Ken Block, pro rally driver and social media icon, dies at 55

Most of Ken Block’s social media messages to his nearly 2 million YouTube subscribers and half a million Twitter followers touted the “Go Fast Risk Every Thang” mantra that enabled him to become the world’s most famous rally car racer and ambassador for the sport.

But his last Twitter post was as a proud father, touting “The 4th and final episode of my 16-year-old daughter Lia buying, tearing down, rebuilding and now driving her ‘85 Audi Ur Quattro … .” Block urged followers to tune in to YouTube on Tuesday morning.

Block, 55, was killed in a snowmobile crash near Park City, Utah. This shocked his fans and the highly successful Hoonigan Industries automotive lifestyle brand.

“Mr. Block was riding with a group but was alone when the accident occurred,” according to a statement from the Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office. “The State Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the official cause of death. We are saddened to hear of the loss of Kenneth and our hearts are with his family and friends so deeply affected.”

Block, who was born in Long Beach, was riding down a steep slope at about 2 p.m. “when the snowmobile upended, landing on top of him,” the Sheriff’s Office said. At the scene, he was declared dead.

“Ken was a visionary, a pioneer and an icon,” the Compton-based HooniganIn a statement. “And most importantly, a father and husband. He will be incredibly missed.”

Block was quickly recognized as one of motorsport’s most prominent faces after he sold DC Shoes, the Huntington Beach-based brand of skateboards he founded 30 years ago. Block was a five-time RallyCross X Games medalist, Rally America rookie and overall winner three times, and was also a Rally America champion in 2005. He was also the first American to participate in the World Rally Championship.

Block began posting Gymkhana videosIn 2008, he uploaded videos of himself doing stunt driving and interfacing with his surroundings to YouTube. They quickly became hugely popular. His channel Hoonigan has received more than 1,000,000 views.

“I grew up, no matter what I did, trying to have as much fun as I possibly could,” Block told Road & Track in 2014. “When I grew up skateboarding, I didn’t compete in skateboarding, I just went out and had fun. Well, it’s the opposite with racecar driving. The only time I see my car is when we’re racing or testing for racing. The fun time is that time in the race.”

He raced in the American Rally Assn last year. Championship alongside his wife, Lucy, and Lia, one of the Blocks’ three children.

Block was used to make a nearly hourlong video that chronicled his title chase, touting it by saying: “GO FAST RISK EVERY THANG. This is the mantra we use often when racing rally. It can lead to champagne ceremonies or crashed cars. In 2022 American Rally Association’s season, it led to many of both. While there were many victories and success stories throughout the season there were also many mistakes and setbacks. So, we had to go fast and risk everything to chase that title right to the end — and this is the behind-the-scenes story of how that all went.”