Enter a world of magic and mystery, in my own head, where surfing and snowboarding are considered real jobs! Amazing feats of daring and skill are performed every day - and that's just getting the footage onto film!
Media anarchist, film guru, surf addict and web video blogger!
Dc Shoes phoned me up and asked if I would be keen to go and shoot with their local Rally Driver, Jon Williams. Yes, came out my mouth pretty quickly. So with the RED Camera crew of Heart Media along for the ride, Black Media went and spent a day in the Cape Fields (Canola Fields) with the Sasol Rally team. This is shot on 2 cameras, all the slow motion stuff being on the RED Camera. Couple of GoPros and voila a quick, high speed jaunt with Jon for your viewing pleasure.
PS: Note how close I got to a Rally Car doing over 100km per hour on the one bend. My Sphincter closed for hours!
I am a little upset it took me this long to find this. two of our favorite characters when it comes to caning cars together at last! This was for a Ford Falcon campaign in Oz late last year. It simply begs the question, when is Ken Block going to bring his Gymkana to South Africa?
The final day at the XGames and once again it was the BMX crew giving me the biggest thrills. BMX big air was absolutely nuts! Defending champion Steve McCann pulls out a no-handed double front-flip
leading into a double tail whip on his final run of the GoPro BMX Big
Air competition pushing him into 1st. Insane...
The Rally Crew did not want to be left out though and with Travis Pastrana crashing for the second year running, it was left to World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb to show the X racers why he is the king of rally. Ken Block held on with 3 laps to go and a flat rear tire to take the Silver.
How do you put Enduro inside a stadium? Xgames figured it out and Mike Brown won the Gold. This is pretty mental...
1.7 Million Views in 8 days should say enough that this video is worth a watch. Ken Block's original Gymkhana 4 video has garnered over 19 Million views in 8 months, never mind all the copies on other pages. The man had become the biggest player in online video in the action sports world. I am so looking forward to Gymkhana 5 later this year!
Ken Block and the Monster World Rally Team, got their 2012 race season off to a good start with his 6th consecutive win at the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood in Salem, Missouri. The super fast course and drift style corners played right into Mr Block's hands! Check out the burning Brake Calipers in the night stages. The man was pushing hard!
Ken Block and Alex Gelsomino win their sixth consecutive Rally in the 100 Acre Wood in Salem, Missouri - and was also the very first stage rally outing and win for the Ford Fiesta HFHV race car. These are the highlights. Enjoy!
For more keep your eyes peeled to DC Shoes Fan Page.
In a word, I am super "Amped", for 2012 and more of Ken Block's antics in his Ford Fiesta Rally Car. The man responsible for the now infamous "Gymkhana" videos and of course DC Shoes, will be taking on the World Rally Cross championship, Rally America, X Games and another Gymkhana World Tour. I am looking good for X Games and hope to meet the man while I am there. Never one to take himself to seriously, Ken launched the new cars with the help of comedian, Nic Swarsdon. Good to know Ken can laugh at himself...
We all know and love Ken Block's antics in his Rally Car. The guy has entertained more people than any other driver, thanks to his Gymkana series of Youtube videos. He also competes in the WRC Rally Championship and the Rally America series. Here are three of his biggest crashes over the years. The guy pushes the limits! I cannot believe they walked away from the Portugal one.
Mx great, Ricky Carmichael, goes for a ride along with ken Block in his Rally America car and absolutely shits his pants! Pretty amazing when your realize what the guy can do on a dirt bike or in a Nascar. I still say that if I could do anything it would be rally...
In 2010 DC and Ken Block wanted to give our athletes a chance to attend a rally driving school, but to also experience it with him in his car.
Ricky Carmichael 15 time motocross and supercross champion was a natural behind the wheel, but was a little uncomfortable in Ken's passenger seat...
He's baaaaaaaack! That's right kids, Ken Block is back with the most successful internet video series in history - Gymkhana. This time he goes even larger than ever before "Hooning" his Ford Fiesta rally Car around the back lots of Universal Pictures. Make sure to check out the "In-Shark" Camera and the flying Gorilla. Here it, enjoy...
DC and Ken Block present Gymkhana FOUR: The Hollywood Megamercial.
GYM4 surpasses the high-production style of Gymkhana TWO with even more spectacular effects shot in the backlots of Universal Studios, California.
Filmed over the course of five days, director Ben Conrad
(Zombieland and 30 Seconds or Less) and his team at Logan deliver a Hollywood caliber production complete with pyrotechnics, massive stunts and a series of unbelievable tricks.
Featuring robotic sharks, deranged zombies, and a hilarious cameo by the Epic Meal Time guys, Ken Block and his Hybrid FunctionHoon Vehicle (H.F.H.V.) bring the magic of Hollywood and gymkhana together.
The world cannot get enough of Mr Block and his rally car antics on tar. I have to agree with the world though, it's pretty epic to watch, must be even more fun to drive though! Take a look at the video and check out how good a time these guys have - especially look out for our own Austrian export, Chris Cab, on the mic.
It's hard being on top!
"Ever since we filmed the first Gymkhana video, I have wanted to be able to bring this type of action to a place where people can watch it live, and Gymkhana World Tour does exactly that," said Block. "I'm super stoked on the staggering turnout we had in Austria. It was just amazing to have such an enormous crowd be able to witness the hooning so close, and to see everyone enjoy it so much."
In addition to Block's smoke-filled, dangerously close, gymkhana antics, the Hoonigan was joined by the Masters of Dirt freestyle motocross crew, including Blake "Bilko" Williams and Adam Jones. The FMX riders not only put on a show of their own, but joined in with Block for a little synchronized insanity.
"It was awesome being able to work with Bilko, Adam and the Masters of Dirt team at the event," said Block. "Those guys were going huge during their sets and the crowd was bugging when we were running the course at the same time. The crowd also went wild for the surprise Segway donuts, which we did completely unrehearsed at the end of the show."
While the main event took place Sunday night, the actual event spread over the entire weekend, offering media and VIPs rides with Block in his Gymkhana Ford Fiesta.
"I am always happy to be able to give people the experience of actually getting in the car with me, since, while it may be fun to watch, nothing beats actually getting in the car," said Block. "The only bummer is that we can't give everyone a ride."
The Vienna stop of the Gymkhana World tour was presented by Monster Energy, Masters of Dirt ,Ford, DC, Raiffeisen and SPY Optic. The next stop will be in Los Angeles, California, on Saturday, July 23rd, followed by the final stop in Melbourne, Australia, on Saturday, September 3rd.
Although Ken did not get the result he wanted in the Rally of Argentina, as he had to withdraw due to technical problems, he did receive a huge welcome by the fans. He was so blown away by the local fans, that he decided to make this video to thank them...
Ken, bring the WRC to South Africa and I am sure we can do better - just saying...
This an oldy but a goldy! I watched it for the first time in a couple of months and just had to share it with you.
That's pretty crazy right there!
Ken Block and the DC snowboard team combine a rally car with snowboarding at New Zealand's Snow Park NZ resort in September 2007 for DC's snowboard video Mtn.Lab 1.5. A photo from this shoot was featured on the cover of Snowboarder Magazine, and the story was featured in an article in 0-60 Magazine.
I cannot get enough of Ken Block and his Gymkhna series. The most watched video series on tearing the ass out of rally cars on the net for a reason! Here is the re-edit of version three, just for you! Enjoy!
First of all, I got say I was a Ken Block fan before he ever got behind the wheel of a Rally car. DC Shoes have been my favorite footwear brand and one of my supporters for many a year and Ken along with, Damon Way started the brand way back in 1993. DC was all about providing good looking but super functional skate shoes for what they considered professional athletes - just look at the heights action sports have reached now!
I would be happy to!
Ken started his action sports career in skating, snowboarding and Motorcross, so it was not to much of a surprise when he decided that his real career was going to be behind the wheel of an all wheel drive rally car. Bless the day he made that decision, as it has provided the world with some of the greatest youtube videos ever made. His videos on Youtube, including "Gymkhana 2" and "Snow Park NZ", have garnered over 50'000000 views online and keep growing. As an online media junky, the man is my hero!
Oh how I wish this was my toy!
So, in 2011 Ken will be looking for success in WRC, Rally America and of course the XGames. I am also pretty sure we are going to see another in the Gymkhana series and hopefully more crazy antics from the DC Video series - such as racing through a Snow park. Take a look at his highly successful 2010 and I guarantee the green monster will raise his little jealous head -
