Proof that Ken Block can't race

[MustGoFaster]

He's still a great driver, but at a different level than those guys.

+1 His videos manage to trick a lot of people into thinking his shit don't stink, but the truth of the matter is that all shit stinks.

[Constant_Project21]

I don't see where the hate for this guy comes from. Now I'm no block fanboy, I don't own any monster/dc clothing, and can't say I've even ridden in a suby, but find me a quote from him guaranteeing victory, or saying he is the greatest rally driver ever...ill wait...... What makes block different from those other drivers, is he found a way to make rally marketable to a wider US audience, and get people to watch. Aside from you rally nuts, and people who follow racing, I can almost guarantee if you ask any other person, to name a rally driver, they won't be able too (hell I can't think of one off of the top of my head). Say the name ken block, and there's a better chance of that name ringing a bell. The fact of the matter is, he can drive, rally prob isn't his forte, but he can drive. Like carpyscho said above, I'm sure all of us could do better (<<<sarcasm). Haters are going to hate, and ken block will continue to make money selling shoes, and sliding his fiesta around cones and in and out of buildings. I give the guy props, he probably loves what he does, and makes bank to boot! I guess I got a little off the topic, I agree if you're doing poorly, to step away so someone worth the spot can have a chance to compete. They would be better off hiring a new driver, and leave the neat drifting and such to ken block. Its not like everyone who watches the gymkhana videos watches rally anyways.

A side note to this rant, has anyone met the guy? Is he a douche like 98% of his fanbase, or is he cool? I'm not one to judge a book by its cover.

[FattyBoomBatty]

I thought he still did decent?

How about no.

http://www.wrc.com/results/

Matt, he was talking about the video you posted, not WRC scores. In the video you posted, ken block was hanging with foust the whole time and was only behind by a second or so at most.

In the same way that block fan boys idolize him and wear their sideways hats, you idolize anything that isn't ken block for really stupid reasons like: He makes cool videos doing shit you couldn't, has a lot of money and big name sponsors and people like him, and he can't do well in competitions, generally speaking.

Yeah, those are somewhat valid points, but you are a bunch of bandwagon jumpin' on haterade drinking not pro rally drivers. Was there a lack of jealous, celebrity hating threads lately?

[xveganxcowboyx]

Did anyone else think it was really tacky of the announcer to repeatedly rub his face in the fact that he came in 2nd at his own event?

[mdost03]

Matt, he was talking about the video you posted, not WRC scores. In the video you posted, ken block was hanging with foust the whole time and was only behind by a second or so at most.

In the same way that block fan boys idolize him and wear their sideways hats, you idolize anything that isn't ken block for really stupid reasons like: He makes cool videos doing shit you couldn't, has a lot of money and big name sponsors and people like him, and he can't do well in competitions, generally speaking.

Yeah, those are somewhat valid points, but you are a bunch of bandwagon jumpin' on haterade drinking not pro rally drivers. Was there a lack of jealous, celebrity hating threads lately?

This^^

I think his videos are pretty sweet and by no means am a fanboy, but it's annoying when people keep reiterating "HE SUCKS!!1!!11!". He has talent and probably doesn't think he is god's gift to racing himself. Get over it already.

[311evo]

/thread

[Matt D.]

Matt, he was talking about the video you posted, not WRC scores. In the video you posted, ken block was hanging with foust the whole time and was only behind by a second or so at most.
Foust made mistakes, was penalized and still beat him. Did you even watch the video? Foust's lines were impeccable. The only thing Block did better was keeping his bumper on the stacks of tires, something he's done many times in the hundreds of takes it took to make his gymkhana videos.

In the same way that block fan boys idolize him and wear their sideways hats, you idolize anything that isn't ken block for really stupid reasons like: He makes cool videos doing shit you couldn't, has a lot of money and big name sponsors and people like him, and he can't do well in competitions, generally speaking.
Do I? You're saying Ken Block is the only one who can do pinpoint turns and roast the tires in an AWD car? I guarantee that if you give most anyone (myself included) the seat time he has had to perfect his art that his videos could be recreated. He is a marketing genius and knows how to show off, but he lacks racecraft. As a racing enthusiast I would much rather see someone else driving for him and him being the team owner rather than him promoting the douchebaggery he already does.
Yeah, those are somewhat valid points, but you are a bunch of bandwagon jumpin' on haterade drinking not pro rally drivers. Was there a lack of jealous, celebrity hating threads lately?
Whut?

[A//// Guy]

MattD stop being so jealous! Sideways hats unite!

[Tachyon]

I am with Matt on this one.

Ordinarily I’d just let this go, but having been involved in stage rally (for over a decade) first as a spectator, then as a volunteer, team member, and now driver, being called a Band-Wagoner is a little more than I am willing to tolerate.

First, let preface by saying Ken Block is in retail marketing, not motorsports. If you cannot realize this concept, then case in point.
Second, low speed parking lot antics have about as much to do with stage rally as weekend T&C does with a professional drag team. It just isn’t the same thing, not even close.

The beef with Block is not so much with the man; I’ve only met him once, and for only a couple of minutes so I cannot base much of an opinion off that. The beef is he has selected ‘rally’ as his chief marketing tool, and is dumbing it down to some circus-clown antics to be spoon fed to our ADD infested generation to digest.

It just really makes my piss boil that marketing trumps skill, because not everyone who participates in something wants to whore out themselves out to the level that Block does. After all, who here has even heard of Antoine L'Estage, this year’s winner of both US and Canadian rally (in an Evo X no less).

It’s hard to be ‘jealous’ of the man’s success, when quite frankly, he hasn’t had any in the racing community. His few ‘wins’ in Rally America are more of an indicator of the finance gap between the limited national teams. For the record, I have nothing but respect and admiration for real rally drivers such Sebastian Loeb, Marcus Grönholm, Carlos Sainz, Tommi Mäkinen, or the late Richard burns and Colin McRae.

Even if Block survives enough time to have limited success at the WRC level -which would be amazing if it ever happens, For me to like him he would have to lose the 40-something skater punk personality, and act like a mature racing driver who understands he is playing a deadly game. This of course will never happen since it’s part of his marketability.

Also, I wonder how much Block forked out to get a spot on Ford’s Jr. team :wink:

Thank you for your time.

[MATCHBX]

I've had the displeasure of dealing with Mr. Block on several occasions away from the picture taking and fans mobbing him and he is absolutely a D-bag. He treats his teammates and those who are there to help him like sh!# when the crowds and camera are away. I've been running safety sweep for the quite a number of years at the minnesota rallys. We've been on scene for both of his crashes at Ojibwe and he was very unpleasant to be near. Now before anyone says "well his adrenaline was pumping at the time" I have to clear up one point, he was being a prick to the medic that was trying to make sure that he was ok after the huge roll in 2009 and also to the sweep personnel there to assist him. He couldn't be bothered with anything that we needed to do to make sure he was ok. Any rally driver (or professional racer) that has been racing for any amount of time knows that you don't behave like that.

He is a good driver, but he's too high up on his horse to think that he has more to learn. If you want to see a true ambassador for motorsports in general for the younger generation, look to Travis. Travis knows his place and how to act. He is a genuine nice guy that will take time out of his day to sign anything put in front of him and take pictures with anyone that wants one. It's not an "inconvenience" to him. He is willing to actually listen to instructors on how to get better at racing. Not just the driving part, but the whole picture. I don't think Ken has that ability. He has no sense of humility at all. Because of his lack of sense in that department it takes a good driver and makes him a crappy driver overall. He may have some skills that the rest of us could only hope to have with driving a car. But without knowing control of one's self, it's pretty much a waste of talent. And no amount of dollars will be able make up for that.

BTW, if I remember correctly, he sold his shares of DC Shoes. I'm not 100% sure of all of the exact details but I know he is no longer a co-owner of it. Or maybe he stepped down as president or whatever. But I could be wrong also.