Ken Block Killed in Snowmobile Accident
Prominent rally racer and action sports star Ken Block passed away after a snowmobile accident in Utah on Monday, January 2, according to a statement posted on the Hoonigan website. He was 55 years old.
“Ken was a visionary, a pioneer, and an icon. And most importantly, a father and husband. He will be incredibly missed," said his team, Hoonigan Racing, in a statement.
Ken Block takes a photo with a fan during an autograph session at the 2022 SEMA Show.
In addition to his autograph sessions and special appearances, Block was a featured speaker at the 2022 SEMA Show Kickoff Breakfast, where he discussed the making of "Electrikhana," a tire-shredding trip on the Las Vegas Strip through the lens of a bespoke, 800-volt, bi-motor, AWD Audi S1, developed and built by Audi.
Block also competed in the American Rally Association (ARA) along with his wife Lucy and 16-year-old daughter Lia, one of three children. Block, a co-founder of the skateboarding brand DC Shoes, was also known for his Gymkhana action videos that received a large following on YouTube and related social media outlets.
For more information on Block, visit the Hoonigan Racing website.
MagnaFlow Group Acquires Camburg Engineering
The MagnaFlow Group has acquired Camburg Engineering, a leading brand in off-road racing and aftermarket suspension. Founded in 1997, Camburg was built on the philosophy of building durable race-winning technology for challenging off-road environments. The founders of Camburg Engineering, Jerry Zaiden and Jason Campbell, will continue their roles within the business, with their focus on shaping the future of suspension and off-road racing.
Jeep Wrangler High Tide and Limited-Run ‘Jeep Beach’ Models Return for 2023
The Jeep Wrangler High Tide and Wrangler Jeep Beach special-edition models will both return for the ’23 model year.
Jeep brand is once again heading seaside with the Wrangler High Tide and Wrangler Jeep Beach special-edition models, both of which return for the ’23 model year. This year’s Jeep Beach model commemorates the 20th anniversary of Jeep Beach in Daytona Beach, Florida.
“Jeep Beach week in Daytona Beach, Florida, is one of the biggest Jeep vehicle events in America, bringing in more than 200,000 Jeep fans and 20,000 Jeep SUVs in 2022 alone,” said Jim Morrison, senior vice president and head of Jeep brand – North America.
The ’23 Jeep Wrangler High Tide, based on the Sport S model and powered by the 3.6L Pentastar V-6 and eight-speed automatic transmission. Available for order this month to arrive in time for next April’s Jeep Beach week, the ’23 Jeep Wrangler High Tide is priced at a U.S. MSRP of $51,540 (all prices exclude $1,795 destination charge).
Xcite Automotive Launches the Xcite Trade Network
Xcite Automotive has announced the launch of Xcite Trade Network (XTN) to provide dealers a more efficient, effective, and economical way to purchase and sell wholesale vehicles.
Xcite is leveraging new technologies to provide dealers access to over 60,000 vehicle listings in a marketplace designed to allow dealers to buy and sell confidently and with peace of mind. With the launch of XTN, Xcite Automotive provides one centralized solution to assist its 1300+ dealers in the process of selling and acquiring wholesale vehicles.
Wes Wise Joins AACF Board of Trustees
The Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation (AACF) announced the election of Wes Wise, vice president, professional sales for O’Reilly Auto Parts, to its board of trustees. Wise joined O’Reilly in 1991 as a merchandising specialist at a store in Springfield, MO, where he held many different management positions within the organization. He was promoted to his present position in January 2022.
“Wes has many years of experience from the store level up and is well connected in the automotive aftermarket,” said Larry Magee, president of AACF. “He is passionate about helping people and will bring another strong voice to our growing board of directors. AACF is very fortunate to have Wes contributing his time and talent to the growth of the Foundation.”
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