If you’re like us, you love the absurdity that is Ken Block Gymkhana. Remember the original Gymkhana Practice? And the eight, yes eight, Gymkhana sequels since then. With the newest addition of Gymkhana 7, we noticed it was almost impossible to find all Gymkhana videos in one place. So here it is! All original Gymkhana videos with a full review: our rating of the best to worst, as well as our selection of “Best Of” scenes for your viewing pleasure.
Gymkhana – noun (\jim-ˈkä-nə, –ˈka-\): a meet featuring sports contests or athletic skills: as
a : competitive games on horseback
b : a timed contest for automobiles featuring a series of events designed to test driving skill
#9: Gymkhana 3 Part 1 – The Music Video
#8: Gymkhana 2 – The Infomercial
#7: Gymkhana 6 – Ultimate Gymkhana Grid Course
The grid course is cool, but it really limits the awesomeness that we had been grown used to. It doesn’t leave us on the edge of our seat or giggling like with other Gymkhanas, and there weren’t any truly amazing obstacles. The tractor scene is pretty cool, but there’s lots of space there. The ramp launch doesn’t even compare to the air Ken got in San Francisco.
#6: Gymkhana 2.1 – Block vs Dyrdek
This was funny… and is the winner of the “closest call” scene – since Block did almost run Dyrdek over in his shifter kart. The course was a throwback to the original Gymkhana practice, and we do love the STi and all its marvelous sounds.
#5: Gymkhana 4 – The Hollywood Megamercial
Awesome scenes, lots of explosions – from the different Hollywood sets as well as the Fiesta’s brutal exhaust. But from a Gymkhana perspective, we didn’t enjoy the course as much. Overall feels like it was set-up to shoot specific scenes around the sets instead of focusing on challenges to complete with the car. Still an incredible production, some of the best sounds, and still can’t believe they let him do that. This is what started the move towards more public spaces (Port of LA, Hollywood sets, San Francisco, and now LA streets).
#4: Gymkhana 1 – Gymkhana Practice
We’re nostalgic, the original Gymkhana practice will always have a special place in our hearts. But seriously, there’s something authentic about this – any enthusiast can relate. It’s raw, stripped down and straight-up entertaining.
#3: Gymkhana 5 – Ultimate Urban Playground
This is where the arguments start… the Top 3. San Francisco Ultimate Urban Playground was incredible… Any enthusiast that has driven on the streets of San Francisco has undoubtedly thought about, imagined, strongly considered blasting over those hills and drifting through the twisties up to Twin Peaks. Now we can all fulfill those dreams through Ken turning San Francisco into a Gymkhana course. Epic.
#2: Gymkhana 7 – Wild in the Streets
That. Car. Absurd. Love the high speed action, drifting through the streets with traffic in the background – on side streets and parallel highways. The detailed shots of the car – throttle body actuator, MoTec controls, suspension articulation… Great production overall.
#1: Gymkhana 3 Part 2 – Ultimate Playground
This is it. This is the one. The track, the course, the car and the sounds… This is what Gymkhana is all about. While the city shoots are awesome, this is the true essence of Gymkhana. Combination of high speed, low speed, banked turns, dry and wet asphalt, and a bit of dirt. This feels like a Gymkhana course, and it sounds amazing. Number one, all day.
And some “Best Ofs” to wrap it up:
Best Drift – 5:26
Closest Calls – 1:54 and 4:31