2017 King of the Hammers Discussion/Planning/BS

Who is IN?

King of the Hammers 2017 – Friday February 3 to Saturday February 11.

Motorcycle Race – Sunday 2/5 All Day
Ultra4/SRRS Shootout – Monday 2/6 Evening
Qualifying – Tuesday 2/7 All Day
UTV Race – Wednesday 2/8 All Day
Every Man Challenge – Thursday 2/9 All Day
Main Race – Friday 2/10 All Day

Official Race Info
https://ultra4racing.com/race/9

Old school discussion on Pirate
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/competitions-events/1106787-going-koh-start-here.html

If you are inclined, want extra access and info, consider volunteering for some of the week
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/competitions-events/2402929-official-2017-koh-volunteer-thread.html

Map Source the last 2 years (owned/developed by a HS Friend of Mine)
https://www.cartotracks.com/
Nice because it locates you on the map and it's downloaded prior, so no service needed. Example of the spectator areas last year (Yellow/Red is Race Course, Light Blue is Open Spectator Areas, behind barriors/outside canyon, with main paths marked)


I’ve been to KOH in 2012 and 2016.

Johnson Valley/Means Dry Lake bed is north of Palm Springs and Yucca Valley off of Highway 247.

Went for almost the full week and volunteered during the main race in 2012. Slept in the backseat of my DCLB Tacoma wherever I felt like parking that night. I had lots of fun, watched lots of action at a couple different spots.

Finally made it back this past event for a couple days. Drove over after work Wednesday evening. Met up with @4Running Daily Thursday morning and watched the EMC. Started with some good parking spots about half way up over the Chocolate Thunder canyon. Moved over near Sledge Hammer/Jack Hammer to watch in the afternoon and scope it out. Got our away from the lake bed and did the backseat again that night. Friday morning, we strolled through “HammerTown” and checked out the race rigs as they were staging for the start. Similarly we watched from Chocolate Thunder and Sledge Hammer at various times during the day.

After dark Wednesday and Thursday, the race course is open and a bunch of buggys/rigs start hitting the trails. Back Door gets WILD with crowds watching from all over the canyon and trail as everybody rolls up and hits the ledge.

If you can get over there for a couple days, it’s quite a bit of fun to watch, see the rigs and people. Scope out some deals at all the vendors in town. Hit some hardcore trails if so inclined. Or cruise thru the whoops around the area. I’m hoping to spend most of the week if the buggy is up and running.

I would not plan using a ground tent effectively. The W*** can really pickup with nothing to shield around. Plus lots of rigs driving around at all hours. Hard sided is definitely recommended. Setting up and taking down RTTs each night could also work well.

Cell service gets better every year. But it is spotty and gets worse as the week progresses (more people/more traffic). The cell phone bush is the only large bush in the middle of the dry lake bed that will almost always have multiple rigs parked near it with people checking messages. There will be several food vendors in the makeshift “HammerTown” that make for good options. A couple locations with a bunch of Porta Potties.

It has been $20 for the ticket/wrist band and good for the full week. Needed to get into HammerTown. Helps the expenses of putting on a hell of an event. Totally worth it, don’t bypass it.

Let’s get some planning together.

@4Running Daily
@justlookin
@MaverickTRD
@XPOTRPR
@Milota95
@The Fluffer

 

Things to Bring/Plan For...

It can be anywhere from 20-80 degrees, could be sunny and calm, or overcast and windy or drizzle/rain/snow and windy. Or any combination of the above each day.

It is sandy and rocky. The sand gets everywhere. Between the wind and/or traffic, the dust is all over.

Good things to have/bring:
Water
Snacks
Water
Sunscreen
Water
Chapstick

Towel to Clean Feet
Dry Socks
Hiking Boots
Heavy/Durable Jacket
Insulated Pants/Coveralls
Gloves
Hat
Bandana
Goggles

Chargers for Electronics
Recovery Strap
Extra Lighting
VHF Radio (Race Radio or 2M Ham with extended receive range) (The Baofeng VHF/UHF Handheld varieties is well liked) It is nice to listen to the Race Comms and have updates of what's going on during the races, but unplug the mic and don't sit on the PTT button.

Camp Chair
Blanket

 

Looks like I should take off from work then 9th and 10th. I think I would like to see the EMC on Thursday. It would be cool to maybe get a caravan from AZ heading over there.

 

Planning to get there Tuesday night hopefully.

 

I'm hoping to be early, and get a small compound on the outskirts started.

My buddy Colt is planning to take his welding truck along with a couple of Jeep guys.

 

@Techoma

 

If I can get my rtt by then I'm in

 

I had already put in for the time off work.....

 

I'll need to sit down and chat with you. Def interested in some/all. Got a few variables though... What will I have to drive, did I find a place to live and get moved in yet, can I squeeze in enough work prior to take another week off? Today is day 30 on the road, and with close to 6k miles driven and many nights in hotels (been too cold for daughter and tiny dog), my funds are low until insurance money shows up.

Fortunately it's a couple months out so plenty of time to plan!

 

I plan on going with some of the other TW members from our SoCal area!

 

Alternatives could be worked out

For sure.

This brings up a point I was just considering, any vehicle is good enough. There are always a couple of normal sedans out there getting back and forth to the spectator areas. It is sandy, but typically travelled enough to be packed in and/or helpful tug available.

 

I know sometimes at big events they have those shower trailers, anybody see them out there before? A week without showering could be rough for everyone involved....

 

I'm 100% in. I usually go the Thursday evening before the main race.

I'll be taking the toy hauler and I should have enough people going to have a full house.

I probably wont know til the week of before I know how many I have going, but we were 7 rigs last year.

 

Had a blast with you and everyone else over Thanksgiving weekend!

 

Crap, so much for a secret incursion into CA

Added some "Stuff to Bring" in the second post.

 

Same here. Hammers gets wild though.

 

I may be down for some fuckery!

 

Yeah but what do you think about being down for King of Hammers?

 

I've got a backup thought of renting a 20-24' enclosed trailer to haul the buggy (if running). Split about 4 ways, could make for somewhat inexpensive hardsided sleep/hangout accommodations for a week.