Our good friends at Jalopnik’s sister site Truck Yeah have posted a very cool story about a vintage Ford Bronco running in the 2018 NORRA Mexican 1000.
This video provides a glimpse into the grit and drive it takes to win the insane 1300+ mile off-road race from Ensenada to Cabo San Lucas in Baja California, Mexico.
Congrats to Boyd Jaynes and Brian Godfrey.
Back in 2016, Blake Wilkey rose to fame as a result of an insane video titled Urban Assault which went on to become a massive viral sensation. It still stands up today as an epic video and is worth watching if you haven’t seen it. Blake actually had to do some jail time for breaking a long list of driving laws in San Diego where the video was filmed. However, the risk/reward has paid off nicely and Blake is now a social media darling with thousands of followers on Instagram.
After that first video, Blake went on to sell his 700 HP Baja Buggy to a Prince in Dubai. However, that did not end his off-road shenanigans as he has successfully leveraged his popularity by attracting major sponsors who have helped him build a beautiful new Baja buggy. From all accounts, Blake seems to be a very affable, down to earth, fun loving guy so we are not surprised his rise to fame has continued to shine bright.
Earlier this month, in the run up to Las Vegas’s big off road race the Mint 400, Blake Wilkey launched his newest project titled Urban Assault 2.
This new video is 7.5 minutes of Blake driving like a mad man through the streets of Vegas. The cinematography is top notch with lots of cool backgrounds all behind the carnal noise and crazy power of Wilkey’s LS3 powered Baja buggy. Make sure to follow him at @b357wilkey
Over the years, we have written many times about the infamous Gymkhana series, so it should come as no surprise we are writing about the latest installment. All of the earlier videos have become viral sensations, because the King of “Hoon”, Ken Block continues to push the boundaries behind the wheel. The new and ninth version likely will too, as it captures the epic “Hooning” tradition of the rally star and his drifting genius.
While it was originally scheduled to be filmed in Sydney to tie in with the Australian Forza Horizon 3 video game, authorities said Block was too much of a “Hoon” for the Land Down Under and would only allow him to make the video on private property. Instead, Block chose to film in an abandoned industrial area in New York state. Yeah Buffalo!
With so many global corporations shying away from the single big endorsement deal as a result of today’s fragmented online world we do appreciate Ford’s decision to buck the trend. The combination of a significant amount of both resources and dollars enables the team to create a world-class product in the Gymkhana video series.
As part of Block’s deal with Ford Performance that sees him compete in the FIA World Rallycross championship, these videos feature him driving the custom-built 600 horsepower Ford Focus RS rally machine. I’m sure the real ROI isn’t great, but it does make you want to take a Ford Focus for a test drive.
We don’t condone any person driving recklessly on public roads as it really is the dumbest thing you can do as a driver. However, you have to admit this 800 HP dune buggy is an insane beast and it’s no surprise the video of it tearing up San Diego’s streets has become a viral sensation. With over a million views since being posted in January, check it out for yourself.
Hopefully driver Blake Wilkey has now learned his lesson from the little joy ride as he is in some big trouble with the local law enforcement with 26 misdemeanor charges, including nine conspiracy counts. Hope he has a good lawyer and some extra dough for bus fare.
Some tragic news came out yesterday as police confirmed reports that Dave Mirra, one of the world’s best BMX freestyle riders and rally car drivers died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in Greenville, North Carolina.
Authorities said they responded to an apparent suicide and discovered his body in a truck. Mirra, 41, was married with two children. He had been visiting friends in the area, officials said.
Growing up, Dave Mirra was an idol to me and my friends so this news really does hit home. Mirra had super human talent and from all the coverage over the years he seemed like an absolute gem of a person which makes this all the more tragic.
Here is a recent tribute video of Dave Mirra.
Here are some older video highlights from Dave’s time as a driver for Team Subaru Rally USA.
The Goodwood Festival of Speed, if it’s not on your bucket list, it should be since it is one of the top events an auto enthusiast can experience. Wrapping up today on the grounds of the immaculate Goodwood House, West Sussex, England, this three-day festival is an annual hill climb featuring historic motor racing vehicles of epic proportions. This year’s line-up includes a variety of famous racing cars from eras past driven hard and fast around the famous estate’s private track. As an homage to the racing stars of the past, the event brings together both auto and motorcycle enthusiasts from all over the world attracting on average 150,000 annual spectators. To check out this incredible event you can watch live streaming on YouTube. Happy viewing!
Earlier today, Hoonigan, Ford and Need For Speed posted Ken Block’s Gymkhana SEVEN – Wild in the Streets: Los Angeles. Having covered the epic “Gymkhana video series” for the past few years there is nothing in the world like it and Ken Block has certainly upped the ante with this new installment.
With some help from the Hollywood Hills and post apocalyptic Los Angeles, Ken and his corporate A-team of sponsors sure know how to make the ultimate drifting video.
This new video captures all the sounds and sheer genius skill of Ken Block as he tears through LA in his custom 1965, 845 horsepower fire-breathing Mustang. Honestly, enough of our words, just go ahead and enjoy this 12 minute video and be glad you don’t have to pay for Kenny’s tire bill.
GoPro is the king of creating amazing video content and they have done it again with today’s posting of a very cool video of pro snowboarder John Jackson. In this new clip, John is taking advantage of the high desert terrain near Mammoth, California while behind the wheel of his powerful and well used sand rail.
As car guys we are usual in the know about all things auto but we were not that familiar with the term Sand Rail. Since here in Canada, we typically call vehicles designed for the sand dunes just Dune Buggies. Long story short, these Sand Rail’s look awesome and we need to test one out here in Canada.
After watching the video you realize how California’s climate really does have so much to offer the auto enthusiast. And John’s hair just goes so well with the whole Sand Rail mountain experience.
We first wrote about the Gumball 3000 rally when it came to Toronto back in 2012 and now seemed like a good time to revisit this incredible event since one of our own was competing in this year’s event. Earlier this month, Canadian native and house music superstar deadmau5 (Joel Thomas Zimmerman) along with driving partner Tory Belleci participated in this epic seven day exotic car rally. However, there is more to this story than just another rich celebrity having a laugh in an exotic car. Similar to the reality show format we are all so use to Zimmerman and Belleci were tailed by a camera crew who captured each phase of the insane 3,000 mile cross-continental course beginning in South Beach, Miami and finishing in the Spanish party island of Ibiza.
Zimmerman’s “Team Purrari” as they are called traveled the race course from Miami to Ibiza in his outrageous custom Ferrari 458 Spider. “It’s like the Marmite of cars,” he admits on camera. “You either love it, or you hate it, but there’s no, ‘Oh, it’s alright’.”
Team Purari’s Ferrari 458 Spider
Topping off their epic adventure as they crossed the finish line, Zimmerman and Belleci were awarded the coveted Spirit of the Gumball trophy by race founder Maximillion Cooper. The award speaks to the enthusiasm and extreme fun level the duo brought to this year’s marathon race.
So now the big question is what happens to all the footage from the race? Well, that’s the second cool thing as they have created a min-teaser video from the video. Even if you don’t like electronic music, this is a must-watch for car fans since it provides a very nice flavour of what this incredible race is all about.
As our regular readers know we have always been interested in covering the Gymkhana drifting scene so we would be remiss if we did not post this new video from Pikes Peak International Hill Climb champion Mike Ryan. The new video features Mike in his heavily modified Freightliner Cascadia (by Banks Power) and a drift-ready Nissan 240SX driven by Daniel Leavitt. Together with a solid team of stunt professionals Mike and Daniel drive their rides to the limit incorporating everything from tandem drifts, insane jumps to unreal burn-outs. Honestly, after watching this epic video we are starting to think Ken Block may not be the King for too much longer…..
RedlineNorth 