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
2022 King of the Hammers Week
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
King of the Hammers 2022: Course Info
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
More info from Ultra4 Racing
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.