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When Ponies Fly

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Last week, I wrote about my buddy David and our Jeep adventures. In that post, I mentioned our propensity for getting airborne while behind the wheel. Since Elon Musk has yet to invent a true flying car, I’d like to talk a little bit more about cars that fly.

Ken Block is one of my heroes. If you’re into cars and you’ve somehow missed his Gymkhana series, stop reading right now and go fire up YouTube. You can thank me later.

Gymkhana is very similar to autocross, a motorsport in which drivers are challenged to make their way through a series of obstacles as quickly as possible while demonstrating a number of difficult driving techniques. The real difference between the two is that gymkhana requires a certain degree of flair. Drifting is encouraged, and drivers must demonstrate certain skills, such as 180s, 360s, reversals, or parking boxes.

In other words, it is the automotive equivalent of skateboarding, only with a time-trial component. In fact, Block is one of the founders of DC Shoes, one of the most recognizable brands of skateboarding and action sports footwear and apparel in the world. It’s no wonder that I find him so fascinating, given the convergence of those interests.

It should also come as no surprise that I’m absolutely in love with Ford Mustangs, given my fandom for Steve Saleen and his history with the cars. So, when Ken Block released his latest video, Climbkhana – a hill-climb through the heart-stopping curves of Pikes Peak in his 1965 Mustang Hoonicorn V2 – I couldn’t wait to share it.

Now keep in mind that other than the body, there isn’t anything really “Mustang” about the car at all. It’s a fully-custom, 6.7-liter methanol twin-turbo outputting 1,400-hp to all four wheels. All-wheel-drive is a necessity, considering the amount of power and the knife-edge turns of Pikes Peak. Ford Racing supplied the epic powertrain, and Toyo Tires sponsored the run, which finally answered my question about how he finds enough rubber to keep him on the road.

And the most critical moment in the video is when that rubber is put to the test.

At the 5:15 mark, Block almost pushes the pony too far. He drifts around a hairpin turn with no guardrail, and the ultralight backend kicks loose, both wheels hitting dirt and barely catching enough traction to keep the car from careening over a cliff. It’s a harrowing moment that reminds me why I gave up trying to be an amateur Steve McQueen all those years ago.

I’m almost 35 years old, and I’m nowhere near wealthy enough to become a race driver on my own. But thanks to YouTube and guys like Block, I can still get my thrills even if I’m not the one behind the wheel. And from what I understand, VR technology and racing video games have come a long way, so hopefully soon, I won’t need to risk life and limb to experience a close facsimile of 200mph speed. But that’s another blog post entirely!

-Trey Fennell


2014 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Chequers #102 Black & Green




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