Tag Archives: Ken Block

Automobiles

Video: Ken Block does his thing with the Ford Fiesta ST

Leave a comment

By Zach Bowman

Ford Fiesta ST Ken Block Video

Ken Block recently headed to Budapest to take some fans on a ride around an ice rink in the Ford Fiesta ST. Shockingly, there were cameras on hand to capture the whole event. Don’t expect to see the caliber of antics we’re usually accustomed to from everyone’s favorite stunt driver, though – Block was left to wield a bone-stock Fiesta ST on a slushy cone course, which means the clip is about as entertaining as watching your average autocrosser sprint around a parking lot. Still, we won’t turn down any chance to watch someone beat on the Fiesta ST.

With 180 horsepower shoved into a tiny three-door, the car is every shade of hilarious. Our own Steven J. Ewing recently got his hands on the hot hatch in its native environment, and you can head here to refresh your memory on that particular experience. Be sure to check out Block’s best effort in the video below.

Continue reading Ken Block does his thing with the Ford Fiesta ST

Ken Block does his thing with the Ford Fiesta ST originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Apr 2013 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog

Automobiles

Video: Watch Robbie Maddison practice two-wheel hoonage in an aircraft graveyard

Leave a comment

By Jeffrey N. Ross

Motorcycle rider Robbie Maddison doing a wheelie inside a plane's carcass - video screencap

Filed under:

The worlds of motocross and rallycross are already quite intertwined, so DC Shoes has apparently decided to go a little further by putting together a Gymkhana-style event for dirtbikes. For this video, Australian stunt motorcycle rider Robbie Maddison is let loose inside of an airplane graveyard making for some interesting, fun-to-watch stunts.

Maddison starts off by tackling some whoops made out of external wing fuel tanks, and the action just gets better from there as he uses planes and various plane parts. (Note: Although the entire video is almost 11 minutes in length, it takes about two minutes for the action to get started and there are almost four minutes of credits at the end).

It isn’t clear if DC Shoes plans on creating a series like it has with Ken Block and Gymkhana, but we sure wouldn’t mind seeing this kind of action on a regular basis. Check it out for yourself in the video posted below.

Continue reading Watch Robbie Maddison practice two-wheel hoonage in an aircraft graveyard

Watch Robbie Maddison practice two-wheel hoonage in an aircraft graveyard originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Feb 2013 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

…read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog

Automobiles

Chicago: We obsessively covered Day One of the 2013 Chicago Auto Show

Leave a comment

By Steven J. Ewing

Autoblog's 2013 <a class=Chicago Auto Show – coverage graphic” src=”http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/autoshowchicago2013.jpg” />

Filed under:

It’s funny, you can technically refer to this week’s Chicago expo as both the largest and smallest North American auto show on the media circuit. On one hand, McCormick Place offers the most expansive show floor, meaning that, technically, it’s the largest; but in terms of the amount of actual news and vehicle debuts, Chicago is by far the smallest show. Ironic, don’tcha think?

Nevertheless, we’re having a good time here in the Windy City at the show’s 105th installment(!), and while there wasn’t a great deal to ooh and aah over on Day One, there’s still a lot to talk about at the Chicago Auto Show. We’ve collected all of the posts from our coverage today and grouped them together in handy roundup format for your perusal below. Enjoy!

#content .quick_scan_post h2 a {color:#1567B6 !important}

.quick_scan_post{width:192px !important;height:172px}
#quick_scan{float: left; margin: 15px 0px;border-left: 1px dotted #8D8E90;border-top: 1px dotted #8D8E90;}
#content .quick_scan_post h2 a:hover div.thumb {width:191px}

We obsessively covered Day One of the 2013 Chicago Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Feb 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

…read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog

Automobiles

Chicago: Ford Fiesta ST GRC Racecar is hungry for podiums in 2013

Leave a comment

By Seyth Miersma

Ford Fiesta ST GRC Racecar

Filed under:

As we reported earlier, the Chicago showing of this plucky Ford Fiesta ST GRC racer points to bigger and brighter days for Global RallyCross. For the upcoming season, you can expect to see Ken Block and Tanner Foust both driving the Ford racecar, and if last season’s results are any indication, you can anticipate quite a few podium appearances, as well.

The Fiesta seen here was built by the Swedes at OlsbergsMSE, and will be driven in anger by Foust in 2013. Modifications are, as you’d expect, extensive, and include an engine, exhaust and braking upgrades, a racing style short-throw shifter and a limited-slip differential. As you can see, the car has been fully stripped out and caged for maximum speed and safety, too.

Refresh your memories with the details of the car, in the press releases below. And if you head out to the Chicago Auto Show this year, don’t forget to drop by the Ford stand to have a look.

Continue reading Ford Fiesta ST GRC Racecar is hungry for podiums in 2013

Ford Fiesta ST GRC Racecar is hungry for podiums in 2013 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Feb 2013 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

…read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog

Automobiles

Chicago: Ken Block, fifteen52 team up to build awesome Ford Focus TrackSTer

Leave a comment

By Jeffrey N. Ross

Ford Focus TrackSTer live at Chicago Auto Show debut - front three-quarter view

Making its debut at the Chicago Auto Show, this Ford TrackSTer is a build done in cooperation between Ford, Ken Block and Los Angeles-based tuner, Fifteen52. Starting with a stock 2013 Ford Focus ST, the TrackSTer received extensive styling and performance enhancements.

Visually, the TrackSTer has a more aggressive look that includes a new front fascia, vented hood, rear fascia diffuser and rear spoiler, but this car stands out the most with its wide, rally-style wheels and partial fender extensions. Interior changes consist of a racing steering wheel, aluminum race pedals and a short-throw shifter. Fifteen52 also made some performance upgrades that include a Ford Racing exhaust system, upgraded internal engine components, a limited-slip differential and a reprogrammed engine controller as well as track-ready parts like intercooler, clutch and brakes.

Scroll down for the press release, but not before checking out our gallery.

Continue reading Ken Block, fifteen52 team up to build awesome Ford Focus TrackSTer

Ken Block, fifteen52 team up to build awesome Ford Focus TrackSTer originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Feb 2013 12:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

…read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog

Automobiles

Ford Unveils Global Rallycross–Spec Fiesta ST Racer [2013 Chicago Auto Show]

Leave a comment

By John Lamm

Ford Racing and OlsbergsMSE will build Ford Fiesta ST race cars to compete in the 2013 Global Rallycross Championship driven by two-time GRC champion Tanner Foust and 2012 runner-up Brian Deegan. The Fiesta ST race car will debut at the 2013 Chicago auto show. In addition, Ken Block and his Hoonigan Racing Division also will compete with a Fiesta ST in GRC rounds plus the four X Games events that include Rallycross—the well-known games in Los Angeles and events in Brazil, Spain, and Germany.

How quick is the OlsbergsMSE Fiesta ST GRC? How about a 0-to-60-mph time of 2.0 seconds. And how does it do that? OlsbergsMSE starts with a 2.0-liter Ford twin-cam Duratech four, caps it with its own cylinder head, and adds a Magnaflow exhaust and a big Garrett turbo. Remember, this is just a 2.o-liter turbo four, but it produces 550-plus horsepower (most likely closer to 600) and more than 590 lb-ft of torque. OlsbergsMSE builds the transmission and all-wheel-drive system including the gearshift and—important in these cars—the hydraulic handbrake. The shocks are from Öhlins, springs from Eibach, brakes via Alcon and the 17-inch wheels are Motegis. OlsbergsMSE does the exterior body panels in Kevlar, and the rear spoiler in carbon fiber. Inside is an AIM digital dash.

Ford is coming off a successful 2013 GRC season with one-two finishes at Charlotte, Las Vegas Motor Speedways, and at SEMA, plus a podium sweep at Texas Motor Speedway. It also scored silver and bronze medals in last summer’s X Games. Ford has been the GRC manufacturers champion for the past two years, but the strongest competition comes from crosstown rivals in the form of  Travis Pastrana, the 17-time X Games gold medalist who will be competing in a 600-hp Dodge Dart racer.

2013 Chicago auto show full coverage

…read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Car & Driver

Automobiles

Official: Ford reveals Fiesta ST race car, points at road ahead for bigger things in Global RallyCross

Leave a comment

By Jeffrey N. Ross

2014 Ford Fiesta ST race car - front three-quarter view

Filed under:

The 2014 Ford Fiesta ST doesn’t go on sale until this summer, but fans of Global RallyCross will be able to catch the car in action before then. Announced ahead of the Chicago Auto Show, the Fiesta ST will be the car run by Ford GRC teams this season, and the model on display in Chicago will be the racecar built by Swedish tuner OlsbergsMSE driven by Tanner Foust and Brian Deegan. Ken Block and his newly renamed Hoonigan Racing Division will also be competing in the Fiesta ST.

The 2013 GRC season has not been announced yet, but the venues will also include the summer X Games events in Brazil, Spain, Germany and, of course, Los Angeles. Ford announced that it will be the sole automotive sponsor of this year’s summer X Games, and it will be looking to bring home a gold medal this year after Block placed silver last year.

In other Ken Block– and Ford-related news, another Chicago debut will be a tuned Focus ST called the TrackSTer project. Built in cooperation with Block, Ford and automotive tuner fifteen52, the TrackSTer will get plenty of styling, performance and handling upgrades. Some of the add-ons include a performance exhaust and short-throw shifter from Ford Racing, a rebuilt engine, upgraded components such as the limited-slip differential, intercooler, engine controller and clutch as well as upgraded brakes.

Scroll down for press releases on both the GRC Fiesta ST and the TrackSTer project.

Continue reading Ford reveals Fiesta ST race car, points at road ahead for bigger things in Global RallyCross

Ford reveals Fiesta ST race car, points at road ahead for bigger things in Global RallyCross originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Feb 2013 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

…read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog

Automobiles

Motorsports: Ken Block rally cars go blue in the face (and everywhere else)

Leave a comment

By Jeffrey N. Ross

Filed under: , , , , ,

Well at least we now know why Ken Block “just ain’t care” about smashing up his Ford Fiesta rally car recently. It’s because he’s getting a full brand makeover including a new team name, new paint scheme and even a new headquarters. Formerly known as Monster World Rally Team, Block and his Fiesta will now be competing under the Hoonigan Racing Division name, which is based out of a new 12,000 square foot facility located in Park City, UT.

As you can tell in the image above, Hoonigan Racing will replace the familiar black, white and green paint scheme with a more colorful design featuring plenty of blue, purple and red; the Monster Energy logo retains some of the car’s green. The new paint scheme was inspired by Block’s love of skateboard graphics from the ’80s and early ’90s as well as “Miami Vice-era” speedboats.

Block will continue to compete in multiple rally racing series such as Global RallyCross, World Rally Championship and X Games. The new headquarters features office space on one side and a shop for the cars on the other side. The building features plenty of stuff you’d expect from a company designed around Ken Block, including a massive gaming station for racing video games, recycled shipping containers used throughout the facility and a black bear.

Block also hints at the next Gymkana on the Hoonigan Racing blog:

I can’t comment too much on it at this point, but we’re taking a very different approach to it for this year. That’s all I’m going to say right now!”

So, we guess we’ll be looking forward to that, then.

Ken Block rally cars go blue in the face (and everywhere else) originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Jan 2013 18:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog

Automobiles

Video: Ken Block ain't got a care about ruining his wheels

Leave a comment

By Jonathon Ramsey

Filed under: , , , , ,

Ken Block damages rear wheels while drifting his Ford Fiesta - video screencap

During a drifting session at Irwindale Speedway in California, Ken Block made a boo-boo that would send a number of drivers immediately back to the infield. But there’s an answer to “What do you do when you bash the wall while drifting and your wheel explodes?” and there’s completely different answer when the question begins with the phrase, “When you’re Ken Block…”

Instead of us telling you how Block handled the calamity in his Ford Fiesta competition car, you can watch it happen in the video below. You can probably also guess what it is – but it’s more fun to watch.

Continue reading Ken Block ain’t got a care about ruining his wheels

Ken Block ain’t got a care about ruining his wheels originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Jan 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog