Omens, Living In Your Life - Day After Ken Block Passing

(I wrote this yesterday, but I did not want to seem like I was jumping on the bandwagon to get this out with what happened)

Signs, Omens, whatever you want to call them. I am being told not to do what I have been doing in the past. But, what happened the day prior was the essence of as close to an actual face slap. I did not see it as such until ……………………..

A person died today that I won’t attempt to describe their legacy, but they were a part of the culture for those that were involved in everything

• Skateboarding
• Lifestyle
• Shoes
• Rally
• X Games
• Gymkhana
• YouTube Personality
• Business — Custom Shop, Special Builds, EV Radical Cars,
• Merchandise
• his Brand HOONIGAN

He was the combination of a James Dean, Paul Newman, and of course, his own Brand HOONIGAN but he was an all-around hell of a nice person and was a true master of his craft. He was larger than life, a Superhero of all things that were extreme, dangerous, and living with all you have each chance he had to showcase it. If you are offended because it vitriolizes, sorry, but he was the epitome of BRASS ONES as big as there ever were! He lived all Balls Out. — As visceral as it sounds, that is the only similar comparative analogy I can use. He passed away by doing something he was known for but in a different way and style. 

He was known worldwide, had no mean word to say to anyone, and had never been poorly spoken in public.

But unfortunately or not, he pushed the envelope because that is what he was about. Hell, he destroyed the envelope. His style became a thing to be imitated repeatedly but never duplicated. There will be many articles about his achievements and stunts. Reading of his past extraordinary feats, one would label him ‘Superhuman.’

Yesterday, in the afternoon, I was sent a clear wake-up call, as I stated at the start. This was before knowledge of the news and discussion with my significant other. Her response was the not-so-kind, but what was he thinking at that age and his family kind of retort?

“I think 50 is the year we determine what we want to be for the rest of our lives. Take stock of ourselves and think about the future for the long run.”

In addition, why would he even do this while having so much to lose? We both contemplated.

Common sense to any Lehman person such as you and or me, especially with a family. But he was not built that way; most, if not all, would see that and feel it just by watching how he does what he does when he does?”

In my mind, “why would he stop doing what he loved to do, and was his passion his whole life?”

All these combined experiences were always going for the next ‘high’ or best in whatever he strapped himself into. Then as this happens, we worship those that take risks in the complete insanity that they are doing what we all know is death-defying to a point it must be outdone to be outdone. Please take it to the edge and then repeat. He was a conqueror in all that he tried; he was the one that he wanted to top when he was already on the top.

Any iota of a doubt — what I am saying in any shape, way, or fashion, Take A Look At The Gymkhana videos series. They are a true testament to an artist constantly pushing himself further and further. He never allowed what was spectacular in the past to be some median.

• He was passionate about the people, fans, the automotive culture.
• He celebrated whatever sport he was in and wanted all competitors to do well in the competitions. Youth were inspired and will be continually inspired because of his daring stunts and personability.
• He never boasted about how he could do this and look at me, look at me kind of person.

Some of us have this trait of being advantageous to risk-taking in our DNA. I was found to be of like personality traits. I was told that this was in mine due to the shrink tests and analysis. I am not bragging by any means; it is just part of the tale I am telling when it comes to the moment when someone from up above was saying,

“hey, you Kevin, you better watch your shit.”

I, too, liked to push the envelope now and then. Driving was my tool of choice. I am not at the same level, but when the weather conditions are pleasant, or hell, when they are not exactly ideal, I will get on it when going on 71. Sometimes I will wind it up more than others. Post times of these little ‘fits of F1,” I will call them; I am just about giddy with myself over the previous couple of hours.

My car is the unequivocal definition of a shitbox, and I know it; I am not doing anything close to the departed person’s exploits.

I like exploring my inner Senna, John force, Kyle Larson, and Paul Newman.

Believe it or not,(in my mind) I AM James Dean-esque when he is shown at the gas station along his Porsche 356 Spyder.

Essence of Cool

• The cigarette in his mouth while tightening up his leather driving gloves before his final trip into eternity. That one last shot is the definition of COOL.

Middle-age crisis, call it whatever you will; I feel ALIVE in that car and those small experiences of euphoria.

“A complete indulgence of self-realization where my

• The senses are heightened to a keenness of every little feeling of the car is part of me.
• The sweet sound of the rising decibels of the engine being wound up towards the redline.
• The feeling of the speed being more pronounced and viscerally experienced due to the lack of the things that make a car what SCAB is not. The words safe, practical, boring, typical, and dull

Yesterday was that day. Damn, the dry rot and grooved tires. The grooves are no accident, but the result has been given due to the fenders rubbing and vibration here and there before reaching speed.

“Did it vibrate like this in the past, like a couple of months ago? I was thinking back to reassure myself of alerting myself that something may be amiss?”

I made my way up to 79 towards the highway. A light spitter of rain formed on the windshield, my wipers work, but when I put them on, one was a little too big. Let us say they are there for the looks alone. I cranked up the heat; it has no dash due to cracking in pieces the first week, but never mind, the heat does come out. It was want to turn it entirely off, but in trying to attempt that, the car almost stalled. The blower will stay on and might as well turn hot; turning it to cold does not get the compressor to come on because it is not connected.

About 5 miles from the highway, I get it up towards the speed limit of 50. Just like that, the vibration went away, or it was such a rate that it was just part of the road ride. So, I put my hand on the left side mirror; the other one, I accidentally broke up, attempting to adjust it. But I have a rearview one. As it matters, I always turn my head around when changing lanes, no matter what. SUVs were catching up to me and then backing away to check what the shitbox was all about. Was it smart, or was it wise? Nope not really, but after deciding what to do or not to do, I decided to make the little run.

I have a little ‘ritual’ I perform come about 3/4 of a mile away from the on-ramp to the highway. (I used to do the same thing when I rode rollercoasters, especially the upside ones, but that was with the bars going across your chest) In SCAB, my hand tugs at the seat belt to verify that I am tight and snug down in the seat. (Like that will help when the holes in the floorboard give away cracks at speed.) Hell, I have a rollbar, but with further examination with cleaning, that is not precisely a WHOLE roll bar.

It was dry, okay, with a slight fib, as it was a little damp. But the hell with it; if I wanted safe, I would have walked away after the first little drive when I almost careened the Camry that was sitting on the other side of the block the time I first drove it lol =P

Well, they did tell me the wheels are stance, and they rub, making it very hard to turn them. That was it for me; I wanted to buy it right after. So cool that the windows don’t have handles. Too cool, what a shitbox, lol =)

I wanted an experience, and that is what I GET EACH TIME =) No ifs, and, or buts about it, lol I nodded to myself to verify that it was the stupid and the craziest decision of my life, and I had maybe a tad too many of these that have come more often than not in a regular and ordinary existence, lol.

Be that as it may, I got on the ramp, letting 2nd go to close to 7,000, 3 go to a little before, and 4thwell, let’s say I had to switch to 5 because I was running out of on-ramp and the speed limit was already there. It felt stable; I took the first mile or two well. Hitting the usual bump that I hit hard as it did in the past; no burning or grinding smell, good old SCAB =) I caught up with the newest and BADASSEST Dodge truck from Michigan.

Time to play, my head responds to this vision. =) I passed him, and then he passed me. Smiles all around, and an immense Rock On salutes back and forth. A shit-eating grin on my face, and the speed was whatever the rest of the peeps were doing. Proud was proud as I could be. So far, I have not had anyone NOT smile at least one time while I take SCAB here and there =)

(After all, I did not want to hold anyone up.)

I want to show you how low this car is on the road. At a stop light, I am looking up at whatever car is next to me =) Sad but true and damn funny and crazy all at the same time. So take that on the highway, and the diesel tanks on a semi-truck are HIGHER than my car lol =P Images of Fred Flintstone (hence feet on the ground) would be the correct assumption should anything happen to my ‘sturdy’ frame, lol.

The ride was starting brilliantly, as they would say in Top Gear, give or take. Also, the gauge cluster was 2/3 fogged up with condensation caused by the blower and the humidity. Did I mention all the gauges bounced around? Nope, it’s not a valid or good excuse if I would get pulled over.

Still, the last time they targeted people with radar, the Ohio Highway Patrol Guy waved at me, so I have that going for me.

But what was I saying? Oh Yeah, I went a little further than I had done in the past, besides when I first bought it and drove it back from Reynoldsburg. It had been ½ year or so of sitting, running, sitting, and getting to beat on. I am sure it is perfectly safe. With the Dodge Truck on my right and me drafting behind a semi, I was going the speed limit, and the exit was coming up. More Rock on Salutes was given and received, and a big thumbs up with smiles all around, and I made my way back to where I started this stupid shit, as they say.

Common sense almost happened, lol.

I paused just for a second. I thought it a hell of a lot safer if anything should happen on a side road over something happening and being on the highway. The dreadful thought of getting to shoulder and slowing down, risking life and limb if shit happened.

Nope, eff it, I am in for a penny, and I will be in for a pound, or whatever that cliché is from g-d knows how long ago. Now I slowly turned. The tires rub the fenders, which transfer to the steering wheel, and a little drop in my throat; then I once again remember that it is what it is and then come to the hard half-turn that will further engrain the same tires. I laughed my ass off when I first experienced that after I drove it back. This was the initial drive with the significant other, lol.

Anywhoo, so back too far from dry on the ramp. I shift into second and let it redline, and I take it to 3rd a little before redlining and forth a little more than the speed limit; I go into 5th. One thing I love to do is downshift it let the gear redline and then go back into fifth; why, just because it sounds brilliant, as they would say in Top Gear. Funny, with 248,000 miles, that engine still humps around like that =)

Here is the key to this whole thing. I have a sticker on the rollbar, well, it was there when I got the car, and I put it back on after horrendously and on purpose making the roll bar orange. This was something I wanted to keep; damn the adhesive; I reattached right where it was initially with the same tape and taped the bumpers to the fenders.

Yes, that much of a shit box, no joke. 

I saw something that would fly off while having my little excursion. In a split second, that sticker went off the rollbar. From there, it was above me and right in front of my face. I grabbed it without wanting to litter and, g-d forbid, lose it. Sure, traffic was moving quickly earlier, and Dodge and I might have gotten slightly carried away. But no harm, no foul, as they say. I am saving a GRIM REAPER sticker, of all things, while the car is pleased doing what I intended to do just cruise.

After I came home, I started to think about it. I thought it very comical when you think about how the sticker fluttered in the breeze with just the top still adhered to it, and then like that, it was in my hand. Realization hits hard, you can hide, but it is still a wake-up call. That was after I was buttoning the top down again, and I noticed that nice-sized hole in the floorboard that I never saw prior. When vacuuming in the past, I did notice some spots of rust that went through, but not that one. When I walked in the door, my significant other asked me how it was

I responded as if a mischievous Middle Ages dolt drunk from a night of folly in the town village,

“FUN HAD!”

When I pulled in, I revved the engine like I always did once or twice and laughed like a maniacal madman, I have been told. But g-d dam, it is so much fun every time I get in there.

Now, I am 50 and a half; I reflect on that slight euphoria as I have named it. Now take that compared to Ken Block’s life, and that is all his life was mostly about, getting that euphoria every day! I can’t even imagine if it is someone’s life, deep in their soul as it was with his; how could anyone turn that kind of desire off?

No one would know how because that made him what he was.

How would you or could you ever be living the life you created if you could not live the life you created for yourself? Right or wrong, dangerous, insane, crazy, or stupid, when those who risk life and limb reach the pinnacle, could you live your life in any other way?

Is this not the ONE SOMETHING that we all want in one way or another in some sense or in such a way that makes LIFE that much better while we are living?

Sign or omen from me, I hear ye loud and clear; it could have been a sign, but true living one’s life is about those times that make you feel just that to ALIVE to its CORE!

Ken Block was an example of exactly that!