Notices
Racing & Drivers Education Forum
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Ken Block, Ford and the WRC, oh my.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 01-07-2010, 11:12 AM
  #1  
Chads996
Nordschleife Master
Thread Starter
 
Chads996's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Soowanee, GA
Posts: 5,829
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
Default Ken Block, Ford and the WRC, oh my.

Bring on the French and Loeb. USA in the WRC - woohoo!!

Old 01-07-2010, 11:22 AM
  #2  
eclou
Addict
Rennlist Member

 
eclou's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 7,043
Received 1,220 Likes on 597 Posts
Default

should be interesting
Old 01-07-2010, 11:28 AM
  #3  
ilko
Agent Orange
Rennlist Member
 
ilko's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 16,187
Received 555 Likes on 199 Posts
Default

I like "Kenny from the block." But he's not of Loeb's caliber just yet. He's professionally raced for only a few years. Competed in Rally America for 3 years, with 2008 being his best year. Last year he didn't compete.

I wish him all the best and what the Ford team is doing by entering only a handful of races in 2010 is smart. Go Kenny in 2011!
Old 01-07-2010, 11:29 AM
  #4  
Larry Herman
Rennlist
Basic Site Sponsor
 
Larry Herman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Columbus, NJ
Posts: 10,432
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

We'll see if he's for real now. Ford knows how to build rally cars IIRC.
__________________
Larry Herman
2016 Ford Transit Connect Titanium LWB
2018 Tesla Model 3 - Electricity can be fun!
Retired Club Racer & National PCA Instructor
Past Flames:
1994 RS America Club Racer
2004 GT3 Track Car
1984 911 Carrera Club Racer
1974 914/4 2.0 Track Car

CLICK HERE to see some of my ancient racing videos.

Old 01-07-2010, 11:32 AM
  #5  
Bryan Watts
Drifting
 
Bryan Watts's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 2,585
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Larry Herman
We'll see if he's for real now.
Bingo. I'm afraid his hype is mostly the result of multiple edits and re-dos on a few internet videos shot at old airports.
Old 01-07-2010, 11:33 AM
  #6  
bob_dallas
Rennlist Member
 
bob_dallas's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Mulsanne Straight
Posts: 958
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

I love it. I don't think he's up to being a front-runner in WRC just yet but it's great for him. He's really done an impressive job marketing himself and getting the visibility necessary for something like this. I know he's bankrolling part of it himself but there are some good lessons in here for aspiring race car drivers IMO.
Old 01-07-2010, 12:00 PM
  #7  
Chads996
Nordschleife Master
Thread Starter
 
Chads996's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Soowanee, GA
Posts: 5,829
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
Default

I am sure there is a good bunch of haters....just because. I think it's great. Let's see what he can do and then judge him, eh?

C.
Old 01-07-2010, 12:29 PM
  #8  
Bryan Watts
Drifting
 
Bryan Watts's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 2,585
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Chads996
I am sure there is a good bunch of haters....just because. I think it's great. Let's see what he can do and then judge him, eh?
Come on now...you're suggesting that we should never look at a person's past success/failures to help determine what they'll do in the future? That would make hiring someone really tough. I'll be the first to cheer for him. I just don't hold very high hopes that he has what it takes to compete.
Old 01-07-2010, 12:52 PM
  #9  
stuttgart46
Rennlist Member
 
stuttgart46's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Duluth, GA
Posts: 2,265
Received 28 Likes on 22 Posts
Default

He's becoming very popular with the young kids around here. My 13 year old asked for a team shirt for Christmas. It probably has more to do with the Monster logo and what Travis Pastrana has done for the sport but a lot of the kids around here are fans.
Old 01-07-2010, 01:11 PM
  #10  
Larry Herman
Rennlist
Basic Site Sponsor
 
Larry Herman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Columbus, NJ
Posts: 10,432
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

I don't think that there are a bunch of "haters" around here. I just think that it's the age old difference of showboating vs true competition. Just like X sking isn't down hill racing, and the Harlem Globetrotters are not an NBA Championship team, driftin' ain't racin'.
Old 01-07-2010, 03:18 PM
  #11  
Flying Finn
King of Cool
Rennlist Member

 
Flying Finn's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Miami Beach, FL
Posts: 14,218
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Bryan Watts
Bingo. I'm afraid his hype is mostly the result of multiple edits and re-dos on a few internet videos shot at old airports.
+1

I've seen couple of real rally videos of him and honestly wasn't impressed.

Not a hater at all but there are a lot of b-junior rally drivers in Finland who drive better & faster than he does.
I will reserve my judgement until I see him race and I've heard he's been coached by Jari Ketomaa (former Finnish rally champion) and has improved so that's a good thing but there's World of difference to do some drifting at airport or x-games than drive for real between trees.

Good thing is that this brings more attention to WRC in US so we'll probably get more & better coverage so I'm all for it.
Old 01-07-2010, 03:45 PM
  #12  
dingle
6th Gear
 
dingle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: On the edge
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

The WRC will be be a big reality check
Old 01-07-2010, 03:50 PM
  #13  
Bryan Watts
Drifting
 
Bryan Watts's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 2,585
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Flying Finn
I've seen couple of real rally videos of him and honestly wasn't impressed.
Being able to hang a car out takes skill, but honestly, I suspect I could do a decent job of it if I had the opportunity to practice. It's an entirely different world drifting a car through an aircraft hanger that you have the chance to walk multiple times, drive slowly through a few times, and then shoot multiple video takes of, than it is to hang it out on a course with constantly changing conditions while listening to the notes of your co-driver. So far, his rally results don't leave me hopeful.
Old 01-07-2010, 04:00 PM
  #14  
chris walrod
Guru
Lifetime Rennlist
Member


Rennlist Small
Business Sponsor

 
chris walrod's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: yorba linda, ca
Posts: 15,738
Received 100 Likes on 51 Posts
Default

I feel there is a difference to what he did in the Subie (playin') vs. what he'll have to do in the Ford (no mistakes racing). Good for Ken -- Good luck to Ken!!
Old 01-07-2010, 10:50 PM
  #15  
genikz
Three Wheelin'
 
genikz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Anaheim, CA
Posts: 1,401
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

I'm stoked!


Quick Reply: Ken Block, Ford and the WRC, oh my.



All times are GMT -3. The time now is 07:48 AM.