KB: I've been very happy with the response. I kind of warned everybody involved that the original video was so unique and so strong that to even get 10 percent of that would be a success in most people's books. Two millions views of a motorsports video is huge, so to get this many views in eight days is absolutely incredible. So I'm stoked and I am blown away that people are that into it that they post it on Facebook and pass it along in emails. It's been amazing that people appreciate it that much.
Q: For the Gymkhana TWO video, you again had Crawford Performance build you the latest version of the Subaru Impreza STI. What is it about Crawford Performance that has allowed them to become your go-to Subie tuner shop?
KB: CP built the engines in the DC Shoes Gumball3000 cars that we raced in 2005, so that's how I originally got to know them. Plus, James Han from Subaru has had them doing some time attack stuff for the past couple years and they just happen to be 20 minutes down the road from my office, so it was a combination of things. They've done an incredible job with what they've had to work with and have built two really amazing cars for me.
Q: How does the new GR Impreza STI featured in the Gymkhana TWO video compare to the GD Impreza STI used in the original video? Do they drive similarly or did you have to adapt a lot to the new chassis?
KB: This is sort of an unfair question. The reason why I say that is because the old car is literally a street car with a widebody kit and some suspension and engine work, but there's no cage and it still has a full interior. So it's basically just a modified street car, but the new car is really a purpose-built race car. So the new car is 10 times better than the old car, and I knew it within five minutes of driving it that it was so much better than the old one. The way that it feels, the way that it moves and the feedback that I get from it as a driver-it's just dramatically different.
Q: BFGoodrich had their KDWs on the car again for the new video. Can you tell me a little bit about why you like this tire for gymkhana?
KB: BFG's been a great sponsor and I've really enjoyed working with them. The products that they make, all of them, are very good and that particular tire I used in the Gymkhana ONE video and I had a lot of success with it. The grip level that it has is very consistent from brand-new down to where there's almost holes in it, so I enjoy the performance of the product itself and I didn't want to change or mix it up for the second video because it just worked so well in the first video.
Q: I really like the use of neon on the spoke of the wheels and under the hood. It's a fresh and innovative look that's new to the scene. What inspired you to go with that look?
KB: For us at DC we're trying to bring something a little bit more unique to the motorsports world, and that is a younger perspective. A lot of the stuff you see in the motorsports world, from karting to F1, has just been the same formula for so long. So we're tying to take some of our action sport influencing and take it into the car graphics.
Q: And now the question everybody really wants to know the answer to. Is there going to be a Gymkhana THREE video or do you have some sort of other plans for the car?
KB: At this point, I know there probably will be a Gymkhana THREE video, but I really can't even begin to guess what it'll be at this point. I have some really interesting opportunities to do more of this type of stuff with a few different people including Rob Dyrdek. He and I are doing something for one of his shows on MTV. So at this point I'm just going to play it by ear, and if there's another good opportunity in the future I will gladly do it again. It's just got to be for the right thing.
By David Pratte
Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!