Rally driver and DC Shoes and Hoonigan Racing Division co-founder Ken Block passed away at age 55.
On Monday, January 2, 2023, the terrible death of the racing hero was reported by Hoonigan Industries and local authorities. So, what happened? This is all we know about what killed Ken Block.
What Was Ken Block Cause Of Death?
Hoonigan and the Woodland, Utah, police department released a statement on January 2, 2023, saying that Ken had died in a snowmobile accident while on the way to his property. He was “riding a snowmobile on a steep hill when the machine upended, falling on top of him,” according to a Facebook post from the Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office in Utah. The medical examiner ruled Ken dead at the scene.
The Facebook post from the Wasatch Country Sheriff’s Office:
A statement from Hoonigan Industries was also released on social media, confirming his death “With profound sadness, we must report that Ken Block was killed in a snowmobile accident earlier today. Ken was an innovator, a trendsetter, and a true leader. I am a parent and a spouse first and foremost. We shall miss him dearly.”
Ken, together with Damon Way and Clayton Blehm, launched DC Shoes in June 1994 to provide footwear for skateboarders and snowboarders. Ken sold the business in 2004 and has since devoted himself to rallying. He rose to prominence rapidly, ultimately founding the Hoonigan company and creating the iconic Gymkhana YouTube series.
“Ken was a legend in his ability to take a vision and make it a reality. He created an industry,” Steve Arpin, Ken’s teammate in the Nitro RallyCross series, told ESPN. “But if you were lucky enough to know him, that’s where the best parts of Ken surfaced. He treated his friends like gold and would create opportunities for whoever wanted to put in the work. He was everything this world needs more of, and just happened to do a lot of really cool stuff on the side.”
Famous action sportsman Travis Pastrana told ESPN that 2022 will be Ken’s breakthrough year.
“Ken was so happy. At the races, he was happy to be racing with [his wife] Lucy and to have his daughter racing and to have his kids at most of the races,” Travis added. “Few people get to the point in their lives where everything comes together, and to have it all taken away like this is devastating.”
Our hearts go out to Ken’s loved ones at this time.
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The Man Behind The Wheel: A Profile of Ken Block
Block was born in the United States on November 21, 1967. The identities of his parents remain unknown. As a boy, Ken Block wanted to be a builder since he was good at sketching. Skateboarding and dirt bike riding were two more extreme hobbies of Ken Blocks. He was fortunate enough to grow up in California, where he could afford to pursue both of his interests.
He was a prominent rally driver who also did other extreme sports like snowboarding and ATV riding and produced a viral video series. Along with Audi, Ken Block has developed a series of viral YouTube movies featuring high-octane stunt driving in Audi’s electric vehicles and Porsche racing cars.
In 2005, Ken Block entered the world of rallying and quickly became the RAC’s Rookie of the Year. Ken Block was a rallycross competitor who took part in the World Rally Championship.
In 2007 saw he participate in the X Games XIII rally competition, where he ultimately placed second and took home a silver medal. Later he appeared on Top Gear, the driving program. Ken Block has a hit on his hands with the Gymkhana 2 video.
In 2014, he placed third in the European Rallycross Championship and first in the FIA World Rallycross Championship event held in Norway. In 2016, he made the decision to focus only on the World Rallycross Championship competition. Ken Block came in at number nine in points in 2017, with a best performance of seventh in both the United Kingdom and France.
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