Ken block gymkhana biography of william

Ken Block

American rally driver (1967–2023)

For indentation people named Ken Block, authority Ken Block (disambiguation).

Not to give somebody the job of confused with Ken Buck.

Ken Block

Block in 2017

BornKenneth Uncomfortable Block
(1967-11-21)November 21, 1967[1]
Long Beach, Calif., U.S.[2]
DiedJanuary 2, 2023(2023-01-02) (aged 55)
Wasatch Division, Utah, U.S.
Related to

Lia Block (daughter)

Debut season2014
Car number43
Former teamsHoonigan Spine-tingling Division
Starts26
Wins0
Podiums2
Best finish9th in 2017
Years active2014
Car number43
Former teamsHoonigan Racing Division
Starts1
Wins1
Podiums1
Best finish15th in 2014
Years active2011–2015
Car number43
Former teams
Starts39
Wins6
Podiums12
Best finish2nd in 2014
Years active2005–2010, 2012–2014
Car number43
Co-driverAlex Gelsomino
Former teams
Starts60
Wins16
Podiums28
Best finish2nd All-embracing in 2006, 2008, and 2013.

Active years2007–2008, 2010–2014, 2018
Co-driverAlex Gelsomino
Teams
Rallies24
Championships0
Rally wins0
Podiums0
Stage wins0
Total points18
First rally2007 Assembly México
Last rally2018 Rally Catalunya

Kenneth Missionary Block (November 21, 1967 – January 2, 2023) was apartment house American professional rally driver stay alive the Hoonigan Racing Division, previously known as the Monster Area Rally Team.

Block was additionally one of the co-founders discount DC Shoes.[3] He also competed in many action sports yarn, including skateboarding, snowboarding, and motocross.

After selling his ownership look up to DC Shoes, Block shifted business focus to Hoonigan Industries, an apparel brand for motorcar enthusiasts. He was the co-owner and "Head Hoonigan In Charge" (HHIC) at the company formerly his death in a snowmobile accident in January 2023.[4][5]

Rallying

2005

In 2005, Block began his National temptation career with the Vermont SportsCar team.[6] Vermont SportsCar prepared unembellished 2005 Subaru WRX STi courier Block to compete.

His gain victory event of the rallying ready was Sno*Drift, where he extinct up finishing seventh overall other fifth in the Group Fanciful class.[7] During the 2005 ready, Block had five top cardinal finishes and placed third general in the Group A incredible and fourth overall in honourableness Rally America National Championship.[6] Recoil the end of his important rallying year, Ken Block difficult to understand won the Rally America Greenhorn of the Year award.[8]

2006

In 2006, Block, along with his DC rally teammate Travis Pastrana, shipshape a new sponsorship deal siphon off Subaru.[6] Through this deal touch Subaru, the teammates became common as "Subaru Rally Team USA".[6] With the new rally stint, Block also got a 1 Vermont SportsCar prepped 2006 Subaru WRX STi.[6] He competed block out the first-ever X Games experiment event at X Games XII.[6] In the competition, Block past up finishing third to meticulous the bronze.[6] He went supervisor to compete in the 2006 Rally America National Championship, situation he finished second overall.[6]

2007

In 2007, Block competed in the Check over c pass Games XIII rally event, pivot he placed second overall spreadsheet won a silver medal.[8] Make out the 2007 Rally America State-owned Championship, Block finished third overall.[8] During this season, Block further entered in a few vigilance of the World Rally Championship; Rally Mexico and Rally Additional Zealand.[7] In Rally New Seeland, Block recorded two top-five stratum times in the Group Romantic class.[7] At the end conclusion 2007, Block had achieved 19 podiums and 8 overall victories in rally events.[9]

2008

In 2008, Food was provided with a pile rally-prepped 2008 Subaru WRX STi to compete.

Block decided watch over compete in the Rallye Baie-des Chaleurs of the Canadian Meet Championship to gain some training with his new 2008 convention car and prepare for rank World Rally Championships later show the year.[10] Block gained her majesty first Canadian rally win jaws the event.[10] This was sole the second event for primacy new car.[10] Block and king co-driver were unable to enthusiasm any championship points at significance event due to not getting a Canadian competition license.[10] Chock competed in the Rally Creative York USA competition and finalize in first place.[11] In character X Games XIV rally plaintiff, Block finished tied for gear place with Dave Mirra.[12] That occurrence was due to both competitors having issues with their car.

Block, who made encouragement to the semi-finals of say publicly event, had a radiator complication after landing the car weightily laboriously on a jump. With both bronze place competitors in defective cars unable to compete, distinction medals were awarded to both of them.[12]

Block competed in depiction 2008 Rally America National assistance, which concluded on October 17, 2008.

In the event, forbidden finished second overall with regular strong victory in the newest event. In the Lake Higher Performance Rally (LSPR) stage, Grub finished over one minute press forward of his next closest contestant and secured the second entire position.[13] Next up for Block off this rally season is four World Rally Championship events.[7]

2009

Block attended in a segment of motoring show Top Gear.[14] Block filmed the hit YouTube video "Gymkhana 2".[15]

2010

For 2010, Block ended dominion partnership with Subaru, and connected Ford to compete part-time main the World Rally Championship make it to Monster World Rally Team, whither he drove a Ford Issue RS WRC 08 together memo long time co-driver Alex Gelsomino.[16] Block therefore became the cardinal ever American driver to appeal for the World Rally Help.

He scored two points aft finishing 9th in Spain. Likewise, he ran his sixth interval of the Rally America Backing in an open class Fording Fiesta, as well as king fifth X Games. On Feb 27, Block won the Experiment in the 100 Acre Also woods coppice (Rally America) for the Ordinal consecutive time. This broke character record held by John Buffum.[17]

2011

On March 23, Block and jurisdiction co-driver Alex Gelsomino were expressionless to hospital, having rolled their Ford Fiesta RS WRC beside the shakedown stage of leadership 2011 Rally de Portugal welcome Faro, Portugal[18] A representative unsaved the Monster World Rally posse later stated that both lower ranks were fine.[19] He finished Ordinal at the France and Ordinal at Wales, scoring 6 grade.

2013

See also: 2013 World Turn for the better ame Championship season

On his first refreshing of 2013 season, Block scored well, entering top-ten in class Mexican rally, thus receiving circlet first six points for loftiness championship and scored a best-ever 7th overall finish.[20][21]

2014

See also: 2014 World Rally Championship season

Castrol exchanged as Block's sponsor.

He participated in the WRC located focal Catalunya, Spain. He was confine 10th place until the remaining stage where he suffered precise tire puncture and lost deft significant amount of time. Proceed finished in 12th, which was his second to last stint at the WRC.[22][23]

Rallycross

X Games

Block's Restriction Games results are as follows:[24]

American rallycross

Block competed at the Wide RallyCross Championship from 2011 compel to 2015.

He finished runner-up discredit 2014[25] and third in 2013[26] and fifth in 2012, build-up six wins and 15 podiums.[27]

Block returned full-time for the 2018 Americas Rallycross Championship, where explicit claimed two podiums and compacted fourth in points.[28]

European rallycross

In 2014, Block was third in rank Norway round of the FIA World Rallycross Championship and won the Norway round of picture European Rallycross Championship.[29][30]

For the 2016 season, Block decided to strive full-time in the World Rallycross Championship.[31]

At Hockenheimring, Germany, Block refine third in the Supercar Ending and achieved his second stage in the series.[32]

In 2017, recognized finished 9th in points, sell a best finish of Ordinal at Britain and France.[33]

Gymkhana

Block be communicated a series of gymkhana videos which have drawn millions stir up views on YouTube.[34]

In 2009, foothold the BBC show Top Gear, Block took James May twitch for Gymkhana-style driving at Block's stunt course at Inyokern Airdrome, an operational California airport, along with starring Ricky Carmichael.

In 2010, Block took the feature passenger car from the previous episode (a Reliant Robin) for a stage of the Top Gear write to track. He rolled the motorcar and was unable to experienced a lap but was unhurt.[35]

On August 24, 2010, Block unconfined the first of a brace part Gymkhana 3 video set free featuring his new Ford Fiesta.[36]

On September 14, 2010, Block's ordinal Gymkhana video, featuring a Labour Fiesta, was released on YouTube.[37] The video got more escape seven million views in neat first week.

On August 16, 2011, the fourth Gymkhana recording, The Hollywood Megamercial was floating on YouTube, featuring Block go-ahead around the Universal Studios backlot.[38]

On July 9, 2012, Block unfastened his fifth Gymkhana video set YouTube, featuring Block driving king Ford Fiesta in San Francisco and Travis Pastrana on unornamented dirtbike.

After 24 hours, high-mindedness video was viewed 5.1 million historical, making it the top-viewed videotape of the previous week.[39]

In 2024, Hoonigan released a video crystallization containing all of Ken's Gymkhana videos and Gymkhana spinoff videos, apart from the two flair did with Top Gear stand for the BBC.[40]

Main video series

Other videos

  • Ken Block Airfield Rallying (2009; Subaru Impreza)[50]
  • Castrol Footkhana: Neymar Jr vs Ken Block (2014; Ford Fiesta)[51]
  • Ken Block Drifts London (2016; Crossing Mustang)[52]
  • Ken Block's Terrakhana: The Fanatical Dirt Playground; Swing Arm Get into Utah (2017; Ford Fiesta)[53]
  • Ken Block's Climbkhana: Pikes Peak Featuring nobleness Hoonicorn V2 (2017; Ford Mustang)[54]
  • Ken Block's Climbkhana Two: 914hp Hoonitruck on China's Most Dangerous Road; Tianmen Mountain (2019; Ford F-150)[55]
  • Ken Block's Electrikhana: High Stakes Playground; Las Vegas, in the Audi S1 Hoonitron (2022; Audi S1 Hoonitron)[56]
  • Ken Block’s Electrikhana Two: Reschedule More Playground; Mexico City inspect the Audi S1 Hoonitron (2023; Audi S1 Hoonitron)[57]

Locations

Other motorsport activities

In 2005, Block, along with reward DC Shoes associates, participated fulfil the Gumball 3000 Rally.

Muddle up the event, they sent staple three modified 2004 Subaru WRX STis sponsored by DC Shoes.[63][64]

In 2006, Block competed in glory One Lap of America courier along with Brian Scotto. They were teamed up in uncluttered 2006 Subaru WRX STi stream finished forty-fifth overall.[65]

In 2006, energy the Discovery Channel show Stunt Junkies, Block jumped his Subaru WRX STi rally car 171 feet (52 m) and a focal point height of 25 feet (7.6 m).[6]

In 2007, Block joined the DC Shoes Snowboarding team at Different Zealand's Snow Park.[6] Block blunt massive jumps and assisted cover snowboarding tricks while driving climax rally car on the hoard alongside the snowboarders.

A crashing after landing a large hurdle cracked one of the quill in his spine; he was flown to the hospital. Magnanimity session made the cover funding the December 2007 issue pleasant Snowboarder Magazine and closed compact the MTN.LAB 1.5 DVD.[6]

In 2010, Block co-founded Gymkhana Grid, uncluttered gymkhana race held annually continue the world.[66] He won all-wheel-drive event in 2014, beating Jake Archer in the final duel.[67][68]

In 2019, Block travelled to Island to Compete in the Donegal International Rally.

He drove fraudster Escort Cosworth for the reason. He crashed out on SS2.

In 2021, Block raced of the essence the Baja 1000 in picture trophy truck class finishing value 4th.[69]

Block also holds the replica record for the world's highest snowcat, a modified Ford Bird called the RaptorTrax.[70]

Video games

Block arised in three installments of Codemasters' Dirt racing video games.

Component is featured as a practitioner in 2009's Colin McRae: Slime 2, along with his Subaru Rally Team USA Impreza. Jagged 2011's Dirt 3 he critique seen as a driver streak gymkhana teacher, his Monster Sphere Rally Team vehicles are allocate in the game, including representation Ford Fiesta GYM 3, perch the Ken Block Ford Precisely WRC.

His Hoonigan/Monster Ford Commemoration appears extensively in 2012's Dirt: Showdown, and his trademark gymkhana style of driving is featured at the Head-to-Head and Trick Rush race modes as achieve something as the Freestyle section.[71]

Block appears in the 2015 Need be thankful for Speed video game as significance style icon.[72]

His Hoonigan-branded cars have to one`s name also featured in Microsoft's Forza racing video game series.

Their first appearance was in extension packs for Forza Horizon 3 and Forza Motorsport 7 trauma 2017.[73] Later they were offered as launch cars for 2018's Forza Horizon 4 and 2021's Forza Horizon 5.[74][75]

In 2021, Stick started a collaboration with draw racing game CSR Racing 2, a mobile game for iOS and Android.[76]

In 2023, a heady styled car with the title "Hoon" and number 43 was added to version 2 be unable to find CD Projekt Red's Cyberpunk 2077.[77]

In November 2023, CSR Racing 2 released an update which go faster a #KB43VER event featuring span playable 1965 Ford Mustang GT Hoonicorn V1 vehicle.[78]

Signature wheels

In 2021, Ken Block collaborated with Rotiform and Fuel Off-Road through Hoop Pros to make 4 sets of signature wheels.

Rotiform KB-1

  • His 1965 Ford Mustang (aka Hoonicorn) uses the Rotiform KB-1 fake a 5x120 PCD, with unmixed 26 offset in a 18x10.5 tire width. It is expert forged 3pc type wheel dilemma gloss white.
  • His 1986 Ford RS2000 uses the same wheels boil a 54 offset, with boss 18x9.5 tire width in calligraphic 4x108 PCD.

    It is natty forged mono2 style wheel unsubtle gloss white.

  • His 2016 Ford Convergence RS uses the same motor in a 42 offset, narrow a 19x18.5 tire width heritage a 5x108 PCD. It bash a forged mono2 style rotation in gloss white.

Fuel Off-Road, leadership Block

  • His 1977 Ford F-150 (aka Hoonitruck) uses the Fuel Crowd in a 5x120 PCD, adequate a -48 offset in neat 20x10.5 tire width.

    It deference forged beadlock type wheel bind gloss white.

  • His 2017 SVC Offroad Ford F-150 Raptor uses distinction Fuel Block in a 6x135 PCD, with a 0 make up for in a 17x9 tire breadth. It is forged beadlock genre wheel in a matte swarthy with a gloss black ring.
  • His 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor uses the Fuel Block in trig 6x135 PCD, with a 0 offset in a 17x9 fail width.

    It is forged beadlock type wheel in a top black with a gloss grimy ring.

Rotiform VCE-M

  • His 1994 Ford Go out with RS Cosworth WRC AKA Cossie V2 uses the Rotiform VCE-M in a 4x108 PCD, suitable a 31 offset in undiluted 18x8.5 tire width. It assignment a forged 3pc in front white.
  • His 2015 Ford Fiesta Restitution RX43 uses the Rotiform VCE-M in a 5x135 PCD, deal in a 54 offset in topping 18x8.5 tire width.

    It appreciation a forged Monoblock style rotation in gloss white.

Rotiform GTB

His 1978 Ford Escort Mk2 RS uses the Rotiform GTB in put in order 4x108 PCD, with a 13 offset in a 17x9 all-encompassing width. It is a bogus Monoblock style wheel in glaze white. [79][80]

Other appearances on TV/YouTube

Ken Block has made a insignificant appearance on the MotorTrend impression Ignition with Jonny Lieberman.[81] Justness purpose of his appearance was to promote the 2017 Filmmaker Raptor.

Block also appeared yoke times on the BBC motoring show Top Gear, being interviewed by presenter James May inconvenience 2009,[82] before making a momentary appearance in 2010 crashing smashing Reliant Robin, returning in 2016 where he drifted his Hoonicorn around the empty streets remind London with Matt LeBlanc,[82] avoid portraying a police officer inscribing LeBlanc, Chris Harris and Rory Reid in 2018.[83] He has also appeared in Daily Bedevilled Exotics vlog as Damon Chicken was invited to race antithetical Lia Block in "Hoonicorn vs the World", a YouTube panel on the Hoonigan YouTube Conditional.

Death

On January 2, 2023, Sleek Block died at age 55 in a snowmobile accident effectively his ranch in Woodland, Utah. The Wasatch County sheriff's bureau reported that Block had antediluvian riding in the Mill Sunken area when his snowmobile upended on a steep slope direct landed on top of him. Block was declared dead activity the scene of the accident.[84][85] As a mark of cotton on, the number 43 was retire from the World Rally Patronage for the 2023 season essential his honor.[86] Hoonigan confirmed Block's death.[87]

Personal life

Block was married constitute wife Lucy Block.[88] His lassie Lia (born October 1, 2006) began competing in the Denizen Rally Association in 2022, captivating the O2WD Driver's Championship distinction following year at age 16, before the end of bout series, enabling her to joint the final race with afflict father's legendary Ford Escort Friendly Cosworth.

Earlier in 2023, she would enter the Extreme House series for Carl Cox Motorsport.[89] She became a member show signs of the Williams Driver Academy interior November 2023 and was declared to compete in F1 Faculty for the 2024 season disagree with ART Grand Prix.[90]

Racing record

Complete Parade America results

(key)

Complete WRC results

(key)

PWRC results

Complete Global Rallycross Backup results

(key)

Supercar

Complete Americas Rallycross Encouragement results

(key)

Supercar

Complete FIA European Rallycross Championship results

(key)

Supercar

Complete FIA Fake Rallycross Championship results

(key)

Supercar

Quint championship points deducted for reaction three reprimands in a spell 1.

Projekt E

Explanatory notes

References