Monday 17th December 2018

Ken Block's Gymkhana Ten goes live

The Ultimate Tire Slaying Tour clocks in at 19mins - and features just the five cars

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What is there left to say about Ken Block? The DC Shoes co-founder is now in his fifties (making him virtually as old as the internet) and seems to have been around forever. But his foot has not budged one inch from the marketing pedal, and today we get the tenth instalment of the YouTube video series that made him famous: Gymkhana.

Now, it's perfectly possible that you might have tired of the whole project some time ago, given the multiple attempts to replicate the formula elsewhere (and parody it, frankly). But there's no faulting big Ken's ambition - or his shooting budget. Gymkhana Ten takes in five cars across five locations, including a Focus (RS RX), a Fiesta (WRC), a Mustang (Hoonicorn), an Escort (RS Cosworth) and a Ford F-150 (Hoonitruck).

You'll note the Ford theme, of course, along with the kind of product placement and/or sponsorship you'd usually associate with a successful NBA franchise. That's all part of the Block juggernaut; ditto the 19mins run time, which makes it the YouTube equivalent of watching the Lord of the Rings trilogy back to back. Still, there's an Escort Cosworth in it. And Petter Solberg's kid. And a l-o-t of tyre smoke...

 

[adam.]

I await the haters in their droves, but I thought that was 19 minutes of absolute petrolhead brilliance. Some of the videography too, was sublime.

[Mr2Mike]

Is that Aaron Kaufman in the hat and shades? Video was good, but despite the technical excellence they are getting very samey.

[Porsche911R]

They need to think of something new imo, great skills, had to forward wind after only watching 1/2 of it.

Edited by Porsche911R on Tuesday 18th December 11:33

[Porsche911R]

They need to think of something new imo, great skills, had to forward wind after only watching 1/2 of it.

Edited by Porsche911R on Tuesday 18th December 11:35

[DanielSan]

Mr2Mike said:

Is that Aaron Kaufman in the hat and shades? Video was good, but despite the technical excellence they are getting very samey.

I thought that also, and know what you mean. I can appreciate the skill and the cars, the new Hoonitruck especially, but there's only so many times you can do donuts.

[numtumfutunch]

I wanted to like it but became bored fairly rapidly so FF'd to find the Cossie bits which were also nothing I hadnt seen before

Then I had the inspiration to watch whilst pretending I was Beavis and it rocked

Now I need some TP for my bunghole

Cheers

[Dave.]

Yes it was Aaron dressed as a sheriff...

There's an 8 episode series on Amazon Prime, which covers the filming.

Well worth a watch!

[unsprung]

regarding the segment in Detroit...

Ken drives his 1400hp "Mustang" round a dilapidated and somewhat curious building

this is no coincidence:

the building -- a former train station -- is now owned by Ford (a Block sponsor)

Inside Detroit's Crumbling Train Station that Ford Plans to Transform into a Mobility Lab
https://www.theverge.com/2018/6/20/17483696/ford-d...

Ford Aims to Revive a Detroit Train Station, and Itself
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/17/business/ford-d...

.

[NGK210]

As ever, excellent skills and great photography.

But... whoever decided "we need more tyre smoke and make them thar donuts last longer, much longer" needs to have their kneecaps swiped with a chainsaw. Monotonous.

[S2r]

We've watched them making it on prime - The Gymkhana files - all 8 episodes, it was more interesting than most things on the box...

[robemcdonald]

Ken Block is a great talent, but unfortunately is also a one trick pony.
I got as far as them doing doughnuts around a hole in the ice...

A five minute segment on top gear is jaw dropping a twenty minute video is an insomnia cure.

[Jay_87]

Great video and its one way to kill some time on my tea break. I think the addition of the extra cars this time helped... no way could you watch 20 minutes of the same car. Escort Cosworth was certainly the one for me.

I think Ken Block suffers from Terry Grant syndrome... only so many times you can do donuts round something/someone.

Even so, a great way to waste earth's resources and a little bit of petrol head heaven on an otherwise boring Tuesday morning.

[Midgster]

....going back to watch the Cossie bit. I turned it off before then.

[shakotan]

Jay_87 said:

I think Ken Block suffers from Terry Grant syndrome...

Terry Grant need to quietly retire, watching him shove an XJR on full lock and plant the throttle open whilst expecting everyone to be entertained is agonising.

I saw him trot out the same old ste at the Race of Champions a couple of years ago. At first I though "Is this guy still around", which then changed to "It's the same stuff he did when I first saw him about 30 years ago!"

[Midgster]

The times I've driven down the road and seen a crop sprayer and thought to myself "wish I could do donuts around and under that thing"

[MajorMantra]

I watched the whole thing. Some good visuals, but I agree that these are getting very repetitive.

I think if you're going to make a video this long, there has to be some kind of narrative arc.

Also, I'd occasionally like to see Block drive quickly, rather than smokily, just to see if he can.

[BOBBY G]

Got bored after first minute.
Stopped watching
Saved 18 minutes of life

RESULT!

[sausage76]

Also worth a watch is the Hoonigans video all about the new F150 truck and the company that built it.

Very clever design and engineering has gone into it.

[RB Will]

MajorMantra said:

Also, I'd occasionally like to see Block drive quickly, rather than smokily, just to see if he can.

This is something regularly, unfairly put at Ken.
He can drive!

Multiple national rally wins, a few times being within a point or 2 of taking the entire championship.
Decent showing in World RX being at the sharp end and occasionally beating multiple WRC champions despite being lumbered with a massive Focus.


He gets slated as he didn't win WRC events but again compared to his rivals he was pretty inexperienced and in inferior kit. He only started his driving "career" as a hobby after spending years as a successful businessman compared to the WRC regulars who have made it the sole aim of their life since childhood.


I doubt if there are many of us on here who could give him a kicking.

[popeyewhite]

Managed 6 minutes. Incredible skill, but once you've seen a car going round and round a few times it gets a bit repetitive.