Sunday Evening Watch: Robby Gordon SST @ Sand Sport Show

"LXA_KA_1287" (LXA_KA_1287)
12/22/2013 at 18:36 • Filed to: None

Three great races. I'm a few weeks late on this one, but better now than never.

Robby Gordon's Stadium Super Trucks @ Sand Sports Super Show

DISCUSSION (13)

Dusty Ventures > LXA_KA_1287
12/22/2013 at 19:21

I can't wait to watch the Vegas round, that track was bonkers. In some spots it actually went OVER the hedge in front of Cesar's

Dusty Ventures > LXA_KA_1287
12/22/2013 at 19:22

Also, with your permission I'd like to edit your post so the video is embedded and not just a link. Is that ok?

SubiSanchez > LXA_KA_1287
12/22/2013 at 20:49

They had some pretty entertaining racing this season. Can't wait to see em in person at Long Beach in April

LXA_KA_1287 > Dusty Ventures
12/22/2013 at 21:12

Yea go ahead! I liked the old Kinja better, made it easier. Didn't feel like doing the HTML work haha.

LXA_KA_1287 > Dusty Ventures
12/22/2013 at 21:13

Me too. Going to wait until it's posted to YouTube since they are airing it after Midnight on Sunday. Worst East Coast time slot ever.

LXA_KA_1287 > SubiSanchez
12/22/2013 at 21:14

Yea looks like you'll get two races out at Long Beach this year.

I know the IndyCar races are good for exposure, but hoping they don't lean too heavily on them. Love the mixed surface races.

LXA_KA_1287 > Dusty Ventures
12/22/2013 at 21:17

I'm curious to see how TV works next year. SST is in the Austin X Games...and usually ESPN likes to have its hands in everything it does for the X Games. So I'm wondering if we could see SST being broadcast on ESPN 3 next year? I'd find it curious if they air all their events on NBC Sports Network and have the one ESPN event. Just doesn't seem to jive with ESPN's exclusivity deals of the past. See GRC, for example. Granted, ESPN built that themselves. Wouldn't blame Robbie for wanting to get on the ESPN gravy train though.

Dusty Ventures > LXA_KA_1287
12/22/2013 at 21:36

I suspect it will still be mostly NBC/NBC Sports. ESPN has been exclusive with GRC, but that's because they own it. Look at pretty much every other sport X Games has included (skateboarding, snowboarding, motocross, etc) and they've been on other networks during the season as well.

Also, honestly, it seems like GRC/X Games is seeing SST as the gravy train more than Robby/SST seeing ESPN as one. Robby actually contacted the GRC prior to SEMA, offering to collaborate on a course/venue to create a big doubleheader event. GRC pretty much completely blew him off, telling him they didn't want to include SST and "dilute their program." Robby got pissed and, in typical Gordon fashion, started contacting every casino or potential venue he could think of on the Strip to find a place to run during SEMA, the closer to the GRC track the better. He wanted to come into the GRC sandbox and basically one-up them by putting on a better show. It must have worked and someone from ESPN must have seen it because shortly after he got the invite to X Games.

mrazekan > Dusty Ventures
12/23/2013 at 19:04

"Dilute their program"!?

They didn't want their doors blown off, welded up into ramps, knocked out of place, then finally rammed and crushed into the course.

I respect, appreciate, and enjoy watching the driving skill of GRC. But there is a reason why monster trucks are more popular in this country than WRC. So it would be a bit more than a dilution.

SubiSanchez > LXA_KA_1287
12/23/2013 at 19:15

True it's entertaining to see those trucks slide and roll around the asphalt but they belong on dirt.

LXA_KA_1287 > Dusty Ventures
12/24/2013 at 16:13

You work for Robby? You have all the inside info, haha. Love it!

And also, I have no clue why I changed out all the "y"'s for "ie"'s in my last post. Blargh, haha.

And I kind of wondered how that all came together, haha. I'm curious to see how a GRC/SST combo course could look, if they go that route (which I imagine they would). GRC would require the jumps to not be as steep, but completely possible that they just take the metal ramps out for GRC and let them have more straights. Just imagine that the metal ramps and any kickers that would typically be added to the course may have the get nixed.

On a separate note, if they could somehow get the big double jump from Phoenix, the big Step Up Jump from LA, the woop sections from San Diego, and the asphalt switch-backs from the Sand Sport Show into one course, I feel like that would be awesome. Impossible, but awesome, haha.

LXA_KA_1287 > mrazekan
12/24/2013 at 16:15

As much skill as they show, count how many times GRC races become a demo derby on a start. Also the things feel like they are more fragile than they should be. How many hits did we see in 2013 cause suspension failures? I know the Stadium Trucks are different beasts, but it just goes to show the differences between what you can do with a performance rally car and a single-spec series like SST.

Dusty Ventures > LXA_KA_1287
12/25/2013 at 00:53

Hahaha no, I don't work for Rubs, which is a shame. If I did I'd know what his new Dakar truck looks like.

I'd wager the GRC and SST course will have some shared elements but they'll either diverge and go different ways or run on different days with course alterations done in between, like Irwindale with the Gymkhana Grid course being swapped out for the GRC course. Odds are there won't be many jumps used by both series, if any.

What I'd love, though I know it's not going to happen, would be separate but overlapping courses that allow both series to run simultaneously, much like the 2009 Baja 300 Powerdays in Germany.