It’s with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of motorsports icon Ken Block, who died Jan. 2 at age 55 following a snowmobiling accident. Hoonigan Industries confirmed the report in an Instagram post:
“It’s with deepest regrets that we can confirm that Ken Block passed away in a snowmobile accident today,” the statement read. “Ken was a visionary, a pioneer and an icon. And most importantly, a father and husband. He will be incredibly missed.”
The rally racer became a household name in the motorsports world for many reasons, most notably for co-founding Hoonigan Industries and starring in the popular “Gymkhana” stunt driving videos on YouTube. With the first video posted over a decade ago, the Gymkhana series would shoot Hoonigan to the top of the motorsport industry in terms of online presence, motorsports filmmaking, and action sports marketing. The series brought in hundreds of millions of views in total.
Before Ken entered the industry in 2004 and became a World Rally and Rally America podium threat and a five-time X Games medalist in RallyCross, he co-founded DC Shoes in 1984. The shoe brand would quickly become an international success through strategic sponsorships and athlete endorsements, specifically in the skateboarding community.
Ken was a true inspiration to many in the motorsports community and his impact cannot be fully stated. However, there’s no doubt his legacy will live on through the millions Ken influenced and the rally racing success of his family. His wife, Lucy, made her all-wheel-drive rally debut this year and Ken’s 16-year-old daughter has been competing for Hoonigan racing since age 11.
RIP Ken Block