There are few people in the world today that don’t know Ken Block, young and middle-aged. All three generations have heard his name at some point in their lives, known for his illustrious racing career. It is with the utmost sadness and a tear in my eye that I inform you of Ken Block’s passing.
I’m pretty sure you’ve seen the news already on social media, but this is my obituary for an amazing human being. I first heard about Ken Block when I was racing Gymkhana events on Dirt 3. I was a bit slow on the uptake, though, as many others had known for many years by then. I’ve seen his face in local motorsport and car magazines several times. To say the man was a legend is putting it mildly.
Most adrenaline-fueled fanatics followed Ken Block’s career. For most of us, he stood out on the rally tracks as one of the most phenomenal racers. It went beyond vehicles and drifting, though. He had a DC Shoes company he started in 1994, and he co-founded Hoonigan Industries. The latter is a media business that has a keen focus on young drivers and racers, helping them step into this fast-paced world.
Let’s not forget his influence on the world of motorsport racing. Besides the Dirt franchise, it was also featured in other games, such as Forza.
Not much is known about Ken Block’s death at this point. Hoonigan’s statement on Instagram simply states that he died in a snowmobile accident, so we’ll wait to hear if there’s more news. Our hearts and condolences go out to his wife, Lucy, and his three amazing daughters. One of them, Lia, and Lucy have been by his side, often competing with him on the track. It’s so wonderful to see the family enjoying a passionate hobby together.
In other snow-related news, Jeremy Renner (we call him Hawkeye) is in critical condition at the moment. Two days ago, he was taken to hospital after a severe storm hit his home at Lake Tahoe. He was plowing snow when the incident happened, but we’re waiting on more details.
