Categories: This Day

November 21, 1967 – Rally driver and gymkhana pro Ken Block is born

The goal: memorize the course and get from the starting line to the finish line as quickly as possible without crashing into the objects placed in the path. That’s gymkhana, in a nutshell, if you are unfamiliar with it. It’s the motorsport that Ken Block, born on this day in 1967, has become world famous for. While most of us peasants would likely have to play it out between cones in a parking lot, Block is well known for tearing up the streets of major cities around the world.

Ken Block. By EKSRX – Ken Block (USA), CC BY 2.0,

Prior to blowing up for his skills behind the steering wheel, he co-founded DC Shoes in 1994 in light of passion for another set of four wheels. The skateboarding shoe company made Block a wealthy man, allowing him to pursue his interests in motorsports, but he still had to earn his stripes.

In 2005 Ken Block made his rally debut, driving a Subaru STI for Vermont SportsCar team. During the 2005 season, Block had five top five finishes and fourth overall in the Rally America National Championship. His efforts earned him Rally America Rookie of the Year accolades. In 2007 he entered his first World Rally Championship races, in New Zealand and Mexico.

Above: Ken Block at the 2017 Rally Catalynya. By Ramon Espiña Fernand…, CC BY-SA 3.0
Top: Block testing a Ford Fiesta for the 2010 Rally America season. By John & Dez from Woodstock Ga., U.S.A. – Ken Block SnoDrift, CC BY 2.0

In 2010, after joining Ford’s Rally team, Block released his first gymkhana video. He has released many more since, as well as video of him racing through San Francisco and London. The former featuring Matt LeBlanc. Watch it below.

Brian Corey

Recent Posts

November 20, 2011 – Famed Ferrari designer Sergio Scaglietti dies

Scaglietti, left, in his body shop Sergio Scaglietti opened Carrozzeria Scaglietti, an auto repair and…

2 days ago

November 19, 1959 – Ford announces the end of Edsel

Too much money. Too much hype. Too much of the same old thing. Designed to…

2 days ago

Rare 1955 Mercedes Truck for Sale

This 1955 Mercedes-Benz 170 S-D Diesel pickup truck appears to be an exceptionally rare find,…

2 days ago

November 18, 1960 – End of the line for DeSoto

1961 DeSoto Less than a week after Chrysler acquired Dodge Brothers, it debuted its new…

4 days ago

November 17, 1986 – The Assassination of Renault CEO Georges Besse

Georges Besse (Renault) On this day in 1986 Georges Besse, the 58-year-old CEO of French…

5 days ago

November 16, 1904 – The history of auto theft in Los Angeles begins with first recorded stolen car in the city

1905 White steam car. Not the first stolen car, but similar. This one is known…

6 days ago