Though it's not even a fifth as long as a Baja 1000 race, and doesn't hold a candle to the Dakar for distance and endurance, some people are touting the still-young King of the Hammers race as possibly the toughest off-road race there is. The KoH race combines some of the hardest known rockcrawling trails with lots of high-speed stretches that demand that each vehicle entry not only be able to crawl over the gnarliest terrain but also go as fast as it can through the desert and over some severe whoops. In its third consecutive year, the King of the Hammers event managed to draw well over10,000 people out to Johnson Valley, not only making for quite an off-road event but also showing how important this area is to keep open to the public. If you can manage to get in the Johnson Valley (Southern California) area next February, we'd suggest checking the King of the Hammers race out for yourself. You have to have a couple of cute starting-line girls for any good race. But we have no idea what that starting-line dude was doing there....You have to have a couple of cute starting-line girls for any good race. But we have no id FOA and King Shocks seemed to be the popular choices for many competitors, but Fox, Bilstein, Sway-A-Way, and even Revolution Racing shocks found their way onto some buggies as well.FOA and King Shocks seemed to be the popular choices for many competitors, but Fox, Bilste Jeff Mello is seen here at the starting line. His engine ran rough off the line but he managed a strong finish, even with a number of rollovers.Jeff Mello is seen here at the starting line. His engine ran rough off the line but he ma The Gen Right buggy was built in-house from a carcass that they ripped down and almost completely redesigned before the race.The Gen Right buggy was built in-house from a carcass that they ripped down and almost com Many people came out to help lend a hand and run pits and support for competitors. And 99.9 percent of these guys were out here on their own dime, lending what little free time they had. Thanks to everyone who lent a hand at King of the Hammers.Many people came out to help lend a hand and run pits and support for competitors. And 99. The Offroad Design team was running King Shocks and 42-inch Goodyear MTRs on their entry vehicle.The Offroad Design team was running King Shocks and 42-inch Goodyear MTRs on their entry v The No.284 team of Jack Adams and Scott Maiden have finished the race consistently in the top 20 during the last three races using Jack's 7-year-old trail rig that he wheels on weekends and race preps once each year before King of the Hammers.The No.284 team of Jack Adams and Scott Maiden have finished the race consistently in the This year's King of the Hammers UTV race was good to Polaris, sweeping first, second, and third places. Mitch Guthrie took first riding solo for the second year in a row.This year's King of the Hammers UTV race was good to Polaris, sweeping first, second, and Who in the hell would stand at the finish line, in the freezing night, in a kilt?! Oh yeah, our 6-foot-4 friend, Tim Lund, would. And that's just fine with us.Who in the hell would stand at the finish line, in the freezing night, in a kilt?! Oh yeah A few competitors were running air shocks, but the greater majority of them were running coilovers. And some entries had even stepped up to coilovers and bypass shocks.A few competitors were running air shocks, but the greater majority of them were running c Pit Bull, Maxxis, Toyo, General, Goodyear, BFGoodrich, and Super Swamper, all had tires on competitors' buggiesPit Bull, Maxxis, Toyo, General, Goodyear, BFGoodrich, and Super Swamper, all had tires on Lots of guys spent many sleepless nights prepping for the race. Once race day came, five minutes of shuteye up against a tire was all competitors like the Watson brothers had time for.Lots of guys spent many sleepless nights prepping for the race. Once race day came, five m We commend Kevin Stearns of Pacific Fab for racing his K5 Blazer buggy with the fiberglass on it, but it definitely didn't look the same when he was done.We commend Kevin Stearns of Pacific Fab for racing his K5 Blazer buggy with the fiberglass Ken "Doc" Mercer did not have a good run this year, but he escaped with his life thanks to Joe Bunker, a member of the Red Hook Beer Group, who managed to cut the stuck harness and free Ken from the burning buggy. Goodyear, Raceline Wheels, Griffen Radiator and Master Pull have all decided to donate some gear to Joe for his heroic act during this year's race.Ken "Doc" Mercer did not have a good run this year, but he escaped with his life thanks to Loren Healy and co-driver Rodney Woodey took first place at this year's King of the Hammers race on Krawlers. Congrats to them!Loren Healy and co-driver Rodney Woodey took first place at this year's King of the Hammer By Jon Acuff Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!
