Friday, January 21, 2011
Mad Media's Exciting Off-Road and Rally Shows Debut on Fuel TV
Deal includes coverage of 2010 General Tire Mint 400
and Baja 300: Powerdays races.
Mad Media, the San Diego-based multi-discipline creative agency, is excited to announce that it signed a multi-show deal with FUEL TV for several action-packed films, focusing on off-road and rally racing, including the 2010 General Tire Mint 400 and the Baja 300: Powerdays races. Both shows will air in February on FUEL TV, the only cable and satellite television network that features the exciting world of adrenaline and thrill-seeking sports and the stories that surround them.
“We believe FUEL TV is the perfect fit for off-road related content,” says Mad Media’s Creative Director Matt Martelli. “They have a perfect audience for these shows-avid motocross riders and off-road race fans. We know there’s a lot of potential for crossover, and we want to share the thrill of off-road racing with these fans.”
The first show to telecast on FUEL TV will be exclusive coverage of the “2010 General Tire Mint 400.” Held just north of Las Vegas, Nevada, the Mint is an annual off-road race that began in 1967. Called the “The Great American Desert Race” in the mid-70s, it features a legendary 400-mile course considered by many to be the toughest in North American off-road racing. The Mint draws hundreds of participants, thousands of fans, and many celebrities. It was depicted in Hunter S. Thompson's epic novel “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” in 1971, which was later made into a feature film starring Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro. The hour-long show on FUEL TV features Mad Media’s patented style of dynamic cinematography, cut to a modern soundtrack with narration by Dick Ervasti, and will begin airing on February 16, at 8:30pm ET/5:30pm PT.
Following the Mint, FUEL TV will air another exciting show called “Baja 300: Powerdays.” This groundbreaking event took place in Germany and brought the worlds of off-road and rally racing together. “Powerdays” is the brainchild of rally savant Armin Schwartz and features four classes of off-road vehicles racing on the same course, at the same time. The half-hour program showcases rally drivers Ken Block, Peter Solberg, and Gigi Galli, along with off-road racers Jesse James, “Ballistic” BJ Baldwin, Gustavo Vildosola, and Danny Sullivan. Powerdays, which was sanctioned by SCORE International and viewed live by more than 50,000 German race fans, includes some of the most intense off-road racing action ever captured on film. Highlights of the show include BJ Baldwin jumping over Ken Block, while a freestyle motocross team executes tricks over BJ, in the midst of a massive fireworks show! “Powerdays” begins airing on February 23 at 9:00pm ET/PT.
Both the “Mint” and “Powerdays” were produced by Mad Media and directed by Matt and Joshua Martelli (The Martelli Brothers), who have gained notoriety for their groundbreaking “Gymkhana” viral film series, featuring Ken Block. “Gymkhana THREE” was recently selected by YouTube as one of the ten most memorable viral films of 2010, and has already racked up an incredible 23-million views. Combined, the series has netted more than 80-million views, making it the most successful viral film series in history.
“What we’ve been able to prove with the Gymkhana series is that branded content can be an extremely effective marketing tool if produced correctly,” says Mad Media’s Director of TV/Film Production Joshua Martelli. “With the ‘Mint’ and ‘Powerdays’ shows, we’re extending our reach beyond DVD and web delivery and showing that the quality of the programming we deliver must have that same core appeal and that same recipe, if we expect TV viewers to embrace it. We’re psyched to have FUEL TV as a partner in that effort.”
Source- MadMedia
Source- MadMedia
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Subaru of America, Inc. Contingency Returns for RallyCar 2011 Season
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Chasing the “Plan B” cash, Travis and Terry Hanson will be in the hunt for the Subaru bucks at round one of the 2011 Rally America Championship which will get underway next week in Atlanta MI. Photo Neil McDaid /File |
Golden Valley, MN (January 20, 2011) -- RallyCar, the sanctioning body for the 2011 Rally America National Championship is proud to announce Subaru of America, Inc.'s continuing contingency award support program for the upcoming season. The Subaru Rally Support Program, which was created in 2005, continues to be the most lucrative contingency program in North American rallying, with over $20,000 available per event for eligible Subaru drivers to earn.
The program will again focus support on the popular Super Production class (SP) within the Rally America National Championship where the top finishing eligible Subaru SP driver can earn $7,000 at each round.
The Super Production class was created in 2009 by RallyCar to offer a compromise between the top-tier Open class and the more restrictive Production GT class, giving teams options for key modification allowances in an effort to make competition more affordable and competitive. This includes but is not limited to: allowing vehicles to be updated or backdated within a body style of the model, fitting of hydraulic handbrakes, and granting broader brake system modifications. The SP class also allows for 34mm turbo inlet restrictor giving SP cars potentially more power.
2011 Subaru SP Contingency Program Payout Schedule*:
"Plan A" payout is for current body style while "Plan B" applied to older Subarus.Position
Plan A Payout Plan B Payout
Plan A Payout Plan B Payout
1st $7,000 $1,500
2nd $4,000 $1,200
3rd $3,000 $1,000
4th $2,500 $700
5th $1,500 $600
6th - 10th $500 $500
The SP class has been hotly contested the last two years and has successfully placed SP finishers in the overall top three. Heading into the new season, Subaru hopes to attract even more new entrants to the sport and the SP class. Additional prize payouts will be awarded to the top ten finishing Subaru SP class registrants.
In addition to this continued support to SP class participants at Rally America National Championship events, Subaru of America Inc., will also offer a $200 'start fund' to any class of Subaru entered in a Rally America Regional rally that runs concurrent to a national event weekend.
"I am very pleased that Subaru of America is, once again, supporting the SP class," said J.B. Niday, RallyCar Managing Director, "SP allows some very talented drivers to compete within a modest budget."
Added James Han, motorsports marketing manager for Subaru of America, Inc., "The sheer number and variety of eligible entries registrered for our Subaru Rally Support Program year-after-year bear out the success of this contingency program. Subaru remains committed in supporting our privateers and growing the count of Subaru entries within the Rally America National Championship and further strengthening our position as the preferred AWD brand in rally racing."
The 2011 Subaru Rally Support Program is administered and managed by Vermont SportsCar. For complete rules and information on how to register please visit
For more information about the Rally America's Super Production class please refer to the Rally America rule book and rule bulletins found at http://rally-america.com/rules.php.
*Certain eligibility rules apply. For complete rules, regulations and car eligibility restrictions please visit the official rules page of the Subaru Rally Support Program here
http://vtcar.com/rally/subaru-contingency-program/
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Ken Block and Codemasters introduce gymkhana mode for the upcoming Dirt3 video game, revolutionizing driving sims in the process.
Ken Block and Codemasters are ushering in a new era of gaming for the driving simulation arena with their introduction of Gymkhana Mode to the upcoming Dirt3 video game. In addition to the traditional rally racing format that the previous installments have included, Dirt3 will now let gamers mimic Ken Block’s Gymkhana style driving as seen in his hugely popular viral video series which has garnered more than 90-million views online. Working with the Codemasters team, Block himself was able to lend his expertise as a technical consultant during the development of the game, helping create an experience that embraces the free spirit of Block’s gymkhana driving style.
“I can remember being in Japan when Sega Rally Championship first came out, playing it and thinking how cool it was that there was finally a game out for my favorite type of racing,” says Block. “Now, I’m actually in the epitome of rally racing video games. It’s awesome. I still manage to play a decent amount of driving games these days, but they’re all very similar. Some play better than others, but the idea behind all of them is the same. The thing that makes Dirt3’s Gymkhana Mode so revolutionary is that it’s the first time where a game isn’t demanding I drive a specific way, it lets me hoon around the way I want. It’s something I’ve always wanted to be able to do in a video game.”
Taking place within an area of Dirt3 known as the DC Compound—along with two other gymkhana-specific levels in the game—Gymkhana Mode in Dirt3 is the first driving simulator that doesn’t put an emphasis on everyone driving the same, repetitive lines over and over again. Instead, the focus is on how well you can imitate Mr. Gymkhana himself as you navigate your way through the DC Compound, sliding, jumping and rotating your way to satisfaction in Block’s own Gymkhana THREE Ford Fiesta. Additionally, users will have access to a selection of other vehicles with which to gymkhana, along with the ability to play in split-screen mode or online against friends in either a trick-format freestyle mode, or an open joyride mode. There will also be levels that feature competition events similar to Block’s own Gymkhana Grid competitions and an ability for players to create their own in-game footage highlight reels, similar to the Dirt3 Gymkhana Mode trailer released by Codemasters (see link below).
Teaming up with Codemasters and the Dirt franchise of video games two years ago was a natural fit for Block. For 2011, the relationship continues to evolve as seen with the upcoming release of Dirt3, which in addition to the Gymkhana Mode, contains more rally content than ever before. Dirt3 is slated for a Q2 release.
Friday, January 7, 2011
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