Hit the Twisties

When I return from SEMA people听always ask听me; so what鈥檚 the next big thing? Probably so they can cash in on it and I can stay broke reporting on what others have accomplished. But you know what they say, the only way to make money writing is to write ransom notes! But we鈥檙e not here to talk making a living as a journalist but听rather a听new event format storming onto the scene听that has听a few key players pushing it to听increase the chance of success.

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I鈥檓 talking about Gymkhana Grid and man behind it, Chris Willard, who co-founded Redline Time Attack back in 2005. Willard definitely brought Time Attack to new heights and believes the head-to-head racing on a track that is visible to all spectators will really听take-off. Willard has an ace up his sleeve too听and that is of course, extreme motorsports guru, Ken Block. Everything Block adds his name too is bound to blow-up and should make this motorsport a household name听because as of right now most people can鈥檛 spell it, let alone pronounce it.

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Block is gifted at figuring out what could be the next big thing, packaging it properly and pitching the stuffing out of it to get sponsor dollars. His PR stunts and viral videos have pretty much obliterated anything before it and set a new standard in the production of online car videos. No shakey handy-cams and cheesy Euro Dance soundtrack productions here but the real HD听deal, which has captured a following in a only a few short years. It is this viral video effort and media push that will get the merits of this sport noticed. Without the flare, the public could view this as nothing more than glorified Auto X in an obscure parking lot filled with cones. Block鈥檚 videos will not only demystify Gymkhana but add a high dose of excitement to it for loads of traction in our market.

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If I know Block and Willard well enough, they will package this properly with the right amount of media frienzy, viral material and auxiliary events to make Gymkhana exciting听 enough to attract a听massive fan base. The trend to make your car generate some G鈥檚 in every direction is real and your average enthusiast can set-up, practice and even run events听easily. All the pieces are in place for an interesting听2011.

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