THE HOLLYWOOD MEGAMERCIAL

August 18, 2011 7:54 AM

Gymkhana FOUR

featuring Ken Block. Directed by Ben Conrad (Zombieland, 30 Minutes or Less). Featuring explosions, zombies, ninjas, Epic Meal Time guys, and lots of non-emergency usage of the emergency brake.

Gymkhana 2

Gymkhana 3: part one. part two

previously, previouslier

(trigger warning: contains self-referential marketing for shoes; automotive hijinks)

posted by dubold (38 comments total)

So are they using some sort of different engine in these cars? It has an incredibly high, tinny sound that doesn't sound like a normal engine.
posted by ged at 7:56 AM on August 18, 2011

I wish we could return to the days of classy motorsports sponsorship. Marlboro looked "right" scrawled on a wing. The energy drinkification of rallying makes me feel cranky.

That said, he can drive better than I can.
posted by pjaust at 7:56 AM on August 18, 2011

ged, a lot of what you're hearing inside the car is gear whine from the racing gearbox. The gears are cut differently than on a street car. Obviously you wouldn't want to listen to that whine on your daily commute.
posted by pjaust at 7:58 AM on August 18, 2011

"Pipo Moteurs-built 2.0L, inline-four cylinder. This mill is based off the powerplant found previously in the Ford Focus RS WRC car, a motor that has over 10 years of development. The result is a massive 600hp and 665 ft. lbs. of torque when using the 45mm restrictor."
posted by smcameron at 8:00 AM on August 18, 2011

I wish we could return to the days of classy motorsports sponsorship. Marlboro looked "right" scrawled on a wing

have you seen the Marlboro barcode logo?
posted by dubold at 8:02 AM on August 18, 2011

Gymkhana 4? I'm still waiting for Gymkata 2! Now *that* was some film making.
posted by mcstayinskool at 8:05 AM on August 18, 2011 [6 favorites]

Obviously you wouldn't want to listen to that whine on your daily commute.

says you..

it's unaplogetically in-your-face marketing, but it works. i enjoyed how they were able to pack so many movie references together even in the opening 30 seconds.
posted by ninjew at 8:08 AM on August 18, 2011

Huh. So I guess this post isn't about little kids and pony clubs then.
posted by elizardbits at 8:08 AM on August 18, 2011

oh, I also thought the camera in Jaws' jaw (heh) was genius..
posted by ninjew at 8:12 AM on August 18, 2011

Gymkata
posted by zippy at 8:13 AM on August 18, 2011 [2 favorites]

Props for the Monkey on the stepladder bit. They really liked that. I could tell because they showed it over and over again, all angles, slow-motion and everything. Reminded me a bit of that guy Steve Lewis on "That's Incredible!" who jumped over speeding cars.
posted by chavenet at 8:29 AM on August 18, 2011

HI-KEEBA 4 LYFE
posted by penduluum at 8:40 AM on August 18, 2011

My Ford Focus rental from Budget didn't do ANY of this stuff. I am feeling so ripped off right now.
posted by orme at 8:40 AM on August 18, 2011

Consarnit! Very excited for another one of Prof. Block's Graduate-level driving seminars, however it's rather tricky to watch his vidz at the workplace. Please limit the spoilers (pun?)..
posted by obscurator at 8:42 AM on August 18, 2011

Loved the gymkhana practice long ago ( see previousler link ).
But this?? Meh-h
posted by seawallrunner at 9:03 AM on August 18, 2011

Is all the backfiring for real?
posted by Benny Andajetz at 9:05 AM on August 18, 2011

I remember seeing Gymkata on TV when I was fairly young. I was sooo confused about what the fuck was going on. Reading the summary now, I think I would still be confused.
posted by kmz at 9:17 AM on August 18, 2011

Well those are some pretty neat tricks Ken, but until you can start beating someone like Sebastien Loeb on the Col De Turini, I won't be paying all that much attention to your circus act.
posted by Relay at 9:24 AM on August 18, 2011 [2 favorites]

wait this is a joke, right? Or is this serious? I can't figure out if it's a parody of advertisement or actually is trying to make me buy DC shoes while chugging monster
posted by rebent at 9:26 AM on August 18, 2011

Speedhunters has a behind-the-scenes feature for the shoot
posted by ninjew at 9:29 AM on August 18, 2011

I will still not be purchasing any of your products and/or services.
posted by chairface at 9:36 AM on August 18, 2011

Woah. I thought I'd be the only person who saw this, and instantly thought of Gymkata.

We should form some sort of support group (that combines the powers of gymnastics and karate).
posted by evidenceofabsence at 9:45 AM on August 18, 2011

Well those are some pretty neat tricks Ken, but until you can start beating someone like Sebastien Loeb on the Col De Turini , I won't be paying all that much attention to your circus act.

Oh yeah. Block has fun but WRC is where you can find the the real drivers. More Loeb video!
posted by N-stoff at 9:47 AM on August 18, 2011

Is all the backfiring for real?

Yes.
posted by BeerFilter at 9:55 AM on August 18, 2011

I saw this earlier and was not expecting the Epic Meal Time guys. They made me laugh. Also, I would not want to be that dude in the gorilla suit.
posted by GuyZero at 9:59 AM on August 18, 2011

Huh, I wondered where this guy got his inspiration for doing this burnout. Now I know.
posted by nickyskye at 10:07 AM on August 18, 2011

Mighty shame those shoes are so fucking ugly.
posted by Thoth at 10:19 AM on August 18, 2011

Put me in the club of people that saw that and thought, "HOLY CRAP THERE'S GYMKATAS 2-4?!" and then got disappointed.
posted by ignignokt at 10:31 AM on August 18, 2011

Is all the backfiring for real?

Yes.
posted by BeerFilter at 9:55 AM on August 18 [+] [!]

Heel and toe.
posted by basicchannel at 11:07 AM on August 18, 2011

Is all the backfiring for real?

Yes.
posted by BeerFilter at 9:55 AM on August 18 [+] [!]

Heel and toe.

I drive a turbo and I can heel and toe, but my car doesn't belch flame - at least not very often.
posted by Benny Andajetz at 11:24 AM on August 18, 2011

just remove your catalytic converter and run an open exhaust. then you too can singe bystanders.
posted by ninjew at 11:36 AM on August 18, 2011

So these are front-wheeled drive? And you kick into a drift by braking, not accelerating? its hard to imagine doing the gorilla/segway thing without rear-wheel drive.
posted by rtimmel at 11:56 AM on August 18, 2011

Looks like AWD to me rtimmel.
posted by pharm at 1:14 PM on August 18, 2011

Is all the backfiring for real

Heel and toe has nothing at all to do with the poppity-bang-bang an flame. It is anti-(Boost)lag software keeping the turbo at an optimum speed for best boost. Heel and toe will not help you one little bit - especially with a sequential gearbox that has an automatic blip for downshifts anyway (best heel and toe there is when it's done for you).

So these are front-wheeled drive? And you kick into a drift by braking,

All wheel drive. And you kick it into a slide by braking, and then use power to push it into a drift. The slide puts you into one arc of movement, the power then pushes you into a second arc for optimum cornering (Hooliganism).
posted by Brockles at 8:52 PM on August 18, 2011

I just killed 3 people, maimed 14 more, and ruined 3 ape suites trying to replicate this at home. What am I doing wrong??
posted by LordSludge at 10:53 PM on August 18, 2011

HOLY. SHIT.

this is what the internet is for.
posted by Theta States at 11:26 PM on August 18, 2011

Block takes Captain Slow for a ride, with special guest star Ricky Carmichael. Combine Top Gear's car porn video with Block's hoonage and May's OMGWTF??? attitude and it's better than Gymkaka 4.
posted by Not The Stig at 6:29 AM on August 19, 2011

That is the best thing I have ever seen.
posted by dabug at 7:09 AM on August 19, 2011