The Evolution of King of the Hammers | Episode 1 | KOH: Origins

The first episode of the King of the Hammers: "Origins" series dives into the history of KOH, as well as its evolution throughout the years since 2007. From the formation of the Mojave desert, to the streets of Hammertown, Johnson Valley provides the perfect catalyst for the hardest single-day off road race on the planet. Along with KOH itself, the off road industry would mold and be molded as a result of the race.

Special thanks to WARN, ARB 4x4 Accessories, Spidertrax Off Road, Nitto Tire, Ultra4 Racing, and Dave Cole for their support of this project.

[ridermak]

HOLEECRAPOLEE!!!
Heavy Metal Concepts, if you don’t already have a shelf full of film making awards....you will.
🤙

[xfirehurican]

This historic video should be shown on the jumbotron once, every day during race week.

[MantisGarageB]

I went to KOH in 2012 alone on my Moto got stuck all day on top of the mountain in the middle of the course because I accidentally found my self on the track after riding a unmarked goat trail up to get a better vantage point, the race communications crews were stationed up there and wouldn't let me leave because the only way down was to ride on the track and didn't want me to get mowed down riding on a hot course... they were so hospitable and let me in to there group, even fed me a sandwich and water. I then came back in '14 with my wife and we volunteered for race operations, what a great community and incredible experience I cant wait to get back down there again and see the progression. Without a doubt will volunteer again its a one of a kind chance to be involved without feeling like you have to spend 100k on a race rig!

[dbeard]

I'm an old Desert Rat from the 70's.
KOH is my favorite racing 2 weeks of the year as a fan. The "TV" coverage the last couple of years has been a game changer. 🤙🏁

[Connors_Ultimate_Motorsports]

Awesome video. I first went to KoH in 2013 with a couple friends from My trade school. We started off camping in tents with a single 4x4 truck to play with. After school we all moved our separate ways but we all get back together at KoH and have a beer. We've gone from tents in the sand to having full on rock crawlers. I have nothing but great memory's of KoH week.

[UncleManuel]

I cannot describe how tastefully and awesome this video is edited! "Great job" doesn't even cut it, you've created a little masterpiece... :)

[gmsimanson]

Great work by those OG13 guys to get this going and grow it to what it is today. Going to start planning for next year!

[Yan]

That video really defines KOH. Where there's passion, there's dedication and dreams even in the desert.👍

[DFTrap]

I remember when it all first got started with the Victorville Four Wheelers. We live only thirty miles from the Hammer trail. I still own a built up 85 four runner, however it would not keep today. We use run around the desert and pick up the old bomb scraps, they would litter our yard, fun times. It is amazing to see what it all turned into.

[danbenjamin]

I had heard the stories on how KOH started, but this video really put all the different pieces together into a cohesive story. Great video guys!

[vintagespeed]

i was there that night, the first meeting on Means, we had a dozen guys when Jeff & Dave pitched us the KOH plan, was a whole new type of race. my favorite memory from working the race for Mark....running wide open backwards on the racetrack, with a Jeep full of camera crew (radio yelling at me as we blew through the back straight checkpoint), going head to head with Shannon Campbell (race leader) who was running the opposite way. we passed him at about 40mph on the backside of Outer camera guys had no idea how close I came to ending Shannon's race and probably our what a great event it's become. thanks for the vid! - vintagespeed from PBB

[dayofduhfeet]

Watching this got me super pump for February!!!

[scubajeeper]

I was all in watching this, thanks to all who put this together.

[S-R-G]

Great video and editing!!! Loved the story.

[shoveljunk-americanpatriot]

Great presentation. Very entertaining. My wife cousin has a Polaris RZR. He lives in Yucca Valley Ca. He mention going to KOH and just trying to get there was a huge challenge.

[jamesco]

Very good video guys. It was kind of you to briefly mention Victor Valley 4 Wheelers club. But it wasn’t just a couple guys finding a canyon and driving up it. It was Chuck Shaner and Mark walking these canyons after the BLM asked the club to build trails in the area. Chuck was a madman on a mission to build the very best trails ever seen, with lots of help by the club members. I was one of them. The club had work parties( not actual parties but work) for many weekends moving Jeep sized boulders to eventually build a drivable trail. I only helped a few weekends and I can tell you it was a grueling time building this trail. But Chuck Shaner deserves the bulk of the credit with getting Sledgehammer and other trails built. And there were many others including Mark, Wes Calkins and Fuzzy Winters to name just a few. I have many pics from the building of Sledgehammer. It was built, not found!!

[victorlewis]

wow a whole new version of racing that I would really like to get into. I'm not into any racing now but this takes the cake.

[rdooski]

Awesome stuff!
The only other video I've ever watched about the KOH was about 5 or 6 years ago and it was also documentary style. Man its come a really long way in that fairly short amount of time.

[chadcota]

Awesome video! All pumped and can't wait till Feb 2 🤘

[AllenSparks]

Awesome little doc. It really sounds like the KOH guys and my crew out at burning man share a ton of values. You guys build amazing cars, we build amazing art but it's the same principles of not ever being satisfied, wanting more, and adventure. I found this because I started playing with rc rock racers not knowing what they were modeled from, now I am a fan.