The King of the Hammers, is considered the "toughest one day off road race in the world." It is the cornerstone of a week long off road festival in Johnson Valley, California. More than 60,000 spectators are expected to attend while millions more watch online! From January 27 to February 5, the epic King of the Hammers week will be on stage in the Johnson Valley (CA).

Photography and story by Paolo Baraldi

Once upon a time there was a knight, named Dave Cole, who dreamed of a new way to ride the desolate lands of Johnson Valley.

 

In 2007, this vision of him came true!

 

13 knights, the OG13, aboard their roaring 4-wheel drive horses, competed in the Lakebed to see who was the fastest to ride 35 miles on Johnson Valley's toughest Hammers.

 

In that distant 2007 the King of the Hammers was born: the toughest one-day offroad race, where, today, vehicles called Ultra4 whiz through the desert at 135 miles per hour with 40-inch tires and with the same vehicle they climb the rocky canyons with huge boulders.

 

These are real heroes!

 

And these are the Kings of the King of the Hammers:

 

2007: JR Reynolds

2008: Shannon Campbell

2009: Jason Scherer

2010: Loren Healy

2011: Shannon Campbell

2012: Erik Miller

2013: Randy Slawson

2014: Loren Healy

2015: Randy Slawson

2016: Erik Miller

2017: Shannon Campbell

2018: Jason Scherer

2019: Jason Scherer

2020: Josh Blyler

2021: Randy Slawson

Today, the King of the Hammers has become an event within an event, a whole week of unique and adrenaline-pumping racing.

 

From January 27 to February 5, the epic King of the Hammers week will be on stage with this program:

 

- Thursday, January 27, 2022 (Hammertown Opens)

 

Pre-Running Full Course

 

12:00 PM Pre-Running Opens / Course Map Released – Must be Registered 

 

- Friday January 28, 2022

 

Pre-Running Full Course

 

7:00 PM Toyo Tires Desert Challenge presented by Monster Energy, Mandatory Driver’s Meeting (All Classes) 

 

- Saturday January 29, 2022 ~ Toyo Tires Desert Challenge for Limited Buggies, presented by Monster Energy (B2, B3 & B4), Day 1

 

Pre-Running Closed / Hot Racecourse

 

7:00 AM Toyo Tires Desert Challenge presented by Monster Energy Contingency / Tech / Qualifying

 

11:00 AM Toyo Tires Desert Challenge presented by Monster Energy - Limited Buggies (B2, B3 and B4) Day One Racing

 

6:00 PM Class 11 Showdown

 

7:00 PM Live Music Begins 

 

- Sunday January 30, 2022 ~ Toyo Tires Desert Challenge for Unlimited Trucks and Buggies, presented by Monster Energy (T1, T2, B1 & U4), Day 2

 

Pre-Running Closed / Hot Racecourse

 

10:00 AM Toyo Tires Desert Challenge presented by Monster Energy - Unlimited Trucks and Buggies (T1 / T2 / B1 & U4) Day Two Racing

 

7:00 PM King of the Hammers Qualifying: Mandatory Drivers Meeting 

 

- Monday January 31, 2022 ~ Can-AM UTV King of the Hammers: Qualifying | The Holley EFi Shootout

 

Pre-Running Day (short course closed for pre-running & Shootout area closed for pre-running)

 

9:00 AM Can-Am UTV King of the Hammers Qualifying

 

4:00 PM Power Hour

 

6:00 PM Holley EFi Shootout Presented by King Shocks & Action Sports Canopies 

 

- Tuesday February 1, 2022 ~ 4WP Every Man Challenge: Qualifying | The Pit Crew Challenge presented by Pro Eagle and Buggy Whips

 

Pre-Running Day (short course closed)

 

9:00 AM 4WP Every Man Challenge Qualifying

 

12:00 PM Great American Short Course Exhibition

 

4:00 PM Power Hour

 

5:30 PM The Pit Crew Challenge, presented by Pro Eagle and Buggy Whips 

 

- Wednesday February 2, 2022 ~ King of the Hammers: Qualifying + LCQ

 

Pre-Running Day (short course closed)

 

9:00 AM King of the Hammers: Qualifying

 

10:00 AM Can-Am UTV King of the Hammers: Tech & Contingency

 

4:00 PM Power Hour

 

6:00 PM Mandatory Drivers meeting (All Classes | KOH, EMC, UTV)

 

7:00 PM Live Music Begins 

 

- Thursday February 3, 2022 ~ The Can-Am UTV King of the Hammers

 

Pre-Running Closed / Hot Racecourse

 

8:00 AM The Can-Am UTV King of the Hammers START

 

10:00 AM 4WP Every Man Challenge: Tech & Contingency

 

5:00 PM The Can-Am UTV King of the Hammers END 

 

- Friday February 4, 2022 ~ 4WP Every Man Challenge

 

Pre-Running Closed / Hot Racecourse

 

8:00 AM The 4WP Every Man Challenge START

 

10:00 AM King of the Hammers, powered by Optima Batteries: Tech & Contingency

 

6:00 PM The 4WP Every Man Challenge END 

 

- Saturday February 5, 2022 ~ The 2022 King of the Hammers, powered by OPTIMA Batteries

 

Pre-Running Closed / Hot Racecourse

 

8:00 AM The 2022 King of the Hammers, powered by Optima Batteries START

 

8:00 PM Live Music Begins

 

10:00 PM The 2022 King of the Hammers, powered by Optima Batteries END

Before giving you the information of KOH 2022, I would like to take a step back in time and recall the description of the first King of the Hammers of 2007

 

The route of the first KOH was 35 miles long and was presented to the participants like that:

 

"Lakebed to Outer Limits up Outer Limits down Aftershock down Sunbonnet up Devil's Slide down Hell's Gate, take a right towards Landers up the Slide Towards the end of Sledge  up Jack (hammer) down Jack North up Wrecking Ball down Claw (hammer) back to the Lakebed".

 

Twelve checkpoints were set up along the track where each driver had to sign a log to ensure that all trails were completed.

JR Reynolds, with the advantage of competing at home won the race with a surprising time of 2 hours and 57 minutes.

 

After that, here's a look at what KOH 2022 will look like:

 

Lap 1, 86 Miles

4 Rock Trails

13 Miles to Pit 1

50 Miles back to Pit 1

21 Miles to Main

30 Miles of new course

 

Lap 2, 70 Miles

18 Rock Trails

Hit Pit 1 once, Pit 2 twice

 

Lap 3, 71 Miles

23 Rock Trails

Same pit access

 

Total miles: 227

Total Rock Trails: 45

 

Trails crossed:

Aftershock

Backdoor

Chocolate Thunder

Choose your own Adventure

Claw Hammer

Cougar Buttes

Daydreams

Fissure

Full of Hate

Hell to Pay. Lap 3

Her Problems

Hidden Exit. Lap 3

High Dive

Idle Issues

Jack. Lap 3

Jack North

Kings Veto. Lap 3

Lasernut Alley

Masters. Lap 3

Nightmare

Outer Limits

Resolution

Sledge. Lap 3

Spooners

Turkey Claw

Wrecking Ball

Purchase your 2022 spectator tickets and hot pit passes by clicking here. 

 

Read a list of many frequently asked ticketing questions by clicking here for spectators.

 

See who's registered for the 2022 King of the Hammers races powered by Optima Batteries by clicking here for the latest, up-to-the-minute registration list! Sort by class, driver, number, or use the search feature!

 

more on the Ultra4 Racing official web site.