Maybe that will shut the flat brims up a bit. I expect someone to post the haters pic next 
Maybe that will shut the flat brims up a bit. I expect someone to post the haters pic next
To be honest it probably would have been a little closer if Block hadn't got a flat (although Loeb surely would have won).
Clearly, Loeb demonstrated complete car control. The rest looked like they were in an audition for the next Ken Block hooning video. 
Maybe they should have a highly orchestrated sliding contest in and around an old airport instead of something with danger and a pesky clock.
Loeb is a robot from the future that has been programmed to defeat the human race by means of rally.
Armitage wrote: Loeb is a robot from the future that has been programmed to defeat the human race by means of rally.
^This one goes in the magazine, m'kay?^
Frankly, I think any of the top WRC drivers (Latvala, Hirvonen, Solberg, Sordo, and Orgier) could have won this as easily as Loeb did.
I'm pretty sure Block had a tire go down and then try to work itself off the wheel.
Not to defend him since I hate the flat brimmers as much as anybody else, but I think the 12 second gap deserves an asterisk.
That said, I gladly welcome our new Rally overlord.
Javelin wrote: The others still looked ridiculous though.
The ones that looked like they had idea of what they were doing got crashed out.
Actually block should be commended for being able to keep second and only be down as much as he was with no tire on one corner.
I'm not surprised. I'm not taking anything away from Block because he has more driving talent in his left pinky nail than is in my entire family, it's just a different mindset. And it's nothing new.
Back in da day at the MX des Nations it was like the Euros and the 'Muricans were riding completely different tracks. On a jump where the Euros were pulling traction 15 feet past the jump the American Supercross riders would do 40 foot sky shots, then wonder why they got whooped. Of course, it works the other way too; a lot of their really good riders flailed over here because they were completely out of their element on the US tracks.
In reply to Curmudgeon:
You see that still to this day when they end the SX season and go outdoors. Although I must say that the old guard MX tracks look like lengthened SX tracks now with all the crazy whoops, tabletop triples, and off cambers
motomoron wrote:Armitage wrote: Loeb is a robot from the future that has been programmed to defeat the human race by means of rally.^This one goes in the magazine, m'kay?^
Remember too that Block had the top time in qualifying, so that says something.
egoman wrote: Actually block should be commended for being able to keep second and only be down as much as he was with no tire on one corner.
Loeb won (or maybe it was took second?) after losing both rear suspensions.
The video was hilarious... he's dragging himself along to service with only the front tires, camera car having to bob and weave to avoid chunks of suspension randomly flying off...
I would like to say it was 2006 Acropolis.
Knurled wrote:motomoron wrote:Armitage wrote: Loeb is a robot from the future that has been programmed to defeat the human race by means of rally.^This one goes in the magazine, m'kay?^
Turd
Ranger50 wrote: In reply to Curmudgeon: You see that still to this day when they end the SX season and go outdoors. Although I must say that the old guard MX tracks look like lengthened SX tracks now with all the crazy whoops, tabletop triples, and off cambers
There are still real motocross tracks around, but SX has essentially ruined motocross for the sake of entertaining (and making money from) the non racer type.
Not that I'm bitter.
In reply to Zomby Woof:
Agreed. I like MX, as I don't really care for crashing after being 40' in the air 75' farther then where I started. Now, if we talking sand dunes, that is another story altogether. 
Watching Loeb, he was incredibly consistent and machine like. I do wish there was a joker lap to help interject a little more action as the course was too tight to really allow for any passing. I think he would have still won, but I would have liked it if had to showcase more of his talent with the traffic a joker lap tends to mix in.
I heart outdoor natural terrain MX (that's what I grew up riding) but I gotta give SX its due. Neither sport would be what they are today without Mickey Thompson scribbling on that napkin.
I don't know about that. Motocross was bigger in the day of natural terrain than it is now. When I was a teen, we'd get 120, 125 juniors, then the seniors, and expert classes. Add in the 250, open, and schoolboys, that's a lot more than what we see these days.
Zomby Woof wrote: I don't know about that. Motocross was bigger in the day of natural terrain than it is now. When I was a teen, we'd get 120, 125 juniors, then the seniors, and expert classes. Add in the 250, open, and schoolboys, that's a lot more than what we see these days.
No kidding - I'm not going to break my freakin' legs landing some 60' E36 M3 and I'm not going to encourage my kids to do it either. I just want to have fun. Injury != fun.
I agree. There used to be a whole bunch of riders but not many spectators and that's not a real good business model for making money. Then Mickey Thompson filled (IIRC) Anaheim with paying spectators (paying spectators = profit) and the rest was history. But there is one real difference between outdoor MX and Supercross: the outdoor MX speeds are much higher, at least on the Euro tracks.
On topic: Loeb came out of NOWHERE when he first drove WRC. He was a gymnast before rally racing but he did pay his Junior Rally dues from 95-01, and then he just dominated. He is most certainly a very talented driver and there is no shame in being 12 seconds off from him. Hell, I'd probably be twelve fortnights off his time.
From everything I've read, Ken Block is a stand up guy that you'd love to have a beer with. I have no problem with Ken. But he is not a great rally driver, he's not the fastest guy in NA, not the fastest guy in the States, and probably not the fastest guy in his home state.
Jeff wrote: From everything I've read, Ken Block is a stand up guy that you'd love to have a beer with. I have no problem with Ken. But he is not a great rally driver, he's not the fastest guy in NA, not the fastest guy in the States, and probably not the fastest guy in his home state.
He isn't the fastest guy in the world but he is pretty fast. I mean he had the best qualifying time and he finished 2nd with a flat tire.
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