I love Ken Block!

[Doon]

I'm from the UK, and follow and compete in grass roots rallying but have lost my love for the WRC slowly since 2005. As a country, i'm not fond of the USA and the way they deal with the rest of the world, but a man from that country has my full attention. He's a man who is so commited to rallying and absolutely modest about his ability. Sure he's not the quickest guy, but who can knock his passion? Watch the video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMW1Y...eature=related

Again, he and I know that he wont be WRC champion ever, but he wants to be a part of it.....and thats really what rallying is about. Passion for the sport!

At least Ken is quicker then the hangers on like Mugabe's mates son Rautenbach! Ken is putting hard earned money back into the sport because he loves it. He's not a fortunate son of a man who sold out one of the greatest nations ever to grace this world, but a man who has made money and spent it on our hobby!

I'll be willing Ken Block on during 2011!

[tfp]

I recall reading on the official WRC site, how Seb Loeb scored 276 points last season. Ken Block scored just two points, and yet he managed to have a bigger impact on the sport.

You can always count on there being a good fight in the super special stages between him, Matt Wilson and Kimi, which is always entertaining:-)

[Doon]

It's not just that. Ken uses all his money, and he never complains! Kimi gets it from sponsors, and MW has daddy cash!

[N.O.T]

and where Ken finds the money ?? Monster and the other stickers which make his car look like a christmass tree are not sponsors ??

[WRCfan]

Where Ken finds his money is in his bank account from his very successful business venture as the co-founder of DC. Monster Energy pays into it of course although I have a feeling Ken doesn't need sponsors to get him through a season of WRC.

Motorsport these days is all about sponsorship, Monster Energy needs Ken more than Ken needs them, the guy is an attention magnet so they would bend over backwards to ensure their logo stays on his car.

As far as personality goes, the guy is good news for the WRC. WRC had become so boring that it needed Ken and Kimi there last year otherwise WRC might as well have died a natural death.

[Mitch555]

^ditto. DC Shoes was owned by Ken until he sold it to do more fun things with his life. He still works there in some capacity, though is free to try new things, which culminated with him and Travis Pastrana driving for Subaru USA after a year of trying the sport. The rest is history. Monster is a long time sponsor too. I actually hope USA gets the chance to host a round of the wrc as it would do heaps for the profile of the sport over there

[GigiGalliNo1]

WRCfan, you go girl!

[jparker]

All motorsports are about money, but this forum is usualy not the place for bringing attention. If Ken is so rich, why is he advertising himself here and youtube? It reminds me the Travis Pastrana thing few years back.

[morganmilan]

I'll be willing Ken Block on during 2011![/QUOTE]
I won´t

[janvanvurpa]

^ditto. DC Shoes was owned by Ken until he sold it to do more fun things with his life. He still works there in some capacity, though is free to try new things, which culminated with him and Travis Pastrana driving for Subaru USA after a year of trying the sport. The rest is history. Monster is a long time sponsor too. I actually hope USA gets the chance to host a round of the wrc as it would do heaps for the profile of the sport over there

USA driving level, and above all participation level is unbelievably low. as with everything American, 99.8% of the effort is into machinery, and equipment, not using what you have.
Block illustrated the mentality once when he said directly to me "I am a very competitive person so naturally I want the best equipment that money can buy".
If you analyze what is implied in the statement the internal absurdity is clear.
IF a person wants to COMPETE with others then you want there to be some rough equivalence in the "stuff" everybody including you yourself , start with.
eg if everybody in your area is a bunch of clubbies in MkII Escorts with 2 liter Pintos, its not showing how "competitive" if you buy a prepped monster 2.2 Subie and swap engines each evening and bang on new tires after 6 miles.

No as things stand with "Nation Chamionship" event with 26 total starters with equipment from truly absurd excessive cars down to cars slower than imaginable, there is no base and any thoughts distract from the perennial problem here of virtually no base to built upon.

And this has been the same problem since the 70s , same since i started in the mid 80s...