The world was rocked with the sudden news that rally driver Ken Block had tragically died from injuries sustained by a snowmobile accident, he was 55 years old. He leaves behind a legacy as one of the most influential names in drifting, racing, and extreme sports. For decades, Ken inspired drivers around the world with his passion for performance driving, extreme sports, and cars. Let’s take a look at his life and the impact he had on so many people from all over the world.
At age 22, Ken began his career when he co-founded DC Shoes. Quickly rising to fame as a professional skateboarder, snowboarder, and surfer, he sold DC Shoes in 2004 and pursued his lifelong passion of cars and racing. In 2005, he entered the Gymkhana World Tour which brought him international fame. That is when he partnered with Ford Motor Company in 2007 to create Hoonigan Racing Division (HRD). As part of HRD, Ken raced rallycross with Ford Fiesta STs and Mustangs in the Global Rallycross Championship (GRC). His attention-grabbing driving style earned him numerous wins throughout this time period.
One of Block’s crowning achievements came at the pinnacle of motorsports—the X Games. He won gold medals in both Rally Car Racing (2007) and Rally Cross (2010). He then went on to win numerous championships throughout Europe and Asia in various drift competitions, including Formula Drift USA (2015), Red Bull Drift Shifters (2016), Formula D Japan (2017), and Formula D Thailand (2018). His career accomplishments were not only impressive but also groundbreaking; he was often credited with popularizing drifting in the US and bringing it into the mainstream consciousness.
Ken Block – Greatest Accomplishment
In 2018, Ken achieved what some consider to be his greatest accomplishment—the launch of GymkhanaTEN—which was hailed as “the ultimate gymkhana experience” by critics. This video series featured mind-blowing stunts performed by Ken himself in five different locations around the world. With over 240 million views on YouTube, these videos showed off Block’s immense driving talent and reputation as an amazing driver who always pushes boundaries with his skills behind the wheel.
Ken Block was an inspiration to countless people around the world who were passionate about cars, drifting, racing, and extreme sports. He will be remembered not only for his incredible driving ability but also for helping to elevate motorsports into mainstream culture and his involvement in charities such as The Smile Train Foundation and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. We are thankful for all that he accomplished during his lifetime and all that he has left us with—his legacy will live on forever!
His death leaves a void that will never truly be filled, but it’s clear that his legacy will live on through those who carry on his spirit by pushing boundaries within automotive culture today. Rest In Peace, Ken Block – you will be missed!
Ken Block on the web Click Here
