Skip to main content

Action Sports pioneer Dave Mirra dies at 41

Dave-Mirra Rallycross
Lars Gange
The action sports world was constructed on the shoulders of some extremely brave and talented athletes, and Dave Mirra can certainly be counted among them.

His extraordinary success adds to the shock of his passing yesterday. Mirra was found dead in his truck in Greenville, North Carolina from an “apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound” to the head. Mirra had reportedly been visiting friends shortly before the incident.

A winner of 24 X-Games medals during his illustrious carer, Mirra was a champion of the BMX bike community before he retired in 2011. Not long after, Subaru scooped up Mirra, along with a few other big names from the action sports world like Bucky Lasek and Travis Pastrana, to join its Rallycross team.

In a 2013 interview with ESPN, Mirra explained why he chose to make a career shift:

“For me it came down to risk versus reward; my mental stance on it was that I always loved to progress, first and foremost. It was never going to be that fun for me to go on riding on a plateau level and not keep progressing, but by the same token I got to a point where I really couldn’t take getting injured anymore in the name of progression. It put me in a stalemate. I probably could have milked BMX for a lot longer if I’d really wanted to, but that’s not my style.”

During my own discussions with Bucky Lasek at last year’s GRC Exhibition in Austin, Texas, he expressed the same frustration with continuous injuries over his skateboarding career.

The Greenville police department confirmed Mirra’s death yesterday. Mirra is survived by his wife and two children.

“We mourn the loss today of a great friend and wonderful human being who touched the lives of so many around the world with his gift,” said City of Greenville Mayor, Allen Thomas. “He called Greenville, North Carolina home and was as humble a guy talking with kids on a street corner about bikes as he was in his element on the world stage. A young life with so much to offer was taken too soon.”

Several of Mirra’s pro athlete friends, including Ken Block and Tony Hawk, posted tributes to the star and wished encouragement to Mirra’s wife and children.

Miles Branman
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Miles Branman doesn't need sustenance; he needs cars. While the gearhead gene wasn't strong in his own family, Miles…
Tesla Model 3 vs. Hyundai Ioniq 6: Which electric sedan is best?
Front three quarter view of the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6.

There are finally some more electric sedan options. For years, the Tesla Model 3 was really the only good electric sedan that comes at a reasonable price -- until, Hyundai recently launched the Ioniq 6. The Ioniq 6 certainly takes some cues from the larger Ioniq 5, but is smaller and sleeker, with a design seemingly inspired by the Porsche 911.

But the Tesla Model 3 is still clearly an excellent option for those looking for an electric car, and who don't want a larger crossover. Which is better? Here's a look.
Design
The exterior design of the Tesla Model 3 and Hyundai Ioniq 6 is quite different. If you've seen a Tesla car before, then you'll immediately recognize the Model 3 -- it looks largely like a slightly different version of every other Tesla (except the Cybertruck).

Read more
Scout Motors Electric SUV: rumored price, release date, design, and more
Scout SUV Teaser

There's another electric SUV on the way, and this one comes with a familiar name. Volkswagen is reviving the classic Scout name for a new electric SUV that's billed as being an "RUV," or a rugged utility vehicle. And, it could well prove itself as the best electric SUV in its price range, when it does finally come out.

The new EV isn't due out for quite some time, but there's already a fair bit that we know about it. Curious to learn more? Here's everything you need to know about the upcoming Scout SUV.
Design
There's very little we actually know about the Scout SUV so far, but we do know a little about the eventual design. A few teasers for the upcoming vehicle have been released, showing sketches of both the SUV and the accompanying pickup truck, along with what's presumably the front of the SUV -- though in a dark environment, with little detail.

Read more
Volkswagen ID.GTI concept is another icon reimagined as an EV
Front three quarter view of the Volkswagen ID.GTI concept.

Volkswagen reinvented one of its most iconic models with the ID.Buzz, a modern, all-electric homage to the classic Microbus. But that's not the only fan favorite vehicle currently in the automaker's catalog.

Debuting at the 2023 Munich Auto Show, the Volkswagen ID.GTI concept aims to do for the Golf GTI hot hatchback — VW's signature performance car — what the ID.Buzz did for the Microbus. VW claims a production version has already been given the green light, although it won't say when it will appear.

Read more