Yearly, tens of hundreds of individuals collect right here within the Mojave Desert with two objectives: to see some unimaginable off-road racing and to lose their minds within the sort of unbridled debauchery their moms at all times warned them about.
King of the Hammers is commonly described as “Burning Man for rednecks,” and whereas the drug of selection is normally Coors Mild and the vehicles are valued for efficiency fairly than creative sensibilities, the outline works. This 12 months, practically 80,000 individuals got here to the tenting space on Means Dry Lake, drawn by the promise of associates, gasoline, and two weeks of dirt-slinging, rock-spewing, mind-blowing racing.
Whereas some of us are acquainted with off-road races just like the Baja 1000 or the Dakar Rally, King of the Hammers is totally completely different. The rigs have to have the ability to conquer a high-speed desert part — normally which means impartial entrance suspension and loads of horsepower — however in addition they have to defy physics within the rock-crawling sections. A stable axle within the entrance and loads of torque is a necessity.
The issue of the rock sections is famous. Boulders the scale of a Mini Cooper are scattered all through a slim valley. Some are embedded within the floor, and others transfer if you put weight on them, which occurs usually. King of the Hammers rivals relish these rocks. They dwell for them. The rocks are their purpose for being.
Race vehicles can’t simply change their front-end suspension for every part, so it’s as much as the MacGyver-like minds of the fabricators to both make impartial entrance suspension work nicely within the rocks or engineer a stable entrance axle that may pace via the desert.
I’ve been to King of the Hammers no less than 5 instances — as a spectator, employees member, and this 12 months, as a competitor — however the thrill by no means diminishes. What began as a gaggle of friends who put a case of beer on the road for the one who may run all of the extremely troublesome rock-crawler trails in in the future has morphed right into a two-week off-road racing extravaganza with bikes, desert vehicles, UTVs, and limitless rock crawlers with 40-inch tires and an abundance of horsepower.
Drawn by the promise of associates, gasoline, and two weeks of dirt-slinging, rock-spewing, mind-blowing racing
Over 1,000 rivals take the inexperienced flag to battle a few of the hardest terrain in North America. Most will fail, however there’s honor to people who end and glory to people who win.
However it’s not simply the racing, and albeit, it’s not simply the extracurricular occasions that occur across the Hammers. Yearly, I take away some key classes from KOH that I can apply in my on a regular basis life. It is likely to be hokey, discovering inspiration in a two-week racing celebration, however what can I say? I’m a sentimental gal.
The races
The primary four-wheeled race came about on the only-on-the-desert sections, and I’m proud to say that your humble creator took the inexperienced beginning flag in her lifted Miata named Buddy. I’ve raced loads out right here however at all times in a automobile that was constructed for the desert, not in a freaking Miata. Amid a sea of vans thrice my dimension, I piloted Buddy via tough and sandy sections alike. Did I believe I used to be going to die? Sure, a number of instances. However I bought Buddy across the observe in a single piece to the slack-jawed amazement of multiple spectator.
It was Christopher Polvoorde in a 1,000-horsepower Mason Motorsports AWD truck who ultimately ran the quickest race, ending about two hours sooner than I did. Whereas I didn’t win any trophies, Buddy the Off-Street Miata actually received the hearts of loads of off-road followers that day.
Did I believe I used to be going to die? Sure, a number of instances
Count on the surprising. That’s Hammers.
After a number of days of qualifying periods, the UTVs set off across the course, encountering each high-speed desert operating and rock crawling. They usually needed to do it within the rain because of the atmospheric river that attacked California in February. Though Kyle Chaney made brief work of Johnson Valley, incomes his fourth first-place end within the occasion, third-place finisher Phil Blurton actually had fun.
“A mile into the race, I had my visor up, and we barrel-rolled the automobile, and I bought a face stuffed with dust. We landed on all fours and by no means let off and saved going,” mentioned Blurton.
Persevere. That’s Hammers.
Subsequent up, the Each Man Problem, the place the self-funded grassroots groups get their likelihood to shine. This 12 months, Keith and Melissa Silva defied conference of their garage-built electrical rock crawler, a mixture of Chevrolet S-10 and Tesla Mannequin S. Final 12 months, they weren’t capable of full a full lap, however this 12 months, because of a greater battery administration system, they earned first place within the EV class. Positive, they had been a category of 1, and their lap was shorter than different courses, however bringing a totally electrical rock crawler with 37-inch tires throughout the end line is an accomplishment, particularly when you think about that over 100 rivals weren’t capable of full the race.
Once I requested them why they torture themselves with the additional complexity of operating an EV, Melissa replied, “How straightforward is it to place an LS motor in and do what everybody else is doing? No person is pushing the boundaries. Any person has to do it and I might fairly it’s a single group.”
Whereas it was Randy Slawson who took high spot on the rostrum within the Each Man Problem, regardless of having to drive 10 miles on two flat tires to achieve his group in his pits for assist, the Silvas took the crown for not taking the straightforward method out.
Do it the laborious method. That’s Hammers.
Lastly, the Race of Kings introduced the entire occasion to a detailed. That is the preferred race, with autos fully limitless by way of energy, suspension, and tire dimension. Should you can construct it, you possibly can race it. Whereas it runs the identical course as the opposite races, these rivals must race the rock part twice.
“A mile into the race, I had my visor up, and we barrel-rolled the automobile, and I bought a face stuffed with dust.”
Out of 105 starters, solely 40 completed. One competitor misplaced their steering rack a mere 0.7 miles into the race. Two racers bought tangled collectively when one tried to drive over the opposite. One other group was all set to win however misplaced their transmission mere miles earlier than the end line. In a feat of terrific driving and only a small quantity of luck, JP Gomez, who had began 99th, took the win.
Gomez took the trophy from his brother Raul, who received in 2022 and 2023. The brand new king teared up when speaking about his brothers on the end line. “We labored our asses off. Everybody within the Gomez Brothers Racing group and household — all of them earned this as a lot as I did.”
Household first. That’s Hammers.
The nightlife
Because the course is closed to racers, it’s opened to spectators. A lot of the racecourse is on public land, which implies everybody has the best to entry it. And these spectators go laborious.
The largest celebration goes down on Chocolate Thunder. Sure, that’s the identify of the path. I do know it seems like one thing a 12-year-old boy would say, however the reality is, the primary individual to efficiently full a brand new path will get to call it. Some trails have been round for years and have names that make obscure sense like Outer Limits, Sledgehammer, or Wrecking Ball. These are phrases that conjure up photographs of actually troublesome rock trails. However then we get names like Chocolate Thunder. Or Her Downside. Might I curiosity you in a trip on Backdoor?
The largest celebration goes down on Chocolate Thunder — sure, that’s the identify of the path
At any fee, each night time at Chocolate Thunder, lots of of spectators present as much as check their garage-built rigs towards the rocks. It’s a veritable visitors jam with drivers making an attempt each driving line attainable and a few which can be not possible. Drivelines are destroyed, hubs are sheared off, and engines routinely go increase. Of us set off fireworks, placed on laser exhibits, and sure, have a fistfight or two. Should you flip your rig, you’ll get chastised by the gang, however of us will at all times enable you to recuperate. Whereas racers have to run absolutely caged autos with five-point harnesses and put on the suitable security gear, nighttime at King of the Hammers is a free-for-all. It’s unbridled chaos.
My pal Michael Teo Van Runkle skilled the spectacle that’s Chocolate Thunder at night time for the primary time this 12 months. “It’s gnarly,” he advised me. “Everyone seems to be wasted, everybody’s screaming. There are a number of side-by-sides with big speaker methods blasting early 2000s rap music and fashionable pop nation. Tires are blasting rocks into the gang and tearing up what’s going to be the race course the subsequent day.”
“In the meantime, the wind is blasting and there’s sand and smoke all over the place,” he continued. “The vans are spewing exhaust so that you’re hacking the entire time. My eyeballs had been coughing up grit and dust for 2 days however it was so price it…only a hard-core ragefest on the mountain with Mad Max apocalypse shit happening. It was superior.”
Get together like there’s no tomorrow. That’s Hammers.
Picture by Royce Rumsey / Optima Batteries
The EVs
Whereas the celebration rages on each night time on the path, these wanting one thing a bit extra staid, — and rather more techy — can take a look at the two-day Optima Unplugged occasion. For the second 12 months in a row, Optima Batteries had 67 electrified autos out to King of the Hammers for enjoyable path rides via Johnson Valley. Most contributors had been in Rivians, each the truck and SUV, however there have been additionally a number of Ford F-150 Lightnings, Toyota Tundra hybrids, and a Tesla Mannequin Y. To cost all of those EVs in the course of the desert, Renewable Improvements was alongside for the trip with its inexperienced hydrogen and solar-powered Cellular Vitality Command models, offering the free use of 4 Stage 3 chargers and 10 Stage 2 chargers.
“Only a hard-core ragefest on the mountain with Mad Max apocalypse shit happening”
Beginner Dennis Wang got here out together with his red-wrapped Cybertruck for a wonderful introduction to wheeling within the dust.
“This was my first time off-roading, my first time at King of the Hammers– first time at all the pieces,” he mentioned. “I didn’t know KOH was so large and this EV factor was solely like a sliver of what was happening. I used to be a bit anxious about off-roading however I discovered loads within the driver’s assembly and after the primary hour I used to be actually snug. At first I used to be apprehensive about charging however having Renewable Improvements there with its off-grid system was fairly cool. My CCS adapter didn’t work, so I ran the entire day on one cost. I made it dwelling, although!”
Picture by Royce Rumsey / Optima Batteries
There have been really two Cybertrucks on the occasion, as Tesla aftermarket provider Unplugged Efficiency introduced out its personal Cybertruck with the intent to seek out its limits — which ultimately took the type of a damaged rear tie rod. I used to be fortunate sufficient to get a fast drive in Elon Musk’s dream automobile and was stunned by the composed air suspension within the undulating whoops. I anticipated the entrance finish to get overwhelmed at speeds of 30 miles per hour or so, however it soaked up the hits no downside.
Ford Efficiency even introduced out its one-off Switchgear idea. The group took an F-150 Lightning and added longer-travel Fox shocks, beefier management arms, and 37-inch tires, after which let driver {and professional} fun-haver Vaughn Gittin Jr. free behind the wheel. I used to be relegated to the passenger seat, however man, what a thrill trip. We drifted throughout the dry lake mattress, threw up rooster tails within the comfortable sand, and usually hooned like irresponsible youngsters. If you wish to get most vary out of your EV when on the dust, don’t let the fun-haver behind the wheel. Throughout our drive, we solely managed 0.5 miles / kWh, and it was price each minute of additional time at Renewable Improvements.
Be completely different. That’s Hammers.
The drones
Even in the event you’re not at King of the Hammers, you possibly can watch all of the motion on the streaming dwell present. For 2 weeks, a few of the greatest off-road racing content material on the planet is streamed from a distant lake mattress onto YouTube. There are three jumbotrons, two distant reporters, dozens of static cameras, and no fewer than 20 drones capturing all of the motion on the ultimate day of racing.
“At first we used a DJI Encourage 1 drone,” mentioned operator Daniel Mayfield. “Now we now have these first-person view drones and we now have drone racers coming into cinematography. So we get flips and turns. We take the video feed out of their goggles and that’s what goes into the dwell present.”
No fewer than 20 drones capturing all of the motion on the ultimate day of racing
These first-person drones present an unimaginable view, moving into some shut quarters with 6,000-pound race vehicles as they arrive into the end. The fliers can spin, flip, and in any other case carry out spectacular acrobatics, offering a view to these at dwelling like no different.
Whereas it’s fairly straightforward to ship the end line footage to the manufacturing trailer a number of toes away, the manufacturing crew makes use of drones out on the course, too, usually miles away. Prior to now, microwave dishes have been used to relay footage again to the manufacturing trailer. This 12 months, it was all finished with Starlink. The video stream goes from the controller to a LiveU transmitter to a hardwired Starlink unit, though in addition they maintain a secondary Starlink on Wi-Fi as backup. The feed will get despatched to the manufacturing trailer the place the technical director can carry the drone feed out and in of the dwell present as obligatory.
A number of static cameras courageous the terrain, driving their very own rigs over tough desert terrain to capturing spots, establishing their Starlinks, and ready all day for the vehicles to come back by. They courageous the weather whereas the course is sizzling, enduring all the pieces from bitter winds and rain to the pounding solar. They usually do all of it for the shot.
The result’s 12 hours of uninterrupted protection, beamed out to the lots of of hundreds of race followers world wide. Followers appear to love it as nicely, with one Perry P commenting on YouTube, “It’s fairly wonderful that the KOH protection today is healthier high quality than Baja (1000) protection.”
At all times innovate. That’s Hammers.
The cleanup
Whereas your complete King of the Hammers group is dedicated to packing out what it packs in, some spectators will not be fairly so respectful of our public lands. Each morning, volunteers head as much as Chocolate Thunder and Backdoor for a cleanup. They’re led by Tread Flippantly, a nationwide group that promotes accountable off-roading, and the Sons of Smokey, a ragtag group of friends dedicated to the gathering and disposal of trash from public lands, and sponsored partly by Bronco Wild Fund.
These devoted volunteers are the true heroes of King of the Hammers. Over the 2 weeks of occasions, the morning cleanups netted 7,600 kilos of trash cleared off our public lands.
Including their very own twist to land stewardship was Dangerous Traces, Good Occasions and its King of the Canners effort. Armed with 21 empty 55-gallon gasoline drums with connected can crushers, the canners entered King of the Hammers on a mission: to gather and recycle as many aluminum cans as attainable. The contraptions had been scattered round common viewing spots in addition to the seller space often known as Hammertown and emptied a few times a day. In the long run, they hauled 267 kilos of aluminum off the lake mattress.
The group misplaced cash on the enterprise, as most cleanups normally do, however group member Elliot Strickler summed it up completely, “Doing nothing is just not an possibility.”
Do the best factor. That’s Hammers.
The end line
In fact, there are such a lot of extra tales to inform from the lake mattress. There was an invasion of old-school three-wheelers, a motorbike race the place bikes bought flipped and riders went flying, a contest to check the mettle of groups’ pit crews, 33 inventory Volkswagen bugs began their race facet by facet and all of it went horribly fallacious, a man whose automobile caught on hearth in the course of the night time whereas he slept subsequent to it, and numerous different debacles and victories that I don’t even find out about.
The racing at King of the Hammers is like no different. The place F1 cancels a race due to a manhole cowl and NASCAR throws a warning flag for an errant pebble on the observe, the rivals at King of the Hammers are stopped by nothing. It’s the one occasion the place a part of your race technique would possibly simply be driving off a cliff.