King of the Hammers 2016

For the past 10 years a very large group of people gather near Yucca Valley in S. California to desert race in what has been called the toughest off road race in the world.

Johnson Valley and the dry lake bed gets turned into a thriving town of close to 40 thousand people in thousands of campers all to enjoy a full week of activities - the last day is the Ultra4 Race event. Ultra 4's are custom vehicles designed to run over a 100 MPH in the flat desert and also rock climb some of the toughest sections. All are custom vehicles most on a custom Bomber Frame with some having body parts to resemble their jeep ancestors while others choose to build custom sheet metal.

The race started as a challenge about 12 years ago - the high speed desert racers were challenging the off road rock climbers to a race - 12 years later the race now is the toughest off road race in the world. This year 104 vehicles started the race and 31 finished, just to finish is a win!

The dry lake bed is turned into a full town with thousands of RV's and Race crews for the motorcycle races, side by side races and this year they had a race what you bring race on Thursday - with tons of amateurs running modified vehicles in several classes. Friday the 5th of February the Ultra4's Race in the final event. The vehicles are unlimited with no real rules any size engine and as modified as you think will finish. Repairs must be made by the diver and crew on the course or in the pits only. So if you don't have what you need to repair you need to walk back to the pits to get the parts. Must have proper safety gear and the tools to cleanup any oil spills or hydraulic fluid etc on the car. The rock climbing sections have names like Waterfall, Chocolate Thunder, Jackhammer and Back Door. The race starts at 8:00am and the cars must finish all laps by 10pm.

Here is how they finished.
First Place - ERIK MILLER 4421
Second Place - JASON SCHERER 76
Third Place - RAUL GOMEZ 4483
Fourth Place - SHANNON CAMPBELL 5

HAMMERTOWN!

Watching the Big Screen in Hammertown!

And the Winner is:

The 3rd place finisher is:

More car pics from Chocolate Thunder!

Part of the crowd at Chocolate Thunder!

Heading up the canyon!

Racing - the downhill pass!

More rocks!

Traffic in the rocks!

The start finish line!

Making Repairs in the pits...

Stay tuned for more activities while I am in Sunny California!

Capt. Jim - "The Wanderer"

Traveling and photographing the Southwest and Alaska!