by Matt Konkle
Torque Editor-in-Chief
What is it?
Well, KOTH is part event and part festival — kind of like Burning Man meets intense off-road rally race in California’s Mojave Desert. It involves Jeeps, Trucks, UTVs and even Volkswagen buggies from stock to beast-modified. The week-long event features multiple races that culminate in Saturday’s penultimate Nitto Race of Kings — widely considered the "toughest one-day off-road race in the world."
Where is it?
King of the Hammers takes place in Johnson Valley, California, a vast patch of the Mojave Desert about two-and-a-half hours east of Los Angeles, and sandwiched between Barstow and Palm Springs.
When is it?
This year, KOTH runs from January 27 through February 5.
Who can attend
Anyone. Spectators are welcome at KOTH and a ticket is good for the entire week. Most spectators choose to camp on the dry lake bed, but that is not a requirement for entrance.
Can anyone race?
Anyone racing in KOTH must be an Ultra4 member and field a vehicle that passes a battery of Ultra4 requirements. Race events during the week are open to anyone meeting vehicle and membership requirements, however, the event-ending Nitto Race of Kings is not an open event. This one requires a top-20 finish in the previous year’s Race of Kings to qualify or a previous KOTH victory. Other ways to qualify are to be one of the first 13 drivers who started the original race, gain entry from one of the previous year’s regional series races, or to finish in a top percentage of drivers from the Last Chance Challenge during KOTH week.
Is it popular?
Absolutely. KOTH week pulls in somewhere around 60,000 people, over 500 race teams and many of the off-road industry’s top vendors and manufacturers. Hammertown, the community erected right in the desert for KOTH is filled with passionate off-road fans cheering on their favorite teams, along with nightly concerts and other fun activities.
