Wood held in the forests of Missouri. Ken Block and Alex Gelsomino took another victory in their Monster World Rally Team Hoonigan Racing Ford Fiesta. They have dominated this event for the past 8 years.
100 Acre Wood, featured, Ford, Ken Block, rally, Rally America
