Members of the motorsports community around the world posted heartfelt tributes for rally driver and 'Gymkhana' sensation Ken Block in the hours following his death Monday in a snowmobile accident.
On Tuesday, his 16-year-old daughter Lia, a promising young racer following in her talented father's footsteps, posted her own heartfelt tribute to her dad and "best friend."
"Yesterday I didn’t just lose my father, I lost my best friend," Lia Block said in an Instagram post with a photo of the pair, their backs turned to the camera. "He was truly my whole world and the only person I ever looked up to. No matter what I did he was always there to support me. I can’t believe how fast he was taken from all of us.
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"No words can describe of how much of an amazing human my dad was, he lived so many lives, accomplished more in 55 years than most people could in 10 lifetimes, and lived his life to the absolute fullest every single day."
Lia Block has made regular appearances on the Hoonigan YouTube channel over the past two years. She was part of a four-part video series with her father detailing the rebuild of a 1985 Audi Ur Quattro. Ken Block's final Instagram and Facebook posts mentioned the series finale was scheduled to debut Tuesday.
“We owe your father so much, and we will always be here for you and your family,” said Hoonigan co-founder Brian Scotto one of many supportive replies to Lia Block's Instagram post.
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Block, 55, was killed Monday in a snowmobile accident in Utah, according to a statements from Hoonigan Industries, the company he founded, and the Wasatch County Sheriff's Department. Block, who had a home in Utah, was riding a snowmobile on a steep slope when it upended and landed on top of him the sheriff's department said. He died at the scene.
The trailblazing Block entertained millions with his spectacular 'Gymkhana' video series featuring immense car control skills that earned him respect from some of the world's biggest racing stars. He started out in rally driving, but gained a large and loyal subscriber base on YouTube and Instagram with his jaw-dropping "Gymkhana" series. The 10-part video series features Block performing stunning maneuvers and stunts in different types of vehicles.
"Ken was a visionary, a pioneer and an icon. And most importantly, a father and husband," Hoonigan Industries said in its statement. "He will be incredibly missed."
Block co-founded the automotive apparel and lifestyle brand influenced by motorsports and his own style. His rise to fame began as a rally drive in Rally America and Global Rallycross, then skyrocketed to a broad global audience with his Gymkhana videos.
Block also competed in action sports events including skateboarding, snowboarding and motocross. He founded DC Shoes and operated the Hoonigan Store in Compton, selling apparel and car parts.
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