Roughstock
Well-known member
Hi Everyone,
KOH is a great event in Johnson Valley CA. This was the 20th year and my 3rd year. This years KOH was from Jan. 22nd to Feb. 7th. @Dragoon raced there years ago and what a great memory and quite the experience. Pretty cool! I love to go quick and love the dirt and rocks so I fit in well with all the racing fans and racers like @Dragoon. In the day many do off roading themselves as I do. Also watch some racing and check out all the vendors in Hammer Town (a large area with major vedors, food stages, music, race watching and a bunch of other stuff).
The event basically is held in a valley on BLM land and everything is built from the ground up for this event. 20 years ago 13 guys got together and raced. I don't think they could have imagined what the race has become. There are two weeks of racing. Dirt bikes, UTV and off road machines in different categories leading up to the big race.
Randy Slawson won the 2026 King of the Hammers Race of Kings, securing his fourth overall victory and becoming the first driver to break the tie for the most wins in the event's history.
I did an overnight on the way and camped in Quartzsite AZ. Lots of open camping there.
Here's my first night camping in Hammer Town before it got filled in around me. I got there Sunday Jan. 25th and left on Sat. Jan. 31st
I took a trip on day to Lucerne Valley up to Big Bear Lake. Just a nice drive and a good supermarket and some propane. This is coming down from the mountain.
I got to do a test ride with Can Am. I broke my shoulder on one of my dirt bikes this summer. So I'm selling the dirt bikes and picking up a Maverick X3 64" I've ridden dirt bikes all my life and at almost 60 and riding like you are 20 it becomes painful. So I am glad I pulled the trigger for my second time and final time giving up the dirt bikes. Street bikes aren't going anywhere.
This was the only 64" they had. All the rest were 72" and 77". I will be riding the Can Am in places where the trails are tight so the 64" will be perfect. If using it in the desert I would have gone with a bigger machine. They make more sense here. The Maverick I got to test drive was the 135 HP. Mine is 200 HP and looking forward to getting it in the spring. I must say I was really impressed with Can Am and the test drive set up. We got to rip in the desert and really check them out. They are way better than when I got the first RZR on the market. 53" non turbo and about 65 HP and very tippy. If 135 HP is good 200 HP has got to be better.
Watching a race one day. You can see everyone camping in the valley.
My buddy who I have met for the past three years comes with his dad 82 who still off roads in a Bronco. This new vehicle for Ben is a beast. A 1963 Willey's redone with a small block 421 four speed. He did a great job!
Driving though camp areas to get to some trails
At night at the Back Door people get together and rock crawl. Most watch while the few climb. Big Willie blasts tunes and has a bit of a pyro show
Another popular area Chocolate Thunder
Out on the trails again
Watching a different race another day.
Cruising around Hammer Town. Racers getting ready for the next race.
People watching a race on the big screen
My last night camping in the same spot in Quartzsite on the way home. Awesome time. Awesome trip and get away!!
KOH is a great event in Johnson Valley CA. This was the 20th year and my 3rd year. This years KOH was from Jan. 22nd to Feb. 7th. @Dragoon raced there years ago and what a great memory and quite the experience. Pretty cool! I love to go quick and love the dirt and rocks so I fit in well with all the racing fans and racers like @Dragoon. In the day many do off roading themselves as I do. Also watch some racing and check out all the vendors in Hammer Town (a large area with major vedors, food stages, music, race watching and a bunch of other stuff).
The event basically is held in a valley on BLM land and everything is built from the ground up for this event. 20 years ago 13 guys got together and raced. I don't think they could have imagined what the race has become. There are two weeks of racing. Dirt bikes, UTV and off road machines in different categories leading up to the big race.
Randy Slawson won the 2026 King of the Hammers Race of Kings, securing his fourth overall victory and becoming the first driver to break the tie for the most wins in the event's history.
I did an overnight on the way and camped in Quartzsite AZ. Lots of open camping there.
Here's my first night camping in Hammer Town before it got filled in around me. I got there Sunday Jan. 25th and left on Sat. Jan. 31st
I took a trip on day to Lucerne Valley up to Big Bear Lake. Just a nice drive and a good supermarket and some propane. This is coming down from the mountain.
I got to do a test ride with Can Am. I broke my shoulder on one of my dirt bikes this summer. So I'm selling the dirt bikes and picking up a Maverick X3 64" I've ridden dirt bikes all my life and at almost 60 and riding like you are 20 it becomes painful. So I am glad I pulled the trigger for my second time and final time giving up the dirt bikes. Street bikes aren't going anywhere.
This was the only 64" they had. All the rest were 72" and 77". I will be riding the Can Am in places where the trails are tight so the 64" will be perfect. If using it in the desert I would have gone with a bigger machine. They make more sense here. The Maverick I got to test drive was the 135 HP. Mine is 200 HP and looking forward to getting it in the spring. I must say I was really impressed with Can Am and the test drive set up. We got to rip in the desert and really check them out. They are way better than when I got the first RZR on the market. 53" non turbo and about 65 HP and very tippy. If 135 HP is good 200 HP has got to be better.
Watching a race one day. You can see everyone camping in the valley.
My buddy who I have met for the past three years comes with his dad 82 who still off roads in a Bronco. This new vehicle for Ben is a beast. A 1963 Willey's redone with a small block 421 four speed. He did a great job!
Driving though camp areas to get to some trails
At night at the Back Door people get together and rock crawl. Most watch while the few climb. Big Willie blasts tunes and has a bit of a pyro show
Another popular area Chocolate Thunder
Out on the trails again
Watching a different race another day.
Cruising around Hammer Town. Racers getting ready for the next race.
People watching a race on the big screen
My last night camping in the same spot in Quartzsite on the way home. Awesome time. Awesome trip and get away!!
Attachments
Last edited:
