The crew that helped make ‘Climbkhana’ explains the ups and downs of filming the world’s most infamous hill climb.
Over the past decade, Ken Block has become famous for his action-packed Gymkhana driving videos, featuring the rally racing champ tearing up the streets in a variety of high-performance cars. We’ve seen him take to the streets of San Francisco, storm around a movie set, and slide around a handful of purpose-built automotive playgrounds. But in his newest video, Block and his team take his driving antics to a whole new level.
To do this, Block modified his 1965 Ford Mustang Hoonicorn. Now with all-wheel drive and a twin-turbo NASCAR motor, it delivers some 1,400 horsepower to the wheels. As if the monster Mustang wasn’t enough, Block’s pick for the newest video is more dangerous than any before: Pike’s Peak in Colorado. Because what’s more thrilling than watching a guy drift along the edge of a road with a thousand-foot drop inches away?
But filming the action in Colorado was trickier than just keeping the car on a track. To illustrate this, Ford Performance’s YouTube channel offers a video explaining the intricacies of taking the 1,400hp Mustang up Pike’s Peak.
The first task was for Block to learn the course. Figuring out where he could perform the craziest stunts was done in a Ford Focus RS. The all-wheel drive compact allowed Block to drive up the hill hard without using the twin turbo Mustang. So before he practiced with the 1,400hp Hoonicorn, Block made a handful of runs with his Focus RS.
Next, Block’s team had to deal with the elevation, which starts at around 9,000 feet above sea level and tops out at over 14,000 feet. During the climb, the team encountered massive changes in temperature and weather patterns, going from clear skies to hard rain to hail over the course of a day. This forced the team to adjust their timing over and over, working around Mother Nature’s fury.
Once the team had dealt with the course and the weather, they had to address some mechanical issues. Once everything else was ready, it was up to Block and the Hoonicorn to slide all the way up to the top. Of course, the result is one of Block’s most exciting videos yet.
This video has plenty of insight from Block and others who helped make Climbkhana come to life. Complete with unique footage of the Hoonicorn in action, crank up your speakers and enjoy!
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
