Ken Block off to WRC

gilbrock Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> So what if he bought any or all of it? Would you
> not do the same if you were in his shoes? To
> somehow think that his love of rally is any less
> because he's rich is nonsense. We're all
> 'gentleman racers' anyway. Yeah he might get
> stomped in the WRC but so what. And yes, I truly
> do think he's doing this for fun. Just like the
> rest of us.

The "so what' is just that.
Give Malcolm Wilson £4 million and he'll give you a deal.

Anybody.
hell they gave some Arabiac terr'ist a Focus WRC and wrote Abu Dabi all over ALL the cars.
Thus the "deal" is in no way any reflection of what sort of driver---or not--- but merely a PURCHASE that anybody with the dough could do.

Anybody.

Now seeing as how we are supposed to believe that the goal of competition is to make results and those results are equated---rightly or wrongly-----with perceived skill and supposedly the WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Series is supposed to determine who the "best driver" is, the sad trend of selling "rides" dimimishes the value of the title "World Rally Championship".

It should be "parade of select few that can somehow scape the millions together to drive around way behind the leaders."


So Kenny with his and /or Other people's money bought a ride.

So what?

---

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.

Dazed_Driver Wrote:
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> Sprint cup is to Circle track as WRC is to Rally
> as F1 is to open wheel. It's not so much that it's
> a "world championship" Its that it's a pinnacle.

That doesn't really change much to me. It still implies that the Sprint Cup is the best of the best within circle track. How's that? Who gets to call the Sprint Cup the world pinnacle of circle track stuff?

To me, to call any cup or championship the pinnacle of a particular sport, it has to be an internationally sanctioned event, and thus a true world championship.

It's the same thing with the Super Bowl being called the world championship of american football. Eh?!? WTF? By definition it can't be a world championship without giving countries in the whole world the chance to participate.
I have no doubt that an american team would win it - no doubt at all - but the tournament as it is today, is still no world championship.

---

Brgrds
Brian

They say money talks and BS walks. I think Ken and his handlers have the market cornered on both. ;-)

And Ken will be driving a Ford over here, maybe. I wonder if Travis will still be with Subaru in 2010.

I hope to be the second American to have a fulltime WRC ride. I wanna party with Kimi. ;-)

And what happened to Atko.

---

Ted Mendham
www.rensport.net

I'd really love to see Marcos Ambrose go back and do some SuperCar races and see if what he's learned here makes any difference.
Although rally doesn't allow you to race side-by-side and follow (easily) it'll still be interesting to see Ken's progression.
Just learning how seriously the teams run the weekend will be something.

Kimi who...is she hawt?

---

She's screamn' fer eet!
Rallyho
Mike White
http://www.facebook.com/rallyhomotorsports

kimi

---

Ted Mendham
www.rensport.net

Rallymech Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> As they say in the advertising business, any press
> is good press.
>

Even if it's full of inaccuracies and misinformation, apparently.

<<"Block hopes to become the first American to compete full time in the WRC, which is the rally equivalent to NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series."<<

Let's split this up into two sections, shall we? Since there are two separate fails going on here.

<<"Block hopes to become the first American to compete full time in the WRC..."<<

He can hope all he wants to but he is far too late to ever gain that distinction. I would have to say Sergio Cresto (an American of Italian descent living in Italy at the time) was competing in the WRC full time when he was a codriver for Henri Toivonen. He was killed along with Toivonen in the crash at Corsica in 1986 that prompted the ban on Group B cars.
I don't understand why the people that write this stuff can't be bothered to do even the slightest amount of research before making claims like this. Oh yeah, then they couldn't make claims like this...

<<"... which is the rally equivalent to NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series."<<

That's just an insult to the WRC, really.

Doivi Clarkinen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Rallymech Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > As they say in the advertising business, any
> press
> > is good press.
> >
>
> Even if it's full of inaccuracies and
> misinformation, apparently.
>
> <<"Block hopes to become the first American
> to compete full time in the WRC, which is the
> rally equivalent to NASCAR's Sprint Cup
> Series."<<
>
> Let's split this up into two sections, shall we?
> Since there are two separate fails going on here.
>
> <<"Block hopes to become the first American
> to compete full time in the WRC..."<<
>
> He can hope all he wants to but he is far too late
> to ever gain that distinction. I would have to
> say Sergio Cresto (an American of Italian descent
> living in Italy at the time) was competing in the
> WRC full time when he was a codriver for Henri
> Toivonen. He was killed along with Toivonen in
> the crash at Corsica in 1986 that prompted the ban
> on Group B cars.
> I don't understand why the people that write
> this stuff can't be bothered to do even the
> slightest amount of research before making claims
> like this. Oh yeah, then they couldn't make
> claims like this...
>
> <<"... which is the rally equivalent to
> NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series."<<
>
> That's just an insult to the WRC, really.



Being compared to a commercially viable and successful motorsports series in whom there are many major and competitive teams, which has a huge loyal fan base, and is perceived to be the most prestigious championship in its specific branch of motosport...

Could be worse things to be compared to...

Jon Burke Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
.....guaranteed exposure.
>
>
>


The term exposure always makes me think of liver-melting chemicals, radiation, and big cliffs...

Sprint Cup is a National car racing serires. And very polular with toothless, hard drinking, RV driving retirees. WRC is a world series and the pinnacle of car rallying. Sprint Cup is the pinnacle of roundy-rounder car racing in the US.

I'm with Dave Clark, the comparison is an insult to the WRC.

---

Ted Mendham
www.rensport.net

Doivi Clarkinen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Rallymech Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > As they say in the advertising business, any
> press
> > is good press.
> >
>
> Even if it's full of inaccuracies and
> misinformation, apparently.
>
> <<"Block hopes to become the first American
> to compete full time in the WRC, which is the
> rally equivalent to NASCAR's Sprint Cup
> Series."<<
>
> Let's split this up into two sections, shall we?
> Since there are two separate fails going on here.
>
> <<"Block hopes to become the first American
> to compete full time in the WRC..."<<
>
> He can hope all he wants to but he is far too late
> to ever gain that distinction. I would have to
> say Sergio Cresto (an American of Italian descent
> living in Italy at the time) was competing in the
> WRC full time when he was a codriver for Henri
> Toivonen. He was killed along with Toivonen in
> the crash at Corsica in 1986 that prompted the ban
> on Group B cars.
> I don't understand why the people that write
> this stuff can't be bothered to do even the
> slightest amount of research before making claims
> like this. Oh yeah, then they couldn't make
> claims like this...
>
> <<"... which is the rally equivalent to
> NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series."<<
>
> That's just an insult to the WRC, really.

Agreed. But just for Cresto, Cresto may have held a US Passport but I think he was one of those Ital-Americans who were far more Italian then American,
and I'm sure the Publicity Department stooges writing this crap would make a point than Kenny said "drive" and not co-drive.
My answer elsewhere was this:

Hope he learns some history:
quote: "Rally just hasn't been as popular in the States because it's been deemed more a European-type sport," Block says. "We haven't had many U.S. drivers that have gotten to that level. There have been a few people that have done one-off events. No one has done multiple events. It's a huge honor to go try to do that.

"There's a lot of pride, and to do it in an American brand, I'm really stoked to have this opportunity."

Kenny---or or his crew writing this crap forgets John Buffum who is still, in equal machinery, quicker than Block. See Colin McRae Stages 08.

Shameful he is so full of himself he totally misses Buffum who did do multiple events and did quite respectable placings in tough WRC and ERC events, as in top 6.

But he's from SoCal, if it wasn't on TV last week it never happened.....

---

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.

alkun Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Jon Burke Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> .....guaranteed exposure.
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> The term exposure always makes me think of
> liver-melting chemicals, radiation, and big
> cliffs...


I think of exposing oneself, but I undress....err....digress.

---

Jon Burke - KI6LSW
Blog: http://psgrallywrx.blogspot.com/

There are a couple of absolute truths in all of this:

A - PR people are neither obliged nor expected to be completely or comprehensively truthful

B - 'The Media' is supposed to wade through the chaff and find the truth and present it in a balanced and researched way.

My observations are that:

1 - People, in general, don't understand or recognise A
2 - B isn't happening
3 - Too many people in the media can be pigeon holed in point 1

---

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:
>
> Agreed. But just for Cresto, Cresto may have held
> a US Passport but I think he was one of those
> Ital-Americans who were far more Italian then
> American,

I reckon you're right but he was, as Bruce Springsteen would say, born in the USA. New York to be exact, and he was always referred to as an American back then.

> and I'm sure the Publicity Department stooges
> writing this crap would make a point than Kenny
> said "drive" and not co-drive.

Actually, the propaganda article makes no such distinction. It just says he hopes to be the first American competitor.

> My answer elsewhere was this:
>
> Hope he learns some history:
> quote: "Rally just hasn't been as popular in the
> States because it's been deemed more a
> European-type sport," Block says. "We haven't had
> many U.S. drivers that have gotten to that level.
> There have been a few people that have done
> one-off events. No one has done multiple events.
> It's a huge honor to go try to do that.
>
> "There's a lot of pride, and to do it in an
> American brand, I'm really stoked to have this
> opportunity."
>
> Kenny---or or his crew writing this crap forgets
> John Buffum who is still, in equal machinery,
> quicker than Block. See Colin McRae Stages 08.
>
> Shameful he is so full of himself he totally
> misses Buffum who did do multiple events and did
> quite respectable placings in tough WRC and ERC
> events, as in top 6.

I was going to mention that, too. Don't forget Jon Woodner also did several European and WRC events. Also Pat Richard competed in the Production WRC class for a season and he's technically American. (North American, but yeah, I know they mean from the USA in the Block article.)
Buffum won the 1983 Sachs rally and the 1984 Cyprus rally, both European Championship rounds, and is the first American to win a ERC round. He also finished 5th overall on the 1984 Acropolis rally in Greece. On BF Goodrich tires! (And no,they weren't relabeled Michelins back then.)
>

> But he's from SoCal, if it wasn't on TV last week
> it never happened.....
>

Or has over one million Youtube hits...

Its just sad that the news paper makes it "look" as if Kenny had a "van and a plan" ..Worked his way up racing ..And 'is' the best the America has and Ford picked him out of all others ... And thats not true ... Not putting Kenny down on his driving at all ..I hope he does good ... He better or there going to say .."This is the best America has "..

The pay a ride and not tell everyone its a payed ride ....... sucks .. And thats how Kenny is playing it ... "they picked me " ... (eyeroll)

But thats racing these days ...

I for one hope American rally never goes big time ... I like the small famliy...

David

Hazardous Toys inc



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/06/2010 05:41PM by Haztoys.