Remembering: How Rally Car Driver Ken Block Made Michigan Cool
Rally Car racing lost one of it's coolest, and most famous drivers to a tragic accident over the new years holiday.
DC Shoes co-founder and founder of the Hoonigan brand, Ken Block, passed away at the age of 55 on Monday January 2nd. According to the Wasatch County Sheriff's Office, he was in a snow mobile accident. The vehicle suddenly upended and landed on top of him, killing him almost instantly on the slope.
While he wasn't a Michigander, Ken Block wasn't a stranger to the streets of Detroit, filming one of his most iconic videos in the mitten state.
Not only did Ken Block score a massive win at Belle Isle in 2015, he was a regular around the city because he drove multiple Fords on and off the race track.
Later he returned to Motor City in 2017 with his Ford Mustang "Hoonicorn" RTR V2, and filmed Ken Block's GYMKHANA TEN.
You could see him drifting and sliding around downtown Detroit, as well as on and off I-75, past some iconic Detroit locations.
And yes, that was the monument to Joe Lewis (also known as The Fist) that he drifted around, and it's just as epic as you could imagine.
While Ken didn't live in Detroit, a piece of him lives inside the Henry Ford. You can find the 2011 Hoonigan Fiesta used in the filming of his video on display.
I spent time with it this summer, and honestly if you're a rally car fan it's worth the price of admission to see it in person.
Racing fans around the world are devastated over the loss of this rally car icon, and thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends, and fans during this difficult time.
