Kenneth Paul Block (November 21, 1967 – January 2, 2023)
A Life in Fast-Forward
The loss of Ken Block is inconceivable. He was not just a racer or a TV figure; he changed automotive culture. To skim over his biography is impressive enough. After co-founding the successful skate shoe company DC Shoes, Ken Block decided to try rally racing, inspired by his friend Travis Pastrana. He was almost 40 at the time, and within a year was finishing in the top 10 in his class. He lived life in fast-forward, partnering with winning co-driver Alex Gelsomino, medaling at the X Games, and participating in five different rally series over the next two decades. At the same time, he was appearing on television shows like Top Gear and Stunt Junkies and racing one-off events like One Lap of America.
Perhaps most life-changing, for Block and all of us, was the start of the Gymkhana video series, which began as a marketing exercise for DC. It might be difficult now to remember the days before Block's Gymkhana, when "drift" to the mainstream was something tectonic plates did, and if you drove a Subaru, you wouldn't get out of bed for a Mustang, let alone a lowrider.
Block wasn't alone in blurring the lines between different racing disciplines and automotive cultures, but nobody did it with a larger audience. The Gymkhana videos scrambled car culture for the better, encouraging a mix of interests, and introducing young drivers to rare models, and legendary roads, like Pikes Peak. Block's incredible car control lured us in, but what keeps us coming back is his obvious love and enjoyment, not just of his own cars and skills, but of all the supporting drivers, riders, and those behind the cameras capturing the images. His joy was contagious, and it was clear that he wanted to share it.
Ken Block lived life unbound. He merged skateboarding with rally cars with lowriders. He moved effortlessly between the roles of marketing mogul, serious competitor, and family man. Heck, he didn't even follow the rules of gravity. His influence was needed, and will be missed.
Block is survived by his wife, Lucy Block, and their three children.
Rest in Power !
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RIP Ken Block
It's always hard to say anything when a tragedy like this one happens.
The motorsport world lost a living legend, a man who for many years was successfully infecting both older and youngest with a love for the automotive industry, turning them into true petrolheads.
Condolences to the family and friends of this marvelous man.
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