Global Rallycross (GRC) just announced that it will create the “Lite” class to make the sport more accessible to new and less-heavily-funded drivers.
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The AutoGuide News Blog is your source for breaking stories from the auto industry. Delivering news immediately, the AutoGuide Blog is constantly updated with the latest information, photos and video from manufacturers, auto shows, the aftermarket and professional racing.
Ken Block has it pretty good. He gets paid to spend time hooning cars around the world while everyone watches.
Things are getting a refresh in the Ken Block camp, with Block revealing the livery for his Ford Fiesta race car, a new headquarters for his team and also a new team name: Hoonigan Racing Division.
2012's Best Car Porn
Shaping and sculpting sheet metal into something both beautiful and functional is an intensive undertaking that automakers spend thousands of hours and millions of dollars on. And to bring these cars justice, photographers and videographers spend hundreds of hours capturing just the right angle, and finding that one magical location.
So for your viewing pleasure, AutoGuide has gathered up the best-of-the-best automotive photography and videos from the past year, and compiled them all here in one place.
Click through to see some stunning visuals.
It’s been several months since Ken Block’s Gymkhana Five was unleashed onto the Internet, and now the team at DC Shoes has decided to give fans a behind-the-scenes look into the making of the stunk flick.
Anyone familiar with Ken Block and his Gymkhana videos knows just how well he can smoke a set of tires and AutoGuide had the chance during this year’s SEMA Show to go along for a ride.
Drifting is exciting enough, but when Ken Block jumps into the mix there’s sure to be some real fun on tap.
A battle between rally racer Ken Block and Mad Media, the company that co-produced the first three of Block’s famous Gymkhana drifting videos, is flaring after Block sued the firm.
The automotive industry is a global business that is constantly evolving and growing, and we here at AutoGuide know it can be hard to keep up sometimes. So here is a summary of the top stories you may have missed this past week:
Ask a drifting fan what the coolest viral video out today is and they will probably tell you Gymkhana Five which was released on July 9 and gathered more than 9 million views in two days.
The fifth installment of Ken Block’s Gymkhana series has arrived, and it is chock-full of drifts, jumps, and other stunts.
Teased once before, the marketing machine behind WRC driver and stunt-man Ken Block is at it again, releasing a second preview of Gymkhana 5 and introducing a co-star.
Can’t wait until July 9th to get your gymkhana fix? DC Shoes has released a trailer of Ken Block’s upcoming Gymkhana Five flick, ahead of its official debut in a couple of weeks.
The extravaganza known as Ken Block’s Gymkhana videos will see its latest addition on July 9 when Gymkhana Five will be released onto the Internet for all of us to enjoy.
Rally Cross is gaining a name for itself in America. After already finding a solid foothold in Europe, the second race in the series is scheduled to take place in Texas this weekend.
We have already seen the Hollywood extravaganza that was the first gymkhana four, but now Ken Block and the folks at DC have released a re-edited version to show more driving skill and less over the top explosions.
Ken Block is known for drifting his car around some pretty unique backdrops, but this one has got to be one of the best.
In his latest video, Ken’s rally-outfitted Ford Fiesta is shrunk to pint size and goes out drifting in Venice Beach, Calif. The RC car goes swooping and jumping through a skate park, drifting and taking on the bowls at full speed.
Ken Block has truly built himself into a brand name in the drifting, racing and general car shenanigans world. When he goes racing, it seems there is always a camera crew lurking in the shadows ready to catch the action.
The newest Block video shows Ken running his tuned up Ford Fiesta through the 100-acre wood, a track located in Salem, Missouri in the foothills of the Ozark mountains. Sideways driving and jumps are featured to make the video really pop off the screen.
Check it out after the break.
Race cars, check. Beautiful women, check. Ken Block video, check. Gymkhana racing with Ken Block in video, negative. Wait, what? Ken Block is releasing a video that has no real action in it and it’s still worth watching?
The Ford Fiesta driver spoofs himself with the aid of actor and comedian Nick Swardson in this fairly hilarious video. From inventing his own vegetable called the “Blockli” to referring to rival Travis Pastrana as the drummer from Blink 182, this 2012 race season interview is not only creative, but well worth the laughs.
Whether you like Block or not, you have to admit that he certainly knows how to make a viral video.
Watch the interview below:
Just in time for the holiday season, Hot Wheels announced a lineup of Ken Block toys now available at retailers nationwide such as Toys “R” Us, Wal-Mart, Target, Kmart and Pep Boys. Three individual products make up the Ken Block Hot Wheels line, a 1:64-scale die-cast 2011 Ken Block Ford Fiesta Hot Wheels car, a Hot Wheels RC Nitro Speeders Ken Block Fiesta, and a 1:16-scale Hot Wheels Ken Block RC Stunt Car.
The 1:64-scale die-cast Fiesta is available sporting the black or white liveries, depending on your preference and comes in at a mere $1.00. The RC Nitro Speeders Fiesta is a small, self-containing RC car and controller and has the ability to go 0-60 mph in scale speed in just 1-second. The Speeders is for sale at $26.00. Lastly, the RC Stunt Car is a fully functional remote controlled car with two different drift modes, allowing the user to pull both wide and tight drifts. It features a scale speed of 0-80 mph in less than 2-seconds for just $45.00.
This is just the beginning of the collaboration, as Block elaborated that he’s already working with Hot Wheels for some 2012 items, including some of his current projects that are still secret.
GALLERY: Ken Block Hot Wheels
The viral success of Ken Block’s Gymkhana videos gave rise to the Gymkhana GRID competition, which is basically a bunch of fancy driving stunts masquerading was a real motorsport. The first one achieved commercial success, and a second event was planned for the end of October in Hollywood, Ca. Now, the event has been cancelled due to a pending legal dispute.
Gymkhana GRID’s founder Chris Willard had originally approached Ken Block and DC to collaborate on the events, and Block gave Willard his blessing to run the events. Somewhere along the line, things changed and DC Shoes attempted to trademark the name, while simultaneously issuing a cease-and-desist order to Willard to prevent him from using the name for his events.
While Willard seems unsure of why DC decided to pursue this course of action, a legal representative for Block told Autoblog that his client wanted to make sure that Gymkhana GRID was at a “… level where it’s supposed to be, and that it’s ran right and ethically.”
Without wading into murky legal territory, it’s safe to assume that there’s a serious case of not seeing eye-to-eye here and with a dearth of facts, it’s prudent to avoid making any judgement calls this early in the game.
[Source: Autoblog]
***UPDATE*** AutoGuide.com has been contacted by former “0-60 Magazine” Editor and Brand Director for Ken Block’s new brand “Hoonigan“, Brian Scotto, who has informed us that the car does not in fact belong to Ken Block. There is, however, a connection, with the actual owner being none-other than Scotto himself, who does plan to show the vehicle at SEMA to promote the new Hoonigan brand. Stay tuned for info on the car and more details on “Hoonigan.”
Japanese Porsche tuner RWB (RAUH-Welt Begriff) has earned quite a reputation for building some wild retro German machines. Massive spoilers, bright paint and extreme widebodies are all a part of the plan for a shop that promises exclusivity with only one car per customer.
While still on the fringes of auto culture, RWB is about to get some mainstream attention with news that its latest client is none-other than Gymkhana expert Ken Block.
No details have yet been released, but it’s all but certain that this could be the wildest RWB creation yet. Rumors indicate that Block’s creation could be on display at this year’s 2011 SEMA Show.
GALLERY: RWB Porsches
[Source: 7Tune]
Ford fans, start your engines! Ford’s new TV series, Octane Academy, is coming to FUEL TV and its adrenaline-pumping challenges will get your motor revving.
This 13-episode original television series follows driving contestants of Octane Academy as they are put through the paces of a series of challenges while staying at four action sports camps. There will be three episodes for each of the camps and will begin airing in early 2012 on FUEL TV.
“We’re really excited to bring Ford’s Octane Academy to life in an exciting show that will feature quick cuts, comic relief and risk-taking scenarios that take both the pro drivers and everyday Joes out of their comfort zones in the name of entertainment,” said Peter Vesey, FUEL TV Vice President, Advertising Sales.
You can start watching Ford’s Octane Academy this November, which starts with the first camp hosted by Brian Deegan. Taking up the challenge of the academy will be 32 ultimate fans who get the chance to be behind the wheel of a sports car. These lucky contestants will be paired up with famous Ford action sports drivers, including Brian Deegan, Ken Block, Tanner Foust and Vaughn Gittin Jr. They’ll get to test out their driving skills using the F-150 SVT Raptor, Mustang and the Focus.
The race to get into Ford’s Octane Academy started this July and garnered more than 6,000 applications and 850 video submissions. The racing hopefuls had to explain why they have what it takes to survive a weekend of on- and off-road challenges. Out of those applicants, only 32 were picked to compete in the four camps that will be hosted over the course of the year. Eight contestants participate in each camp and have to battle it out with a battery of challenges and dares over one long weekend. Each of the Ford action sports drivers get to design their ultimate playground for the contestants, and give them a crash course in how to master the road while testing their attitudes, athleticism and audacity. Drivers who stand out move ahead and pick up prizes, and the overall winner of each camp will be awarded a new Ford vehicle of their choice.
Ken Block has released the fourth installment of his Gymkhana video series, aptly titled Gymkhana 4, for the flatbill wearers of the internet to enjoy and play ad nauseam.
We won’t spoil any of the video for you, but it’s an appropriate follow-up to the last three mini-films. Check it out below.
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