12-02-2025
Ken Block Exhibit Slides into the Petersen Museum Feb. 15
The life and cars of video star and rallymeister Ken Block are being celebrated at a new exhibit at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles that opens Feb. 15.
Block is best known for his Gymkhana driving videos, where the Hoonigan co-founder rallies through city streets, country roads, and abandoned military bases all over the world, snapping off jumps and barely missing various fixed objects, basically doing what we all think we could do, too, given the right circumstances. But of course, we couldn't do it. It's just that Block made it look so easy.
The exhibit was already in the planning stages years ago, before Ken Block's untimely death in a snowmobiling accident two years ago. Enthusiasm for the show never really waned, especially at the Petersen, so it has come full circle.
The Petersen calls the exhibit 'the most comprehensive public display of Block's collection ever assembled' and says it 'celebrates the enduring legacy of one of motorsport's most legendary figures.'
In 2013, just five years into his fame, Block received the Petersen's Inspiration Award for 'his contributions to growing and inspiring the next generation of auto enthusiasts,' according to exhibit assistant curator Michael McCardle.
While a handful of Ken Block's cars were shown at The Henry Ford as part of a larger motorsports exhibit, this Petersen showing will be the first one that has been done specifically focusing on the life and career and impact of Ken Block.
'It's certainly the largest gathering of any of his most famous vehicles that's ever been put together,' McCardle said.
Among the cars on display are:
1965 Ford Mustang RTR 'Hoonicorn' featured in Gymkhana SEVEN, Gymkhana TEN, and Climbkhana. This was the world's first all-wheel-drive performance Mustang, the Hoonigan team said at the time. Following its debut in Gymkhana SEVEN, it earned a reputation as one of the most iconic custom vehicles ever built.
2022 Porsche 911 SVRSR 'Hoonipigasus' is a 1,400-hp Porsche built for the 2022 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Unfortunately, after promising practice runs, the engine failed just before race day and Block didn't get to see what it would do in competition.
2005 Subaru Impreza WRX STI featured in Gymkhana: Practice (or Gymkhana ONE) and 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI featured in Gymkhana TWO. These vehicles were constructed as successors to Ken Block's original 1991 Ford Escort Cosworth Group A rally car, which he competed in and used as one of five vehicles in Gymkhana TEN.
The 1977 Ford F-150 Hoonitruck was created for Gymkhana TEN, partially out of Block's general love for trucks, and also as a tribute to his late father who had the exact same base truck back in the day. The 3.5-liter, twin turbocharged, Ford Performance/Roush Yates EcoBoost V6 makes 914 hp and 702 lb-ft of torque. The custom-tuned engine features a billet-aluminum block lifted directly out of the Ford Racing Ford GT Le Mans development program, according to Hoonigan.
2022 Audi S1 E-Tron Quattro 'Hoonitron' Inspired by the Audi Sport Quattro S1 rally car of the 1980s, Ken Block and Audi created an entirely new car for a series of Gymkhana spinoffs called Electrikhana.
In addition to the cars, there will be a number of screens throughout the Bruce Meyer Family Gallery playing Gymkhana videos on a loop. You could spend hours in there.
The exhibit opens Feb. 15 and will run through October.
