Ken Block, star of the YouTube Gymkhana rally stunts and owner of Hoonigan Racing died yesterday at his Utah ranch due to a snowmobile accident. Ken Block was a professional rally driver and competed mostly in North America and later in the World Rally Championship, first for Subaru and then for Ford.

Block came to prominence via YouTube with his series of Gymkhana videos where he put his rally experience to good use with highly polished, cinematic rear wheel stunt-drifting.

Gymkhana merged into a marketing powerhouse when Block teamed up with the Monster Energy drinks brand. Towards the end of his life, the Block brand was worth an estimated $100M.

Personally, I wasn’t really into the whole marketing side, I have never bought or consumed a Monster Energy branded drink, but I always watched a Block Gymkhana video with awe and respect.

Ken Block, dude, we salute you!