Freaking Dave Mirra the BMX legend has turned Rally!!!

[Anakin_jackson02STI]

I used to ride BMX so this actually caught my attention, turns out Dave Mirra, the BMX Legend that helped put Haro bikes on the map, has gone rally! should be exciting to watch his career in rally evolve! More on this story can be found at http://www.rally-america.com/story.php?article=280

And coincidentally he's driving, get this....A SCOOBY!!! looks to me like an 06-07 WRX. Anyway all you BMX fans out there im expecting some feedback on this! I know I actually used to ride a Haro backtrail through my high school years so now its only a matter of time before Haro Rider and former king of dirt, Ryan Nyquist, goes Rally, (and most likely for our beloved SUBARU!) lol this is just my own speculation of course....

[james.c.obrien]

Didn't Mirra get his training out here at O'Neil?

[wr-ecks]

yea keep an eye out for the episode of redline tv where dave goes to oneil and learns to rally. they rally some older audi's until finally they give him the keys to an actual purpose built rally car. (yea its a subie) pretty good episode. the idea is to get some famous people into it so it will become more popular here in the states. :headbang:

[james.c.obrien]

I'm going up there in January - the school's sponsoring a rally (see O'Neil Rally in Sanctioned Motorsports forum).

I'm waiting for John Daly to get into rally :)

[Azewaldo]

It's an '02: http://www.tallpinesrally.com/TallPines/Default.aspx?tabid=80
http://www.rally-america.com/article_img.php?max=350&pic=280.1

[RALLYxISH728]

Rally just might start getting the attention it deserves here in the states, I just hope it doesn't become a scene the way drifting has.

[Anakin_jackson02STI]

Didn't Mirra get his training out here at O'Neil?


Yeppers...Id like to take that class myself :mrgreen:, I'd be glad to help make the sport famous!

[Anakin_jackson02STI]

I'm going up there in January - the school's sponsoring a rally (see O'Neil Rally in Sanctioned Motorsports forum).

I'm waiting for John Daly to get into rally :)


well they're at it, Subaru should just get it over with and recruit Tony Hawk and Matt Hoffman, maybe Bam Margera would follow right behind them...maybe Jeff Gordon will finally give up that boring ass drive in circles Nascar crap and get into a much more exciting motorsport :)

[james.c.obrien]

FYI - the folks at O'Neil are registered on here. I'm sure Kat could tell you when openings are...:headbang:

[Anakin_jackson02STI]

It's an '02: http://www.tallpinesrally.com/TallPines/Default.aspx?tabid=80
http://www.rally-america.com/article_img.php?max=350&pic=280.1


Woot! Score one for us bugeye guys!!!:machinegunleft:

[Anakin_jackson02STI]

Rally just might start getting the attention it deserves here in the states, I just hope it doesn't become a scene the way drifting has.


I honestly think its taking off and it very likely will become the next big motorsport here in the states, I think folks here are starting to realize there was a reason we didnt see a WRX here till 2002 and an STI till 03-04...well most of the rest of the world was boostin around in em since the 90's. rally here has been almost non-existant or at least not nearly as popular as in other parts of the world but its finally starting to get a lot of really big exposure right along with Subaru and now every kids wet dream is about the STI, the WRX and the EVO...sorry little sally rotten crotch, you gotta go cuz Subaru's takin over a wet dream near you! (ok I might have gone a little far there but seriously...) :guitarist:

[Dirty D]

This caught my attention right away as I also used to ride BMX. Best of luck to Dave. I think he will be a positive influence for rally.

[409industries]

Rumor has it (from a conversation with Ken Block) that Bucky Lasek is getting into the rally scene as well.

He won the Long Beach Grand Prix celebrity race a few years back, that was the same year that they actually flipped one of the scions. LOL

[Anakin_jackson02STI]

oh oh!!! see what I mean? lol and if bucky gets into the scene who wants to lay bets with me that he'll sign with Subaru or at least drive one?? any takers? winner take all!

[rollo]

Awesome. Bucky rules. He's been a car guy for ages, he used to have a tricked out white Corrado.

Of course this is the "Travis effect" we're seeing here - Ken Block, Kenny Bartram, now Dave Mirra and possibly Bucky. It's funny, with the 'judging' aspect I'd kinda expect drifting to be a more natural fit for the X-Games veterans. I know Travis has tried his hand at drifting but he genuinely seems to love rally, which for a sport that has never managed to get an 'angle' in the US is really good.

However.. it needs to be 'a scene' to some extent if it's to get publicity, and either way it probably won't end up being the next big thing here. It'd be nice if some of the top class rally drivers we lost to drifting came back though. I know a lot of them would jump at the chance if it'd pay the bills.

[409industries]

However.. it needs to be 'a scene' to some extent if it's to get publicity, and either way it probably won't end up being the next big thing here.

It will never be the next big thing for the same reason that drifting popped up but has faded. Its expensive!

Rallying even more so because you're beating the hell out of cars. I have a pretty good feeling that Bucky will be driving a suby either privately or with SOA help.

[Anakin_jackson02STI]

Leave it to the guy with the Evo to have so little faith...lol im jokin, but seriously, you have to admit between rally becoming an official X-games sport and some of the hottest names in extreme sports getting into the sport...that alone does wonders for the public image of rally, it's like all of a sudden all the 20 somethings and kids out there are dreaming of going to rally school and owning a subaru, It may not become the next biggest thing per say, but Id lay a good wager that its going to only grow here in the states from here on...I think rally has finally caught on here and its all uphill from here! I also think Subaru is damn wise to snag the big name guys that already have established themselves in other sports to help promote the Subaru brand and make Subaru the kind of car that appeals to all kinds of folks out there...

[UP2MTNS]

well they're at it, Subaru should just get it over with and recruit Tony Hawk and Matt Hoffman, maybe Bam Margera would follow right behind them...maybe Jeff Gordon will finally give up that boring ass drive in circles Nascar crap and get into a much more exciting motorsport :)


pshshshhsh.....get anna kornikova (sp) (she sucks at tennis anyway), picabo street, Giovanna Amati, etc and then we'll see some action :lol2:

[Anakin_jackson02STI]

pshshshhsh.....get anna kornikova (sp) (she sucks at tennis anyway), picabo street, Giovanna Amati, etc and then we'll see some action :lol2:


LMAO!! and for publicity purposes, maybe Paris Hilton could sign with Mitsubishi well Subaru could get OJ SImpson since hes kind of a big scary intimidating guy...and now I just had a funny idea for a funny thread check forums here shortly for the first annual rally celebrity Draft!

[Anakin_jackson02STI]

pshshshhsh.....get anna kornikova (sp) (she sucks at tennis anyway), picabo street, Giovanna Amati, etc and then we'll see some action :lol2:

and for the record id hope Anna would sign with Subaru cuz I think shed look way hot in that blue subaru WRC outfit...

[james.c.obrien]

and for the record id hope Anna would sign with Subaru cuz I think shed look way hot in that blue subaru WRC outfit...

Yeah - with it on my floor, you mean.

[Anakin_jackson02STI]

HAHAHA!!! this guy's got a dirty mind...we werent implying anything of the sort...well ok forget it, yes itd be just that much better with the wrc stuff on MY floor!

[UP2MTNS]

LMAO!! and for publicity purposes, maybe Paris Hilton could sign with Mitsubishi well Subaru could get OJ SImpson since hes kind of a big scary intimidating guy...and now I just had a funny idea for a funny thread check forums here shortly for the first annual rally celebrity Draft!

'Hey OJ.....did you just crash that rally car?"

"if the FIA homologated rally seat don't fit....you must acquit!"

(I don't think they make a race seat big enough for that dude.)

[UP2MTNS]

Yeah - with it on my floor, you mean.

yeah, I just wanna see Anna strapped down in a harness8)



"That's Hot"

[james.c.obrien]

yeah, I just wanna see Anna strapped down in a harness8)



"That's Hot"

Haha, I got your HANS device right here, missy.

Aaaaaaand I'm spent.

[Anakin_jackson02STI]

'Hey OJ.....did you just crash that rally car?"

"if the FIA homologated rally seat don't fit....you must acquit!"

(I don't think they make a race seat big enough for that dude.)


lol or maybe itd be " hey OJ, did you just crahs that rally car..." " Nope I was not at the scene of the crash but if you keep asking me stupid questions I'll f**kin kill ya..."

[Anakin_jackson02STI]

yeah, I just wanna see Anna strapped down in a harness8)



"That's Hot"

I think more than just seeing her strapped down in a harness, youd like her to BE strapped down so she couldnt get away when you start mackin on her :mrgreen:

[Anakin_jackson02STI]

Haha, I got your HANS device right here, missy.

Aaaaaaand I'm spent.

and then theres this guy....doesnt hold much back...:jack:

[sebhockey]

Damn, see what I miss with just a few hours of work, geez.

[Anakin_jackson02STI]

yes its gotten a little thick here today...

[rollo]

Not to bring the thread back on topic but..

Leave it to the guy with the Evo to have so little faith...lol im jokin, but seriously, you have to admit between rally becoming an official X-games sport and some of the hottest names in extreme sports getting into the sport...that alone does wonders for the public image of rally, it's like all of a sudden all the 20 somethings and kids out there are dreaming of going to rally school and owning a subaru, It may not become the next biggest thing per say, but Id lay a good wager that its going to only grow here in the states from here on...I think rally has finally caught on here and its all uphill from here! I also think Subaru is damn wise to snag the big name guys that already have established themselves in other sports to help promote the Subaru brand and make Subaru the kind of car that appeals to all kinds of folks out there...

Heh, I'd be saying the same thing if I had a Subaru.. oh.. wait.. I do :D

Nah seriously I'm rally born and bred, quite literally. I'd like nothing more than to see it become a big thing here. But I'm a realist. People have been saying that rally is "the next big thing" for many years in the US, but it won't be - the format is too inaccessible for a start (several days over hundreds of miles of terrain as opposed to a few hours in a stadium). Honestly even in the UK it's not "a big thing". Really. TV coverage is minimal for most people, and the average 'car guy' probably couldn't name five top WRC drivers. It's a niche - but that's okay, it can still thrive as a niche sport. Frankly, skate, moto-x and BMX are also niche sports.

A lot of people don't realise that in the 80s there were actually WRC events in the US:
http://www.rallye-info.com/event.asp?event=139
http://www.specialstage.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5717

Group B cars, the best drivers in the world (Alen, Kankunnen, Waldegaard, Biasion), rally legends-to-be from here and around the world (John Buffum, Possum Bourne, Rod Millen, Monster Tajima), Hollywood celebrities (okay.. McGyver..), ESPN and SI coverage.. surely rally had "made it" in the US? Yeah well.. as we know, not so much. That was one of several "boom and bust" cycles that rally in the US has gone through. It doesn't need another boom, IMO, it needs steady growth.

So you'll have to excuse my cynicism but I have heard this story a lot since coming to the US ten years ago. If there's a difference now, it's the fragmentation of media, and specifically the rise of the internet - forums like this, YouTube, Flickr, PB, Facebook, MySpace etc have made it a million times easier to get the information out there, to build stuff at a grass roots level. That's why rallycross is growing again, this past couple of years is the first time there's ever been a consistent place to find out what is happening and when, and for the action to be seen. Sponsors solely at a rallycross level was practically unheard of until this year.

So back to the topic at hand - yes, big names from extreme sports bring important things to rally: money and exposure. But I think it's unreasonable to think that we'll convert many hardcore BMX fans to rally cos of Dave Mirra, any more than if Petter Solberg likes curling that I'll take it up or even look twice at it. But it is very good for the general awareness of the sport, which I think may be more important than we realise as far as legitimacy (or street cred) goes. "Oh.. you do rally? Like Travis?" If you see what I mean.

Oh. And the reason that every "name" ends up in a Subaru is that they're the only manufacturer who have any commitment to rally in the US. Frankly you'd be nuts to go with anyone else.

[lminette]

To be honest I think that the only way rally will get big in the U.S. is if it evolves. We need a stadium rally circuit much like the stadium supercross circuit, and the events need to be more like european rallyx cause lets face it most americans want to see door to door competition noy against the clock. While actual stage rallies do take more skill the american public doesn't care about that! Plus the majority of americans want to sit in the stands drinkin beer and eatin nachos waiting for a big crash to happen. Americans are morbid that way. Not that I'm not proud to be an american, I am but this is just the way it is!

[rollo]

Louie you're treading the same ground many have trod before. The problem is that "stadium rally" is not rally at all, and it's not an evolution of rally.. in fact it's a devolution. For me, the WRC super-special would seem to be the answer. You run your proper rally in the normal way, and have what amounts to an exhibition stage at some point so the fans get to see the cars do jumps and stuff while they eat their nachos. Very similar to the X-Games in fact.

Oh.. and rallycross is a mega-niche sport in most of Europe, much much more so than rally. I dunno why, personally I think it's awesome. I saw on Special Stage than George Plsek suggested that it was time for a rallycross series to run alongside CORR.. interesting idea...

[RALLYxISH728]

To be honest I think that the only way rally will get big in the U.S. is if it evolves. We need a stadium rally circuit much like the stadium supercross circuit, and the events need to be more like european rallyx cause lets face it most americans want to see door to door competition noy against the clock. While actual stage rallies do take more skill the american public doesn't care about that! Plus the majority of americans want to sit in the stands drinkin beer and eatin nachos waiting for a big crash to happen. Americans are morbid that way. Not that I'm not proud to be an american, I am but this is just the way it is!

Sad but true description of what Americans like i.e...

Monster Trucks
Horse Racing *hahaha*
Motorcross, crap like that
The dreadfullly lame Nascar

[rollo]

Sad but true description of what Americans like i.e...

Monster Trucks
Horse Racing *hahaha*
Motorcross, crap like that
The dreadfullly lame Nascar

lol. You guys always end up here. "Americans don't get it". Monster trucks are more akin to a circus than a motorsport, horse racing is about the betting not about the races, motorcross is spectacular and competitive and loved worldwide, and NASCAR is marketing genius plus the legacy of doing something a specific way for 50+ years. Although if you look at early footage of Daytona.. when it was still actually on the beach, man that is spectacular stuff.

You're (mostly) Americans on DI, you all get it. All that's needed is to light the spark in the people who might 'get it'.. but now there are lots more sparks out there.. it might be a video game, or a YouTube vid, or a Saturday at a rallycross with your buddies, but soon enough it'll be parents passing it on to their kids. Most of you all are "first generation" rally fans, am I right? When/if you have kids, of course they're gonna inherit that. My kid knows the WRC drivers by their first names, he's been surrounded by rally since he was born, I think it's reasonable to say that he'll grow up being aware of it :)

[lminette]

Rallycross series running with CORR hmmm? Not a bad Idea.

[Azewaldo]

Woot! Score one for us bugeye guys!!!:machinegunleft:
Word!!!

[ankyle62]

sweet. he is an insanely gifted rider, im sure the same sort of skills transfer over to driving.

[JacksonRally]

Rallycross series running with CORR hmmm? Not a bad Idea.


Now thats what I'm talking about...can't you guys tell, my car is a CORR/RallyX machine in the making :headbang:

[rllyrckt]

Monster trucks are more akin to a circus than a motorsport.
:bs::FU::angryfinger:

Most of you all are "first generation" rally fans, am I right?
When/if you have kids, of course they're gonna inherit that. My kid knows the WRC drivers by their first names, he's been surrounded by rally since he was born, I think it's reasonable to say that he'll grow up being aware of it :)



ok ive gotta put my two cents in on this. i have been into MONSTER TRUCK RACING since i was in diapers, and yes it is a motorsport, if people actually understand the "sport" that is involved in monster truck racing they will understand why it is a motorsport and not a circus act. yes it may have been viewed as a circus when it had started bc it was such a "novelty act", but now it has evolved into a multifaceted motorsport involving a MASSIVE amount of understanding of the idea of making a 10000 lb vehicle go 40-50-60mph and fly over cars, buses, vans, whatever, and still out do the guy next to you while keeping that 10000 lb bohemoth under control. thats all for that, and may have been worth more than two cents.


yes i am and i will pass this along to my children, thats the only right thing to do:headbang:

[Anakin_jackson02STI]

Not to bring the thread back on topic but..



Heh, I'd be saying the same thing if I had a Subaru.. oh.. wait.. I do :D

Nah seriously I'm rally born and bred, quite literally. I'd like nothing more than to see it become a big thing here. But I'm a realist. People have been saying that rally is "the next big thing" for many years in the US, but it won't be - the format is too inaccessible for a start (several days over hundreds of miles of terrain as opposed to a few hours in a stadium). Honestly even in the UK it's not "a big thing". Really. TV coverage is minimal for most people, and the average 'car guy' probably couldn't name five top WRC drivers. It's a niche - but that's okay, it can still thrive as a niche sport. Frankly, skate, moto-x and BMX are also niche sports.

A lot of people don't realise that in the 80s there were actually WRC events in the US:
http://www.rallye-info.com/event.asp?event=139
http://www.specialstage.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5717

Group B cars, the best drivers in the world (Alen, Kankunnen, Waldegaard, Biasion), rally legends-to-be from here and around the world (John Buffum, Possum Bourne, Rod Millen, Monster Tajima), Hollywood celebrities (okay.. McGyver..), ESPN and SI coverage.. surely rally had "made it" in the US? Yeah well.. as we know, not so much. That was one of several "boom and bust" cycles that rally in the US has gone through. It doesn't need another boom, IMO, it needs steady growth.

So you'll have to excuse my cynicism but I have heard this story a lot since coming to the US ten years ago. If there's a difference now, it's the fragmentation of media, and specifically the rise of the internet - forums like this, YouTube, Flickr, PB, Facebook, MySpace etc have made it a million times easier to get the information out there, to build stuff at a grass roots level. That's why rallycross is growing again, this past couple of years is the first time there's ever been a consistent place to find out what is happening and when, and for the action to be seen. Sponsors solely at a rallycross level was practically unheard of until this year.

So back to the topic at hand - yes, big names from extreme sports bring important things to rally: money and exposure. But I think it's unreasonable to think that we'll convert many hardcore BMX fans to rally cos of Dave Mirra, any more than if Petter Solberg likes curling that I'll take it up or even look twice at it. But it is very good for the general awareness of the sport, which I think may be more important than we realise as far as legitimacy (or street cred) goes. "Oh.. you do rally? Like Travis?" If you see what I mean.

Oh. And the reason that every "name" ends up in a Subaru is that they're the only manufacturer who have any commitment to rally in the US. Frankly you'd be nuts to go with anyone else.

Honestly, Id have to applaud your well said and well taken point you have going there. I will be the first to admit to my "1st generation" rally fan status and in a sense, I too, am one of those bandwagon americans that got a rally car, so to speak, of their own (proud owner of an 02 wrx bugeye) and jumped on the metaphorical "rally enthusiast" bandwagon. At least thats how it started out, but I, like many others of us 1st generationers out there have little by little evolved my understanding of the sport and its variations and have developed my love of rally beyond just being the weirdo guy in town that goes out on dirt roads to get his car dirty to a genuine interest and fondness for everything the sport represents. It is true that most of the folks here in the US that claim to be rally fans couldnt name more WRC drivers than they could count on one hand, but I would chalk that up to being 1st generation fans. I honestly feel like the future of rally/rallyx/autox from this point on will rely very much on the new generation of new fans and enthusiasts, nubies many of us may be. So cheers to the guy that knows nothing of rally or WRC but goes and buys a Subaru or some other rally bred/inspired car and for some unknown reason other than a simple interest in their cars heritage, begins to follow WRC coverage and makes it a point to catch Xgames Rally and little by little evolves into a true fan/enthusiast of all things rally and dirty! I feel like I may even be speaking for a good number of the folks here on DI as I wonder how many of us got into this "scene" because of nothing but love of our cars and their heritage? How many of us would fall into that 1st generation catagory and how many of us work everyday to increase our knowledge and understanding of the sport we all claim to be a part of or love by reading articles on the WRC coverage or even just by working on and modifying our cars and learning about the parts we are using to do it and how they change our cars performance? After all, if I had to guess, Id say thats how DI came to be.

[rllyrckt]

^^^^so True!!!!^^^^

[rollo]

ok ive gotta put my two cents in on this. i have been into MONSTER TRUCK RACING since i was in diapers, and yes it is a motorsport, if people actually understand the "sport" that is involved in monster truck racing they will understand why it is a motorsport and not a circus act. yes it may have been viewed as a circus when it had started bc it was such a "novelty act", but now it has evolved into a multifaceted motorsport involving a MASSIVE amount of understanding of the idea of making a 10000 lb vehicle go 40-50-60mph and fly over cars, buses, vans, whatever, and still out do the guy next to you while keeping that 10000 lb bohemoth under control. thats all for that, and may have been worth more than two cents.



Easy there. I never said it wasn't a motorsport. Hell I've been a Bigfoot fan since I was a little kid.

What I meant by the circus comment is the general person's motivation for going to see it - the monster trucks come to town and they go to the stadium. Ringling Brothers or whoever come to town and at least some of the same people go. They don't understand (or care about) the rules or the car control or the incredible engineering that goes into a truck any more than they understand how a tightrope walker does his thang. They just wanna see something spectacular. They're casual fans, if that, but they pay the same as hardcore fans. You see what I'm getting at?

It may well be different elsewhere in the country, I dunno.

When you think about it, a super special isn't all that different from a monster truck (or indeed drifting) event when it comes down to it. Incredible engineering, feats of car control, high speeds, jumps, head-to-head competition and loud loud engines all in a stadium where you can see everything that's happening. The only difference is the competitors... hmm... back to the Travis effect perhaps.

uXuFnpsO-q0

:headbang:

[rllyrckt]

yeah im sry bout that i just had an argument that day in my english class over the same subject on motorsports and the fan basis around them...so i just got really irratated in that class and it set me off all day, so i APOLOGIZE and yes i do agree that people "don't understand" the WHOLE sport of monster truck racing and such and im glad to see you a a bigfoot fan as i am and will always be. i love that video and just a side note...did anybody, like myself, notice the date of the video and what BIGFOOT is doin in the video, just a quirky coincidence i discovered after 9-11-01. i dunno

[Drew84]

What the Hell? You have to be an extreme sports star to get into pro rally now? I've been into rally since I was 13 or 14 years old, so about 10 years. If I had the money. Man, if some one would fund me, give me training for a couple months. I could be competative no question.

[409industries]

Two words:

European Rallycross.

Get some people wheel to wheel rally racing, and then Americans will be into it.

[RALLYxISH728]

+1234!!!

Need I say more....

0-OqJM2fCw0

[rollo]

It ain't rally though is it. Ya think Euro-rallycross is a 'gateway drug' into stage rally?

Hmmmmmm.

Anyway, what and who would race? Nobody's gonna be fool enough to enter their stage rally car in a Euro-style rallycross...

[RALLYxISH728]

I was thinking the same thing right now, seems like more of a chance of wrecking your car at practically every event.

[WRR]

geez...

I get busy at work for a day or two & I miss this whole damn discussion - Phil attempting to school us wannabees on rally history (he won't say that cause he is too polite but they all think it, my wife is from the UK and she has told me that 'they all' think 'we all' are kinda dumb.. but then again she also claims we ruined the language, etc etc so maybe she is just crazy :) )

then anna kornikova's race suit ends up on the floor next to someone's bed...

then the Evo vs. Sti thing comes up....

wow!

& while we are at it plz don't forget tractor pulling, swamp buggies, motorcycle hill climbing, and in fact, after Laughlin I was watching a monstor truck event (and enjoying it BTW) and I realized that I have watched these things for years and never noticed that in the race portion of the 'event' they use the same exact start/finish format that we all found as "revolutionary" in Laughlin... and I never noticed it before??? so apparently monster truck racing is in fact ahead of rally-x in the US as far as evolving :muhaha:


now back to the topic.. whatever that was :D oh yeah, Dave Mirra who probably was not born yet when I was BMX racing

[Anakin_jackson02STI]

geez...

now back to the topic.. whatever that was :D oh yeah, Dave Mirra who probably was not born yet when I was BMX racing

So your saying your rode BMX back when dinosaurs roamed the earth...you gotta post up some pics of that...well maybe they didnt have cameras then either :mrgreen:

[Anakin_jackson02STI]

+1234!!!

Need I say more....

0-OqJM2fCw0

thats f**kin cool...I know ID definately watch that if it comes here...its like an all out epic battle out there

[Anakin_jackson02STI]

Two words:

European Rallycross.

Get some people wheel to wheel rally racing, and then Americans will be into it.

as mentioned above Id mostly agree with Aaron here altho I think getting some big names in there, creating bitter rivalries and such would help out here A LOT...I mean who wouldnt wanna see two guys that cant stand each ther out there annilhating each others cars and then the mud slingin and soap opera drama that follows...hell it worked for WWF wrestling and that was completely scripted...

[WRR]

yup - square wheels and all & I don't have pics but I have a real cool rock carving in my cave :FU:









it's me getting huge air and huge air in 1980 was anything over 2 feet

[rollo]

geez...

I get busy at work for a day or two & I miss this whole damn discussion - Phil attempting to school us wannabees on rally history (he won't say that cause he is too polite but they all think it, my wife is from the UK and she has told me that 'they all' think 'we all' are kinda dumb.. but then again she also claims we ruined the language, etc etc so maybe she is just crazy :) )

Jack you stirrer. I'm not schooling anyone, I'm just old enough to have seen it happen a few times. You know what they say, those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it. You're right though, there is a bit of a superiority complex in the UK, especially where cars are concerned. They think it's all 55mph, no turns, literally everyone drives an automatic, etc. Just look at the comments on any car vid on YouTube. It's depressing. But it's worse when you all turn on yourselves, oh Americans won't watch a sport without nachos and so on.

& while we are at it plz don't forget tractor pulling, swamp buggies, motorcycle hill climbing,

Man you really do live in Temecula huh :D

and in fact, after Laughlin I was watching a monstor truck event (and enjoying it BTW) and I realized that I have watched these things for years and never noticed that in the race portion of the 'event' they use the same exact start/finish format that we all found as "revolutionary" in Laughlin... and I never noticed it before??? so apparently monster truck racing is in fact ahead of rally-x in the US as far as evolving :muhaha:


Yeah we can learn from all sorts of places.

now back to the topic.. whatever that was :D oh yeah, Dave Mirra who probably was not born yet when I was BMX racing

Dave Mirra is two months older than me, apparently. And IIRC you're.. a few.. years older than me. So I guess it's feasible.. hey, were you one of the kids in the opening sequence of "On Any Sunday"? :D

[rollo]

as mentioned above Id mostly agree with Aaron here altho I think getting some big names in there, creating bitter rivalries and such would help out here A LOT...I mean who wouldnt wanna see two guys that cant stand each ther out there annilhating each others cars and then the mud slingin and soap opera drama that follows...hell it worked for WWF wrestling and that was completely scripted...

Isn't that basically.. err.. like Kurt Busch and Jimmy Spencer in NASCAR a couple years ago?

So.. I mean yeah it's kinda entertaining but the interesting thing about rally is that there is none of that stupid crap between drivers. Actually extreme sports is the same. It's about the skills. What you guys are talking about is some kind of.. I don't really know what it is actually. It's not rally though. It might be a sort of testosterone-fueled rallycross I guess?

[Anakin_jackson02STI]

[quote=WRR;20735]yup - square wheels and all & I don't have pics but I have a real cool rock carving in my cave :FU:


Rock carving huh? be sure to post pcs of your petroglyphs asap...Id also like to see this cave of yours so I can know what to look for when I go put a downpayment on my cave next month...

[Anakin_jackson02STI]

Isn't that basically.. err.. like Kurt Busch and Jimmy Spencer in NASCAR a couple years ago?

So.. I mean yeah it's kinda entertaining but the interesting thing about rally is that there is none of that stupid crap between drivers. Actually extreme sports is the same. It's about the skills. What you guys are talking about is some kind of.. I don't really know what it is actually. It's not rally though. It might be a sort of testosterone-fueled rallycross I guess?


Lol! well it may not be rally in its purest form...Im just sayin it'd sell tickets...and didnt jimmy sleep with kurts wife or vice versa? hehe now THATS entertainment! (ok ok thats goin a little far) Im just sayin ya know after the rally and stuff maybe you script a fist fight between ken block and travis pastrana over the antics back on turn 4 or something to throw a little grudge flare in there...

[WRR]

Jack you stirrer. sorry, a little bored in the rain :p


But it's worse when you all turn on yourselves, oh Americans won't watch a sport without nachos and so on. I think that sadly, someone was just speaking the truth...



Man you really do live in Temecula huh :D yes, I do


Dave Mirra is two months older than me, apparently. And IIRC you're.. a few.. years older than me. So I guess it's feasible.. hey, were you one of the kids in the opening sequence of "On Any Sunday"? :D
no, not quite but I did race in the Elsinore Grand Prix the first year that they brought it back - I think it was 1996... after a twenty year lull - this race started in the late 60's, was featured in the 1971 movie 'On Any Sunday' and stopped in the mid 70's only to be brought back in the mid 90's.. I raced in it three times with my best finish being in the muddy mess of 98'... lots of fun and a good movie!

[409industries]

Yeah i knew peeps would be like "YEAH right Euro rallycross in the states" And for the exact same reason people dont ALL do rally america. Its soo much money! Who would willingly put their cars in harms way and hit other people during races.

Only the big dogs that have factory backing and lots of $ can really roll in Euro Rallycross. I mean look at their service areas...

I just think the concept is so awesome. More action = less ADD with american viewers.

[rollo]

Yeah i knew peeps would be like "YEAH right Euro rallycross in the states" And for the exact same reason people dont ALL do rally america. Its soo much money! Who would willingly put their cars in harms way and hit other people during races.

Only the big dogs that have factory backing and lots of $ can really roll in Euro Rallycross. I mean look at their service areas...

I just think the concept is so awesome. More action = less ADD with american viewers.

Aaron, dude you have such the wrong idea of this sport. European rallycross doesn't have factory backing, it's a bunch of mental car guys, most of whom seem to be in the trade as either parts houses, dealers, prep shops or whatnot, who at the top level buy old WRC cars and at the club level (where most of the racing happens) race whatever they can lay their hands on. They race at second tier circuits that need the cash and don't mind getting mud on the track. The cars aren't nearly as pricy as an equivalent rally car.. take a look here:
http://rallycrossuk.com/for_sale/sale.html
You can buy a rallycross car, ready to race, for 2 grand (UKP).

It's not that people wouldn't do it, it's that you'd be crazy to enter your stage rally car in a Euro-style rallycross. It isn't the same thing at all, and I guess I'm not convinced that interest in rallycross = interest in rally. But don't get me wrong, as I've said before I LOVE Euro rallycross and have since forever..

[Anakin_jackson02STI]

I just think the concept is so awesome. More action = less ADD with american viewers.

Which is exactly why I say come up with a rallyx league thats tailored slightly to the average action junkie drama loving american...staged fights and trash talking,bitter rivalries and fueds, sponsor switching, betrayal...more action=less ADD with the average semi ignorant american right?

[Anakin_jackson02STI]

Aaron, dude you have such the wrong idea of this sport. European rallycross doesn't have factory backing, it's a bunch of mental car guys, most of whom seem to be in the trade as either parts houses, dealers, prep shops or whatnot, who at the top level buy old WRC cars and at the club level (where most of the racing happens) race whatever they can lay their hands on. They race at second tier circuits that need the cash and don't mind getting mud on the track. The cars aren't nearly as pricy as an equivalent rally car.. take a look here:
http://rallycrossuk.com/for_sale/sale.html
You can buy a rallycross car, ready to race, for 2 grand (UKP).

It's not that people wouldn't do it, it's that you'd be crazy to enter your stage rally car in a Euro-style rallycross. It isn't the same thing at all, and I guess I'm not convinced that interest in rallycross = interest in rally. But don't get me wrong, as I've said before I LOVE Euro rallycross and have since forever..

Also a good point...give a bunch of mental cases cheap cars to smash up in a "RallyX" league and turn them loose on prime time television, we all know this is not true rally or barely even rallyx, just good old trash TV sort of along the lines of WWE wrestling altho hopefully not that cheesy:mrgreen: Honestly am I the only one who sees a fortune to be made with this?