A large dust cloud hovers over the otherwise clear Johnson Valley in Southern California. Just past the town of Lucerne Valley, a plot of public land is filled with all manner of off-road vehicles: dirt bikes, first-gen Toyota trucks with welded roll cages, brand-new Broncos, tiny four-wheelers piloted by children, and UTVs. RV campsites sprawl into the desert on either side, a temporary structure houses a bar and restaurant, and the road ends at a vendor village that could rival a small county fair.
Welcome to Hammertown, the temporary desert city that springs up every January for 16 days for an off-road race series known as King of the Hammers. Think Burning Man meets Mad Max, but sponsored by Monster Energy.
Having recently completed its 20th year, Hammers started as a contest between 13 friends and now comprises a series of races featuring everything from dirt bikes to VW Bugs to million-dollar trophy trucks. Most notably, it’s the birthplace of the Ultra4 series, which includes the Race of Kings—commonly called the world's toughest single-day off-road race—which combines 100-mph-plus desert racing with highly technical rock crawling. At 245 miles, this year’s race was the most difficult to date. Only two teams finished under the 14-hour time allotment. The event now draws over 80,000 attendees, who can purchase general admission tickets starting at $100, and features approximately 750 racers, both professional and amateur, from all over the world. People can watch at home too: Organizers say that 1.2 million viewers watched online this year.
As King of the Hammers enters its third decade, it’s clear how far off-roading has come from the days of “shit-box” trucks covered in dents and stickers to logo-emblazoned purpose-built rigs easily costing into the hundreds of thousands. Ultra4 races occur internationally, and the off-road vehicle market is valued at more than $22 billion, according to Grand View Research.
Beyond the sponsor banners and factory-backed rigs, many vehicles double as political statements. They have custom vinyl wraps, antenna-mounted flags, and stickered tailgates. While the Stars and Stripes are displayed most prominently, Gadsden flags are common; “1776,” “We the People,” and Second Amendment slogans also appear regularly. Trump flags are present, though far fewer than one might expect given the setting. One says “Guns, Beer, Titties, Freedom.” The personalization of vehicles points to a recurring theme—a preoccupation with autonomy—set against one of the largest open off-highway vehicle areas in the country. King of the Hammers isn't just about who crosses the finish line first, it's about a community that returns each winter to break things, fix them, and break them again.
The staging area of the 2026 Race of Kings. Of the 86 entrants, only two finished the 245-mile race, with Randy Slawson logging a record fourth win as well as the longest winning time of 13:01:51, just about 58 minutes under the 14-hour time limit.Photograph: Matthew Reamer
Race of Kings competitors stand on the tires of their Ultra4 vehicles during the opening announcements for the Race of Kings in 2024.Photograph: Matthew Reamer
A King of the Hammers attendee sits on a 1980s Honda three-wheel All Terrain Cycle. One of the most well-known camps at the event is Ultra3, a lighthearted play on KOH’s official sport, Ultra4. It includes a tiny DIY track for souped-up three-wheelers.Photograph: Matthew Reamer
Zach Savage and Bruno Pinillos gear up for the 2026 Race of Kings.Photograph: Matthew Reamer
Bailey Campbell prepares her vehicle for the Race of Kings in 2024. She was born into the Campbell family racing team, a dynasty in the Ultra4 world, with patriarch Shannon Campbell being a three-time winner of the Race of Kings. In 2016, at age 19, Bailey became the first woman to finish the Race of Kings in the top five.Photograph: Matthew Reamer
Chris Teal pilots a first-person-view drone for the official King of the Hammers live feed.Photograph: Matthew Reamer
A 4400 Class Ultra4 racer kicks up dust during the Race of Kings in 2024. The 4400 Unlimited Class has very few build restrictions, allowing teams to innovate and build racing machines for the challenging mixed terrain.Photograph: Matthew Reamer
The starting line for the Class 11 race at King of the Hammers 2024. Class 11 is limited to Volkswagen Beetles with minimal modifications and is a favorite event among attendees.Photograph: Matthew Reamer
The stripped-down interior of a rock-crawling first-gen Toyota pickup, a style that the off-road community refers to as “shit-boxes.” The aftermarket switches and levers seen in these rigs often control various lights, winches, electric wheel lockers, and other modifications.Photograph: Matthew Reamer
Saul Mejia of Rialto, California, standing on the tire of his mega-truck, which he trailored out from Texas for King of the Hammers 2026.Photograph: Matthew Reamer
Dani Mathews in the staging area for the 2026 Everyman Challenge. This was her racing debut, an opportunity she won through a contest to represent Yukon Gear & Axle as its “Ultimate Rookie” in the 4600 Stock Class of vehicles. Of the 32 racers in the class, only five finished within the allotted time. Unfortunately, Mathews was not one of them.Photograph: Matthew Reamer
This year's Race of Kings included a desert lap, a rock lap, and a mystery lap, totalling about 245 miles. Only two teams managed to complete it within the 14-hour time limit.Photograph: Matthew Reamer
King of the Hammers has gone from an outsider event with minimal sponsorship to having behemoth brands like Ford and Monster Energy as flagship sponsors.Photograph: Matthew Reamer
A driver and a member of the pit crew refuel a car between laps during the 2026 Everyman Challenge. In addition to burning quite a bit of fuel in the 155.5-mile race, the vehicles take a beating, and pit crews are ready to service them between laps.Photograph: Matthew Reamer
The gas door on a first-gen Toyota 4Runner bears the marks of years of off-roading. Older Toyota trucks have been used as rock-crawlers for decades, and many owners choose to keep the scratches and dents they pick up over the years as a badge of honor.Photograph: Matthew Reamer
Spectators look on as a Jeep attempts to conquer the difficult rock section known as Chocolate Thunder, a popular gathering spot at night, where attendees put their skills and vehicles to the test in front of cheering and jeering peers.Photograph: Matthew Reamer
The chaotic scene at Chocolate Thunder during King of the Hammers 2024. At night, dozens of attendees attempt the section in their personal rigs while hundreds of spectators look on. The lights in the distance are all temporary campers, though they give the illusion of a full-blown town.Photograph: Matthew Reamer
A BMW E30 catches air at the HooptieX race—a lighthearted alternative to the million-dollar builds seen in some of the Hammers’ more competitive categories. Competitors are encouraged to keep the spend minimal and the fun maximal, entering beaters of all shapes and sizes.Photograph: Matthew ReamerLet us know what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor at [email protected].
