Of all the disciplines in off-highway driving, no two could be more different than rock crawling and desert racing. Rock crawling is typically turtle-slow and very technical. A buggy used in rock crawling typically has a mega-low-geared, multi-stick transfer case and a short, narrow wheelbase. Conversely, desert racing is wide-open, foot-to-the-floor, blazing fast. A machine used in desert racing typically has a monster motor that's geared for speed and a wheelbase and width designed for high-speed stability. Clearly, rock crawling rigs and desert racing rigs are mutually exclusive.
Of the 92 KOH competitors,...
Of the 92 KOH competitors, 13 of those were chosen during the Blue Torch Fab Works Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ) the day before the race. Thirty-seven competitors battled to snag one of those spots, and some had good luck acquiring a slot, while others, like Team #51, didn't.
Oh wait. Apparently, the folks over at Hammerking Productions didn't get the memo, because they created the incredible "King of the Hammers" off-highway event, which merges rock crawling and desert racing into one spectacular race. Known simply as "KOH," this event debuted in '08 and immediately had a permanent impact on the off-highway community. The '09 event, held last February, further solidified the fact that, almost overnight, KOH is a major player in the world of off-highway events.
This year's KOH returned to the Johnson Valley area of southern California. To ensure that KOH doesn't negatively impact the public's ability to access this open area, KOH organizers thoughtfully held the event during the week. Further, there was no entry fee for spectators to watch the race. Base camp was on Means Dry Lake, where a massive RV city sprung up like magic. The hub of the action was the Raceline Main Tent, and it was surrounded by a number of aftermarket vendors. This was also where the start/finish line and tech inspection areas were located.
The racecourse was roughly 90 miles in length and included almost every type of terrain found in the Mojave Desert. As you can imagine, a race like this had its fair share of drama. Crashes, equipment failures, and intense competition were part of the race. Here's a look at KOH '09.
The LCQ wasn't kind to team...
The LCQ wasn't kind to team #55. The driver couldn't coerce his rig over the rocks and then the rear driveshaft defected from the driveline, ending his run.
This damage is some of what...
This damage is some of what knocked Robin Stover and Bart Dixon out of KOH. The wheel succumbed to rock damage at Mile 2, while the 4-link bushings failed at Mile 15.
On the day of the Griffin...
On the day of the Griffin Thermal Products King of the Hammers Main Event, all competitors had to be staged at the starting line by 7:30 a.m. and the race began promptly at 8 a.m. Cars left the starting line in pairs at 30-second intervals.
The incredible thing about...
The incredible thing about KOH vehicles is that they're designed for high-speed racing in addition to slow-speed crawling. In fact, some of these vehicles were designed and built specifically for KOH. See "For Those of You Who Want to Be King" on page 36 for an overview of how these rigs are built.
Seventy-three miles into the...
Seventy-three miles into the race, Jason Scherer was leading the pack when he arrived at the infamous Sledgehammer. Things did not go well. His rig ended up on its side, but the rules state that it's acceptable for spectators to roll a competitor's rig back onto its wheels, so he gave the OK, his rig was righted by volunteers, and he continued.
At night, it became clearly...
At night, it became clearly obvious just how many people had found their way to Means Dry Lake for KOH, as the sky was lit up like a city. Some estimates say between 10,000 and 15,000 people attended the event.
By mid-afternoon, it was rush...
By mid-afternoon, it was rush hour at the Sledgehammer. Here, Hobie Smith, Roger Lovell, John Reynolds and Eric Anderson all pile up. Reynolds ended up finishing the race ahead of Smith and Lovell by a few minutes.
All competition vehicles were...
All competition vehicles were required to go through a thorough tech inspection before being allowed to race. Vehicles were checked for the mandatory safety items as well as to ensure that each rig adhered to the KOH vehicle rules.