Ken Block's new Ford Fiesta Gymkhana THREE car.Monster media and VIP's got mashed at Ford's Gymkhana Fiesta reveal last night. The official story is below, but stay tuned for more as crack reporter blockwood comes to and uploads pics and vid from the scene.

In the fall of 2008 Ken Block released a just for fun video that took the Internet by storm. It was the launch of Gymkhana, a term and event that has become synonymous with Block. With more than 30 million YouTube views, it has helped establish Block as one of the most high-profile global motorsports stars today.

For Monster World Rally Team driver and DC co-founder Block, the opportunity to push the limits of his car control while maneuvering around a series of cones, slaloms, 180-degree and 360-degree and figure-eight turns and other obstacles all while utilizing extreme acceleration, braking and drifting is pretty much the definition of fun. For that reason, Block chose the Ford Fiesta as the car that will be purpose-built for his highly anticipated Gymkhana THREE project.

"The great thing about Gymkhana for me is that it is amazingly fun to do," said Block. "Its taking some of the best parts of rally racing and removing a bit of the stress that is involved with competing, allowing me to just go out and play in an amazing car. I can't wait to start filming in the Gymkhana THREE 2011 Ford Fiesta. I just did one day of testing in the U.K. with it and it is extremely fun to drive. It has amazing power and control."

"The whole Gymkhana thing started quite simply. I was looking for a way to get more seat time that involved rally-type driving, and a series for actual Gymkhana racing sprung up in California," said Block. "I built the first car to compete in it, but unfortunately the series folded after only one event. I then had a purpose-built car with nowhere to run it, so I rented El Toro airfield to go have a little fun with my new toy and ended up making a video from the day of practice. Next thing we knew, it exploded on the Internet."

Within minutes of announcing his decision in January to join Ford Motor Company and run a global rally program, Block's Facebook page was inundated with inquiries about what this meant for Gymkhana. Today, those same fans get their first look at the car Block will utilize in the video.

"We are so excited to have Ken Block on our team engaging new audiences for Fiesta," said Sam De La Garza, Fiesta brand manager. "In the first month alone, Ken's Fiesta videos on YouTube generated more than 1 million views delivering the excitement of the Fiesta brand across the Internet. In just his second race in the Fiesta, Ken and the Monster World Rally Team captured the 100 Acre Wood Rally, showing that this is the beginning of a successful partnership."

The Gymkhana THREE Fiesta, designed by DC, is emblazoned with similar livery to Block's Monster World Rally Team Rally America Fiesta and his Focus RS WRC; however, the drip pattern livery is larger and more pronounced than the rally car s design.

The carbon fiber hydraulic e-brake handle has been changed to a custom-made metal piece, with Ken's Huck Gee skull logo and No. 43 engraved into it. While Block's trademark 43 is on the car, it is not in the standard door location, but displayed in the side rear windows.

Built by Olsbergs Motorsport Evolution (MSE), the 2,425-pound Gymkhana THREE Fiesta sports a purpose-built Olsbergs engine capable of up to 850 brake horsepower, but is restricted to 650 horsepower in order to give Block the torque band he needs to control the car. Equipped with an Olsbergs MSE Maktrak (magnesium) six-speed paddle-shift sequential transmission, it is capable of 660 lb.-ft. of torque at 4000 rpm and needs a mere two seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph.

The car's body has been altered with an aggressive new front bumper design inspired by road racing cars. It has a carbon splitter, which improves aerodynamics, unlike the rally car's bumper, which is built for gravel stage durability. The fender flares are also much wider and more squared off for an aggressive look.

"Aside from gobs of usable power, the real trick in setting up the Gymkhana Ford Fiesta was building a car for tarmac that handles as if it's on gravel", said Block. "While most tarmac race cars are designed to grip, we need a car that will still react quickly, but handle loose, while still providing complete control; this is a very delicate balance."

The Gymkhana THREE Fiesta started as a production 2011 Fiesta before going through a conversion by Olsbergs MSE, the same group that runs Block's Rally America program and that won gold at the X Games 15 Rally Competition in a Fiesta last August. The production Fiesta is an excellent platform for the Gymkhana car. The nimble ride and the ultra-high-strength boron steel body are ideal for the demands of the Gymkhana course. A testament to the Fiesta platform is that Fiesta has been designated as Ford's worldwide rally car in both WRC and Rally America starting in 2011.

Going on sale in summer 2010, the all-new, fun-to-drive Ford Fiesta features an expressive, vibrant design, with sharp reflexes and a global track record that will redefine U.S. small car customers expectations. The Fiesta is a car that doesn t compromise offering drivers the kind of technology, fun-to-drive performance, fuel economy and craftsmanship that other cars, both large and small, can't match. With 15 class-exclusive technologies and features and projected best-in-class highway fuel economy of 40 mpg, Fiesta brings fuel economy and convenience together.

Details of the location and stunts of DC's Gymkhana THREE project remain a closely guarded secret. The multi-day shoot and the tentative release of the Gymkhana THREE video is slated for this summer.

Source: Rallyfix.com

JJ Thomas and Josh Sherman are both pro snowboarders who recently launched their own brand, YeahNice. It's a clothing and lifestyle brand that embodies the lives these guys live. Here's a couple episodes from their travels and wanderings. More to come!

Episode 1.5

Episode 1

MTB riders cruising Yellowstone.A few years ago environmentalists advocated to officials in Wyoming and Montana to close down access to Yellowstone to ATVs and snowmobiles citing noise and air pollution and their effects on wildlife, etc. That's understandable. This next development seems a bit too much. After all aren't bikes supposed to be green? Why don't we just tell everyone that they can't ride anywhere inside a wilderness area, so no one can enjoy it. I find this annoying, you decide if you agree or don't...

MONTANA (IMBA) -- Mountain bikers recently learned that they will see trail access cut from 170 miles to just 20 miles in Montana's Hyalite-Porcupine-Buffalo Horn wilderness study area (WSA). The restrictions stem from a lawsuit that challenged the Forest Service's management of the WSA, setting the stage for similar challenges in Montana, and perhaps across the United States. The plaintiffs The Greater Yellowstone Coalition, Montana Wilderness Association and The Wilderness Society contended that the Forest Service failed to preserve the wilderness character of the study area.

The Gallatin National Forest office oversees the Hyalite-Porcupine-Buffalo Horn WSA. Gallatin officials have appealed the ruling, made by U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy. Since the appeals process can take 6 months to 2 years to be resolved, the Gallatin officials say they have no choice but to implement an interim strategy, starting May 1. The interim plan will decide access in the Gallatin until it is replaced by congressional action on the management of WSAs which could take decades. The decision will close the coveted Gallatin Crest and other spectacular high-country trails to bicycling.

"We knew a decision like this was coming," said Mike Van Abel, IMBA's executive director. "IMBA supported the Gallatin office in its attempts to improve the Forest Service's policies regarding WSAs. We joined the legal proceedings and provided written testimony asserting that mountain biking does not compromise a landscape's wilderness attributes, and that bicycling is not equivalent to motorized recreation. Unfortunately the judge did not follow our guidance, which puts mountain bike access in a very precarious place."

Decision Based on User Experience, Not Environmental Impacts Marna Daley, public affairs officer for the Gallatin National Forest, told the Billings Gazette that the new trail closures are not based on the environmental impacts caused by mountain biking. Judge Molloy s decision did not cite a resource concern with regard to wilderness character, said Daley. "So the only thing we can address is the opportunity for solitude.

Following that logic, a handful of trails along the fringes of the WSA will be kept open to mountain biking (some will also allow motorized recreation). By moving use from the core area to the perimeter, the forest has increased the opportunity for solitude in the WSA, Daley told the Gazette.

There is a growing body of evidence that the environmental impacts of mountain biking are about the same as hiking. The social impacts of shared-use trails are more difficult to quantify, but several studies have concluded that the perception of trail conflicts is often exaggerated.
Next Steps for Mountain Bikers IMBA and the Montana Mountain Bike Alliance, as well as other Montana-based affiliated clubs, will continue working with the Forest Service to improve their strategies for managing mountain biking.

At the same time, re-energized grassroots campaigns will enable mountain bikers to document trail losses, establish dialogues with decision makers and continue asking for fair treatment with regards to trail access.

If you support fair access for mountain bikers in Montana and across the United States, please make a donation to IMBA's Legal Advocacy Fund and the Montana Mountain Bike Alliance.

Source: Transcend

Japanese retailer nano universe continues its recent string of collabo projects with this latest sneaker, made alongside classic surf specialists Lightning Bolt, which just recently relaunched their brand. The kicks are offered in two colorways, each featuring a bold print with the tongue sporting Lightning Bolt s trademark logo. Look for these to drop via nano universe.

Source: Hypebeast

One of the bands headlining this year s Coachella festival is MGMT, which blew up last year because of their Time to Pretend smash hit, among others. The Hundreds snapped a few photos of the band performing and captured the scene rather well. Vibrant light displays, a great look at the band members, and a well entertained crowd were caught in a handful of photographs.

Enough talking, the flicks speak for themselves. Read more to see em all

Source: CtotheJL