Remember this? A chance sighting of Stevie Lawrence in Aberdeen, Washington breaking down a two RED cameras on the same rack set up for 3D filming? Yeah, we thought so.
Ok, here's the real thing, subtitled the Infomercial. Pay special attention to the use of slow motion, because Ken worked hard for that. The Phantom Camera is awesome and its frame rate of 1000 frames per second makes much of the cinematography in Gymkhana TWO: The Infomericial really awesome. Beware, some items seen in the video may be for sale at www.auto.dcshoes.com
Here's your chance to crush YouTube! Get on and watch the Gymkhana TWO Premiere Party video while you wait for the Gymkhana TWO video to show up. Plus it's like a 5 minute preview of what Ken's bitchin' car can do.
On Tuesday, May 26th DC and Ken Block hosted an exclusive event at the Port of Los Angeles to launch Block's DC Rally TeamWorks Collection and to preview his latest video project, Gymkhana TWO, a week before its official dcshoes.com/auto launch on June 1. More than 150 media, athletes, and industry VIPs joined Block for the premiere, including Rob Dyrdek of MTV's, "Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory." Select guests took the passenger seat with Ken Block for a ridealong in his new Subaru Impreza WRX STI on the location where the Gymkhana TWO video was filmed. I was stoked to have been invited, but equally not-stoked to have arrived on the East coast just days before.
There is more than just a new video coming out June 1st, but Gymkhana TWO also officially launches Ken's first-ever TeamWorks Collection with the best infomercial ever. Relying on Block's expertise behind the wheel of a rally car as the cornerstone, the video takes infomercials to the next level. Produced specifically to market Block's first-ever Rally TeamWorks Collection, the new video is filled with great driving stunts, surprises, explosions, and even a guest appearance from Dyrdek.
Remember this? And we thought the Billy Mays series of commercials were AWESOME!
The TeamWorks Collection was created to keep me wanting more DC gear, and to show me exactly what shoe I want when my Block's wear out. The collection includes two pairs of shoes, a reversible windbreaker, T-shirt, sweatshirt and hat. Block's design inspirations for his collection all stem from his Gymkhana TWO car, and each feature his rally sponsors' colorways and graphics. Check out the pics, the Gymkhana TWO press event was brought to you by Subaru, Monster Energy and BFGoodrich.
Of course, stay TWO-ed until tomorrow when Gymkhana TWO drops!
Courtesy: DC Shoes
Not bad for a peanut gallery.
Courtesy: DC Shoes
Healthy as a Christmas Goose and Ken smokes a least a couple sets of these a day. Rob Dyrdek is along to experience secondhand smoke firsthand.
Courtesy: DC Shoes
Party Monsters.
Courtesy: DC Shoes
Renee Renee, a man after my own heart—and product endorsement isn't even his thing. It's Kung-Fu.
Courtesy: DC Shoes
Everybody gets a ride—Rob probably gets more than most people.
Courtesy: DC Shoes
With a driving suit that sweet, even Rob Dyrdek wants to lounge about like he's wearing Dr. Denton's, too.
While not super-related, this semi embarassing clip of Andi on the drum kit, while Art Gruszka croons and tickles the ivories couldn't be a better lead in. Not to mention Andi's co-driver Wi[lak showing off some dancing moves…
Blockwood: Andi, when did you first make video game textures for your rally cars?
Mancin: My first game texture was Evo VII in which I've started in 2007 Monte Carlo Rally. It is really great to drive your own car in virtual stages.
Blockwood: So you've got game skins for your rally car, and you play rock band with pals, I guess you like to play video games?
Mancin: I love to play in video games, especially in rally games (Richard Burns Rally, Colin McRae Rally and WRC series). Due to my work I can play only at night (usually from 10pm to 1 am. Often we meet with other drivers and we play together.
Blockwood: Sounds serious. Do you think it helps your real driving?
Mancin: We use a special set of steering wheels and rally seats. The fight is fierce, and fun is really great. I think that playing in rally games can somehow train reflexes and track driving. Of course, this is not the same as a real rally, but some habits of the games will surely be useful.
Blockwood:How do you feel about being 4th in Rally America?
Mancin:Well, it is our first season in USA and I think that we can not complain about the results. Of course we are still trying to fight and complete the rallies on the podium. Making podium at Oregon was great.
Blockwood: Some drivers say that you might be holding back a bit?
Mancin: Unfortunately, in this year we have a limited budget, so we must respect our car and avoid accidents. So far I'm driving on 80% of my potential. I want to also start next year in the Rally America, so this season we are trying to gain as much experience as it is possible and learn something about stages.
Blockwood:What about X-Games, is it a goal?
Mancin:To start in X-Games it was always my big dream since I've watched in TV many years ago. This is really an incredible event and will be great honor for me to start in it. This year X-Games are our biggest priority.
You can get Andi Mancin skins for your virtual rally car here.
A couple days ago, ESPN Action Sports dropped the "Pro Rides" gallery, and in it, Kyle Sarasin and a relatively unassuming WRX. They leave the assuming to us, about what Kyles's next ride will be and the fact thatl he can leave the rest of the guys in the gallery in the dust, no matter what he's in. Check the gallery here. And see Kyle take the stage record at Brockway here.
Kyle Sarasin and Malcolm Wilson outside the BP-Ford Abu Dhabi service trucks.
And on assuming…at this point there has been much talk of Kyle Sarasin and his difficulty finding a ride for 2009. Mainly, Kyle not starting the four required events prior to X Games will leave him with an expired invitatation to X Games 15 Rally in July. The rules that went along with the provisional early invitations state that a driver must start 4 events prior to X Games. Pastrana, Block, Mirra, Foust, ACP, had no problem. Matthew Johnson made it by the skin of his teeth without a major sponsor paying the bills—and was relieved at Oregon Trail when his wornout car blew a motor on the first stage. Andrew Pinker has been fairly scarce this year and is keeping to his own side of the pond. And Kyle Sarasin, having watched this year's X Games dream pass by him, is working hard to find a ride for the future.
One of the most promising connections Kyle has is Malcolm Wilson with whom Kyle met earlier this year. Malcolm Wilson is the managing director of M-Sport, which prepares and supports the
BP-Ford Abu Dhabi entry in the World Rally Championship. Wilson has over 20 years experience at rallying at world rally championship level, and has won two British national titles.
Sarasin and Wilson met at in Cumbria, U.K, the home of M-Sport, to discuss and determine whether Kyle can begin rallying in Europe in the immediate future. Under Malcolm Wilson's direction, Sarasin will continue to search for funding to compete in five Ford Fiesta SportTrophy International events, which coidcide with WRC events in Italy, Poland, Finland, Spain and Great Britain.
Zoom gallery number one featured this sweet Haulenbeek image. Pastrana mid-hairpin at Oregon Trail 2008. Zoom Gallery #1.
Remember good old Ben Haulenbeek that was responsible for some of the most stunning rally photography on ESPN Rally Blog? Ben's been in Atlanta, Georgia for some months now working for an iPhone case company—CaseMate. That doesn't sound very exciting right off the bat, but apparently the boss has some fun cars and Ben, having spent some time in the rally world and at Team O'Neil Rally SchoolTeam O'Neil Rally School, is allowed to drive them.
Now what happens when your boss asks you to make a quick ad using your Ferrari F430, and he wants you to drive it too? Get an flipping tripod. Check the video—produced, filmed, edited, and driven by Ben Haulenbeek. LUCKY…
To remember the old days of pretty photos, check out the 2008 Oregon Trail Bangers Gallery
Having worked in snow and skate for years, Bill Lockwood will defend Rally as an "action sport" to the bitter end. He now spends his time blogging for ESPN and shooting Rally events while (literally) dodging the cars as they fly, skid or cartwheel past.
