How I ALMOST beat the Hoonicorn driving the 4 Rotor for the first time.

[@c0ntgn]

Rob: Drives hard. The hood welds: And I took that personally

[@Matty.Hill_87]

Robs wallet: I'm never going to financially recover from this

[@Ryan-sw6jx]

Ken: There goes the neighbor's hood

[@jw33]

OK fine, you can have that, Imma get that back window.

[@joealex65]

Rob Dahm to Ken Block: *"DUDE! I almost had you!"* Ken Block: *"You never had me, you never had your hood or your fender"* 😂😂😂

[@charliescene6570]

best comment on KZbin award 2021 ^

[@sleepylowkyt]

Less Wait

[@pioneerman8467]

Yeah you never had no body ken block", left you like you were hiting your brakes hahah god dame

[@robertoramos291]

Joe Alex u forgot insert Brian Oconor and torreto voice here 😂😂😂😂

[@WessFargo]

💀🤣

[@brianjacobsen5762]

Rob I'd feel more comfortable with a scatter shield covering the u joint. Be your right elbow if it goes up.

[@SKYWURX]

Yeah, I know it has a hoop around it now to stop it waving about if it breaks but its still scarily close to Rob's elbow. "Man gets shot in the arm by 4-rotor universal joint pin"

[@Alex-pm2cb]

Make a shield

[@Sherlz10]

I second that

[@MrGoobieracing]

I have been thinking of this when he first started driving and even more so starting on the dyno lol

[@ShawnDickens]

Said the same back on the dyno before the bolts backed out for the launch of death, so fully agree. However, if given the chance to race with Ken Block I'd do all the same stupid things to be there.

[@Mr_Ziemniak]

For me that race was absolute success. Imagine this: not finished self-made car and driver with few hours of experience in that machine loses by fraction of a second to one of the best cars and a legend of drivers.

[@cnance1972]

Go look at the cats that get SMOKED on there and see what Rob has made is a true feat , come on folks

[@Rimpianto]

@@cnance1972 Also, the 4 rotor wasn't geared as short as the Hoonicorn's. Easy to win that way.

[@williamkillingsworth2619]

years and hundreds of thousands of dollars. I bet there’s more money invested in Rob’s car and there is in the hoon. That billet 4 rotor is fucking expensive.

[@jonnyj.]

@@williamkillingsworth2619 Um... what? Ken's car (definately over a million $) is literally funded by a multi million dollar company with massive sponsorship and professional engineers working for 6+ years to tune it. The fact that rob can even get close is an INSANE testemant to him, and his skills.

[@williamkillingsworth2619]

@@jonnyj. Rob supplied the money. Most of it was done by other people, he wasn't alone. I remember talking to rob on RX7club.com when rob first bought his fd and was getting beat by his brothers GTR, I have know who Rob is before he had a KZbin channel. Rob is not a great driver, he is not a great engineer. He has Money and is persistent. With that type of money I could build something that worked better in a lot less time. I respect what rob has done but you can go give him an ego reach around. A Billet 4 rotor is an expensive engine, way more than the V-8 in the Hoon. Rob basiclly stole the Front suspension of the Hoon. The Hoon is basically a boosted Nascar engine, have you ever priced out a billet 4 rotor?

[@iMrParker]

"You don't go in soft" - Daddy Dahm

[@wertfreund2480]

😂😂😂

[@Chr0meTiGeR]

Hood, windshield, fenders, wheel wells... Rob: "Cosmetics"

[@shona5512]

Well the hood, windshield, fenders & wheel wells certainly aren't structural or mechanical..

[@murry001]

I reckon, for about 8 years this fucking car hasn't had any proper panels lol

[@AnttiBrax]

@@shona5512 The best joke is that the "cosmetics" are the only parts that are still left of the original RX-7. 😁

[@shona5512]

@@AnttiBrax Even then, that's a bit of a stretch considering how every body panel apart from the roof and rear hatch has been altered

[@300zxdriver]

How about the steering wheel flopping around. Watch the video. Death trap.

[@anthonyciccariello8089]

8:33 I think the fact that it went straight is more testament than anything. With it being a complete made from scratch chassis, like all your s*** is square. Good job

[@akdsjgalksdfjg]

yeah exactly there is not enough apreciation for that frame.

[@ViceGripGarage]

Rob, #independencechevelle vs. The rotor machine, 1/8 mile, no spray, prep. You in?

[@maunooo1]

This please.

[@onefastslimjim]

Independence boutta break some jdm hearts 😤

[@JerzeyBoy]

Oh ill be dipped! YES!

[@nielsreiziger4850]

Love the technical data breakdown with boost, TPS and RPM. Learning and progressing with each run so cool to see.

[@tomchrisfield7348]

Very interesting, not many people, other than Mazda tech's, ever get to see this stuff.

[@heyhihello8310]

Put the Helmet visor down when you race dude. You only get one set of eyes!!

[@Token_Black_Guy]

* for now

[@furhadnasserjah123]

Yeah but he has two of them. He’ll be fine

[@HSKFabrications]

Don't tell him the secrets to living/not getting injured.

[@omega1575]

especially with how close the windshield was to shattering with the hood

[@LaneHouse]

Rob: The car did not leave pieces of itself... Everyone: So that was a fucking lie.

[@onvacation73-asolobicyclea37]

Shifted@6k every gear..

[@stevenplaskett7728]

Weight reduction. Every time u drive it it was loosing more weight 🤣

[@omega1575]

Rob made the first car with active weight reduction

[@chickeyy1792]

@@omega1575 Lmao thank you for this

[@facts6970]

Losing*

[@thejman3489]

@@omega1575 😂😂😂

[@260bossute]

@@omega1575 F=ma mate. Same theory as using stages on a rocket.. hahaha

[@cunnyfunt5974]

4 Rotor stories are just starting as the Hoonicorn’s is just ending 🥲🥲

[@kristinewilson5353]

Yeah Ken block said no more hoonicorn. I don't know why I've tried to find out but can't find any info. Do u know the reason?

[@RobertD_83]

@@kristinewilson5353 he's not sponsored by ford anymore. IDK if he has switched to another manufacturer yet or not, but that's the gist of it.

[@newmemer8070]

Still, i know about the sponsoring, but why cant he buy the car off Ford? I suppose he earns enough, hes world famous. Why let something that important just go?

[@RobertD_83]

@@newmemer8070 I honestly have no idea, the only thing I can guess is he wants to leave that sponsorship open to other car brands and it wouldn't be a good look to sign with a new company but keep around all the old ones vehicles. And who's to say that he "can't" just buy it off of ford? Maybe he had the opportunity, but passed. I don't even know who actually owns the car. We fans all have a strong attachment to the hoonicorn, and I'm sure Ken does too... to a point. Or he may just see it as a tool that was used to create content and not important enough to him to try to retain. I would guess that he had the chance to purchase/keep it and must've decided against it for whatever reason. All I have is speculation though.

[@jesserenn3152]

And the mantel is passed. It's quite poetic.

[@Eightball528]

Lord has blessed us with Daddy Dahm today

[@vimangunawardana6104]

Amen brother

[@yutub561]

This video was actually really awesome. It's super cool you're bringing us along with your learning process and growing from every detail. You're an inspirational dude. Guarantee you beat him next time (yeah I know hoonicorn is decommissioned but you get the point)

[@SuperFlowback]

The formula 1 sound of the cars engine gives me chills every time I hear it. 🤘🏽😁🤘🏽

[@978twostrokegarage2]

As far as I’m concerned the car may have had some flying parts but the motor and drive train held and to see if finally going was awesome I’ve watch this build for years so I feel like apart of how it came together 💪🏻 can’t wait to see what’s to come

[@jacobabbott9962]

Dude you gotta fix that steering wheel going crazy on those shifts 😂 I bet that thing is so scary to drive. Good luck! Love the channel!

[@blizzyblz7832]

That’s all I could watch the whole time

[@emmanuellehuu8818]

Same

[@Mp57navy]

The whole car is flexing so much I'm expecting it to fold together each time he hits the gas.

[@blizzyblz7832]

Waiting for it to fold like his hood 😶

[@raoulwouters7074]

I just thought the same. $ 250,000 car and so wobbly steering wheel. F.cking dangerous

[@Raaask]

How to improve that car up there: Rear firewall and a transmission tunnel. Stay safe! (Also, get one of them Mochi steering wheels from Vargas. Never hurts to be protected by the rotary gods)

[@Garage.Philosophy]

In that kind of race tuning is crucial. Launch control , boost by gear and wheels speed and proper cuts for the shift points to actually get the power all the way down and stay in boost . Ken blocks team has had hundreds of hours to perfect the hoonicorn

[@MrVidrio187]

I” saw the moon, I saw everything. I had to let go” Hahahah because rotaries rev to the mooooooooon baby!!!!😂😂😂

[@nicolasrulli]

AMC TO THE MOON BABY

[@MrVidrio187]

@@nicolasrulli lmaoooooo. I was think about cars!! I forgot this was a thing!!😂😂😂

[@chrisheli1]

I like this (engine but its not) stock🚀🚀🚀🚀

[@BradenCarlsonAutos]

Dude, lining the audio up with the data logs might be the single most satisfying thing I have ever seen in my life

[@KooKL4]

Funny because I just had a build where its shakedown was literally race day, that's not an easy thing to race with when that happens. My question is if/when you will set the electronics up for flat-foot shifting, because everything you need for it you pretty much already have; and it would take your times to a whole new level (After you're comfortable and have some more debugging done). Also, the hood flying back like that I consider a good thing, now you can cut that entire center section of roof off and replace it with carbon fiber. Keep it up, you got some good stuff there.

[@MattA-fi5qe]

Love seeing data logs on such a unique car! Its one thing for someone to talk about it but to see the exact data of what your talking about while you do is great.

[@Monificent]

You did your thing Rob 👏🙌 That was a close race without sponsorship or serious training. Can't wait til she's dialed in and you go for round 2.

[@doublejn2o256]

The only thing you could have done differently is to be more prepared. People will always judge and criticize you when you are in the public eye, but you are the only one making it happen for yourself. keep it up success is inevitable.

[@mk3_jcb229]

"I almost had you"

[@wingmangt]

"You never had me, you never had your car"

[@syed_99]

I came here to write this lmao

[@maynellrodrigues9862]

"granny shifting"

[@papaannefranku9693]

"it don't matter if you win by an inch or a mile"

[@zubi_]

Winning's winning

[@misterrobot5520]

Became a fan because of the footage and genius that got you there. Talking shop, you rocked that meeting with the GOAT and his team. What makes this even more bonkers is that you did this without your "A" game! To create, drive, hold your own and to have not gotten owned is how you meet a legend it's neither a win nor a loss but an OPPORTUNITY to sharpen your craft. Being aware of this is guru level mental. Your analytical skills under pressure and your ability to adapt on the fly with such little experience are phenomenal. For you to be able to articulate the experience with 20/20 hindsight after reviewing all of the raw data collected makes you a true "threat" to the think tanks that lost to the Hoonigans miserably. Props bro.

[@AJSmith257]

So basically these runs were just the tip of the iceberg. That’s scary

[@simonfuller76]

Th Hoonicorn 2 is an absolute beast, but also a well tested and debugged beast with Ken being super used to it. Rob, you are full of heart and who else would have even shown up with an untested beast of a car, not being used to anything in it under race conditions. Top marks for effort while still learning at every step. An amazing build. Keep pushing that learning curve!

[@Thee_Sinner]

The irony of a RX-7 owner saying “Bro, I almost had you!”

[@Seeerton]

no lie rob when i was watching that video on hoonigan as a fan i was genuinely smiling watching you get to really drive the car finally. seeing the progress. good shit man. need more ripping soon lol

[@invinciblebunghole7355]

Rob: Ups lost my irreplaceable engine Also rob: I used ups to ship my shirts

[@gregoryrobertson]

You got me at the end, man. It is the connection between you and the car. Keep it up brother, this is just the beginning.

[@Torch4ya]

Rob, please cover the U-joint and drive shaft more. That could hurt if it comes apart.

[@blakersen]

This is great. I appreciate your approach and how you are explaining your process. I drive the equivalent of a refrigerator box so I can’t even imagine just how crazy it would feel just to be in a vehicle like that. My heart is racing just hearing you go through the gears, I can only imagine what it would feel like to combine that with all the force from launching like it does, talk about stimulus overload. My smooth brain would be thrown for a loop. Came across you randomly in my feed and glad I did, you’ve won over this Jeep owner. Here’s to an awesome 2021 and I look forward to seeing more awesome stuff like this 😀

[@backyardhooper06]

Gets gapped by at least a bus. Rob Daym/Brian O'Connor: I almost beat you. 😂😂😂

[@ray_collins]

My last vacation when I rented a car, I hadn't driven an automatic in years. Even though I put my left foot on the floor instead of the dead pedal to remind me, I stomped the brake intending to shift more than once. It's hard to break those old habits.

[@Matty.Hill_87]

The peoples champ... That race was so close considering how untested your car was, once its dialled you'll run it door on door

[@skuz34]

your video vs ken block was probably my favorite one out of the whole series, you shouldn't expect so much negativity! it had just enough drama with the hood blowing off to make for an entertaining video, but the best part was it all stayed together mechanically and you were able to give him a few good runs. keep it going man! i hope this just keeps inspiring you to push it and keep going forward

[@jordanbryant5260]

“Almost beat the hoonicorn” Opening clip, straight up Gapplebees

[@NaClSandwich]

Ken gave him the hit on that run and Rob took him by surprise with the leave. Took himself by surprise too haha!

[@JordieMotive97]

This video is awesome and really shows how much of an animal the 4 rotor is. I also appreciate the telemetry and honesty in the video, no excuses just pure reasons and it’s awesome man!

[@MM_in_Havasu]

Love the sound of a rotary engine wound up tight! I call them the "3-stroke" engine......

[@Storyoffreddit]

I love you, mad respect, watching you since day 1 and I’ll be watching till your last, can’t wait to see where this goes and please, don’t ever stop making content.

[@LZGARAGE.]

Rob dahm: “I almost had you!” Ken block: “it doesn’t matter if you lost by an inch or a mile, you still lost”

[@seanthompson6720]

granny shiftin stead of double clutchin like ya should

[@MuhammadAli-ff6il]

@@seanthompson6720 "granny shifting not double like clutching you should"

[@aaronfreeman8436]

“Doesn’t matter if you lost by an inch or a mile, winning is winning “*

[@proudpennsylvaniaman7996]

Why on earth would anyone bash on you ? That was literally one of the greatest videos of all time. Brought tears to my grown man eyes. Like so much awesomeness in so many ways

[@untailledv2154]

Pov: you haven't watched the full video.

[@gemeinerrainer7069]

Yes

[@brynjig7275]

Yes

[@bomberracing2823]

Yeee

[@ouwi7057]

Damn

[@patdonovan85]

Rob, I love you and your videos. This video is nothing but you trying to explain yourself for what you think went wrong or excuses for what happened and why they happened. But you don’t need to explain any of it! You built a beast and raced Ken block. I can’t wait to see what this car does when it’s all dialed in. I’ll be watching! Keep up the amazing work.

[@PuerRidcully]

Granny shifting. Not double clutching, like you should.

[@BlueDually4x4]

No one double clutches, especially with a transmission that is designed to not even use the clutch after the car is rolling.

[@MotoRod1]

Wow, awesome job man. We can only begin to imagine what it is like to drive such a car flat out for your first ever run. You did an awesome job and should be so proud, i can't wait for whats coming next.

[@siphiwosanele3708]

If im truly bieng honest, that turbo needs a anti-lag system

[@AceFoxxii]

And no lift shift

[@darkwatcher01]

It does cuz i needs time to spool that big ass turbo

[@Exotic_Flash]

This guy is the real fast and furious. Who builds their own car to such an extent development wise and races it this good? He's the dreamer, the designer, the engineer, the racer, the $$$ behind it, etc. People have no idea how much of a genius this man is.

[@jasonmeador9531]

I said it from day one, with more seat time you would’ve beat that car easily

[@michereff16]

Nah. Hoonicorn runs on methanol with 1400hp and it's lighter. But it has potential for sure.

[@PandaNukem]

@@michereff16 it makes 1200 horsepower to all wheels on low boost(at least what he says in the video) if he had more seat time and had the boost ramped up he could either A. Beat the hoonicorn or B. Tie with it. Robs car is solid and can make well over what it makes now.

[@Sherlz10]

I believe that as well with more seat time and have everything well bolted down the hoonicorn would have his work cut out for it

[@michereff16]

@@PandaNukem That's why I said it has the potential. Rob need to finished the car first.

[@fastec5]

@@michereff16 Hoonicorn makes 1400 crank. 4 rotor makes 1200 wheel. Pretty similar power. And I don't think the corn is that much lighter if at all.

[@BetterToDIY]

I got my Hoonicorn blood and great Tuesday. Thank Rob and crew. You guys are doing great work. Thumbs up.

[@joannaatkins822]

Honestly I couldn't have done better on my first few runs, and neither could anyone who had only just *made an entire car themselves* with no danged shakedown.

[@YungAcorn]

Not only can you build a machine like that, but you also do such a great job documenting it. Your drive and passion is inspiring, keep doing you Rob, stay safe out there! Michigan gang forever

[@4dabloons]

That inside car sound is amazing. 🤌 have you also looked into a shift light?

[@zomgz932]

he has them. just not a big idiot light that blinds you.

[@4dabloons]

@@zomgz932 ah ok

[@CorpseExplosion]

Man the sound from inside the car is INCREDIBLE. Can't wait to see (and hear) more footage of this thing being driven.

[@kristinewilson5353]

I thought the same thing. It's like music to our ears. Kinda sounds like an F1 car

[@nivlac_dj6327]

You should definitely do a rematch once you finish tweaking and tuning

[@spartan300zx]

Not sure if Ken drives it anymore

[@TempleofAmon666]

@@spartan300zx he doesn’t. Ford dropped him, took the car back.

[@uky9565]

The way he is shaking as he is talking says so much about the love for the car and that's why we never really grow up,keep it up man ;)

[@Mc-nn4jz]

Rob dahm ''I almost had you" Fender and hood " u sure"

[@ljmods7344]

You did really good honestly, that hoonicorn has been built and tested over and over again, it’s a proven race car. That was an amazing first run for the rx-7 and it will continue to improve as you said, as you get more seat time! Good job tho, really exciting to watch

[@TwistedThrottleyt]

“An inch or a mile winning is winning”

[@Ciorram1]

I'm utterly gripped by this project not just because it's a cool idea but the story and the sheer amount of detail you are willing to share. I am eagerly awaiting further updates.

[@18speed18]

Sequential’s don’t like granny shifting YANK THE THING!

[@steampunkthug5973]

foreva young its an air shifted sequential he could pull it with pinky and it would shift the same, its to keep consistency

[@christopher5694]

I have absolutely no desire to work on or own anything with a rotary, but i am positively captivated by this whole journey. Keep it up, Dahm!

[@VNX_Eunos]

Rob showing Hert how a real man looses his hood

[@oordopjes]

I loved the fact that you never really driven the RX7 and almost defieded Ken Block, that alone is worth a party. You are not done with the car and you still (almost) beat him. Theres big potential and really nice job done. Theres no way i wouldve done better, respect!!

[@Eigthcypher]

Anyone else mildly hoping they're gonna see their own order being put together when he cuts to the Hoonicorn blood/shipping segments?

[@GermanEliteTuning]

Thanks for all the info about the race. Your shifting was on point in the last race for sure.

[@p.t.anderson1593]

"Enjoy the insanity." Should be Rob Dahms new tagline.

[@santaclause6462]

As a viewer who came when you had the yellow Gallardo and left, came back when this build started and left again because it seemed to stagnate. I am happy to see this thing and have been viewing since this build started. I predicted and was right you would be racing the Hoonicorn. To see this data after seeing the race I respect it, And I just watched a 1320 video with the worlds fastest rotary pass before this. I want to see this thing rip and hold together, even if it doesn't break records. But I do think it can definitely break records.

[@theflashoflife8088]

Even tho it looks like a death trap... I'd still drive it 😭😍😂

[@shadowwolf8595]

I legitimately enjoy your content, you are one of the few youtubers i intentionally watch all the way through videos

[@traceur694]

we all know what really improved the runs...weight reduction from the hood, fender, and rear glass

[@CaptainCooter]

And the nervous shit he took after the first run 😂

[@BobbyB910]

Not that anybody knows how to drive the car you built but you but..........flat foot shifts to keep turbo spooled and quite possibly drive it to break it you eventually find the weak spots. The first car I ever actually built I babied for a bit and when I did dog on it it would always break so instead of giving up I did like you and just found the weak spots and fixing it. It made me learn so so much

[@crowstepin7338]

Damn Rob consider everything going on my wife thinks you look better with longer hair... LoL

[@nopes1776]

It's hard to watch this channel around wives, Rob is a pretty good looking guy. According to the wife at least.

[@Token_Black_Guy]

Why have a wife if you like cars

[@etrobeck]

I agree you need more protection from that drivetrain but its also super cool to see so many dynamic parts exposed, the rear shock coming under compression as you launch and shift for example. I'm sure there's something to be said for tuning just by watching how the rear suspension loads when you launch, etc. Awesomeness all around Rob🤙🏼

[@theakbars98]

YEET SKEET, I'M GONNA BEAT MY MEAT

[@juniorramirez9079]

Absolutely loved it! Great to see all the data in real time so you can improve and learn the car! Cant wait to see you really drive this monster once you got it all dialed in!

[@tomasjones3755]

Really enjoyed watching the race. Glad you shared the data. Besides overcoming habits, you also showed another neurological feature; External Motivation (in this case, competition). When we are pushed, we learn quicker.

[@patricktiller8881]

Love the humility and honest review of this run. Keep it up Rob!

[@everetward]

You did a great job in the race. I would have been so nervous/excited. It’s great you can break down the run

[@BrutalFates]

I am still very excited for the Corvette Build, I been waiting for that for a while and I hope you go all out and even make it more unique in some ways.

[@K3V0M]

I am so excited for more improvements and tuning you will be doing.

[@DREAMS2REAlITY]

I'm so excited for rob dahm 4 rotor vs the world CONGRATULATIONS 👏 🙌 YOU TRULY DESERVE IT MAN . Also very glad to hear your health is in better shape 👍

[@Canadiangangstar]

You had ken block and his pro Ford team sweating bullets man!!! You did better than anyone else! Super awesome

[@vprwave]

That thumbnail is fire; Rob leading and the Hoonicorn behind with lit brake lights. 😁 Super analysis, fun to watch.

[@savage6394]

It’s all about the experience! Don’t worry about what other people “think” they could do better.

[@jesserenn3152]

You're a hero, dude. Weld ≥3/16" plate into that driveshaft tunnel cuz the physics of what's going on there will murder you if something goes wrong and you need to keep inspiring us.

[@petarspajic7648]

I allways have a massive grin when rob talks about the 4 rotor with such passion

[@Fix_it_Garage]

One of my favorite builds in all of youtube! Keep it up. Love seeing the data as well!

[@johnwilson1453]

The transparency!!! The truth of these videos is SO compelling!!! Sell me another t-shirt so I can keep this monster going!

[@devianjones2539]

Dude that race was insane I watched it on hoonigan and you can definitely beat the hoonicorn if you just practice and keep on doing what your doing I’ve always enjoyed watching your videos and I love how you made this car from scratch to how it sits now can’t wait to see how you make it next

[@ziadkabbani4479]

Top 5 favorite cars of all time for me. Watching you evolve and learn more and more with this car over the past few years has been crazy. Here's to many more and you hopefully not going crazy hahaha

[@romainrullion9355]

That was an awesome race, in order to give you an advice, you should pass your gears without releasing your gaz and that would be possible with a quickshifting technologie similar to a quickshifter from a race bike and this type of gear shifting should let you keep your boost and keep a linear acceleration. Keep going on your project, love what your doing 👌

[@JacuzziSurfer]

I wouldn’t change a thing, you did great 🙌🏻🙌🏻 finish your rig, and come back for round two!

[@parker12125]

Im so excited for everything else this car is gonna do. I've been waiting years for this to start racing

[@Etrieys]

ROB. YOU KILLED IT. Seriously, the cajones required to drive a car like that is nuts. Get some seat time, get that sequential shifting faster. I'd recommend staying full MANUAL clutch release (no flow valve) so you can better control your launches. Once you're comfy in Ahura she'll probably drive better with more of your input.

[@MAJOR_FAULTs]

Ur car , the RS 3 and the new Mustang did almost have Hoonicorn on the run. U deserve your prestige dude.