I don't quite see this as a gentlemen racing thing. Block is loaded because he's really good at marketing. First he applied that skill to shoes and made a mountain of cash. Then he started spending it on rally. Now he's flexing his marketing muscle with the rally team.

Like it or not, those gymkhana videos were brilliant. He got more eyeballs on that big green M on the side of his Subaru in that first video than he did in every rally he's run put together.

Ford has a big hard-on for viral marketing right now. Their Fiesta Movement has been incredibly successful so far, and will probably end up selling cars for them. I'm sure they're hot to get a piece of Block's marketing skillz, yo.

I'm sure Block will get his ass handed to him, but he'll also be able to spin positive marketing out of just being there. And not just your typical rah-rah let's root for the home team BS, either. Even if nobody watches him lose the races, he'll surely spin off more videos of him doing cool shit in WRC Fords, and a whole generation of mouth breathing energy junkies will suddenly know what WRC is.

I'd be surprised if even he is delusional enough to think he'll be able to compete, but he will get to have a hell of a lot of fun, learn a lot, and maybe claw his way into the top 10 a couple of times. I'd sure as hell do it if I were him.

-Dave

dude, if I had that kind of dough I'd be doing something similar

---

-Tom
DemonRallyTeam | Fine Tuning | CTS Turbo & RP Turbos | RalleyTuned | JRM | Meister Autowerks
Spitfire EFI | Product Apparel | JVAB Imports | NLS | AP Tuning | USRT

Add us on Facebook | Next Event: 2013 Olympus Rally June 22-23 Olympia, WA

Tom B Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> dude, if I had that kind of dough I'd be doing
> something similar
>

Me too, but without all the "look at me! look at me!" Thats what I find annoying about the whole thing.

Annoying, yes, but "look at me!" is what pays for it.

Doivi Clarkinen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> So what happened to Travis Pastrana? I thought he
> was supposed to be the next great American hope to
> dominate the WRC. Is he washed up already?
>

I'm fairly certain it has something to do with Red Bull and Nitro Circus paying him lots of money to do Stupid Human Tricks, and he knows enough to know he'd have to give up that paycheck to concentrate on rallying in Yurrup.

---

Andrew Steere
Lyndeborough, NH
KB1PJY

Tom B Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> dude, if I had that kind of dough I'd be doing
> something similar

I'd have three BMW E36 Group F cars in Finland for me and friends and a Renault Clio R3 car in France for their amazing tarmac events.
I might consider building a car for US rallying, but I don't know if I'd want to be bothered with all that towing nonsense and high entry fees. Maybe a cool 2WD car up in Quebec or down in Mexico would make some sense as you could still fly to either pretty quick while your in the states.

---

Grant Hughes

I would have a fleet of evos to destroy and if they made me pose for photos, I'd have a beer(sponsor) in one hand and a banana sticking out of my fly.

I know that when you work for a company, sometimes you are asked to do things that you may not be keen to do.

"Teddi, moh lock and load, you a baaaaadd man, a werryyy bbbbaaaadddd man."

---

Ted Mendham
www.rensport.net



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/20/2009 02:16PM by tedm.

<I would have a fleet of evos to destroy and if they made me pose for photos, I'd have a beer(sponsor) in one hand and a banana sticking out of my fly.>

Tedneck, so I'm reading this and thinking, other than the fact that the fleet of evo's is really a fleet of SER's (anyone coulda made that mistake) how is this mental image you've so artfully crafted for us any different than any Tuesday morning in Lyndeboro Nude Hampster?

Pull on your Canadian-Nut-Hugger and jump your sled into a pile of flaming mattresses and I'd say you're pretty much living the dream buddy!

---

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

john vanlandingham Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Anders Green Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I think I'll start adding "most significant
> news
> > in rally", "the premier", and "continued
> growth"
> > to every press release I put out.
> >
> > If that's how the paid people do it, and if
> > they're really that good, shouldn't I learn
> from
> > their expertise???
> >
> > Anders
> >
> > Raleigh, NC
> > Impreza H6 3.0
>
> DOOOOD!!!! Don't forget screaming capitals FOR
> IMMEDIATE RELEASE!!!
>
> Say isn't that the coded words some people use in
> those really naughty ads in the back of the
> alternative papers........
>
> (key blurred focus and "tinking "music)
>
> .Call Lady Domina 1-900 xxx xxxx $120 hr.
> guaranteed immediate release . Ask for the 2 girl
> special In cal or out.
>
> Oh baby Oh baby
> You know how I like it, oh. Babay (smacking
> chewing gum)
>
>
>
>
> John Vanlandingham
> Sleezattle, WA, USA
>
> Vive le Prole-le-ralliat
>
> www.jvab.f4.ca


don't forget about MULTIPLE release!!


hey, right now I'm 3rd place for the CRS championship baby.....podium finish after only 2 events! and if I can get a waiver for Seed 9.....2nd place is in the bag! woot!


when do I get my invitation for Xgames and this new Euro RallyX shiznit? LOL

---

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

> So what happened to Travis Pastrana? I thought he
> was supposed to be the next great American hope to
> dominate the WRC. Is he washed up already?

According to his publicist, Travis may wash up on shore near Long Beach, CA, early next year.

---

Ted Mendham
www.rensport.net

Ken Block reportedly teaming up with Ford to join WRC

10/15/2009, 4:53 PMBy Mark Kleis

The widely known driver and internet phenom Ken Block is stepping out of his Subaru and into a Ford to start a career in the World Rally Championship. This partnership will provide an opportunity for the WRC to tap into a fan base practically non-existent in America.


Ken Block is best known for his YouTube sensation series, “Gymkhana,” performing outrageous stunts complete with explosions and test dummies in his Subaru Impreza.

Unfortunately for Subaru’s marketing department, Subaru will not being competing in the WRC – forcing Block to find a new sponsor. It appears as if the Ford and Monster Energy WRC team will play host to not only Block, but another former Subaru driver Chris Atkinson.

What many YouTubers may not know is that Ken Block has also been racing in the Rally America series, which suffers from a small fan base and minimal exposure. Block will need every bit of experience he has accumulated in the Rally America series as he steps up to the world stage with the WRC, but more importantly, Block and the WRC can only hope that his presence will help to bring WRC into more TV sets across America. It is this opportunity that just might make this the single most important signing in WRC history.

At this time both Block and Atkinson are expected to begin their rookie season in WRC racing in a 2009-spec Ford Focus, with a possibility for a shift into a WRC Fiesta in the near future. Given the success of the rally style Fiesta at the X-games, this move could be another great publicity opportunity for the Fiesta as it too will be selling on the world stage as Ford’s most recent, and arguably most important attempt at a true world car.

http://www.leftlanenews.com/ken-block-reportedly-teaming-up-with-ford-to-join-wrc.html

---

Ted Mendham
www.rensport.net

gawd Ted, it just keeps on getting better.
Why let facts get in the way of a big imagination, eh?

---

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.

Hey at least they justified the 'most important in history' part of it. It looks to me like WMG put out a press release and sent it around to the press. Some places made some minimal edits to it, but all are the same release.

---

Grant Hughes

NoCoast Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hey at least they justified the 'most important in
> history' part of it. It looks to me like WMG put
> out a press release and sent it around to the
> press. Some places made some minimal edits to it,
> but all are the same release.


No they've added significant details like Block and Atko will be debuting in the WRC.
Must be news for Atko and Block they've never entered a WRC event before.
Even I have entered a WRC event, geeeze...
>
> Grant Hughes
> www.nocoastmotorsports.net
> Denver, CO

---

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.

Well, I'm a WRC champion! Or was it CRS? Same thing....

-Dave