King Of the Hammers 2025.

[Deckin Around]

Anybody able to verify no camping outside? I hear they got a bunch of No camping federal land signs out. Hammer camping only

Verified.

 

[whiteworks]

Got some tunes on, little fire going, tri tip on the grill, life is good today.

 

[Singleton]

I haven't seen that in previous years lots of campers outside the "zone"

No camping along Boone Rd. Area is closed, unless you own property

 

[69hondo]

Weather is beautiful in Hesperia. how is out there?

 

[Singleton]

Race day for Vet Rob Stewart in 1664.
VETTs in Motorsports running main pit and remote pit.

Got windy last night, but nice breeze keeping the dust down today

 

[DarkJuJu]

YB tracker link below

Toyo Tires - Desert Challenge Limited - YB Tracking Race Viewer

Toyo Tires - Desert Challenge Limited - YB Tracking Race Viewer

cf.yb.tl

 

[yz450mm]

Weather is beautiful in Hesperia. how is out there?

Perfect day today so far.

 

[rivrrts429]

The wind sucks for cooking on the flat grill so resorted to cooking inside the enclosed trailer but other than that it’s beautiful out here in HammerTown, it’s nice and warm.

Never ending working on shit the kids keep breaking though

 

[Racey]

Dude, that crossover section of the short course has claimed some victims today that didn't make the jump....

I mean i know the race is meant to be brutal, but that jump is a pure booby trap. What happens if there is another car going underneath? Or is the underneath section not used during these races.

Regardless i've seen like 5 cars pie face it when they came up short. Brutal!

 

[c_land]

Dude, that crossover section of the short course has claimed some victims today that didn't make the jump....

I mean i know the race is meant to be brutal, but that jump is a pure booby trap. What happens if there is another car going underneath? Or is the underneath section not used during these races.

Regardless i've seen like 5 cars pie face it when they came up short. Brutal!

The Video of the gladiator t-boning that jump is rad

 

[Singleton]

The Video of the gladiator t-boning that jump is rad

The RZR that went 5mph over the jump was a WTF moment. We were going to send the 1600 car on lap 3, but they closed the course at 4. So we did not get our 6 hours.

Plus some idiot in a helicopter flew into the bases restricted air and that closed the base portion of the course to close around 330.

 

[Singleton]

3rd in class

 

[69hondo]

I was out for the day. Nice day
Insane amount of people and rvs

 

[DarkJuJu]

3rd in class

Congrats!

 

[lf2]

Dude, that crossover section of the short course has claimed some victims today that didn't make the jump....

I mean i know the race is meant to be brutal, but that jump is a pure booby trap. What happens if there is another car going underneath? Or is the underneath section not used during these races.

Regardless i've seen like 5 cars pie face it when they came up short. Brutal!

The underneath was the bypass, you didnt have to take the gap jump

 

[Racey]

The underneath was the bypass, you didnt have to take the gap jump

 

[HTTP404]

Yeah that gap jump was a fuck up. It ruined the race for some of those one lap classes.

 

[whiteworks]

Came home for a bit and am watching the unlimited live feed today. Production value is really impressive. I usually stay out of the mix on the trophy truck weekend, seems to draw in the Orange County cowboys and ford ranger prerunner with unpainted fenders crowd. While it is fun to watch those factions mix it up with real red neck good ole boys from back east, I prefer to stay away. Law enforcement presence is stronger than ever, event is bigger than ever, and the presence of dip shits is increasing. The writing is clearly on the wall that someone brought a friend, who brought a friend, who brought a friend.

They’ll all be gone by morning, but I would advise staying off 247 this afternoon/evening as the dipshits will be on the highway after a day of drinking in the desert, and the need to be at work Monday morning.

 

[Singleton]

Came home for a bit and am watching the unlimited live feed today. Production value is really impressive. I usually stay out of the mix on the trophy truck weekend, seems to draw in the Orange County cowboys and ford ranger prerunner with unpainted fenders crowd. While it is fun to watch those factions mix it up with real red neck good ole boys from back east, I prefer to stay away. Law enforcement presence is stronger than ever, event is bigger than ever, and the presence of dip shits is increasing. The writing is clearly on the wall that someone brought a friend, who brought a friend, who brought a friend.

They’ll all be gone by morning, but I would advise staying off 247 this afternoon/evening as the dipshits will be on the highway after a day of drinking in the desert, and the need to be at work Monday morning.

We left our pit to eat in HammerTown today, then we all went back to the racer pit to nap.
Yesterday, it took over an hour to get from Gate 3 to Gate 5 after the race. Our shared pit is just up the hill from the GBR, but camp is by gate 5.

That was enough traffic, we decided to never leave the camp.

 

[whiteworks]

We left our pit to eat in HammerTown today, then we all went back to the racer pit to nap.
Yesterday, it took over an hour to get from Gate 3 to Gate 5 after the race. Our shared pit is just up the hill from the GBR, but camp is by gate 5.

That was enough traffic, we decided to never leave the camp.

I had to go source a suspension part from Wayne’s place and get it back into hammertown Friday night. I came in through the desert and dropped in from the north. Got the parts in and put the shocks back together and had the car operational late friday night. One thing I’ve noticed is that inside hammertown vendors are now more of a trade show setup and don’t have much real inventory on hand nor the capability’s to make shit happen. I had to 3rd wheel the shit out of the repair to make it happen. No way the average “tourist” that’s out there with broken shit will be able to get shit fixed. All the real people with resources and inventory are spread out and not inside the gates. However if you want to buy a hat or sticker that’s the place to go.

I’ll be back out in a day or two if you want to cruise over shoot me a pm and I’ll drop you a pin.

 

[Singleton]

I had to go source a suspension part from Wayne’s place and get it back into hammertown Friday night. I came in through the desert and dropped in from the north. Got the parts in and put the shocks back together and had the car operational late friday night. One thing I’ve noticed is that inside hammertown vendors are now more of a trade show setup and don’t have much real inventory on hand nor the capability’s to make shit happen. I had to 3rd wheel the shit out of the repair to make it happen. No way the average “tourist” that’s out there with broken shit will be able to get shit fixed. All the real people with resources and inventory are spread out and not inside the gates. However if you want to buy a hat or sticker that’s the place to go.

I’ll be back out in a day or two if you want to cruise over shoot me a pm and I’ll drop you a pin.

Inside HT is nothing useful. Some food, etc. Outside the gates or within the racer pit area, shit gets done.
Was talking to a group Thursday. They stated KOH wanted 5k for a vending spot, then a cut of all sales.

 

[DarkJuJu]

What happen to that big manufacturing machine they would bring out, they could make almost any part a racer needed and I think they did it for free if I recall. They told me the cleaning costs after KOH was like $100k, idk could have been full of it but it was a massive tent and cnc machine? I still have a bottle opener they made in my garage, but I haven't seen them out there since maybe 2018/19?

 

[whiteworks]

Inside HT is nothing useful. Some food, etc. Outside the gates or within the racer pit area, shit gets done.
Was talking to a group Thursday. They stated KOH wanted 5k for a vending spot, then a cut of all sales.

If you need any suspension stuff, Gary Hinkle of g force has his semi set up on Boone road, stocked with inventory and manpower that actually can do shit.

 

[Sportin' Wood]

What happen to that big manufacturing machine they would bring out, they could make almost any part a racer needed and I think they did it for free if I recall. They told me the cleaning costs after KOH was like $100k, idk could have been full of it but it was a massive tent and cnc machine? I still have a bottle opener they made in my garage, but I haven't seen them out there since maybe 2018/19?

Dave happened.

 

[yz450mm]

 

[Singleton]

Dave happened.

All the little vendors who made HT what it was, are gone.
5k to get a spot, then a cut of sale = greedy

 

[Sportin' Wood]

All the little vendors who made HT what it was, are gone.
5k to get a spot, then a cut of sale = greedy

To be fair, the cut of sales is the GDamn BLM

 

[Singleton]

To be fair, the cut of sales is the GDamn BLM

BLM is at 17% this year. 3% to KOH
A 20% cut is hard to overcome.

Was talking to PRP - they move inventory, but after expenses break even. Profit margin is under 2% for KOH.

 

[whiteworks]

Trophy truck weekend seems to bring in a different element, I’m hopeful they don’t come back this weekend for 4400. I wish the race was on Friday vs. Saturday. I think shifting the schedule would be a good thing. Seems like bros vs. vatos out there last weekend. Someone’s gonna pull a mag dump at somepoint and that will be that. That after hours shit show at chocolate is a powder keg waiting to go off at this point. Seen this play out at copper canyon, sand bar, comp hill, olds, etc……

I will be putting my two cents in after the dust settles this year. Something needs to change as the way it’s trending is not gonna end well.

 

[jesco]

Trophy truck weekend seems to bring in a different element, I’m hopeful they don’t come back this weekend for 4400. I wish the race was on Friday vs. Saturday. I think shifting the schedule would be a good thing. Seems like bros vs. vatos out there last weekend. Someone’s gonna pull a mag dump at somepoint and that will be that. That after hours shit show at chocolate is a powder keg waiting to go off at this point. Seen this play out at copper canyon, sand bar, comp hill, olds, etc……

I will be putting my two cents in after the dust settles this year. Something needs to change as the way it’s trending is not gonna end well.

THIS ^^^^ I didnt race or even go this year, car wasn't ready and going to watch others race didn't sound fun. My 18yr son and his buddy's went and slept in their trucks. He said it was crazier than last year and I know last year was crazier than the year before. It is definitely a ticking time bomb. Not sure what can be done other than more LEO..? Time will tell.

 

[Singleton]

Trophy truck weekend seems to bring in a different element, I’m hopeful they don’t come back this weekend for 4400. I wish the race was on Friday vs. Saturday. I think shifting the schedule would be a good thing. Seems like bros vs. vatos out there last weekend. Someone’s gonna pull a mag dump at somepoint and that will be that. That after hours shit show at chocolate is a powder keg waiting to go off at this point. Seen this play out at copper canyon, sand bar, comp hill, olds, etc……

I will be putting my two cents in after the dust settles this year. Something needs to change as the way it’s trending is not gonna end well.

The crowd has already shifted.
Much more relaxed and less LAM shit going on. Some of the videos coming from chocolate from Saturday are insane. Someone standing on the rocks is going to get hurt bad and that will be the end. They will either have to close it after hours or……..

 

[Deckin Around]

Trophy truck weekend seems to bring in a different element, I’m hopeful they don’t come back this weekend for 4400. I wish the race was on Friday vs. Saturday. I think shifting the schedule would be a good thing. Seems like bros vs. vatos out there last weekend. Someone’s gonna pull a mag dump at somepoint and that will be that. That after hours shit show at chocolate is a powder keg waiting to go off at this point. Seen this play out at copper canyon, sand bar, comp hill, olds, etc……

I will be putting my two cents in after the dust settles this year. Something needs to change as the way it’s trending is not gonna end well.

What could go wrong

A little bird told me SBCSO has groups of plain clothes officers as observers monitoring Chocolate Thunder and back door at night.

https://www.instagram.com/stories/johnsonvalleycrawlers/3559624679449053014?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

 

[ChiliPepperGarage]

I'm headed down on Wednesday from northern NV. Should be on 247 by mid afternoon and hope traffic isn't too bad. My friends that are already down there said two major head on wrecks today.

I don't drive around after dark. Too crazy for this old geezer. I can watch plenty of YouTube videos of Chocolate Thunder and have no desire to mix it up there. As others said, I think it is only a matter of time before some one gets killed.

Is there going to be an RDP meet up somewhere?

 

[Pivot]

Robby G was on the live stream. The comments were brutal.
Max did well, it was only one 3 minute lap.

 

[thmterry]

Brutal https://www.facebook.com/reel/649400207512231

 

[Sportin' Wood]

You don't sell your soul at a crossroads in the middle of the night with a blood pact. You sell it one compromise at a time until you are too far down the path to turn back.

It pains me to see what KOH has become. It is so far from the original vision, I doubt 80% of the people have a clue about how this all came about and why. Thankfully I can think back to the good days and I have a handful of films I can enjoy.

I'll watch the Main event Sat at a friends house with a group of old school folks because we still love the race, but the event is not for me. I totally agree the main event should be on Friday.

 

[Singleton]

Well today was good and bad.

Supported veteran 129 Kyle Stercay of ECC Racing. He ended up being DQ’d on lap 2. Rolled on lap 1 and refused the cage repair in main pit and got DQ’d when officials walked his car at remote pit and saw the cage damaged.

Helped Jax Lepene (in the jr 1000 class) and his veteran father today. He finished 12th

Up next are 2 veterans tomorrow in the EMC and Team Israel Defense Forces (a group of IDF veterans).

 

[DarkJuJu]

Well today was good and bad.

Supported veteran 129 Kyle Stercay of ECC Racing. He ended up being DQ’d on lap 2. Rolled on lap 1 and refused the cage repair in main pit and got DQ’d when officials walked his car at remote pit and saw the cage damaged.

Helped Jax Lepene (in the jr 1000 class) and his veteran father today. He finished 12th

Up next are 2 veterans tomorrow in the EMC and Team Israel Defense Forces (a group of IDF veterans).

What drivers or racer #s? I am pretty much glued to the races, where did they qualify?

 

[Xtrmwakeboarder]

You don't sell your soul at a crossroads in the middle of the night with a blood pact. You sell it one compromise at a time until you are too far down the path to turn back.

It pains me to see what KOH has become. It is so far from the original vision, I doubt 80% of the people have a clue about how this all came about and why. Thankfully I can think back to the good days and I have a handful of films I can enjoy.

I'll watch the Main event Sat at a friends house with a group of old school folks because we still love the race, but the event is not for me. I totally agree the main event should be on Friday.

That is a damn good quote. So true

 

[Fabhouse]

Well today was good and bad.

Supported veteran 129 Kyle Stercay of ECC Racing. He ended up being DQ’d on lap 2. Rolled on lap 1 and refused the cage repair in main pit and got DQ’d when officials walked his car at remote pit and saw the cage damaged.

Helped Jax Lepene (in the jr 1000 class) and his veteran father today. He finished 12th

Up next are 2 veterans tomorrow in the EMC and Team Israel Defense Forces (a group of IDF veterans).

We saw the roll at the remote pit-it was a cartwheel and 2 or 3 over. Cage was very compromised. Our team was on scene with first aid, and helped your driver. Both driver and co-driver were fine, but will be feeling it by now. KOH tech made the right call on the fix or DQ, in my opinion. Congrats on the 12th, that course was very difficult.

 

[Singleton]

Long ass day.
I ended up having to leave today around 2pm, but VETTs in Motorsports is heading out on recovery missions this evening.

Teams we supported today at main and remote pit.

• 525 - Team Israel Defense Forces - They ended up making a wrong turn after remote pit prior to going through Hammer Town, broke in the rocks, then ran out of gas
• 5337 - Ben Ertel - Broken front end components in Clawhammer on lap 2
• 8008 - Austin Pyatt - Broken driveshaft on lap 2 in the rocks
• 4313 - Hollie Fowler - Broke on lap 2 in the rocks
• 4646 - Rudy Wetzel. - Broke on lap 2 in the rocks. Matt’s Off-road Recovery’s son. Look for a few FB stories on this kid and the work Vett’s did

 

[joecfd1]

Well the Race of Kings went to Kyle Chaney in a golf cart. Lots of 4400 guys aren't real happy. It was a crazy race.

Kyle Chaney Wins 2025 Race of Kings at King of the Hammers

Witness history in the making at the 2025 King of the Hammers Race of Kings as Kyle Chaney dominates in his Can-Am Maverick R UTV.

utvguide.net

 

[evantwheeler]

No mention of RG getting onto the podium?

 

[joecfd1]

No mention of RG getting onto the podium?

He was moved to 4th after a few penalties.

 

[Sportin' Wood]

Well the Race of Kings went to Kyle Chaney in a golf cart. Lots of 4400 guys aren't real happy. It was a crazy race.

Kyle Chaney Wins 2025 Race of Kings at King of the Hammers

Witness history in the making at the 2025 King of the Hammers Race of Kings as Kyle Chaney dominates in his Can-Am Maverick R UTV.

utvguide.net

I don't have a voice on social media, where people seem to be bitching and pissing about a golf cart in the main event. I've heard (seen) a lot of claims by people who I have never heard of; about "Spirit of the Rules" ETC. I'll share my thoughts here because it is truly the only place in the digital world I participate.

I personally wrote the first Ultra4 rule book. I invented this type of racing.

Kyle Chaney's CT Raceworxs Can Am is 100% in the spirit of the original vision of KOH and Ultra4. I have been rooting for him a few years now and predicted 10 years ago that someday a UTV will win the over-all in the main event. Kyle and Terry did it without 2nd place even close. The Ultra4 sanctioning body seemed to make an attempt to block previous design elements of UTVs from participating, but this purpose built vehicle met the current rules and restrictions and performed exceptionally well. Watch his in car footage, it was a clinic on how to win KOH.

I've never met Kyle or Terry, but they earned the win.

Years ago when Ultra4 raced as a sanctioned class in BITD for V2R the long way, we made T-shirts that said "That just happened, you got passed by a Rockcrawler" Well now the shoe is on the other foot and a Golf Cart bested every team, no matter the budget. Sorry Ford.

I'm thinking a sticker on my Can Am that says: "This Golf Cart is Fueled by the tears of Ultra4 racers" is appropriate.

Unlimited 4WD, means Unlimited 4WD.

Live coverage was unbelievable. Desert racing please wake up and follow this coverage format.

 

[Pivot]

I stopped watching after lap 1, had shit to do. I expected the can am to do well in the rocks. Obviously it did.

So now what? Clearly the 'golf carts' will be winning. It's a unlimited class, but I can understand why a 4400 would be thinking wtf

Had the others not broke would he have won? I didn't see the timing

 

[joecfd1]

I don't have a voice on social media, where people seem to be bitching and pissing about a golf cart in the main event. I've heard (seen) a lot of claims by people who I have never heard of; about "Spirit of the Rules" ETC. I'll share my thoughts here because it is truly the only place in the digital world I participate.

I personally wrote the first Ultra4 rule book. I invented this type of racing.

Kyle Chaney's CT Raceworxs Can Am is 100% in the spirit of the original vision of KOH and Ultra4. I have been rooting for him a few years now and predicted 10 years ago that someday a UTV will win the over-all in the main event. Kyle and Terry did it without 2nd place even close. The Ultra4 sanctioning body seemed to make an attempt to block previous design elements of UTVs from participating, but this purpose built vehicle met the current rules and restrictions and performed exceptionally well. Watch his in car footage, it was a clinic on how to win KOH.

I've never met Kyle or Terry, but they earned the win.

Years ago when Ultra4 raced as a sanctioned class in BITD for V2R the long way, we made T-shirts that said "That just happened, you got passed by a Rockcrawler" Well now the shoe is on the other foot and a Golf Cart bested every team, no matter the budget. Sorry Ford.

I'm thinking a sticker on my Can Am that says: "This Golf Cart is Fueled by the tears of Ultra4 racers" is appropriate.

Unlimited 4WD, means Unlimited 4WD.

Live coverage was unbelievable. Desert racing please wake up and follow this coverage format.

I think it's awesome that he won. He just made them look stupid.

 

[Sportin' Wood]

I stopped watching after lap 1, had shit to do. I expected the can am to do well in the rocks. Obviously it did.

So now what? Clearly the 'golf carts' will be winning. It's a unlimited class, but I can understand why a 4400 would be thinking wtf

Had the others not broke would he have won? I didn't see the timing

I watched the whole thing until JP finished. The Miller car that broke in half likely would have ended up on the podium as well had it not busted.

Everyone kept going bigger and heavier, now they will reset and rethink the strategy. My son and I have been arguing about this for ten plus years, he is getting an earful today, I can't wait for him to show up and eat crow.

 

[Wizard29]

Well the Race of Kings went to Kyle Chaney in a golf cart. Lots of 4400 guys aren't real happy. It was a crazy race.

Kyle Chaney Wins 2025 Race of Kings at King of the Hammers

Witness history in the making at the 2025 King of the Hammers Race of Kings as Kyle Chaney dominates in his Can-Am Maverick R UTV.

utvguide.net

To be fair, that was a purpose built 4400 class car. Aside from the engine and trans, it barely had any Can Am parts left on it, including the chassis. It was also running 37" tires, which I don't believe would fit on a regular Can Am.

The only reason he was able to come out ahead is because Gomez and Blyler both broke their cars by pushing too hard to outdo each other. Gomez got a flat and then had some other problem he was able to fix after a while. Chaney was way far back before any of that happened. He got lucky both of the lead cars had problems.

Chaney's strategy paid off, but not sure being able to come from way behind and win because the leaders had mechanical problems is a strategy that would work consistently.

 

[joecfd1]

Everyone kept going bigger and heavier, now they will reset and rethink the strategy. My son and I have been arguing about this for ten plus years, he is getting an earful today, I can't wait for him to show up and eat crow.

100%... Now if you'll excuse me, I need to start the laborious task of packing up to drive home tomorrow. Been here 3 weeks.