A different kind of Ken Block (and Chris Atkinson) video

I apologize if this is a repost.

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/14/video-ken-block-chris-atkinson-test-out-their-rear-drive-chops/

It would be even cooler if it was more old school- no paddle or sequential shifting, and carbs instead of EFI.

If you asked me...

E-

That looks like fun. I want to do that.

Sigh...makes me miss my Colt. Shame I don't have the time or $$ for that stuff.

"We never thought we'd want a 1978 Escort"

I thought everyone not only wanted one, but knew they wanted one.

That's still pretty cool. I live close to Team O'Neal rally school, and would love to attend it, but I don't have $1650-$4150 to go.

I agree... I don't really understand the point of taking such a classic (and pristine) older car and putting in the newer engine and gearbox when they could have taken basically any RWD E36 M3box from the mid 80's era and had an essentially similar platform for rally without risking the vintage sheetmetal.

And if youre gonna go vintage, go berkeleying vintage... no 280 hp. No paddleshifters... etc.

The car may not have been a build from scratch. In fact, it could very well be a rally car that's been campaigned for the last 30 years and kept up to date.

280 hp? Well, I think you can punch a BDA out to 2.4 litres, and those engines do make a bit over 100 hp/litre.

andrave wrote: I don't really understand the point of taking such a classic (and pristine) older car and putting in the newer engine and gearbox ....

This is not a hot rodding attitude.

Appleseed wrote:

andrave wrote: I don't really understand the point of taking such a classic (and pristine) older car and putting in the newer engine and gearbox ....

This is not a hot rodding attitude.

Yea, trust me; I saw it in person, its cool, and I completely understand. I would be more saddened about the hundreds that have been crashed rallying.

But it's cool mostly because of the hundreds that were crashed rallying...

How refreshing to see a couple of guys having that much fun. That is what it's all about. I guess rallying is Ken Block's hokey pokey.

Then he did this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwxEDeq1nFs

Also, didn't McRae also have a Mk2 Escort with a STi rear end or something like it?

Edit: Thanks YouTube! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1E-5_se44A

For those who don't know, Chris Atkinson is a WRC driver who lost his seat when the Subaru factory team backed out. He's pretty quick.

Carson wrote: Then he did this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwxEDeq1nFs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXJ9cwDLM7Q&feature=related

I wouldn't say "did" so much as "reacted" (watch my clip to understand).

What happened in the Rally Defi according to FlatOverCrest.com:

“When the car loaded up heading around a tarmac corner on the first stage, one of the wheels locked up after compressing up against the body,” said Block.

You can hear the tires scuffing the body pretty badly in that Ken and Chris Play Escort video.

Very cool car, looks like a blast!

alfadriver wrote: It would be even cooler if it was more old school- no paddle or sequential shifting, and carbs instead of EFI. If you asked me... E-

I just want to follow up on myself. I do think it's quite cool. It's always neat to see RWD cars rally, especially in the hands of the gifted. Better that they are older cars.

But I just think it would be even cooler if we got to see them stir the pot, and dance on the pedals.

That's all.

E