Rally driver Ken Block was killed in a snowmobile accident on Monday. He is 55 years old.
Hoonigan Industries, the company Block founded, announced his death on Twitter.
“It is with our deepest regret that Ken Block passed away today in a snowmobile accident. Ken was a visionary, pioneer and icon. Most importantly, he was a father and husband. We will be very miss him.”
Bullock earlier posted video clips on Instagram from his week of snowmobile driving in Park City, Utah. According to the Wasatch County (Utah) Sheriff’s Office, “(Brock) was riding a snowmobile on a steep incline when the snowmobile overturned on top of him. He was injured in the accident and was pronounced dead at the scene .Mr. Bullock was riding with a group, but he was alone when the accident happened.”
Block’s Gymkhana video series and other subsequent Hoonigan works made him an icon of car culture, and indeed transcended it. Without him, “Adrift” would not have become widely known to the mainstream public. They showcase his ability to make cars do incredible things; drift, jump, spin and more. The image of him driving up Pikes Peak and nearly sliding over the cliff’s edge in his modified Mustang will remain in our hearts.
His most recent Gymkhana video, “Gymkhana 2022,” has amassed 12 million views in three weeks. In addition to his videos, Block has even appeared in video games, becoming a major part of Codemasters’ “Dirt” series of rally games and EA and Ghost Games’ “Need for Speed.” “Need for Speed [2015]” List him as one of the racing icons you need to impress and get to know in story mode.
The cars Bullock built and drove also helped cement his place in automotive history. He started the Gymkhana series with rally-ready Subarus and Fords. But then, Block built custom rides, most notably his all-wheel-drive first-generation Mustang called the “Hoonicorn.” It started out with just a hot naturally aspirated V8, but then got a pair of turbochargers and a whopping 1,400 horsepower. It was later joined by a twin-turbo V6-powered Ford F-Series pickup called the “Hoonitruck”. This year, he was supposed to compete in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in a BBi Motorsports custom 1,400 hp Porsche 911 (“Hoonipigasus”), but an engine problem kept him out of the race. He’s even started driving electric cars, a fully custom Audi for the recent Gymkhana in Las Vegas.
Block doesn’t just compete in style, he competes professionally. From 2005 to 2014, he won 16 of 60 US rallies and won five medals in extreme sports. He even briefly participated in the world’s highest level of rally WRC. In addition to rally racing, Bullock also competed in skateboarding and motocross. From 2006 to 2008, he was on the podium for three consecutive years in the X Games in Rallycross.
People from all over the world are making memories of the car-filled event, such as from rally and stunt driver Travis Pastrana, who also took part in his own Gymkhana video .
Multiple Formula 1 winner Lewis Hamilton shared his thoughts on his Instagram Story, saying:
“I’ve been off social media for the most part to focus on my health and wellbeing. Today I received the news of the passing of a dear friend. I was devastated to hear of the passing of Ken Block. He was such an amazing person man, has always lived life to the fullest. I remember the first time we worked together and how positive he was. So much talent behind the wheel. We had a wonderful time heli-skiing and snowboarding in Canada many years ago Time. We have great respect for each other. He will really miss me and my thoughts and prayers are with his beautiful family. Too early. Rest in peace Ken”
Bullock is survived by his wife Lucy and three children. His daughter Lia has become increasingly involved in auto and motorsports, appearing on the Hoonigan YouTube channel learning to drift a Fox Body Mustang and driving a Hoonicorn Mustang in the organization’s “This vs. That” drag racing series. She was also involved in the development of the Audi Quattro coupe resto-mod, which has been documented on Block’s personal YouTube channel.
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