Rodrigo quickly found his rhythm qualifying first in pro-lite and 3rd in Pro-2. The first race on Saturday for Rodrigo would be the racers class of Pro-lite. Rodrigo started in the 2nd row back and started gaining positions off the start. Unfortunately the race had to be restarted because of an immediate crash temporarily slowing the momentum. After the restart Rodrigo got tangled up with Metal Mulisha General Brian Deegan, which bent his front right rotor and damaged his tire. Rodrigo managed to weld the damaged truck with finesse to a 4th place finish in Pro-lite.

Rodrigo Ampudia flies over jump at Lucas Oil Off-Road series opener

Saturday also brought a heated battle for podiums in the Pro-2 division. With 28 trucks and many of them long time race veterans, Rodrigo would have his work cut out for him as traffic would be a major factor. Due to the inversion Rodrigo started on the outside of pole next to Ricky Johnson, which should have kept him out of the carnage, but McGrath tangled up with him and several cars got around him. Rodrigo got right back into the action and fought his way back up to 5th by the midway caution. From there Rodrigo battled back in forth with Bryce Menzies and Jeff Kincaid ultimately finishing third right behind off-road legends Rob MacCachren and Ricky Johnson.

Sunday would also prove to be challenging as practice and qualifying were canceled due to rain. In the Pro-lite class Rodrigo started in the 2nd row. The race quickly turned into a battle as off-road veteran Marty Hart took the lead and set a blistering pace. Rodrigo managed to stay in the front group of trucks avoiding much of the carnage in the back. By the Mandatory caution Rodrigo had fought his way to the front, and maintained the lead until the checkered flag finishing first in Pro-lite class.

In the Pro-2 class, after the inversion Rodrigo would start on the pole next to Robby Woods. At the drop of the flag Rodrigo went after the first spot until Woods rolled violently in turn one. The race was restarted with Rodrigo on the pole, he maintained the lead for the first few laps until Rob “Fig” Naughton got around him. Once behind Naughton, Rodrigo fell back to 4th, but fought his way around Naughton, ultimately finishing third in the Pro-2 class. In addition Rodrigo was also able to run the fastest lap of the day. Rodrigo Ampudia is off to an Impressive start, capturing three podiums, more than any other driver in the series.

Rodrigo Ampudia leads for another first place at Lucas Oil Off-Road Series

“It’s great to be racing against the best drivers in the world and get on podium. It’s validation for all the hard work me, my team, and my family have put into off-road racing. We love this sport! Thanks to all my sponsors Lucas Oil, Papas & Beer, Tecate, BFGoodrich, and the fans.  This is going to be a great year of racing!” Rodrigo commented about the great weekend of racing.

Rodrigo’s next race will be Lucas Oil Off-Road Round 2-3 in Surprise, AZ on April 17th and 18th.

Come by the Papas & Bear pit area to check out Rodrigo’s Pro-lite and Pro-2 truck and pick up some free posters.

Check out Rodrigo’s website for race results, photos and video at: www.papasracing.com

Rodrigo Ampudia is sponsored by:

Papas & Beer, Lucas Oil, Tecate, BFGoodrich, Mastercraft Safety, Fox Shox, and Simpson

About Papas & Beer:

Papas & Beer is the original Mexican nightclub, bar, & restaurant established in Ensenada, Baja California in1983. Currently Papas & Beer has three locations in Rosarito, Ensenada, and La Paz but is undergoing an expansion with more locations set to open in the United States and Mexico.

Management & Media by:

Mad Media

Matt Martelli

(760) 721-3600 or matt@madmedia.com

For additional news and updates check out:

For Rodrigo Ampudia images, please visit: www.papasracing.com

High-resolution photos are also available upon request

Even though Casey had no time to test or set up the truck, he managed to qualify 9^th, which set him up for a 4^th row start. Near the beginning of the race the number #92 truck actually flipped into the hood of Casey’s #2 Monster Energy Pro-lite stopping him and send him to the last position. Casey turned on the heat and fought his way back up to 5^th place pushing the rented truck to its limit. Casey crossed the finish line in a respectable 5^th place.

Casey Currie flies during Lucas Oil Off-Road race season opener

After having some time in the truck, Casey made a lot of changes to improve the performance of the truck. Sunday’s qualifying was canceled due to rain and the divers were only given one lap to shake down their vehicles, making the slippery wet conditions even more of an obstacle. On Sunday Casey started on the poll and led the first few laps until Rodrigo Ampudia got around him. Casey stayed in the 2^nd position until the restart. Two laps after the restart Casy’s truck began to lose power eventually stopping due to a mechanical failure with the carburetor.

Casey had this to say about the race: “We really had to scramble to make it here. On Tuesday I had no idea what I was going to drive! My team pulled together with support form our sponsors and we made is out to the race. On Saturday I had a hard time adaption to the rented truck, but by Sunday I felt it was working much better. I would have liked to finish on the podium, but making it to the race was a victory in itself. I had a great time battling some of the top racers in the Pro-lite class.”

Come by the pit area to check out Casey’s Pro-lite truck and pick up some free posters.

Check out Casey’s website for race results, photos and video at: http://www.caseycurrie.com/

Casey Curry is sponsored by:

Monster Energy, BFGoodrich Tires, Currie Enterprises, Magnaflow Exhaust, American Wire Harness, GoPro Cameras, Goodridge, Howe Performance, K&N Filters, Kawasaki, Kicker Audio, King Shocks, Leatt Brace, Light Force Lights, MasterCraft Safety, Motive Gear, Oakley, PWR Radiators, Race Line Wheels, Ringers Gloves, Sign Pros, Simple Green, Torco Oil

Management & Media by:

Mad Media

Matt Martelli

(760) 721-3600 or matt@madmedia.com

For additional news and updates check out: http://www.caseycurrie.com/

For Casey Currie images, please visit:http://www.caseycurrie.com/

High-resolution photos are also available upon request

Ken Block gets cover of WRC guide

I am pretty sure this is the first time an american has got the cover of a WRC guide. No pressure Ken!

Based in the city of Leon, 400km north-west of Mexico City, the rally made its debut on the WRC calendar in 2004 and returns after a year’s absence in 2009. Always a popular event with the fanatical Mexican rally fans, this year’s edition comes with extra cause for celebration as the country marks the 100th anniversary of the Mexican Revolution and the 200th anniversary of its independence. The event features a compact series of well-organised, high-speed gravel stages through the Sierra de Lobos and Sierra de Guanajuato mountains and plains around the cities of Guanajuato and Leon Stages are generally fast and flowing, on roads largely made of hard-packed gravel. March is the dry season in Mexico which means the road surface is expected to be dry, loose and sandy in places.

For more information and exclusive video coverage of Ken Block and the Monster World Rally Team visit:www.monsterworldrallyteam.com

For more information on the WRC Rally Mexico visit: www.rallymexico.com

WRC updates, videos, and articles can be found at: www.wrc.com

He has big shoes to fill, but he is well on his way. Luke will be racing a full season of TORC in the Pro-lite Class. Photo was shot on location in Temecula, CA by our director of Still Photography Vincent Knakal.

BJ Baldwin wins Parker 425!

The Best in the Desert Parker 425 started in 1972, known then as the Norra Dam “500”, by 1974 the race had evolved to the Parker “400”, and continued to develop into one of the premier off-road races on American soil. Taking place along the banks of the Colorado River, the race features time trials pitting racers against the clock in a short dash for start position. The 140-mile loop features some of the most challenging terrain in America including sandy whoops, rocky washes, high speed graded roads, silt beds, and the crowd pleasing ” Parker Python” a spectator friendly winding infield section of the course.

On Thursday despite being 77th car to start qualifying BJ had a solid qualifying run finishing 4th setting him up for a dust free first lap. The weather also worked in the favor of racers with frequent light rains dust would be much less of a factor than previous years. The race started at daybreak on Saturday February 6th as the vehicles rocketed out of downtown Parker off-into the treacherous Arizona desert. BJ was off to a good start keeping a constant pace, pressuring the top race field. On lap one BJ had a quick-release mechanism fail causing the spare tire to fall off the rear of the truck. Shortly their after BJ received his one and only flat while in the dust passing a fellow competitor. The tire held up until the truck was at 126 mph on fence line road. By lap 2 BJ had gained position on time but kept steadily moving up. By lap 3 BJ had the lead both physically and on corrected time.

“Ballistic” BJ Baldwin won the grueling race in domination fashion finishing 19 minutes ahead of the nearest vehicle and 39 minutes ahead of the next trophy truck. Shaking off a rough 2009 season BJ had this to say about the victory; “It feels great to be back on top of the podium. We had a great race with very little problems. The truck ran great and we came prepared. We had some radio issues after we knocked our antenna off, but other than that we ran pretty much problem free. I was just trying to be steady and let the race come to me. It was hard to not push hard the whole time. There was a lot of good competition, but I just tried to run my race and not worry too much about any body else. I have to thank my crew, my sponsors, and all the fans who came out to see the best racers in off-road do battle. The champ is back!”

BJ Baldwin’s next race will be the Mastercraft Safety Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250 March 12th – 14th

BJ Baldwin is sponsored by:

General Tire, Mastercraft Safety, Method Race Wheels, Vision-X lights, King Shocks and K&N Filters

]]> http://madmedia.com/news/2010-02-08-ballistic-bj-baldwin-wins-the-parker-425-1021/feed 0 http://madmedia.com/news/2010-01-26-mad-media-produces-new-spot-for-ken-block-and-the-monster-world-rally-team-1010 http://madmedia.com/news/2010-01-26-mad-media-produces-new-spot-for-ken-block-and-the-monster-world-rally-team-1010#comments Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:31:49 +0000 admin http://madmedia.com/news/?p=1010 Ken Block’s Ford Fiesta under the spotlight and the Monster World Rally Team 2010 Schedule

Ken Block and the Monster World Rally Team have just released a new viral video clip showcasing their 2010 Ford Fiesta, and the teams complete 2010 race schedule.The spot features an incredible montage of hyper-realistic images that highlight the design of the car, along with dynamic shots of Ken Block and his co-driver Alex Gelsomino. Director Joshua Martelli lead the Mad Media crew through two intense days of photography using their RED ONE camera package. DP Milan Spasic , AD/Editor Ryan Holdridge, and 1st AC Eric Everley assisted as they shot and cut the ninety-second spot in a mere two days at FPI Studios in Auburn Hills, Mi alongside still photographer Tony Harmer. The post production workflow included processing with the RED Rocket card, a trip through RED’s Cine X software, and editing with Apple’s Final Cut Pro 7.

“There’s never been anything produced like this for a World Rally or North American rally athlete or team”, commented Mad Media Director of Film/TV Production, Joshua Martelli. “It’s part high-end car commercial, part hip-hop music video. Except that we let the car and Ken remain the focus of the piece, and skipped all the BS with smoke machines and half-naked girls. In the end, it showcases the radical design or ‘livery’ of the car, and most importantly captures Ken’s personality. I think both old school and new school rally fans will love it – and fans of Ken will be stoked as well. As usual, Ken gave us great creative input, but allowed us to experiment a bit and the result is quite stunning. I also have to credit MWRT’s Marketing Manager Brian Scotto, photographer Tony Harmer (who designed some of the flashier lighting set-ups), and FPI Studios for help with project. It was a team effort all around, and it shows in the work.”

Mad Media has been retained by the Monster World Rally Team to produce coverage of all the Rally America National Championship events, as well as a host of special projects.

Look for a constant stream of premium and fun content on the teams website at: www.monsterworldrallyteam.com

Mad Media presents: “Anywhere Is Possible” - The new ”Ballistic” BJ Baldwin General Tires commercial produced by Mad Media, Directed by Matt Martelli, and edited by Joshua Martelli “The Martelli Brothers”.  The commercial features “Ballistic”  BJ Baldwin attacking the Nevada desert with the General Grabber Competition tires. The piece was shot almost entirely on a RED camera over the course of two days just outside, Las Vegas, NV. Director of Photography duties were shared by Jay Schweitzer and Mike “Mackdawg” McEntire with additional cinematography by Chris Adams and Matt Martelli. The music and voice over were produced by Shawn Zuzek. The spot is currently airing on The SPEED Channel and NBC.

Ken Block goes to FORD!

Introducing the Monster World Rally Team—Ken Block goes global in a Ford.

January 6, 2010—Brooklyn, NY—Ken Block is off to race in the FIA 2010 World Rally Championship as part of the newly formed Monster World Rally Team. Block will continue to compete in the Rally America national series, as well as in X-Games XVI. And he’s doing it all in a Ford!

Block’s entry into the WRC is history in the making. He will be the first American to campaign the world stages as part of a multi-year program. In 2010, Block will compete in select rounds of the championship with an emphasis on developing his ability for a successful future in the WRC. “Racing in the World Rally Championship has always been a dream of mine but I’d still be dreaming if I promised podiums in the near future,” says Block. “I will be going head-to head with the greatest drivers on the planet. And sure, I will be giving it my all but my main objective for 2010 is to develop into a competitive driver for 2011 and beyond.”

The Monster World Rally Team developed as a result of Ken Block’s relationship with the energy drink company. “A radically extreme form of motorsport with supremely talented drivers who compete on gravel, asphalt, snow and ice really mirrors everything we are about,” says Monster Energy President Mark Hall. “For that reason Monster Energy is pleased to join Ken Block in the formation of the Monster Energy World Rally Team. Not only is Ken a cult hero to our consumers through his gymkhana videos and other stunts, the fact that he will be the first American racer to compete in the 38-year history of the World Rally Championship is truly impressive. Factoring in that Ken will be chasing the 2010 Rally America Championship Series, a Gold Medal at X Games XVI while continuing to scheme-up new videos and mind-altering stunts, Monster couldn’t have a finer ambassador in our new venture into rally.”

In a partnership with Monster Energy, the team is also bolstered by Ford—a brand Block feels at home in. “I am stoked to be rallying in a Ford,” says Block. “They are an impressive force in the sport. From the days of the 1970s Escorts to the Group B RS200, to the modern-day Focus and now the Fiesta, Ford has an excellent history within rally. I couldn’t be happier to be part of this amazing heritage. Not to mention my dad would be proud. He was a true Ford guy.”

For the WRC, Block will be racing in a Focus RS prepared by M-Sport, the company responsible for handling all of Ford’s World Rally efforts. M-Sport’s Managing Director, Malcolm Wilson, who played a large role in ushering Block into the WRC, had this to say: “It is great news that Ken will be joining the WRC and even better that it will be with Ford! Ken has been instrumental in elevating the public awareness of rallying throughout the world with his multimedia exploits, particularly in the U.S. which is a key global market and an area where WRC has yet to reach its full potential. Ken’s appearance in the WRC and his desire to compete toe-to-toe at the highest level is indicative of the determination and drive that he has exhibited in all areas of his life to date—be it in business or personal targets. Ken is a colorful character with a huge international fan base and his decision to appear in the WRC is warmly welcomed.”

In the United States, Ken will be racing both the Rally America Championship and X Games in the all-new Ford Fiesta, prepared by Olsbergs MSE. “We are excited to partner with Ken as we launch the Ford Fiesta in the United States in 2010 and showcase the Fiesta’s performance and fun-to-drive capabilities,” says Jamie Allison, Director of Ford North America Motorsports. “Rally racing has always played a key role in the global motorsports strategy for Ford Motor Company.”

In addition, the skateboard footwear company Block co-founded, DC Shoes, will also support the team, along with the popular video game title, Dirt2, in which Block had a starring role. Castrol Edge is providing support for the team as well.

More news about the team and a detailed schedule of races and events will be available soon at monsterworldrallyteam.com. For now, head on over to the site for an interactive version of this press release and the premiere of the Monster World Rally Team Launch commercial.

About Ken Block:
Ken Block’s rally career began in 2005. His skill and car control became quickly apparent and Block aptly nabbed Rookie of the Year in the Rally America Championship. Since then, Block has continued to race in the series, boasting a healthy number of podium appearances, as well as X Games medals. In addition to his performance in the car, Block has been a driving force in shedding light on the sport within the United States. Block co-founded DC Shoes, a worldwide leader in performance skateboarding shoes and a renowned action sports brand. His keen branding and marketing acumen not only elevated DC to their current eminent status, but has allowed Block to achieve global fame as a national rally driver through his wildly successful viral video campaigns. Ad Age named his “Gymkhana TWO” the No. 4 Viral Video of 2009.

About Monster World Rally Team:
Created and assembled by Ken Block, the object of the Monster World Rally Team is to redefine the race-team archetype. The team is driven not only to win, but to also market motorsport through innovative, creative and interactive ways. The goal: To become the best known team in the WRC and bring rally to the masses along the way.