Ken Block’s daughter, Lia, joins the family business, car racing

Ken Block with his daughter, Lia, to the right, her younger sister on the far right, and their younger brother on the far left this week's rally race. Photo: Lucy Block (Facebook)

PORTLAND, Ore. —Lia Block, 15, was likely the only one entering this week’s Oregon Trail Rally Race, wearing braces.

On day one, in stage one of her first rally car race, Lia was in first place by eight seconds in front of the starting 33 competitors, half the field as they ran in reverse order by rank for that stage.

In a video on Facebook, an exuberant Block said, “I’m currently leading the Rally,” when asked, mid-race by an interviewer, how it was going in her R2, two-wheel-drive, non-turbo car, which, by the way, had barely-functioning lights to lead her through the dark track.

Lia’s dad is Ken Block, the biggest name in rally car driving history.

According to Lucy Block’s (Lia’s mother) Facebook, rally racer Travis Pastrana reminded Block that he met a six-month-old Lia at this same race almost 15 years ago.

“Now she is 15 years old and FAST! It is such a fun experience to watch your daughter become such a confident human,” wrote Lucy, adding a thank you to people outside of her family for helping get Lia started in the sport.

Lucy is a co-owner of Luna’s Kitchen in Park City, a gluten-free cafe and bakery, while Lia and her two younger siblings attend the Another Way School in Park City.

The Blocks moved to Park City a decade and a half ago, around the same time Ken, the co-founder of DC Shoes, got out of the shoe business. Shortly after, the Gymkhana 5 video put Ken and the burgeoning company YouTube in front of a lot of eyes. Block’s prowess behind the wheel schooled many, and Ken has racked up podium positions each year. Block also owns a motorsports speed empire, Hoonigan Racing Division.

The final results of Lia’s race series are yet to be contested; however, if her start is any indication, she is off to the races.