Ken Block, who excelled as a race-car driver, sports apparel mogul, and social media influencer, died Monday in a snowmobile accident. He was 55.
The incident happened near Block’s Utah home, in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. According to an AP report, Block “was riding a snowmobile on a steep slope when the snowmobile upended, landing on top of him,” the Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Ken Block, a motorsports icon known for his stunt driving and for co-founding the action sports apparel brand DC Shoes, died on Monday in a snowmobiling accident near his home in Utah. https://t.co/7PxsjhFXqx
— The Associated Press (@AP) January 3, 2023
Block did many things in his life and excelled in them all. He co-founded a sports apparel company, DC Shoes, that he sold in 2004 for $84 million.
He then turned to Rally Car driving and was Rally America’s Rookie of the Year in 2005. He also competed as a snowboarder and skateboarder.
In more recent years, he had become a huge Internet influencer, with 8.1 million Instagram followers, 1.98 million YouTube channel followers, and 530,000 Twitter followers.
Here is Block climbing Colorado’s Pikes Peak in a 1,400-horsepower 1965 Ford Mustang, in a video that so far has 42 million views.
Block’s death brought a huge outpouring of tributes on social media.
Entertainment icon Jay Leno tweeted, “I was fortunate enough to work with Ken Block on Jay Leno’s Garage doing what he loved to do — hooning around and having fun. But in between takes, we had a chance to discuss his life and how family always came first. He will be sorely missed by all.”
"I was fortunate enough to work with Ken Block on Jay Leno's Garage doing what he loved to do – hooning around and having fun. But in between takes we had a chance to discuss his life and how family always came first. He will be sorely missed by all." -Jay pic.twitter.com/jlKaidojyx
— Jay Leno's Garage (@LenosGarage) January 3, 2023
YouTube influencer and boxer Jake Paul tweeted, “Ken Block? Wtf. Man childhood hero for me. RIP. This new years is brutal.”
Ken Block? Wtf. Man childhood hero for me. RIP. This new years is brutal.
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) January 3, 2023
NASCAR legend Richard Petty tweeted, “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Ken Block Family!”
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Ken Block Family!
Photo: 2010 Promo pic.twitter.com/PnnTJk520K
— Richard Petty (@therichardpetty) January 3, 2023
“RIP Ken Block. A legend lost too soon,” tweeted video game company Gran Turismo.
RIP Ken Block. A legend lost too soon. pic.twitter.com/2p0lKHaLf6
— Gran Turismo (@thegranturismo) January 3, 2023
“This is shocking,” tweeted Adam Zalecki. “I’ve been to the ford performance racing school set up by him. I’ve watched all of his videos, he was a true visionary, and legend in the rally sport world. This is so tragic and I pray for his family. The motor sports world has lost an important advocate.”
This is shocking, I've been to the ford performance racing school set up by him. I've watched all of his videos, he was a true visionary, and legend in the rally sport world. This is so tragic and I pray for his family. The motor sports world has lost an important advocate.
— Adam Zaleski (@AtomAntAZ) January 3, 2023
“RIP, Ken Block,” tweeted Matthew Welty. “DC Shoes was everything to East Coast kids in the early 2000s who were into skating, sneakers, and hip-hop. The brand defined what we were into outside of skate’s dominate punk/rock aesthetic.”
RIP, Ken Block. DC Shoes was everything to East Coast kids in the early 2000s who were into skating, sneakers, and hip-hop. The brand defined what we were into outside of skate’s dominate punk/rock aesthetic.
— Matthew Welty (@MatthewJWelty) January 3, 2023
[AP; Photo credit: Ken Block YouTube channel]
