2018 King of the Hammers - AZ Group Planning

Much copied from https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2017-king-of-the-hammers-discussion-planning-bs.462505/

Who is IN?

King of the Hammers 2018 – Friday February 2 to Saturday February 10.

Saturday 2/3 4600/UTV Qualifying & King of the Motos Night Race
Sunday 2/4- King of The Motos Day Race
Monday 2/5 - 4500/ 4800 Qualifying & Shootout (Night)
Tuesday 2/6 – 4400 Qualifying
Wednesday 2/7 – Can-AM KOH UTV Race Sponsored by HCR
Thursday 2/8 – Smittybilt Every Man Challenge Race (EMC)
Friday 2/9- Nitto King of The Hammers Race Powered by Optima Batteries (KOH)
Saturday 2/10 - Trail Ride and Remote Control (RC) Car Event

Official Race Info
https://ultra4racing.com/race/17

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/2585386-official-2018-koh-volunteer-thread.html

Map Source the last 3 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 3 times now. 2012, 2016 and 2017.

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 in 2016 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.

2017 with @4Running Daily, @tubbsisland (plus chase truck), and @stumbles was similar and lots of fun hauling ass around in Cliff's LTTaco.

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
@tubbsisland
@Techoma

 

Confirmed IN:

1. @RPS1030 - hoping for a Sunday or Monday departure
2. @stumbles - late Wed to Sat
3. @4Running Daily - early Thur to ???
4. @tubbsisland - ??? 99% in
5.

 

Again

 

Another

 

I am in. I will put in for the time off this week. Probably go from Wednesday till Saturday. I might or might not have a trail rig by this time.

I really liked camping at night as far away as we did last year. Seemed to cut down on the dust and all the light bars.

 

I am in. Probably an early Thursday morning arrival. Was there for UTV’s last year and it was fairly boring.

 

Hey, I'm thinking about that one too

As long as the winds don't shift direction.

 

I'm looking for a longer stay to chill out and hopefully maybe wander around more than the last couple years.

 

I only have class on Wednesday’s next semester. So if I can somehow skip that entire day. I’ll probably be there the entire week. I’ll see if I can pull any Magnaflow perks. Maybe get a vendor pass and not pay the entrance fee

 

@Blender ? Maybe

 

I know Cliff is working on some stuff too.

 

I'm 99% in

 

Work just approved my days off.

 

I'm interested, but can't commit. Going to be real busy at work.

 

Liked to Unlike.

We will have room for you for whatever you can and want to make it out for.

 

@Brindybot

 

I’ll be there Wednesday around 5 through Saturday morning.

 

Oh the irony as I pass the exit to KOH.

 

Jealous of the unicorn hunt and purchase!

 

I'm planning on leaving Wednesday night for Thursday and Friday come back Sunday