Nelson, Miller, and Gordon Shine on Day 2 of the 2012 Griffin King of the Hammers

Nick Nelson laid down a time of 4:46 at Wednesday’s 4Wheel Parts Time Trials, ending up second overall in the two-day qualifier for the Griffin King of the Hammers this Friday, February 10th.

Unlike the solid axles used on Mooneyham’s Trick Toys Fabrication race car, Nick Nelson’s buggy from Jimmy’s 4×4 utilizes independent front suspension (IFS) for better compliance at speed.  The brand new, blazing yellow buggy set the fastest time, while most of the field struggled to even finish the course.  Only 55 of 70 starters reached the finishing gates under their own power on Wednesday.  The rest either succumbed to mechanical failure or frayed nerves as thousands of fans cheered them on in person and tens of thousands followed the 4Wheel Parts Time Trials online.

While he is accustomed to racing under pressure, no one exactly knew what to expect from Robby Gordon during the time trials.  A gifted and diverse racer, Gordon’s resume includes not just desert racing but NASCAR, Indy Cars, and Dakar.  He is the most recognized off-road racer in the world, but many questioned his abilities in technical rockcrawling.  Gordon put all questions to rest as he and co-driver Lance Clifford produced a time of 5:06 and managed the bottom of the coure with excellent line choice and control. This puts the team in a top ten starting position in their innovative race car, which uses a unique twin traction beam (TTB) front suspension that retains strength of a solid axle with the bump compliance of IFS.

Along with Mooneyham and Nelson, reigning King Shannon Campbell and Erik Miller were the only other competitors who produced sub-five minute qualifying times.  Miller qualified in 4:58 and he did so in a traditional solid axle vehicle.  The Maryland resident placed fifth in last year’s Griffin King of the Hammers and has been a consistent finisher in the Ultra4 series, winning the International Endurance Championship in 2010.  He will start on the second row for Friday’s Griffin King of the Hammers, where drivers leave the line two at a time in 30 second increments to tackle 70 miles of varied desert terrain before diving head first into some of the most difficult rockcrawling trails in the world.  Competitors will need an iron will, plenty of driving talent, a powerful, robust race car, and more than a little luck to be crowned the next King of the Hammer

February 7, 2012 (Johnson Valley, CA) – Ultra4 veteran “Easy” Rick Mooneyham has something to prove at this year’s Griffin King of the Hammers.  Mooneyham has been on the podium twice in the past, but has yet to be crowned King.  He made his presence known at Tuesday’s 4Wheel Parts Time Trials by laying down the fastest qualifying time, a blistering four minutes and forty one seconds.  The only other sub-five-minute time was achieved by reigning King and Monster Energy driver Shannon Campbell, the last driver on course for the day.  4Wheel Parts president Greg Adler was the first competitor on course and his qualifying time of 5:08 stood for much of the day.  By the time the dust had settled, Mooneyham and Campbell were the only two who bested Adler for starting position in Friday’s Griffin King of the Hammers.   It is interesting to note that Adler was piloting a vehicle originally built at Trick Toys Fabrication by none other than Rick Mooneyham.  Scott Ward drove a third Trick Toys Fabrication buggy to a sixth place qualifying time of 5:24, illustrating the effectiveness of the vehicle design.

Rick Mooneyham in Chocolate Thunder

Some wondered if the course through the boulders of Chocolate Thunder would be easier than the previous qualifying course up the vertical rock wall on Backdoor trail.  These concerns were unfounded though, as many competitors found themselves at the mercy of the infamous Hammers trails.  The psyche of teams became battered as competitors experienced repeated rollovers and mechanical carnage throughout the day.  Only 55 of the 66 qualifiers who ran on Tuesday completed the 2.3-mile course, with some teams taking over 15 minutes.  The carnage was not limited to those lacking experience or budget.  Past Kings Jason Scherer and Loren Healy both struggled in the rocks and had to employ their winches for forward progress, costing them valuable time and pushing them back in the starting order.

The independent front suspensions of Shannon Campbell and Matt Messer’s buggies made short work of the whoops and sand in the desert, while veteran competitors Randy Slawson and Tony Pelligrino were arguably the fastest drivers in the technical rock section of the course, netting them identical finishing times of 5:09 to put them in the top five of the current standings.  The 4Wheel Parts Time Trials, like the Griffin King of the Hammers, make use of a variety of terrains to test both man and machine.  Wednesday brings a second day of qualifying with heavy hitters like Erik Miller and Robby Gordon on the course.  Will the top times be able to stand up to their efforts?   Only time will tell, but with the course getting progressively rougher and rain forecasted for Wednesday, Rick Mooneyham is feeling confident about his starting position for Friday’s fifth annual Griffin King of the Hammers.

Graham Jarvis (ENG) comes to America and smokes 19 North Americans in their own backyard, wins $10,000

Jarvis 1st

Redmond 2nd

Destry Abbott 3rd

It all started with a vision by one of off-road’s most accomplished moto man, Jimmy Lewis. He always wanted to create a US survival enduro and it was on this day that he decided where he would build his tortuous course. After all, Lewis had entered and completed some most of the worlds most renowned events: DAKAR, Gilles Lalay, Last Man Standing.

It was on this day in Southern California’s Johnson Valley, Lewis was riding around and stumbled upon a massive encampment and decided this is where he would one day build his masterpiece enduro. He had just found Dave Coles Hammertown and the vision of America’s toughest motorcycle race was born: King of the Motos becomes a reality today at 11:00 AM.

Listen to Lewis explain what may be his crowning achievement

Invite only, no entry fees, no rules and $10,000, winner take all. Today, history is made with what may someday be the world’s most famous and difficult motorcycle enduro.

Caselli gets the hioleshot in his own back yard

#66 makes it look EZ

Graham Jarvis (ENG) spent his first day in the US dezert and smoked 18 pros up the the goat start .

Chris Rideway #181- A HERO

Starting order for Griffin King of the Hammers will be announced after Day 2 of qualifying. 

KOH denotes pre-qualified racers.  LCQ denotes competitors qualifying for a starting position in Friday’s race.

1 KOH Rick Mooneyham 554 Lake Havasu City AZ 4.41.25

2 KOH Shannon Campbell 5 Gilbert AZ 4.57.06

3 KOH Greg Adler 210 Manhattan Beach CA 5.08.59

4 KOH Tony Pellegrino 4485 Simi Valley CA 5.09.56

5 KOH Randy Slawson 4448 Colton CA 5.09.74

6 KOH Scott Ward 4438 Lake Havasu City AZ 5.24.91

7 KOH Derek West 4420 Springfield MO 5.30.35

8 LCQ Rob Lynch 4463 Spokane WA 5.46.05

9 LCQ Ben Dinkins 4403 Annopolis MO 5.55.53

10 LCQ Joey Archuleta 127 Aurora CO 5.56.25

11 KOH Les Figueroa 4478 Henderson NV 6.05.16

12 LCQ Mike Nappi 4490 Idaho Springs CO 6.08.81

13 KOH Brad Lovell 232 Colorado Springs CO 6.11.84

14 LCQ Scott Morris 4492 Sunman IN 6.12.59

15 LCQ Nathan Unruh 63 Clovis CA 6.18.06

16 KOH Brandon Watson 4488 Carbondale CO 6.18.37

17 LCQ Sam Stienman 97 Phoenix AZ 6.26.69

18 KOH Harold Fijman 777 San Ramon CA 6.27.16

19 LCQ Tony Arledge 595 Austin TX 6.30.43

20 LCQ Larry  McRae 4581 Banning CA 6.32.15

21 KOH Lucas Murphy 816 Easton MA 6.37.06

22 KOH Gary Ferravanti Sr 4446 Paso Robles CA 6.44.28

23 KOH Matt Peterson 212 Colorado Springs CO 6.44.44

24 KOH Jim Brown 101 Ukiah CA 6.48.72

25 LCQ Paul Garner 4409 Queen Creek AZ 6.53.00

26 KOH Cottin Rodd 4407 Cortez CO 6.54.38

27 KOH Alan Woodson 86 Charlottesville VA 7.03.25

28 KOH Mike Klensin 4431 Tucson AZ 7.04.68

29 LCQ Robb Kaufman 22 RockyView County CAN 7.07.24

30 KOH Alex Hardaway 4481 Santa Rosa CA 7.07.31

31 KOH Eric Brown 502 Las Vegas NV 7.43.87

32 KOH Jose Manuel Ponce 9009 Morelia MEX 7.48.06

33 KOH Jason Picket 4444 Ft. Collins CO 8.08.84

34 LCQ Darren Batt 82 Woodward OK 8.23.75

35 LCQ Jason Shipman 4414 Farmington MO 8.26.25

36 KOH Bart Dixon 26 San Diego CA 8.28.69

37 KOH Matt Messer 17 Fresno CA 8.29.03

38 LCQ Michael Anderson 21 Auburn CA 8.32.60

39 LCQ Andrew McLaughlin 4493 Mesa AZ 8.40.28

40 KOH Aaron Robinson(William) 3006 Sparks NV 8.51.12

41 LCQ Ian McGlynn 123 Seattle WA 8.54.09

42 LCQ Joe Bunker 864 Monroe WA 8.59.22

43 LCQ Dustin Sexton 4437 Kamas UT 8.59.65

44 LCQ Brian McCarthy 415 San Rafael Ct CA 9.08.60

45 KOH Ben Napier 4461 Sydney AUS 9.09.12

46 LCQ Michael Feagins 929 Batesville IN 9.26.00

47 LCQ Doug Evans 4457 Hayfork CA 9.50.59

48 KOH Casey Currie 2 Anaheim CA 10.08.66

49 KOH Mel Wade 4451 Long Beach CA 10.18.47

50 KOH Tom Wayes 321 San Jose CA 10.29.40

51 KOH Bill Phillips 4480 Whittier CA 11.25.59

52 KOH Jason Scherer 76 Danville CA 12.12.66

53 LCQ Cody Addington 4680 Foresthill CA 12.54.88

54 KOH Warren Thomas 257 Morro Bay CA 14.53.84

55 KOH Loren Healy 4428 Farmington NM 15.38.97

56 LCQ Steve Norton 737 Floyd Knobs IN DNF

57 LCQ Doug Kahlstrom 927 Lampasas TX DNF

58 KOH Bunny Rose 812 Frederick MD DNF

59 KOH Brent Goegebuer 4473 Corona CA DNF

60 KOH Curtis Warner 4410 Armstrong BC DNF

61 LCQ Ryan Atkins 928 Parker AZ DNF

62 LCQ Jeremy Dickenson 4419 Cedar Park TX DNF

63 LCQ Nicholas McGaha 505 Ridgecrest CA DNF

64 LCQ John David 333 Fountain CO DNF

65 LCQ Hal Deschamp 4445 Whittier CA DNF

66 KOH Jason Blanton 966 Kirkland WA DNF

67 LCQ Billy Briney 4439 Ness City KS DNS

68 KOH Kevin Yoder 4434 Grass Valley CA DNS

69 LCQ Greg Davis 4458 Kaysville UT DNS

70 LCQ Brian Tilton 4416 Orangevale CA DNS

71 KOH John Reynolds 4427 DNS

72 KOH Rob McKeeney 8 DNS

73 KOH Jeff Hollfelder 4422 DNS

74 LCQ Richard Martinez Santa Ana CA DNS

75 LCQ Shane Gilroy 380 Mayerthorpe Alberta DNS

76 LCQ Kevin Gamble 4476 Chula Vista CA DNS

77 KOH Brett Porter 4460 Colorado Springs CO DNS

78 LCQ Eric Morales 4425 Lincoln CA DNS

79 KOH John Sweet 366 DNS

80 KOH John James 28 Fresno CA DNS

81 KOH Roger Lovell 4432 DNS

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February 5, 2012 (Johnson Valley, CA) – The Smittybilt Every Man Challenge (EMC) ended in an impressive and inspiring victory today as John Currie won overall in a stock class Jeep Wrangler.  While the Griffin King of the Hammers (KOH) demands not only incredible driving prowess but cutting-edge technology, Currie demonstrated the EMC is truly a driver’s race.  Recognizing the grass roots appeal of off-road racing, this year promoter Dave Cole created the Smittybilt Every Man Challenge for two classes – Stock and Stock Modified – to allow enthusiasts a chance to test their skills and vehicles against the famed Hammers terrain.

Unlike the unlimited, anything-goes nature of Griffin King of the Hammers, the rules for the Stock and Stock Modified classes in the EMC are quite restrictive.  Stock Modified vehicles are limited to mechanical steering, two 2.5-inch diameter shocks per corner, and no larger than 37-inch DOT approved tires.  Compare this with the fully fabricated race cars for KOH that regularly utilize 3.5-inch bypass shocks, full hydraulic steering, and 40-inch tall race-specific rubber.  The Stock class is even more restrictive, requiring factory engines and transmissions, full frames and bodies, and DOT-approved tires no larger than 35-inches tall in addition to mechanical steering and a single 2.5-inch shock per wheel.

“The spirit of the Stock Class is to allow OEM and aftermarket vendors the opportunity to showcase their products while providing a venue for teams to compete in a true drivers class in vehicles that closely relate to street driven versions,” Cole explained.  The 77-mile course through Johnson Valley OHV Area contained all of the elements of King of the Hammers, and surprisingly even much of the same terrain tackled by the unlimited cars.  The Smittybilt Every Man Challenge required teams to navigate as quickly as possible through not only uneven desert terrain but also the notorious boulder strewn trails known simply as “The Hammers.”  Currie completed the course in under four hours, besting many teams with more expensive vehicles and more horsepower.

By winning the Smittybilt Every Man Challenge, John Currie earned a place in the main event at the Griffin King of the Hammers on Friday.  The situation puts Currie in an awkward position, even though he has already demonstrated he will not be intimidated with his David and Goliath effort at the EMC.  Currie is slated to co-drive for his nephew in King of the Hammers, Monster Energy athlete and noted short course racer Casey Currie.  Now he must decide if he will be sitting in the passenger seat or the driver seat on race day.

John Currie’s Jeep was similar to what you would see on 4WD trails all around the country, with full sheet metal and 35-inch Falken tires.  While the Jeep is ordinary, Currie is anything but “Every Man”.  The owner of a successful axle business, John Currie is an off-road veteran.  He came in second place in the very first rock crawling competition over a decade ago and is the namesake for the ubiquitous “Johnny Joint” suspension component.  As the winner of the inaugural Smittybilt Every Man Challenge, there is now one more thing that John Currie is known for.

RESULTS:

1 4688 John Currie – Stock – 2:44:51

2 4581 Larry McRae – Modified – 3:00:22

3 4515 Mitch Funk – Modified – 3:08:09

4 4558 Brandon Heyes – Modified – 3:16:35

5 4588 Mike Johnson – Modified – 3:16:51

6 4577 George Evans – Modified – 3:35:11

7 4535 Kevin Sacalas – Modified – 3:51:07

8 4538 DJ Harmon – Modified – 3:59:02

9 4646 Ferris McCollum – Stock – 4:31:10

10 4612 Ben Varozza – Stock – 4:34:22

11 4669 Shawn Passmore – Stock – 4:38:31

12 4531 Shawn Rants – Modified – 4:57:29

13 4678 Jason Kaminsky – Stock – 5:15:28

14 4569 Jason McAtee – Modified – 5:19:31

15 488 Josiah Begay – Stock – 5:47:22

16 4621 Bret Scheiding – Stock – 6:23:19

17 4680 Cody Addington – Stock – 6:23:56

18 890 Jonathan Terhune – Modified – 6:28:41

19 4555 Stephen Caproni – Modified – 6:29:12

20 4699 Chris Marquart – Stock – 6:35:19

21 4674 Matthew Rager – Stock – 7:03:45

22 4580 Jordan Townsend – Modified – 7:19:30

23 4623 John Williams – Stock – 8:12:50
4509 Jeremy Eaton – Modified – DNF
4511 Alan Johnson – Modified – DNF
4514 George Kane – Modified – DNF
4502 Barry Cherneske – Modified – DNF
4505 Jeff Rector – Modified – DNF
4692 Scott Hartman – Stock – DNF
4677 Roger King – Stock DNF
4611 Chris Schutt – Stock – DNF
4643 Richard Gauthier – Stock – DNF
4648 Brian Behrend – Stock – DNF
4664 Richard Williams – Stock – DNF
4644 Thomas Yash – Stock – DNF
4602 Ryan Kennelly – Stock – DQ

Sponsors of the event include: Griffin Thermal Products,  4Wheel Parts, Smittybilt, Pitbull Tires, Miller Welders, Lucas Oil, Trail Gear, Falken Tire, Nitto, Bestop, Dynomax Performance Exhaust, GenRight Off Road, King Off-Road Racing Shocks, PSC Motorsports, Warn, ATX Series Wheels, Rugged Race Radios and Spidertrax.

Falken Tire, a leading high performance choice for driving enthusiasts on pavement and off-road, has just announced further expansion of its motorsports involvement in the popular and demanding off-road King of the Hammers event, running a new vehicle built by Off Road Evolution of Fullerton, CA, that will compete in the highly competitive Ultra4 Class. The Falken Tire factory team race vehicle will feature the Wildpeak A/T 37×13.50-R18 tire.

King of the Hammers, known as the “toughest one-day off-road race,” according to series organizers, will run for the sixth time on public lands in Johnson Valley, CA. Over the first five years the race has run, it has evolved from 12 teams to more than 150 teams competing before thousands of fans both live and online. The race will be run on Friday February 10, 2012.

The custom tube chassis vehicle will be piloted by Falken Vice President of Marketing Andrew Hoit, an experienced off-roader, along with his co-driver, Ryan Hagel from RCH Designs in Huntington Beach, CA. The car is powered by an LS1 engine making more than 400hp, with a Turbo400 transmission and Atlas transfer case. The team is prequalified for the race but will set its starting position on Wednesday February 8th.

This is Falken’s first serious effort into off-road racing. The high performance tire manufacturer has already shown its dominance in the professional world of drifting and claimed two wins in last year’s hotly contested GT class of the American Le Mans Series. Falken is also supporting two other teams in this year’s event, the husband and wife team of Race Prep Racing, also in the KOH Main Event as well as the Savvy Off Road/Currie Enterprises Jeep Wrangler competing in this year’s Every Man Challenge event on Sunday February 5th.

“We feel this is a perfect venue to showcase the durability and versatility of our Wildpeak tire line,” stated Nestor Cabrera, Falken’s Off-Road Supervisor. “We are confident we’ll perform well in this demanding event.”

KOH, as King of the Hammers is known, will feature over 150 vehicles competing, while 71 Last Chance Qualifier contestants will attempt to secure the 20 remaining spots and conquer the 165 mile course.

Directed by The Martelli Brothers – Produced by Mad Media

Jeff Knoll and partner Dave Cole scratched out an idea on a napkin 7 years ago that has blossomed into one of the biggest off-road motorsports events in the United States attracting over 20,000 spectators for the weeklong King of the Hammers event held in the California Desert near 29 palms Marine base next week. Following the 2011 event Knoll announced plans he would be leaving the company and event he helped build, to pursue other interest shocking the Ultra4 Community. ” The time seemed right for a single person to take the company to the next level, and after much debate Dave proved the best choice” said Knoll speaking for the first time about his decision to leave Hammerking Productions. “We had accomplished far more together then we ever imagined producing 4 feature films, multiple TV shows, a racing series, and of course the mammoth King of the Hammers event. Leaving gave me the opportunity to explore some ideas I had wanted to expand Hammerking into without the burden of producing the existing product line and focus more time on political issues inside the OHV industry.” Knoll continued.

Knoll has done just that with his Carrera Performance Group based out of Whitefish Montana. The management and marketing firm seems to have embedded itself across a wide path of services ranging from Non-Profit OHV groups to some very big names in the off-road industry, and beyond. But this week thanks to a friendship forged with Eric Morales in Baja California, Knoll will experience something he may have dreamed about since the night he and Dave Cole started sketching on a napkin. Racing in his vision of the perfect off-road event.

Eric Morales of Lincoln, California has a love affair with all things fast, and Ultra4 racing is his next target. Building a state of the art Ultra4 car is no easy task but Morales who has raced a stable of Ford Mustang backed Drag, Road, and Auto Cross events, jumped into the Off-Road world when he saw a Youtube Video of the King of the Hammers in 2008. “It’s been a long road to get here, but I am happy we made this journey.” said Morales of the 4 years it took to build his race car. His race effort was scheduled for a trip to the LCQ when Knoll called him and asked if he would like to exercise Knoll’s hall pass to the big show. After a short discussion the two agreed to share driving duties for the 2012 King of the Hammers, and potentially build on that relationship for additional races in the 2012 season.

“With any new team you are going to have growing pains and bugs to work out, so we are just going to run a conservative race for KOH, and try not to buy into the hype.” Knoll said of the collaboration.

Fatherhood is something both men take very seriously, so there was little question about branding the car with the Children’s Miracle Network fundraiser of Rockin 4 the Kids. “Being a Dad is far more rewarding than racing, and since I paid to build the car I thought it would be great to have a group like Children’s Miracle Network represented” said Morales.

There is little doubt the Banditoe racing partnership forged in Baja is far more about the adventure and experience of the journey than the destination.

Banditoe racing is supported by its familia, PSC Steering, Goodyear tires, Fishmouth Fabworks, Shaffer’s Off-Road, and the dedicated crew that makes things happen.

Simi Valley, CA – January 31, 2012 – This years running of the King of the Hammers adds a new element of competition with the Smittybilt Everyman’s Challenge.  The Everyman’s Challenge will feature two classes of racing and allow racers with production based vehicles a place to race and be competitive.  Being a Jeep based manufacturer and the official suspension of the Ultra4 series we felt it was only appropriate to field a competitor in each class.

Competing in the stock class for Team GenRight will be the VP Racing team of Ben Varozza and Jacob Pacheco from Diamond Springs, CA. Limited to a 35″ tire they built their TJ from the ground up to show that anyone can tackle the Hammers on a budget and be competitive.  To keep the Jeep on course and protect it from the hammers a set of GenRight Rocker Guards along with Boulder Series fenders were installed for the ultimate protection.  To aid in ground clearance with the 35″ tires GenRight’s Belly Up Skid plate and double triangulated Legend suspension system were also installed.

In the Modified class which allows competitors to run a 37″ tire it will be Big Ugly Racing’s Kevin Sacalas from Riverside, CA competing for the win.  Kevin will be competing in his Jeep TJ that is no stranger to Ultra4 competition.  In 2010 he used it in the LCQ to qualify for a spot in the King of the Hammers.  It too will be outfitted with Genright’s leading line of body armor including tube fenders and corner guards.  Kevin will be featuring the new light weight aluminum body armor on his rig.

Tony Pellegrino from GenRight Off-Road had this to say about the Smittybilt Everyman’s Challenge; “We’re very excited to partner with VP Racing and Big Ugly Racing for the Everyman’s Challenge at the 2012 King of the Hammers.  We feel that they will represent GenRight well and be able to run at the front of the pack and show the competition what GenRIght products on your Jeep can do and the abuse they will hold up to!”

The Everyman’s Challenge will take place Sunday February 5th, 2012 in Johnson Valley, CA as part of the 2012 running of the King of the Hammers.  For more information about the race you can visit Ultra4racing.com.  For updates on how Team GenRight is doing during the King of the Hammers be sure to follow them on facebook at facebook.com/genrightoffroad.

VP Racing Stock Jeep

Kevin Sacalas Mod Jeep

About GenRight Off-Road:

GenRight Off-Road is an aftermarket automotive parts manufacturer located in Simi Valley, CA.  Specializing in Jeeps, they produce suspension kits, gas tanks, body armor and sport cages.  All of GenRight’s products are “Made in the USA”.  Tony Pellegrino, founder of GenRight Off-Road can be found showcasing his products on one of the GenRight Jeeps at events nationwide.  GenRight Off-Road is located at 4535 Runway St, Simi Valley, CA  93063.  For more information about GenRight or to purchase their products, please visit their website at www.genright.com or call (805) 584-8635. You can also follow Tony Pellegrino in the Factory GenRight Off Road Ultra4 race buggy #4485 on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/genrightoffroad

In anticipation of the 2012 King of the Hammers taking place Friday, Feb. 10 in Johnson Valley, Calif., BFGoodrich Tires has created a contingency program to benefit those who choose to run on BFGoodrich Tires.  A $7,500 contingency payout will be awarded to the winner of the race if running BFGoodrich tires.

Following are the requirements in order to be eligible for the $7,500 payout:

• Must register at contingency listing BFGoodrich tires
• Must have 24″ BFGoodrich decals visible on both sides of vehicle and on front of vehicle
• Must start/finish with BFGoodrich tires on all 4 points of vehicle

In every genre of competition there is a prestigious cornerstone event that sets the standards. The appeal for thrill seekers is to conquer the momentous chore, bask in the glory, and enjoy the legacy. In its short history, King of the Hammers (KOH) has forged an international sensation that is declared the toughest off road race on the planet, combining brutal rock crawling with high-speed desert racing.
Lucas Oil Products recognizes the significance that this event holds in off road motorsports and is proud to support King of the Hammers as the “Official Oil of Ultra 4 Racing.” In addition, Lucas Oil will be sponsoring an Off Road Short Course Demo featuring a handful of stars from the Lucas Oil Off Road Series, aerial helicopter support, and a dedicated street in Hammertown labeled “Lucas Oil Lane” located near Vendor Row. Also noted, Lucas Oil’s support starts with the racers themselves. 2011′s 9th place finisher #4478Les Figueroa, driver of the Lucas Oil/Figspeed.com machine, will be taking on the competition to better last year’s top 10 finish.

New for 2012, a standalone hybrid cross country enduro event has been added the KOH Event Schedule, taking place on Thursday, January 9th 2012. Titled “King of the Motos,” this treacherous & technical invitational race is designed to rival the world renowned Erzberg. Lucas Oil’s Pro EnduroCross rider Colton Haaker, will be riding a 2012 Kawasaki KX™ 450F, going for the winner-takes-all $10,000 purse in an event where few would even dare to enter.
“Lucas Oil’s support of motorsports is second to none and what they have been doing in the off road industry certainly deserves our acknowledgment. It’s simple, great sponsors make great races possible” said Ultra4 Racing founder, Dave Cole. He continued by saying, “Our product sponsors are true partners offering significant support that reaches far beyond a name and logo. These companies actively support the off-road and 4-wheel drive community as well as our Ultra4 Racing series. I’m confident with these companies as partners, the 2012 season will be our best yet.”

“What Ultra 4 Racing has done with King of the Hammers is downright impressive,” Tom Fredrickson, General Manager of Lucas Oil Products, Inc. shared his thoughts on the upcoming event. “KOH has grown rapidly and the ‘Hammertown’ concept adds a great atmosphere to connect the fans to the racers and racers to the vendors. Crossover Drivers from varying backgrounds come from all over to test their ability at the King of the Hammers racing one of these high profile exotic Ultra4 machines. Now add in King of the Motos and short course action to the mix, this will no doubt be an awesome week of racing!”

The King of the Hammers will take place in Johnson Valley, CA, and is considered the backyard desert playground to Lucas Oil’s headquarters in Corona. The event officially starts on February 3rd with racing and much activity lasting through Saturday the 11th. Expecting over 25,000 to attend, enthusiasts and racers of all sorts will converge on Mean’s Dry Lake creating temporary city type impression. Hammertown will feature a new main venue built around a short-course and hot-pit area. Live coverage will be broadcast via web at www.ultra4racing.com/live and will feed the Jumbotron with exciting action from all over the course. Grandstands overlooking the pits and short course section will provide plenty of spectating opportunities. For those looking for the hard core action, the designated course is 165 miles long featuring thirteen famous rock venues bearing names including Sledgehammer, After Shock, Wrecking Ball, and Resolution.

Click Here for: King Of The Hammers Fast Fact Data Sheet

ABOUT ULTRA4 RACING
Ultra4 is a vehicle type, class, and series. Ultra4 Racing was born from the popularity of the annual Griffin King of the Hammers, considered to be the toughest one-day off-road race. The vehicles are unlimited four-wheel drive, capable of competing in multiple racing disciplines – extreme rock crawling, high-speed desert racing and short course. In five years, the sport has grown significantly from the inaugural King of the Hammers to an eight race national series including a regional east and west championship and a three-race pro series. Ultra4 Racing is managed by Hammerking Productions located in Lake Arrowhead, CA. To learn more, log on to  www.ultra4racing.com.

About Lucas Oil Products  Founded in 1989 by Forrest and Charlotte Lucas, Lucas Oil Products, Inc. has established itself as one of the fastest-growing lubrication product lines in the consumer automotive aftermarket, featuring a line of engine oils, greases, gear lubes, problem-solving additives, and car-care products. Through innovative product research and development, along with aggressive marketing programs, Lucas Oil has established itself as a worldwide leader in the lubrication industry. Motorsports has always been part of the Lucas Oil culture and the cornerstone of the company’s marketing strategy. Such passion for motorsports has inspired Lucas Oil to sponsor many race teams, events and series at all levels, including, NHRA, IRL, ASCS, NASCAR, IHRA and many more. Lucas Oil has also taken ownership and operational control of a number of high profile racing properties, such as: Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, Lucas Oil Drag Boat Series, Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League, Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, Lucas Oil Modified Series, Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, MO. and the Lucas Oil I-10 Speedway in Blythe, CA.

In 2007 Lucas Oil founded its own production house, Lucas Oil Production Studios, dedicated to producing high action motorsports television. Currently Lucas Oil Production Studios produces over 300 hours of original programming for networks such as CBS, NBC Sports, SPEED, and MAVTV. More information on Lucas Oil Products, Inc. can be found by visiting  www.LucasOil.com.

RELATED LINKS:
Lucas Oil

Colorado Springs, CO 1/28/12 -  After season ending crashes for both of the team’s rock racers last year, the brothers are back and ready to take on the toughest rock race on the planet. 2012 will the longest King of the Hammers yet with 165 miles of rock crawling and desert terrain. The week long event now features several races and a chance for competitors to qualify for start positions.

January 26, 2012 (Lake Arrowhead, CA) – Hammerking Productions has announced the competitor list for the greatly anticipated King of the Motos slated to take place February 9th.  The event is an extreme enduro combining an updated course of approximately sixty-five miles of high-speed desert racing and ten plus miles of brutal rocks.  Co-promoters Dave Cole and Jimmy Lewis designed the race to be a fair playing field for all racers as no outside assistance is allowed.

The rider list is who’s who in the enduro and trials world.  Rounding out the roster is Kurt Caselli, National Hare & Hound Champion and ISDE class winner, Kendall Norman, also a National Hare & Hound Champ and Baja 1000 winner, Mike Brown, AMA National Motocross Champion and WORCS Champ, Cody Webb, National Trials Champion, X Games Gold Medalist Chris Ridgway, Cory Graffunder, Canadian National Enduro Champion and Graham Jarvis, World Trials competitor and extreme enduro specialist.

The start time for the event has been moved to 10 a.m. and is expected to take over six hours to complete.  The final course map will be released the morning of the event.  Jimmy Lewis noted “this race will be difficult mechanically on the bikes and physically on the competitors.  We expect the winner will be most well rounded rider and the most physically fit.  It is literally a motorcycle survival race.”

2012 King of the Motos Rider List:

Bradley Pace

Chris Midkiff

Chris Ridgway

Cody Webb

Colton Haaker

Cory Graffunder

Destry Abbott

Graham Jarvis

Irving Powers

Jason Smith

Joe Kessler

Jordan Brandt

Kendall Norman

Kurt Caselli

Kyle Redmond

Matt Eddy

Max Gerston

Mike Brown

Mike Slawson

Nic Burson

Rory Sullivan

Tim Roeble

The Off Road Business Association (ORBA) will host a free Vendor Poker Walk during Contingency for the 6th running of the King of the Hammers in Johnson Valley.   Five freshman members of the trade based OHV advocate group will be hosting the poker walk. Participants may enter free of charge by visiting any one of the participating vendors booths between 10:00 am and 4:00pm on Thursday February 9th 2012. The winner will be announced at 5:00pm at the SXSPerformance.com booth #V42 in Hammertown.

Participating vendors are as follows;

RuffStuff Specialties Booth V24

SXSPerformance.com Booth V42

Trail Gear Booth V45

Poison Spider Customs V43A

Torchmate CNC Cutting Systems Booth V20.

Participants will have the opportunity to draw an additional card by making a donation to ORBA when they turn in their playing card at the SXS Performance booth. “Our goal is to raise awareness of the type of work ORBA does for OHV users through its work with lobbyists. Off-Road industry leaders apply a different perspective when dealing with legislators, and we feel that the community needs to understand that process. This interaction between ORBA membership and the end users is a great first step in bridging the gap and showing consumers the work the off-road businesses do to keep public lands public.” said ORBA President Fred Wiley.

Participants will be required to visit each of the five listed vendors to draw a single card, and then turn in the completed playing card in order to win. The player with the best poker hand will win a prize pack assembled from each of the ORBA vendors who are participating in the Poker Walk. No vehicle travel is required, and entry is limited to one per person. Donations will benefit the effort to stop the 29 Palms base expansion into Johnson Valley OHV area through Savethehammers.org.

Nitto Tire Expects Great Results at This Year’s Ultra4 Sanctioned King of the Hammers Race by Showcasing Specially Designed Trail Grappler® Race Tires and Six Sponsored Race Teams

Cypress, Calif. – Jan. 17, 2011 – Nitto Tire, a leading producer of high performance tires is prepping for a big win at this year’s toughest desert race, King of the Hammers: The Ultimate Desert Race (KOH).  Nitto Tire has put together some of the top winning drivers into six officially sponsored teams to tackle this extreme test of strategy, speed and guts.  To further their edge in this competition, Nitto Tire has also developed a new, non-DOT tire specifically for this event called the 40×13.50R17 Trail Grappler K-spec®.  The first tire designed for speed and rock climbing – two essential tests known in the KOH – the 40×13.50R17 Trail Grappler K-spec combines these two attributes in one performance package making it an industry first.

The Nitto Tire teams are led by top drivers, including: 2010’s KOH winner, Loren Healy; 2009’s first place winner, Jason Scherer; female driving sensation Cottin Rodd; as well as Derek West, Mel Wade and Masa Tsuda.  Nitto Tire will also capture the excitement and thrilling action of the race through a documentary-style film.  The film will be available on the official Nitto Tire website and will showcase the grueling, dangerous race in the California desert.

“King of the Hammers, is such a grueling and demanding race, drivers are constantly looking for any advantage against their competitors,” said Tim Coltey, marketing and event specialist, Nitto Tires.  “With Nitto’s development of the Trail Grappler K-Spec, we are confident the Nitto teams will have that extra edge as no other tire can handle the speed, dirt and rock crawling like this new tire.”

King of the Hammers: The Ultimate Desert Race is unique as it tests teams and drivers in high speed desert terrain and their ability to traverse rocks.  Race car speeds are achieved through dusty desert trails, while the sheer vertical rock walls and rock washes bring another level of excitement and skill to this race unlike any other.  The course spans more than 120 miles and usually takes teams between six to eight hours to complete…if they make it.  Less than half of the teams in the KOH actually finish this insane adrenaline rush of a race.

King of the Hammers: The Ultimate Desert Race will be held at Means Dry Lake in Johnson Valley, Calif., on Friday, February 10, 2012. Nitto Tire will have a booth will be at the event from February 6-11.  For more information, please visit http://youtu.be/A0HaT8J6yBI.

About Nitto Tire
Nitto Tire (www.nittotire.com) develops performance tires for all uses, including racing, off-road and street. Using state-of-the-art manufacturing and testing facilities in both Japan and the United States – Nitto provides innovative and high-quality performance tires for the most demanding automotive enthusiasts. For more information about Nitto or its products, visit the company’s web site or contact the company directly. Nitto is a registered trademark of Nitto Tire U.S.A. Inc., located at 5665 Plaza Drive, Ste. 250, Cypress, Calif., 90630.

January 11^th, 2012– Johnson Valley, CA:  On Friday, February 10^th, 2012 more than 100 drivers are expected to compete in the 6^th annual Griffin King of The Hammers. The level of talent and experience lining up at the start of this year’s race has never been seen before in Johnson Valley.  The contestants vying for a chance to be crowned the 2012 King range from former kings, Dakar finishers, to international drivers and short course champions.

All former kings will be returning to reclaim their crown and the competition among them is expected to be fierce.  Shannon Campbell is the only king to win the Griffin King of The Hammers twice in both 2008 and 2011 and his fans are hoping for a three-peat. Jason Scherer, the 2009 king, took 3^rd place in 2011 as he and Campbell battled throughout the final lap until Scherer’s vehicle suffered mechanical issues.  2010 king, Loren Healy is returning to the lake bed fresh from a victory over both Campbell and Scherer in the 2011 Ultra4 Series finale at Glen Helen.  Expect to see all three kings racing back to back for a starting position during the 4Wheel Parts Qualifying rounds on Tuesday night. The fastest time will determine starting position on Friday.

Several short course champions are already qualified for the race and will be joining the former kings on Tuesday competing for starting positions. Among them will be Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Champion, Greg Adler who finished 5^th in last year’s King of the Hammers. He will be joined by TORC Racing’s Casey Currie and Brad Lovell.  Both drivers have placed in the top 20 at prior King of the Hammers. Veteran desert racer, TJ Flores is another cross-over driver competing this year. This will be Flores’ first King of The Hammers and his co-driver will be Ultra4 veteran, Dave Schneider.

Perhaps the most anticipated cross-over driver competing in the 2012 Griffin King of the Hammers is racing icon, Robby Gordon.  Gordon’s racing experience includes wins in NASCAR and off road racing, notably the Baja 1000.  He will return to the states from the Dakar Rally with just enough time to prep and pre-run for his first ever Griffin King of the Hammers.  Gordon will be driving the winning Jimmy’s 4×4 car that Healy drove to a victory in 2010. The car is being provided by Cancun Off Road.

Gordon will not be the only person traveling internationally to compete. Several international drivers are returning this year including Australia’s Ben Napier. Napier placed 10^th in last year’s race and finished 2^ndoverall in the 2011 Ultra4 Series.  Other returning international drivers include; Masanori Tsuda from Japan, Fabio Manno from Italy, Jose Manuel Ponce from Mexico and Curtis Warner from Canada.  New international drivers making the trek to Johnson Valley will be Aussie Nick Finch and Belgium driver Axel Burmann.

This will be the first year that starting order will be determined by a qualifying race.  Over the course of two days, 160 teams will be vying for the fastest time through the 4Wheel Parts Qualifying course. More than 70 Last Chance Qualifier contestants will be competing for one of 20 spots remaining in the Griffin King of The Hammers, while 90 pre-qualified racers will be competing for their starting order. Attached is a complete list of drivers competing in the 2012 Griffin King of The Hammers sorted by their qualifier starting position.

To learn more about the race and for a complete schedule of events, please visit www.ultra4racing.com

January 4, 2012 (Lake Arrowhead, CA) – Hammerking Productions, owner and producer of the iconic King of the Hammers off-road race is pleased to announce the newest event in the weeklong series of extreme off-road competitions – King of the Motos.

After a groundswell of support from key motorcycle racing professionals, the 2012 edition will feature a demanding course combining high-speed Baja-style desert racing and extreme rock terrain that will rival Erzberg.  King of the Motos will host an invitation only field of twenty top riders from the enduro, desert racing and trials world.

“Keeping with the reputation of King of the Hammers, this will be the hardest moto course in the United States,” explained co-promoters Dave Cole and winning racer Jimmy Lewis.  “The field is invitational, but riders from several disciples have the opportunity to compete for the winner takes all $10,000 prize purse.”

The main event will take place at 11 a.m. Thursday, February 9, 2012 on Means Dry Lake Bed in Johnson Valley, California.  The course will cover approximately sixty-five miles including ten miles of rocks.  There are no performance limitations on bikes and no pit support.

October 24, 2011 – Glen Helen, CA: Historic Glen Helen Raceway recently played host to the 4Wheel Parts Ultra4 Grand Prix.  Over 40 worthy competitors showed up for the fifth and final event of the 2011 Ultra4 series in beautiful San Bernardino, California.  The Grand Prix format required drivers to circumnavigate a punishing five mile course for a total of four hours in an effort to find the toughest competitor on the planet.  In the end, 2010 King of the Hammers winner Loren Healy took home the gold in his familiar ATX-sponsored Jimmy’s 4×4 buggy, but it was anything but an easy victory.

Healy had to beat out tough competition from fellow King of the Hammers winners Jason Scherer and Shannon Campbell on a course that was packed full of jumps, banked turns, and loose hill climbs that wreaked havoc on man and machine alike. Beautiful weather made for pleasant spectating and pitting, but the 80 degree temperatures conspired against the fluids trapped within overtaxed transmissions and shocks.  By the end of four hours, only ten vehicles were still running under their own power, but every driver had a huge grin on their face and vowed to return next year for a race that has quickly become a favorite with fans and competitors alike.  Below is the complete list of competitors, the laps they completed and who qualified for the 2012 King of The Hammers this weekend.

The 2012 Ultra4 season starts off with an action-packed week of festivities in Johnson Valley on February 3^rd.  Thirty thousand enthusiasts are expected to make the annual pilgrimage to Means Dry Lake Bed to witness the returning 4Wheel Parts Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ) and Pit Bull Tires UTV Race, as well as the all new Smittybilt Every Man Challenge.  The week culminates with the sixth running of the now famous Griffin King of the Hammers on Friday, February 10^th.  Save the date, this is one race you will not want to miss.

About Ultra4 Racing: Due to the incredible success of the Griffin King of the Hammers, Hammerking Productions created the Ultra4 racing series.  The defining characteristic of this class is that all cars must be possess 4-wheel drive. Beyond that, the class is unlimited and combines multiple off-road disciplines such as desert racing, rockcrawling, and short course racing.  The Griffin King of The Hammers takes place each year in February, on public lands in Johnson Valley, CA.  The race has evolved from 12 teams racing for bragging rights and a case of beer, to more than 150 teams competing before tens of thousands of live spectators and hundreds of thousands of online fans.

Drivers qualified either finishing in the top 10 unqualified drivers or by being the top 5 unqualified drivers to have completed at least 4 races this season.

The Ultra4 series was born out of the hugely popular King of the Hammers race, (KOH), held inJohnsonValley, Ca. each February. Ultra4 race vehicles are designed to handle extreme rock crawling and traverse open desert terrain at speed but the versatile 4 wheel drive rigs have been known to show up almost anywhere to race. For the season finale they would tackle a brutal course at Glen Helen that proved to be just as punishing as anything the racers have seen yet. The course included a quick lap of the Lucas Oil track and then it was straight up the ridgeline into the natural terrain that makes Glen Helen so special. Drivers had to negotiate perilously steep hills, twisty fire roads, motocross style table top jumps and a trip around the huge American flag on top of mount Glen Helen to complete a full lap.

The four hour grand prix style race was run in 2, two hour segments with an hour between to make quick repairs and to refuel. Moments before the scheduled break, word came over the radio that Shannon Campbell, blinded by dust, had plunged off the ridgeline into a deep canyon and rolled. The course would be red flagged until they could recover both Shannon and his car. Luckily, a few of the rigs were still equipped with their rock crawling winches which were used to haul the number 5 car back up to safety. In an amazing (but not uncommon) show of sportsmanship, second place in the points championship Ben Napier was helping to recover points leader Campbell’s rig from the bottom of the canyon.

The extended break due to Campbell’s mishap would allow both drivers and cars to cool off a bit before they hit the track again for round two.  After a quick drivers meeting it was decided that the course would be shortened to bypass the ridge where Campbell went off. The result of the shorter course was two hours of frenetic action with the reinvigorated drivers racing bumper to bumper and up to three wide at times to beat the clock and each other. After the dust settled there were four drivers who finished on the lead lap having completed 28 times around the ruthless course. First over the line was Loren Healy followed by Jason Picket and JT Taylor with Nick Nelson in fourth. One lap down with 27 completed was Brad Falin in fifth and Tony Pellegrino in sixth.

After the race there were a lot of sore muscles, broken rigs and some hurt feelings but there was no shortage of ear to ear grins on dirty faces. It seems wherever the Ultra4 series chooses to line up for a race the result is some amazing action and a great time for all. If you’ve never been to an Ultra4 event you are missing out but don’t worry, the 2012, King of the Hammers race is just a few months away.

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Photos by: Mike Ingalsbee, Kelly StClair and Simon Saines

September 29, 2011 – Pomona, CA:  Griffin Radiator , the title sponsor of every King of The Hammers race to date, has donated their 2012 Griffin King of the Hammers qualifying spot to a silent auction taking place at the Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Friday, October 7^th at the Pomona fairplex. Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame.

This is the first time in the 5 year history of the Griffin King of The Hammers that a qualifying spot has been made available via auction to the general public. When asked about the decision to auction off a qualifying spot, King of the Hammers founder, Dave Cole, had this to say, “It was a very generous decision on the part of Griffin Radiator to donate such a coveted spot to an organization that honors the history of off-road motorsports.”

Driver’s typically qualify for the 2012 Griffin King of The Hammers by competing in Ultra4 races throughout the 2011 season and as many as 70 drivers take their chances by participating in the Last Chance Qualifier held the week of King of The Hammers out on the lake bed in Johnson Valley,  CA.  This qualifying spot would allow one lucky driver to bypass those qualifiers and have automatic entry into the big race. All waivers and entry fees for the 2012 Griffin King of The Hammers still apply.

The silent auction is taking place in the Vineyard Ballroom at the Sheraton Fairplex in Pomona, CA starting on Friday, October 7^th at 4PM and continuing until Saturday October 8^th at 9PM. For those that are unable to attend the silent auction on site, an online auction has been established for the general public to bid on the Griffin King of the Hammers Qualifying spot.

The link to access the silent auction can be found at:

http://www.32auctions.com/organizations/2191/auctions/2389

About Ultra4 Racing: Due to the incredible success of the Griffin King of the Hammers, Hammerking Productions created the Ultra4 racing series.  The defining characteristic of this class is that all cars must possess 4-wheel drive. Beyond that, the class is unlimited and combines multiple off-road disciplines such as desert racing, rock crawling, and short course racing.  The Griffin King of The Hammers takes place each year in February, on public lands in Johnson Valley, CA.  The race has evolved from 12 teams racing for bragging rights and a case of beer, to more than 150 teams competing before tens of thousands of live spectators and hundreds of thousands of online fans.

PLACERVILLE, CA   SEPTEMBER 28, 2010:  After two days of intense W.E. Rock crawling where the lead changed more times than can be counted, the final scores crowned Brent Bradshaw the Unlimited Class National Champion, Troy Bailey the Pro Modified National Champion and Duane Garretson the Stock Class Champion.   The W.E. Rock Grand National Championships were held at the Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, UT where the East Coast competitors met the West Coast competitors to determine the National Champion at the season finale.   “The Grand Nationals is always the one of the best events of the year where all the competitors come together and put their battles on the rocks,” said Rich Klein, W.E. Rock promoter.  “There were so many lead changes it made it exciting for everyone watching and involved, each course had to be executed perfectly to take the win.”

The Unlimited class champion Trail Tough Brent Bradshaw and spotter Chris Poblano managed each of the 9 courses like a methodical team, but at the end of day one it was Torchmate Racing Jesse Haines ahead by 11 points.  These two teams have been battling all season and Sundays competition heated up even more when Bradshaw took the lead early in the day when Haines made moves that landed him on his roof, unable to complete the course.  In the meantime, Monster Energy Wayland Campbell and Shannon Campbell consistently finished each course.  After the shootout that only Bradshaw and Campbell were able to successfully complete, the National Title belonged to Trail Tough Brent Bradshaw and Chris Poblano. Second place went to 15 year old Monster Energy Wayland Campbell, Third to Torchmate Racing Jesse Haines, Fourth to BFGoodrich Tires Robert McKenney, Fifth to Raceline Wheels Justin Hall and Sixth to Yukon Gear & Axle Todd Young.

The Pro Modified class champion Maxxis Tires Troy Bailey and Scott Dillard would never have believed that the National Title would be theirs after day one with the intense battle from the beginning with Maxxis Tires Kenny Blume who had the lead at the end of day one.  The lead changed in the Pro Modified class at least three times including having DynoMax Nick Campbell taking the lead after an amazing flip and save by spotter Jason Berger.  After the shootout where the points counting was important, Maxxis Tires Troy Bailey and Scott Dillard would take the National Title.  Second place went to Tom Wood’s Custom Drive Shafts Kenny Blume, Third to DynoMax Nick Campbell, Fourth to Jimmy’s 4×4 Jason Fueilly, Fifth to Pro Comp Justin Lawson and Sixth to PSC Steering Shelby Gilstrap.

The Modified Stock Class was truly an East vs West battle where the class champions from each series went head to head.  Come Get Ya Some Duane Garretson and Jeff Spear would take on each course and complete them.  Second place Krawl Tec Victor Burness and John Jacobs attempted each course and challenged the clock for the finish.

The Grand Nationals is the final event for the 2011 W.E. Rock event series.  The 2012 schedule is available at http://www.werocklive.com/2011/2012-event-schedule/.

Video Recap: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FKS6FfF_Gw

W.E. Rock Grand National Final Results

Unlimited Class

1.     Brent Bradshaw / Chris Poblano

2.     Wayland Campbell / Shannon Campbell

3.     Jesse Haines / Gabe Strouse

4.     Robert McKenney / Ian Wilson

5.     Justin Hall / Mark Hall

6.     Todd Young / Marisa Young

Pro Modified Class

1.     Troy Bailey / Scott Dillard

2.     Kenny Blume / Chuck Carlson

3.     Nick Campbell / Jason Berger

4.     Jason Fueilly / Cody Folsom

5.     Justin Lawson / Cody Keller

6.     Shelby Gilstrap / Billy Gilstrap

Modified Stock Class

1.     Duane Garretson / Jeff Spear

2.     Victor Bunness / John Jacobs

Marketing Partners: Maxxis Tires, Torchmate, Master Pull, Raceline Wheels, Trail Gear, King Shocks, Losi R/C, Eastside Custom Trucks, Slime Tire Sealant, Spider Trax, Nash Fuel Propane Conversions, Pirate4x4.com, Magnum Ink, Tom Woods Custom Driveshafts

About W.E.ROCK Events, LLC.
W.E.ROCK Events, LLC. A Placerville, CA based company, sanctions, promotes, and hosts specialty off road events, including the W.E.ROCK Rockcrawling US Pro-National series, Dirt Riot Racing Series and 13 international and sub-sanctions. Attracting thousands of spectators to each event, W.E.ROCK reaches a broad demographic of off-road enthusiasts and casual motorsports fans. The sport of rockcrawling has grown by giant leaps in the last decade and is now host to over 300 registered national-level competition teams. Major competition supporters and partners include Red Bull Energy Drink, Monster Energy, NOS Energy Drink, Home Depot, MAXXIS Tires, Cooper Tires, and Crown Royal. With the off road industry exceeding 4 billion in sales annually, the sport of rockcrawling leads the way in print media and advertising for the sport’s 12 major publications. For more information, visit www.werocklive.com

JD Films is proud to have Team Ford Las Vegas join us as the new title sponsor for the upcoming, action packed, Dezert People 9 film.  Team Ford, along with our other Dezert People 9 sponsors—VORRA, Fox Racing Shox, MasterCraft Safety, Total Chaos Fabrication, PCI Race Radios, Vision X, Azunia Tequila, Off Road Warehouse, Baja Junkies and HighRev Photography—are geared up and ready for the arrival of yet another thrilling release in the Dezert People saga.

This years DVD release features intense racing action from Baja, California, Nevada and Texas with more event coverage than ever before, including SCORE, BITD, VORRA, CODE, Baja Racing of Texas, King of the Hammers and much more…

The Team Ford, Dezert People 9 Premiere Tour

The Team Ford, Dezert People 9 Premiere Tour will kick off Friday, September 16, 2011 at the Atrium Hotel in Irvine, CA.  Come hang out poolside at this outdoor movie event and be the first to witness the action packed coverage of the past year in off-road racing. Just as the previous premiere held at the Atrium, JD Films will be once again giving 50% of each paid admission to Fast-Aid, who will also be present to raffle off some exciting prizes.  Ticket pre-ordering is now online at www.dezertpeople.com with an option to buy the DVD and get in free.

We also have many other exciting premieres planned.  Join us once again at Norman Motorsports on Saturday, September 17, 2011 that will be benefiting multiple charities, including Navy SEAL Foundation, Fast-Aid, Castro-Limon Foundation and Chaplain Steve Hanson who’s house and belongings were recently lost in a fire.  Enjoy a margarita sponsored by Azunia Tequila and some street tacos provided by Locos Mocos and Baja Pits who will be there to help raise money for the Castro-Limon Foundation. Admission is $30 at the door and includes a Dezert People 9 DVD, poster and drinks.

To close out the weekend, Dezert People combined efforts again with All German Motorsports to put together another K1 Speed event in Carlsbad, CA.  Come check out the many race vehicles and prerunners on display in between challenging your friends to some high-speed go-kart racing.  Fast-Aid will be there raffling off many high-end prizes, and Locos Mocos and Baja Pits will also be grilling up more street tacos to help raise money for Castro Limon. The Dezert People 9 showing will start at 7:00 pm after all go-kart races are finished.

If you can’t make it to one of our SoCal events, don’t worry because the fun doesn’t stop there. Dezert People will be making stops in Las Vegas, Arizona, Baja, Texas and NorCal. See the full schedule for the Team Ford, Dezert People 9 premiere tour below:

The Team Ford, Dezert People 9 Premiere Tour schedule:

• Sept. 16^th – Atrium Hotel, Irvine, CA
• Sept. 17^th – Norman Motorsports, El Cajon, CA
• Sept. 17^th – Angels Roadhouse 2, Apple Valley, CA
• Sept. 17^th – Clubhouse 56, Sacramento, CA
• Sept. 17^th – SamCo Fabrication, Reno, NV
• Sept. 18^th – K1 Speed, Carlsbad, CA
• Sept. 19^th – Sierra Gold Tavern and Pole Position, Las Vegas, NV
• Sept, 20^th – Farrelli’s Cinema, Scottsdale, AZ
• Sept. 21^st – Mexicali, Baja (combined event with CODE race drawing)
• Sept. 22^nd – Irish O’Sullivan’s, Fresno, CA
• Sept. 22^nd – Brewers Sports Bar, Yuma, AZ
• Sept. 24^th – Austin Speed Shop, Austin, TX
• Sept. 25^th – The Saddle Rack, Fremont, CA
• Sept. 30th – Brothers Leagues Club, Australia
• Oct. 7th – Bones Roadhouse, Gualala, CA
• TBA – Ensenada. Check our web site www.dezertpeople.com for updates and full details about each location.

Watch the trailer at www.youtube.com/jdfilms

Pre-order Dezert People 9 on the web here.

Dezert People is pleased to introduce our title sponsor Team Ford. www.teamford.com

Team Ford, which opened in May of 2000, is the newest and most modern Ford dealership in Nevada.

If you are already familiar with Team Ford, the Las Vegas based Ford and Lincoln dealer, then you know they specialize and understand the needs of Racers and Crews as well as offering the highest discounts on Race and Chase vehicles.

With a low key and friendly greeting approach, customers arrive knowing right off the bat that they will be well taken care and given the service they deserve without the hassle of a pushy sales person.

Different than any other dealer, Team Ford offers incentives such as “Team Air,” a program with which buyers receive a one-way airfare from anywhere in the country in order to purchase their vehicle with someone who specializes in their needs. They have also been known to deliver needed parts to racers while in Primm, Beatty, and even Tonopah.  It is no surprise that they are the #1 volume Ford Dealer in Las Vegas going on 4 years since their success is obviously a direct result of the loyalty of the racers and race crews.

The Team Ford Trophy Truck driven by Team Ford owner/president Steve Olliges and John Swift, is currently competing in BITD and SNORE with plans to race SCORE as well. The truck is sponsored by BFGoodrich, Mastercraft, Fox Shox, Trail Ready, KC, Impact, Marathon Sod and, of course, Ford and Team Ford.

J.T. Taylor takes the Win in the 2^nd annual Running of the ULTRA 4 Stampede held outside Reno NV on Saturday.

The first and fastest qualifier was Shannon Cambell off the line at 9:00am . He would soon have some mechanical issues before reaching Giants Throne which allowed J.T. Taylor to overtake him for the lead. From that point JT never looked back and ultimately had a 31 minute lead over the 2^nd place finisher of Erik Miller and a 46 minute lead over 3^rd place finisher Randy Slawson.

In only it’s  2^nd  year the driver sign up count grew after hearing of the challenge of Men and Machine against the Elements. 47 of the best rock racers qualified for the Stampede, 17 finished within the allotted time limit of 9 hours and 2 finished outside the time limit. The Elements Won all but 19 drivers. With an attrition rate this high it is becoming well known that this is One Tough Race, second only to the King of the Hammers but word has it between the drivers and people in the know that the Stampede is tougher. Just to finish this race is considered to be quite an accomplishment.

Congratulations go out to 7 drivers that qualified through this race for the 2012 King of the Hammers. They are Rick Mooneyham 4^th, John Webb 10^th, John Cagliero 12^th, Mike Turner 13^th and  Larry Anderson 14^th.  Aaron Robinson 15^th  and Jason Blanton 17^th were Merit Qualifiers. We look forward to seeing all of  them compete in the 2012 King of the Hammers.

Words and photos by Dave Clark, cmiphoto.net

Results of the 2011 Torchmate Reno Stampede

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June 3, 2011- Johnson Valley, CA :  Just when you thought King of the Hammers couldn’t get any more epic:  Dave Cole of HammerKing Productions officially announces there will be a new race at the 2012 King of The Hammers.  This race is being called The Every Man Challenge at King of The Hammers and for the first time ever, will allow off-road enthusiasts a chance to race their stock and modified stock vehicles in the toughest one day off-road race on the planet.   For those that have been watching King of The Hammers, wondering how their own off-road vehicle compares to the Ultra4 cars competing in this race; this is a chance to find out.

King of The Hammers is a week-long event that takes place in Johnson Valley, CA every February with the official King of The Hammers race occurring on Friday, February 10, 2012.  The stock and modified stock race known as the Every Man Challenge (EMC) will be taking place on Monday, February 6, 2012. While the course will not be the entire King of The Hammers course, you can be sure it will contain all of the same elements as the main race. Not only that, but the winners of The EMC, both the stock and modified stock class will also win a chance to compete in the main event on Friday and race their vehicles along-side the professional unlimited 4-Wheel drive class known as Ultra4.

The stock class is meant to be a true proving ground for the OEM and aftermarket suppliers to show once and for all, who makes the best 4WD vehicle and accessories on the planet. This class will be limited to 35” DOT tires, the shocks cannot be bypasses, and the cars will be full body and frame. The modified stock (stock-mod) class is for the enthusiast that wants to go fast, and see what their car is capable of, but doesn’t have a full blown Ultra4 car. According to Cole, “It’s a chance for every off-roader to experience big time racing on a small time budget.” This stock-mod class will be limited to 37” DOT tires, they will be allowed to run bypasses on their shocks, and their vehicles will be partial frame vehicles. Both classes will need to adhere to all the safety rules outlined in the King Of The Hammers rule book. For a full list of stock and stock mod specs as well as the entire King of The Hammers rule book please visit the Ultra4 racing web site at www.ultra4racing.com/racers/rulebook/

This race will be limited to 100 vehicles total and pre-registration is already occurring via the Ultra4 Racing web site. The cost is $200 to reserve a spot and registrations must include the name of the driver of record and are limited to one registration per person.  The pre-registration was first offered exclusively to Pirate 4×4 fans that have been closely following the evolution of this class for the last several months, and is now being opened up to all off-road enthusiasts. To pre-register, visit the Ultra4 Racing web site and the registration is listed in the store under “Event Entry Fees”

For those wishing to learn more aboutKing of the Hammers or follow the 2011 Ultra4 series, be sure to check out Ultra4 racing’s web site: www.ultra4racing.com and become a fan of the Ultra4 facebook page:www.facebook.com/Ultra4racing.  The next Ultra4 Series race will be held July 16^th at the Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, UT.

For Immediate Release:

May 16, 2011- Emmitsburg, MD- Bigelow Motorsports owner and driver, Doug Bigelow announced today that the team has partnered with Yukon Gear & Axle for the King of the Hammers Rausch Creek Qualifier (RCQ) in Pennsylvania for the May 21st race . Yukon Gear & Axle has been a supporter of Bigelow Motorsports for 5 years and both entities are looking to take the relationship to the next level. “Yukon Gear & Axle has been a major player in all functions of motorsports throughout the years. We trust every single vehicle in the Bigelow Motorsports fleet to the harcore parts that Yukon produces. Every single race including the King of the Hammers race that we have raced in since 2008 has been on Yukon Axles, U Joints and Center Sections and anyone that has seen us race knows we race for the win. We are very excited about partnering with Yukon for the RCQ and we are looking forward to putting the Yukon Gear & Axle moonbuggy in the winner circle and qualifying for the big race in 2012,” noted Bigelow. Bigelow Motorsports will have live updates of the race via Facebook and will have in their pit area all of the latest Yukon Gear & Axle information and products.

Yukon Gear & Axle is a leading manufacturer in the aftermarket drivetrain industry. The company holds over 22 Registered Trademarks for it’s products relating to drag racing, circle track, rock climbing, street performance, four wheeling, street drags, hot rods and diesel performance. Founded with a mission statement of striving to exceed expectations of high qualifty, competitive pricing and value for its customers Yukon Gear and Axle provides the highest quality and widest possible selection of differential parts at the best possible prices and manufactured using the latest metallurgical processes.

Bigelow Motorsports is an East Coast based rock sports racing team. Based out of Emmitsburg, MD Bigelow Motorsports has been racing professionally for the last 9 years. Doug Bigelow has raced in every King of the Hammers race since 2008 and finished in the top 30 for the 2011 race. He qualified for the 2011 race with a 3rd place finish in 2010 at the KOH RCQ.

www.yukongear.com www.bigelowmotorsports.com www.ultra4racing.com

3.9.2011 – HeavyMetalConcepts: Hard at work on 2011 King of the Hammers DVD
After spending a week across the country out in Johnson Valley, California for the 2011 King of the Hammers, the HeavyMetalConcepts crew is back to the Northeast and is ready to get to the work on the 2011 KOH film/DVD upon receiving all cataloged footage.

HeavyMetalConcepts spent the week working with both Hammerking Productions and a mixed film crew including Turn2TV Prod. capturing in detail all of the various events that took place over the week on the lake bed. Both of the Last Chance Qualifiers (LCQs), interviews, even on-board camera footage, as well as the main race itself, will all be featured in this year’s official DVD. From the high-speed passes, to the traffic jams on rock trails like Outer Limits, this year’s race was even bigger than the last, and was full of action! This year’s film is meant to be a “rebirth” of the KOH story and film series, with new storytelling angles, cinematography methods, and more. Be sure to keep a look out for the official film trailer some time in March/April.

In addition, HMC spent time on the lakebed at KOH editing live in the field on video for the two Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ) days, submitted to Pirate4x4TV Live last Thursday morning. Upon HMC’s return home, an “after action” video of race day was edited and submitted to Pirate as well. Both of those videos can be found on Pirate’s coverage page here: http://www.pirate4x4.com/king-of-the-hammers-2011/

For more information, please visit www.heavymetalconcepts.com

NORTH EASTON, MA    MARCH 8, 2011-   Massachusetts conjures up images of clam chowder and Nor’easters, but in the off-road world New England is known for being the home of Lucas Murphy.  Murphy qualified for the exclusive Griffin King of the Hammers race by finishing 5^th at the Quadratec Rausch Creek Qualifier, and then backed it up with a win at the Southern Missouri Off Road Ranch International Endurance Race.  Murphy then transitioned back to home life, juggling his work managing a manufacturing engineering group, raising a young family, racing on the weekends and building a new house.

Three days after moving in to his new home, three of the eleven-member Murphy’s Law Motorsports team loaded up and drove 3100 miles across the country to compete in the world’s most difficult one-day off road race.  Murphy’s home fabricated buggy finished 23^rd in last year’s King of the Hammers race, but Lucas recognized that there was still room for improvement.  “Fox Racing’s Todd Tenbrook was able to double our speed with just a few hours of tuning!”  Murphy had some great opportunities to pre-run the course, but not without fail on Wednesday when they broke the rear axle!

“Yukon Gear and Axle was able to overnight a rear locker to us in Yucca Valley,” Murphy explained.  “We went through contingency with basically no internal parts in the rear axle, got the parts Thursday afternoon and put it back together Thursday night, went for a quick dark run and pulled up to the start line Friday morning unproven.  Not the way we wanted to start the race to say the least!”

Lucas started 15^th in the King of the Hammers and had an excellent first lap in the 120-mile race.  At Backdoor the team almost got rolled on by a competitor attempting the obstacle in front of him, “but I shoved it into reverse and floored it!” Lucas explained.  Murphy’s Law Motorsports was in 11^th place on the course when the rear driveshaft failed after contact with a rock on Jackhammer.  A broken driveshaft is easily remedied by someone as mechanically talented as Lucas Murphy, but unfortunately the rogue driveshaft took out the transmission in the process of reversing off the rock.  “There is a reason they call us Murphy’s Law Motorsports!” a goodhearted Lucas stated after the race.

Always striving to advance, Lucas Murphy will be building a brand new car this year while running the Rausch Creek race series and select Ultra4 races.  Check Murphy’s Law Motorsports Facebook page for updates on the new buggy and team status.

Lucas Murphy at King of the Hammers You Tube Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8JWZHQzc98

Facebook: www.facebook.com/murphyslawmotorsports

Murphy’s Law Motorsports: www.murphyslawmotorsports.com

Link to YouTube of Lucas Murphy: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xk0B8KAG68

More Information on King of the Hammers: ultra4racing.com

Sponsors: Yukon Axle and Gear, Fox Racing Shocks, Raceline Wheels, BF Goodrich, Griffin Radiators, Kessler Machine and Fabricating, T.F. Contracting, Northeast Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs, Deepwoods Extreme, Flexcon Industries, Irion Lumber Company, Ciotti Racing Products, Yukon Axle and Gear, Optima Batteries

About Lucas Murphy: Lucas Murphy grew up in Martha’s Vineyard as the youngest of nine children.  At the ripe age of 10, he started working for his father repairing boats and doing salvage work in the family yard of over 100 vehicles.  He started welding at 14, and would complete engine, axle and transmission swaps without hesitation.  He got into 4wheeling as soon as he could legally drive on the beaches of the Vineyard, but didn’t take a true wheeling trip until 2006 after meeting some people online.  In 2008, he built his current rig from scratch and the day he got his rig running was the day before his son Tracy James (TJ) was born.  Murphy’s Law Motorsports was started with wife Trish and co-driver Jon Hastie on board.  They have since competed in the King of the Hammers, RCRocks, Deep Woods Extreme Rock Crawl, Boulder Bash and various off-road trail rides. www.murphyslawmotorsports.com

DANVILLE, CA   MARCH 7, 2011

Jason Scherer released his normally polite and respectful personality for the possessed man that races the number 76 car and accomplished his second podium finish at the 2011 Griffin King of the Hammers.  Scherer started 36th out of 100 competitors with his brother Casey co-driving.  It was not long before the duo was passing the competition and out front, just as Scherer has done the past two years.
“We were the first out of the Main Pit for the third year in a row,” Jason explained.  “The 20-member Trail Master crew was waiting there for us, but they hardly needed to get their Ironclad gloves dirty when we came in.”  The pit crew confirmed that Jason and Casey were leading the race and they departed as if shot from a cannon, with the Fox Racing Shox and Daystar bushings keeping Scherer’s 39” BFGoodrich KRT tires planted on the ground.  Their luck took a turn for the worse on Backdoor, where the pair lost 10 minutes time when they decided to be conservative and winch up the six-foot tall vertical waterfall on the trail.  “I should have trusted my instincts and just drove it!” the good-natured Scherer reflected after the race.
Casey was left behind at Backdoor in an effort to make up time, and soon Jason found himself in an epic battle with Shannon Campbell at speeds exceeding 120 mph across the desert floor.  Issues with the power steering belt caused Scherer to stop on course repeatedly, and when he completed the 2011 Griffin King of the Hammers in 3rd place the six-rib steering belt only had three ribs remaining.  “It is amazing what these PSC components can withstand!” Scherer noted.  “Their pumps and rams are absolutely bomb proof, and the whole crew at PSC was eager to lend a hand all week long.”

Intent on regaining his King of the Hammers title from 2009, Jason Scherer intends to fabricate a new dedicated Ultra4 car for next year’s race.  With nine years of competition experience, multiple rockcrawling competition titles, and an ironclad drive to win, fans should make certain to keep an eye on Team BFGoodrich driver Jason Scherer in the coming months.

Video on Jason Scherer at King of the Hammers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idizyT4-t4o

Rage 4^th Team Site: www.Rage4th.com
More about Jason Scherer: Jason Scherer has stood on the podium at most events winning one of the most prestigious events: 2009 King of the Hammers.  His consistency and race car set-up is also proven winning the Pro-Rock Championship in 2006, repeating in 2007.  Jason’s growing list of high profile finishes have earned him the honor of being nominated for Dirt Sports “Driver of the Year” award two years in a row and Scherer is a Team BFGoodrich driver for 4 years in a row, an honor reserved for those who embody the image and determination to be the best. Scherer embraces his racing career with a very supportive wife and daughter who join him on the trails of Northern California.

Marketing Partners: Trail Master Suspension, The Pelican Group, BFGoodrich Tires, IronClad Energy and Performance Wear, High Angle Driveline, PowerTank, High Performance Air Systems, Beard Seats, Shaffer’s Off-Road,www.Pirate4x4.com AEM Filters, Red Line Synthetic Oil, ARB USA, CTM Racing