tedm Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Anyone been to NJMP (New Jersey Motorsport Park)?
> Do they have a suitable rally-cross track?
>
>
Speed World Challenge raced there the last couple of years, I was there last year. It's a big complex and there's plenty of room to build a rallycross track. They have the main track and a smaller club racing type track. I suspect they would use the club track for the rallycross thing.

The Lighting track is the shorter one and there is quite alot forest between the the tracks. The short course does have a nice banked 180 degree turn.

Brian

tedm Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Kevin please explain why the "Season needs to wrap
> up at X Games."
>
> I don't think the X-games is a part of any season.
>
>
>
> Ted Mendham
> www.rensport.net


The only events that are dropped are after X Games.

Listen, I can't say it any clearer but if you were after the first weekend in August that was going to be a problem for this new plan...

Why not pick on the events who have real stability issues, Oregon, Olympus, or STPR? Why eliminate RA's "home" rally or their only real legacy rally. Hell, JB has said the events were in the wrong part of the calendar...

Maybe RA should drop the "Rally" from it's name and rename itself "X-games America", if sanctioning rallys in the second 1/2 of the year means nothing to them, and the rallys they sanction in the first 1/2 of the year are about to implode, as has been suggested (by others), anyhow.

To me, X-games is not rallying. It is not a points scoring event in any Rally Championship. I know it has TV coverage and that means a lot to the marketing weasels. Great let the pimps and whores run X-games, but why minimalize a National Rally Championship for it?

I guess this is the primary divide between the young and old rally people. In a simpler time, I was attracted to rally by people like John Buffum and Rod Millen. They went out in the woods, "on real roads", and drove their cars with courage and skill. They didn't do a lot of posing or try and sell me energy drinks, video games, or gold shoes, at least that I remember ;-) . Of course those were different times. Today, computers, cable TV, the interweb and all this nonsense allows people like Ken Block And Travis Pastrana to reach millions with their gymkhana and jack-ass style videos. Nothing wrong with someone trying to do a little self-promotion, but some of this stuff gets shamelessly hyped into outer space in an effort to get the attention of hyper-active Red Bull fueled 8 year olds (and NASIOC fan-boys) sitting at their computers, or tv and this makes this old-timers skin crawl. I was brought up in an environment where I was taught to always act humble and it was considered bad form to blow one's own horn. I guess I'm a slow learner.

Thank God, there is still CARS and NRS.

---

Ted Mendham
www.rensport.net

tedm Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I guess this is the primary divide between the
> young and old rally people.

Its not primarily an age thing. I'm a 20-something that longs for the days of the POR, and I know others my age that do too. Though that may have something to do with the fact that I've spent about 24 of my nearly 27 years living in Houghton and having the rally come to town every year. Though I also dont drink monster, wear DC's, or straight brim my hats. Actually the only hat with a brim I wear is my LSPR Stormy Kromer.

tedm Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Maybe RA should drop the "Rally" from it's name
> and rename itself "X-games America", if
> sanctioning rallys in the second 1/2 of the year
> means nothing to them, and the rallys they
> sanction in the first 1/2 of the year are about to
> implode, as has been suggested (by others),
> anyhow.
>
> To me, X-games is not rallying. It is not a points
> scoring event in any Rally Championship. I know
> it has TV coverage and that means a lot to the
> marketing weasels. Great let the pimps and whores
> run X-games, but why minimalize a National Rally
> Championship for it?
>
> I guess this is the primary divide between the
> young and old rally people. In a simpler time, I
> was attracted to rally by people like John Buffum
> and Rod Millen. They went out in the woods, "on
> real roads", and drove their cars with courage and
> skill. They didn't do a lot of posing or try and
> sell me energy drinks, video games, or gold shoes,
> at least that I remember ;-) . Of course those
> were different times. Today, computers, cable TV,
> the interweb and all this nonsense allows people
> like Ken Block And Travis Pastrana to reach
> millions with their gymkhana and jack-ass style
> videos. Nothing wrong with someone trying to do a
> little self-promotion, but some of this stuff gets
> shamelessly hyped into outer space in an effort to
> get the attention of hyper-active Red Bull fueled
> 8 year olds (and NASIOC fan-boys) sitting at their
> computers, or tv and this makes this old-timers
> skin crawl. I was brought up in an environment
> where I was taught to always act humble and it was
> considered bad form to blow one's own horn. I
> guess I'm a slow learner.
>
> Thank God, there is still CARS and NRS.

Ted, I don't think it's merely an age thing but maybe for you it is.
You lived thru the same stuff in terms of time (the 60s and 70s) as I did, and in fact, more of it since I was away about 8 years, but one thing I think many people "our" age acquired, regardless of their superficial political tendencies one seemingly one way or the other was an extreme contempt for all advertising, and for some of us a equal contempt for the minions who thought up and distributed advertising.

And as for the image many of our age share of what a man is, Yep, courage and skill I'd add (remember I'm still in my heart a moto-cross guy---even if I enjoyed enduro more) grace, and my own preference I'll add humor.

Now may people say Blockstrana is a real friendly guy and approachable, etc, but they avail themselves to and take willing part in and really are fully involved with the HYPE.
I mean just look at the photo:


NOBODY I know stands like that, or should io say POSES like that. Stupid hat, stupid sunglasses on indoors, legs apart, whole demeanor saying I'm "tough" and I'm BORED".
Anybody I know over 14 that dressed and stood like that would be immediately pointed and and LAUGHED AT.

Men don't stand like that. (Or let their handlers create some phony ass "persona" of them), not men that i want to speak with.
I mean how do we know who were talking to---a raving loon that loves driving cars thru the trees or the bored gansta who's going put a cap in mah ass cause he's bored?

As I said, I don't think it's strictly an age thing more where on the continuum from "Human being to automaton consumeroid" you stand.

He did you see my new ___________________ hiking boots? they're so much cooler than last years?


>
>
>
>
>
> Ted Mendham
> www.rensport.net

---

John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

Anybody else notice that the image tag on this one is...wait for it--> image_homepage_hero


Hey look he has his hat on backwards this time. No wait it's that other guy...I think...

One can't discuss car posing without comparing it to the first, best, and bestest car-posing and rapping-est dudes of all time, the Icy Hot Stuntaz!!!

(discussion of this particular internet meme is here: http://famouspictures.org/index.php?title=Icy_Hot_Stuntaz )

---

Grassroots rally. It's what I think about.

Tim Taylor Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > Anybody else notice that the image tag on this
> one is...wait for it--> image_homepage_hero

Because that style of picture is referred to as a 'hero shot' in the photography/PR world. (not to be confused with the money shot)
In this case the 'hero' is simply a style of image, not statement about the content.

---

First Rally: 2001
Driver (7), Co-Driver (44)
Drivers (16)
Clerk (10), Official (7), Volunteer (4)
Cars Built (1), Engines Built (0) Cages Built (0)
Last Updated, January 4, 2015

Quote
john vanlandingham
Blame is for idiots. losers.

john vanlandingham Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Now may people say Blockstrana is a real friendly
> guy and approachable, etc, but they avail
> themselves to and take willing part in and really
> are fully involved with the HYPE.

Not necessarily. Ken is approachable, very 'real' and has a true passion for rally even if he sees a different set of possibilities for the sport than many of us. Don't think, however, that because he pushed to get the XGames show in place that he wants to destroy rally at its core. Ken has demonstrated time and time again that he loves driving his car through the trees!

Having had the chance to chat with him on a number of occasions I know that the 'look' you find so ridiculous for the 41ish year old Block is, at its core, what he does for a living. Just as you would expect a uniform on a McDonald's employee, Ken is wearing his work 'uniform.' The difference is that his work is neither 9-5 nor is it a set of clearly defined duties.

> I mean how do we know who were talking to---a
> raving loon that loves driving cars thru the trees
> or the bored gansta who's going put a cap in mah
> ass cause he's bored?

By listening to what they have to say and engaging them in conversations instead of prejudging them by their outward apperance?

(The preceding post is not intended as any for of attack, insults or inflammatory comment. The sole intent is for the inclusion of pertinent observation and commentary.)

---

First Rally: 2001
Driver (7), Co-Driver (44)
Drivers (16)
Clerk (10), Official (7), Volunteer (4)
Cars Built (1), Engines Built (0) Cages Built (0)
Last Updated, January 4, 2015

Quote
john vanlandingham
Blame is for idiots. losers.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/20/2009 01:45PM by Morison.

Morrison, that post was obviously not attacking anyone. Take your disclaimer off. Thats just sad you feel you have to write that.

---

Welcome to the cult of JVL drink the koolaid or be banned.

Anders Green Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> One can't discuss car posing without comparing it
> to the first, best, and bestest car-posing and
> rapping-est dudes of all time, the Icy Hot
> Stuntaz!!!

Hey! I think I saw those guys at Maine!

---

Lurch
Eric Burmeister
The west coast...of Michigan

Whatever. He should pull up his pants, even if it is his "job".

Tim Taylor Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > Anybody else notice that the image tag on this
> one is...wait for it--> image_homepage_hero
>
>
> Hey look he has his hat on backwards this time.
> No wait it's that other guy...I think...


CLASSIC! Tim trying to pass himself off as Blocky in front his silly Land Grover. Too funny!

alkun Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Whatever. He should pull up his pants, even if it
> is his "job".

Whatever, old man.

Ken wearin his pants like that and his hat like that is exactly the same as a pimp wearing the funny hat with the feather, or a politician wearin a navy blue pinstripe suit. It's a uniform.
And it's a uniform that makes him an assload of money.
I think we ridicule him because we're envious of his ability to make things happen.
The dude is a playa (playin all the fools that gotta wear the slacker uniform), and he's got the power to make silly gymkhana videos and ramp Subies in the snow.

But I agree that he looks silly.

---

Monika Hawkinson
Seattle, WA