Racer X - Motocross & Supercross NewsRacer X

  • Subscribe Now
  • Latest
  • Features
  • Breaking News

Racer X - Motocross & Supercross NewsRacer X

  • One Click Sign-In

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    OR

    Sign in with your username and password

    • Sign In
  • Features
    • 10 Things
    • 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers
    • 3 on 3
    • 250 Words
    • 450 Words
    • Arenacross Report
    • Between the Motos
    • Breakdown
    • Deals of the Week
    • GNCC Report
    • Great Battles
    • How to Watch
    • Injury Report
    • Insight
    • In the Mag, On the Web
    • Lockdown Diaries
    • Longform
    • MXGP Race Reports
    • My Favorite Loretta Lynn's Moto
    • Next
    • Next Level
    • Observations
    • On This Day in Moto
    • Open Mic
    • Privateer Profile
    • Race Day Feed
    • Racerhead
    • Racer X Awards
    • Racer X Redux
    • Rapid Reaxtion
    • RX Exhaust
    • Saturday Night Live
    • Staging Area
    • The Conversation
    • The List
    • The Moment
    • Things We Learned at the Ranch
    • Unphiltered
    • Wake-Up Call
    • Where Are They Now
    • 50 Years of Pro Motocross
  • Multimedia
    • Podcasts
    • Photo Galleries
    • The Weege Show
    • Racer X Films
    • Video
    • SX Preview Shows
    • Factory Tech Tip
    • MX Preview Shows
    • Behind The Bars
    • Racer X Rapid News
  • Races
    • Series Schedules
    • TV Schedules
    • Results
    • Champions
    • 2023 Numbers
    • Teams
  • Results
    • Points Standings
    • Race Results
    • Riders
    • The Vault
    • Loretta Lynn's Vault
  • Shop
  • About Us
  • The Mag
    • Digital Magazine Bookstand
    • Customer Care
    • Current Issue
    • Newsletter
    • Store Locator
    • Subscribe
    • Free Stickers
    • Sell Racer X
  • Table of Contents
  • Subscribe Now
  • Latest
  • Features
  • Breaking News
Results Archive
Arenacross
Guthrie
Articles
Supercross
Anaheim 2
Articles
450SX Results
  1. Chase Sexton
  2. Jason Anderson
  3. Ken Roczen
Full Results
250SX West Results
  1. Levi Kitchen
  2. Jett Lawrence
  3. Stilez Robertson
Full Results
Arenacross
Reno
Articles
Supercross
Houston
Articles
450SX Results
  1. Eli Tomac
  2. Chase Sexton
  3. Jason Anderson
Full Results
250SX East Results
  1. Hunter Lawrence
  2. Max Anstie
  3. Jordon Smith
Full Results
Upcoming
Arenacross
Denver
Fri Feb 10
Articles
Upcoming
Supercross
Tampa
Sat Feb 11
Articles
Upcoming
GNCC
Big Buck
Sat Feb 18
Articles
Upcoming
Supercross
Oakland
Sat Feb 18
Articles
Full Schedule

RIP Ken Block (1967–2023)

January 3, 2023 5:50pm | by: Davey Coombs & Jason Weigandt
RIP Ken Block (1967–2023)
  • Home
  • Breaking News
  • Ken Block Passes Away in Snowmobile Accident at Age 55

It is with heavy hearts that we report that action sports and automotive icon, legend, and visionary Ken Block passed away in a snowmobile accident on Monday. Beyond his mega-successful business ventures—from cofounding DC Shoes to the explosive popularity of his Gymkhana video series and Hoonigan Industries car-build brand—he was a friend and supporter to many in the motocross industry. Most importantly, Block was a family man, survived by his wife, Lucy, and their three children, Lia, Kira, and Mika.

He was 55 years old when he died yesterday, January 2, 2023.

According to National Public Radio (npr.org) “Hoonigan first announced the death on social media. The Watasch County Sheriff's Office later confirmed that Block was riding a snowmobile near his home in Utah around 2 p.m. when he tried to navigate up a steep slope, causing the craft to fall back on top of him. Officials pronounced him dead at the scene.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Hoonigan Industries (@thehoonigans)

Ken Block.
Ken Block.

Block cofounded DC Shoes back in 1994 with his friend Damon Way. Together they built the brand into a massive success, supporting athletes across the sports world, including supercross and motocross riders like Jeremy McGrath, Ricky Carmichael, and Travis Pastrana. Block himself was a longtime moto enthusiast and a regular visitor to the races, and he was with us on the ground floor when Racer X launched as a magazine in 1998. Ten years after founding the company, in 2004, Block and Way sold DC Shoes to Quiksilver.

Block then turned his attention to rally car racing, which he discovered through his friendship with Pastrana, who was also heading in that direction. According to Car and Driver he won 23 rally races at the National level, and only narrowly lost the 2022 American Rally Championship. But Block didn’t just build skills behind the wheel as a race car driver. Using marketing and production techniques from the skate/snowboard/moto world, Block built his Hoonigan brand into another massive success, and his popular line of Gymkhana videos and X Games exploits became global brands in their own right. Block embraced YouTube and social media in its earliest days, making cars cool to a whole new generation. Ken took rally car racing, which had always been merely a fringe part of automotive culture in America, right into the heart of the enthusiast market. Auto manufacturers and big sponsors got on board, but Ken kept his action-sports roots, always staying close to his motocross beginnings. In accordance, he would incorporate Pastrana into plenty of his videos, sometimes with Travis on a dirt bike and other times in a car—and sometimes both—which we put on the cover of Racer X on two occasions. Just last month, Pastrana did the driving for Hoonigan’s Gymkhana 2022. In a new video series, Block’s 16-year-old daughter, Lia, puts the 1985 Audi Quattro she had constructed through its paces, just like her dad.

An inspiration and a role model across the board, Ken Block’s contributions to motorsports and action sports will never be forgotten.

The September 2012 issue of Racer X Illustrated.
The September 2012 issue of Racer X Illustrated.
The September 2008 issue of Racer X Illustrated.
The September 2008 issue of Racer X Illustrated.
Block on his dirt bike.
Block on his dirt bike.
Block with Jeremy McGrath.
Block with Jeremy McGrath.
Block and Travis Pastrana.
Block and Travis Pastrana. Cudby

The world reacts to Ken Block's passing:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Davey Coombs (@dcracerx)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jeremy McGrath (@jeremymcgrath)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by travispastrana (@travispastrana)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Selema Masekela (@selema)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ricky Carmichael (@rickycarmichael)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Monster Energy (@monsterenergy)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jeff Emig (@emig47)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by FMF Racing Official (@fmf73)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by BrianDeegan38 (@briandeegan38)

Ken Block, Pro Rally driver and Hoonigan founder, has died at the age of 55. pic.twitter.com/fWgp6FI6UZ

— Motorsports on NBC (@MotorsportsNBC) January 3, 2023
View this post on Instagram

A post shared by marcblanchard (@marcblanchard)

We’re sending our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Ken Block, as well as the entire team that has worked with him. 💔 pic.twitter.com/YdKcYrR44F

— Formula DRIFT (@FormulaDrift) January 3, 2023

Hate to see this, RIP Ken Block, our thoughts are with his family and friends! Hug your kids, tell you parents your love them, call your grandparents just to say hi! Life is crazy… pic.twitter.com/CCZnJ1ALSx

— TEAM SOLITAIRE (@teamsolitaireSX) January 3, 2023

Lewis Hamilton pays tribute to Ken Block: “He was such an amazing person, always lived life to the fullest.” 🙏 pic.twitter.com/eeTBZi7V5w

— Luke Smith (@LukeSmithF1) January 3, 2023

We are saddened to hear of the passing of motorsport legend Ken Block

Our thoughts and condolences are with his loved ones at this time

His legacy in motorsport will live on forever pic.twitter.com/OIYA2PAfac

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) January 3, 2023

  • Antunez, Masterpool, Wageman Added to BarX Suzuki for 2023 Antunez, Masterpool, Wageman Added to BarX Suzuki for 2023 11:25am
  • Watch: Anaheim 1 Track Build, Sexton, AC, Wilson Riding and More Watch: Anaheim 1 Track Build, Sexton, AC, Wilson Riding and More 12:10pm
Read Now
April 2023 Issue Now Available
Get Racer X on your iPhone
Check out all the exclusive content this month on any device!
Read Now
The April 2023 Digital Issue Availalbe Now

Motocross & Supercross News - Racer X

122 Vista Del Rio Drive, Morgantown, WV 26508 | 304-284-0084 | Contact Us
©1999 - 2023 Filter Publications LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
designed at: Website DesignImpulse Studios