Ken Block - now with Ford Racing(As Seen in USA Today) The second stop of the Rally America circuit concluded last weekend with action sports icon and entrepreneur, Ken Block along with co-driver Alex Gelsomino, claiming a fifth consecutive 100 Acre Wood Rally victory in Salem, MO.

Block is the co-founder of DC Shoes, a $450 million dollar lifestyle, apparel and hardgoods brand (Quiksilver, Inc. - ZQK) that has traditionally catered to the surf, skateboard and snowboarding set. Yet while his company's roots began making rubber-soled skate shoes in the early 90s, Block's personal passion with rally has a longer history. "I've loved rally since I was kid," says Block. "I can remember first watching it on ABC's Wide World of Sports."

That hobby eventually evolved to his status as a bonafide pro driver in 2005 and the sport's defacto promoter in North America.

In 2009, Block starred in a DC-produced viral video titled Gymkhana TWO. The high definition, 7-minute rally-oriented film got over 17 million views on Youtube and won a coveted One Show Pencil Award, recognizing excellence in advertising and online branded entertainment.
Photo: Neil McDaid /MWRT Photo
Ken Block at the 100 Acre Wood Rally
This confluence of sport, marketing and cutting edge cool, makes the rally realm an ideal fit for Block's brand and youth-oriented ethos, and he's not alone.

"Not only do [motocross athlete] Travis Pastrana and myself race," says Block. "But [pro BMX rider] Dave Mirra does as well."

Participation by such key influencers in rally has the added effect of drawing younger fans to the motorsport.

"Rally embodies the youthful energy of action sports fans," says Rallyfix.com editor Bill Lockwood. "By using cars that we buy and drive on the street, it gives anyone a chance to own a piece of rally in their everyday lives."

The next Rally America event is the Olympus Rally in Olympia, Washington, April 24-25.

- James Sullivan

100 Acre Rally Recap Video

Ken Block Gymkhana TWO Premiere