In the heart of the Mojave Desert, an annual gathering of epic proportions takes place to determine a reigning man and off-road vehicle most capable of tackling the toughest terrain in North America. The champion must be a master of perseverance with unmatched driving skill in order to make it over wide open desert, canyons, dry lake beds, and over some of the biggest, roughest boulders you’ve seen. Simply finishing the race, often clocking in over 200-miles of course, in the allotted 14-hour period is an accomplishment. But these drivers show up to win.
Over the last twelve years, King of the Hammers (KOH) has grown from an original 12 competitors to over 400 teams and upwards of 80,000 spectators in attendance during the 7-day event. In the middle of it all, a temporary city known as “Hammertown” springs up across Johnson Valley’s dry lake bed and is taken down–leading to the event being dubbed the “Burning Man of Off-Road.”
Transitioning from “just a bunch of guys having fun in the desert” as ULTRA4 racing series co-founder Dave Cole puts it to the event that it is today, spawning an entire world-wide series taking place across the U.S, Canada, Mexico and Europe.
KOH week features a full event schedule. Qualifying rounds take place to put competitors in the lineup for main race day. In addition to the unlimited class racers (known as 4400 class), which are truly unlimited in design, suspension, horsepower and tire size, six other classes of race vehicles compete during KOH week. From stock bodied vehicles to UTVs, each class gets their day to prove themselves at The Hammers. It’s safe to say, King of the Hammers has something for every kind of racing fan.
One aspect of ULTRA4 racing that even non-racing fans gain benefits from is its contribution to the rapid advancement of off-road technology. KOH puts nearly every system, every component and every design to the ultimate test. It has served as the benchmark for dozens of off-road companies to continuously innovate and change their approach to product development in order to survive this brutal race. KOH is a war of attrition, and any component of a race vehicle that can withstand its punishment is deemed the best-of-the-best. From axle housings, to winches, LED lights, engines, GPS systems, companies are testing and refining their products on this rugged race course.
Undoubtedly, the one component of any race car that will see the most brutal abuse during a KOH race is its tires. Over the last 12 years, the crown has passed through the hands of several racers, but the Nitto Trail Grappler has remained a staple on the podium. As a top-shelf mud-terrain, the Trail Grappler combines staggered lugs to provide unmatched grip, with ample, deep space between them to properly eject debris. The Trail Grappler’s sidewall has been engineered specifically to withstand repeated punishment, even at lower pressures normally used in off-road racing. Sidewall lugs on the 40-inch variant allow for lateral grip while rock crawling, providing another surface of traction to keep the vehicle moving. The unique construction of the Trail Grappler makes it a truly uniform tire, capable of easy balancing and a smoother ride, even when on the road, translating to a less fatigued driver. This is especially important during an all-day race such as King of the Hammers.
2019’s race is sure to be the biggest year-to-date for KOH. Taking place the first week of February, this year’s race has a longer list of competitors, past kings in new race cars and an entirely new race bringing in a different segment of off-road racing fan, spectator attendance numbers for the 2019 KOH week are expected to be in excess of 100,000. While there will be many victories and defeats throughout the week, all eyes will be on the 4400 Unlimited race. Will another past king take back the throne? Or will it be handed down to a deserving newcomer who has spent years getting to the podium? Only one thing is certain; the 2019 Nitto King of the Hammers will definitely be one for the books. Follow along at DrivingLine.com for full coverage of the racing action and close-up interviews and insights direct from Hammertown.
