THE BIGGEST KING OF THE HAMMERS EVER
ISSUE 3 VOL 3
The Voice Of Off-Road Motorsports
MARCH 2022
GOMEZ
CROWNED KING INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
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TABLE OF CONTENTS REGULAR DIRT>
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5 6
WORD NEWS FROM AROUND THE DIRT
10 DIRTWORLD 12 KIDS KORNER
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14 CAPTURED 58 CHAPPYS PITS STOP 59 CALENDAR
FEATURES>
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16 COVER STORY: GOMEZ CROWNED KING 22 HAMMERS WEEK 26 BUILDING HAMMERTOWN
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32 KEYS TO THE HAMMERS: DO YOU NEED A CO-DRIVER? 38 ULTRA 3: A LATE NIGHT GATHERING.
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40 ULTRA 4 ANNOUNCES EV SPEC CLASS 42 FIELD TESTING THE KAWASAKI TERYX KRX 1000 46 FORD RAPTOR RANGER
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48 PRODRIVE HUNTER
TECH> 54 INSTALLING NEW CONTROL ARMS & BUSHINGS Publisher DirtSports Inc. Editor-In-Chief Shaun Ochsner Associate Editor La-Chelle Halliday Sales and Admin Dave Arnold Contributing Editors Chris James Steve Hanson
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Contributing Photography Shaun Ochsner Royce Rumsey Dave Arnold Heather Lewis La-Chelle Halliday Regine Trias Lee Perfect Bink Designs Ultra4 Robert Kranz Prodrive Battle Approved Ford Motor Co Jason Zindroski Paolo Beraldi Art Eugenio Printed at: Sutherland Printing FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA DIRTSPORTSWORLD
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WORD THE BIGGEST KING OF THE HAMMERS EVER
I
f there are any indications things are moving and shaking in California in the off-road world, all one needs to do is take a look at King of the Hammers. An event that not even the pandemic could sideline. The 2022 King of the Hammers was back stronger than ever. While official numbers have not been released, the sheer volume of people at the event was an indication people, vendors and racers are ready to go back to normal. A week before the main 4400 race, I sat in an hours long traffic jam just to make it to the gate. It felt like a Friday afternoon commute in downtown LA minus all the merging lanes. Arriving on the lakebed, there already were vast amount of RV’s already set up. The Hammers doesn’t
usually get this volume of people a week before the main event. The desert classes would be running during the weekend of my arrival. And as the days wore on, things only got busy from there. By Saturday’s main event, there had to be at least hundred thousand people at the Hammers. Throw in two concerts, Pennywise and Sublime and you have an action-packed mega event that rivals any previous Hammers events we have had. I have one question¬¬– what will top next year’s event?
Shaun Ochsner Editor-In-Chief DirtSportsWorld
DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 5
NEWS Extreme E to Launch Global Hydrogen Championship A global hydrogen championship will be coming to Extreme E in 2024. The series will be called Extreme H. Vehicles will race in the same days and locations with the same format as the existing Extreme E series. “Together with the current Extreme E Teams we will decide in the coming months the best way to integrate the Hydrogen powered cars into the racing weekend. Two separate categories, full transition to Hydrogen or joint racing are all options on the table,” said Extreme E founder Alejandro Agag.
The Extreme H car will have the same powertrain and chassis as the Extreme E vehicles. The difference is the Extreme H car will have a hydrogen fuel cell that replaces the battery as the principal energy source. The series currently uses green hydrogen sources that use a combination of solar and water behind the scenes. A prototype vehicle is expected to be released next year.
Yamaha Withdraws from Dakar Rally and FIM Cross Country Rallies World Championship After forty-four Dakar Rallies, Yamaha is pulling the plug on its WR450F rally program. Yamaha has been involved in the Dakar rally since its inception. Frenchman Cyril Neveu took the victory on a Yamaha XT500 in 1979. A year later he followed up with a second win. This year, Yamaha riders Adrien Van Beveren and Andrew Short finished the rally fourth and eighth places. “Yamaha would like to thank everyone involved in organizing the Dakar Rally, the team’s crew, the riders and the sponsors who worked with the manufacturer over the last four decades and brought so much success and many emotions” read a statement from Yamaha. The company is also pulling out its factory 6 | DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM
The company is also pulling out its factory support in the FIM Cross Country Rallies World Championship. Yamaha will continue involvement in Dakar through the Yamaha YXZ1000R prototype program, competing in the SSV category.
NEWS FROM AROUND THE DIRT
SX Global Planning FIM Supercross World Championship Series
Australian based SX Global recently acquired exclusive rights to manage and promote the FIM Supercross World Championship. The company unveiled its plans for the series. The series will feature a highly exclusive structure with only 10 team licenses available for independent owners. Those owners will receive financial support which includes seed funding for entering the series along with appearance fees and logistics and freight support. Approximately $50 million has been designated for team and rider support across the next five years.
class. Every event will also have two wild card entries to allow for local riders and sponsorships bringing the field total to 22. Mubadala Capital is expected to invest in the series. The company has over $243 billion in managed assets.
Each event will have a $250,000 purse prize in the global series. The series will follow a two- Events for the FIM Supercross World class format that includes 450 and 250 riders. Championship Series will take place September Each team will field four riders, two in each through November.
Legacy Racing Postpones Gold Rush Race Legacy Racing’s Gold Rush race was set to take place September 8th-11th The race was set to go from Virginia City near Reno to Tonopah, Nevada. The series is being forced to postpone the event for 2022 due to the Bureau of Land Management being overwhelmed with a large number of solar projects going on in Nevada as well as other events. Legacy is expecting to put the Gold Rush race on their 2023 schedule. Legacy Racing says they are working on finding a replacement event to run in place of the Gold Rush event. DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 7
NEWS FROM AROUND THE DIRT
Ken Roczen Taking a “Break” from Supercross
Ken Roczen is taking a “break from the 2022 Supercross Series. Roczen has struggled since winning the season opener at Anaheim 1. According to Honda Racing Corporation, Roczen’s results have suffered as he continues to struggle with ongoing health issues. Honda says Roczen’s hectic race schedule is getting in the way of his recovery. Roczen’s hiatus, he will seek treatment from specialists he has worked with in the past. Roczen is dealing with the effects of the Epstein-Barr virus after recovering “The continued support of Honda is just second to from serious injuries in 207 and 2018. none,” Roczen said. “I couldn’t be more appreciative Roczen also had an unrelated illness of how we work together as partners and make these at the end of the 2021. Roczen also got decisions together, even when they’re really difficult. I COVID-19 after the January San Diego owe them a championship, and that’s my focus going round of Supercross this year. During forward.”
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DIRT WORLD king of the hammers
king of the hammers
Can someone help this guy out so he can race KOH?
Dan “Two Hundy’s” KOH Championship contending Ultra3 race bike
This bug will dust you.
king of the hammers
We don’t recommend you take a drink.
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king of the hammers
king of the hammers
The only palm tree you will find in the desert.
king of the hammers
Just a dog picking up his media credentials.
THE WORLD IS A DIRTY PLACE
king of the hammers
king of the hammers
Is the Chameleon the same color as the sweater or is the sweater the same color as the Chameleon?
king of the hammers Welcome to the high rent district.
king of the hammers
This dog is prepared!
The tree bar now serves food. Who knew?
king of the hammers
SU B YO MIT PH UR OT O SEND US YOUR CRAZY PHOTO OUT IN THE DIRT AND WE MAY FEATURE IT HERE IN AN UPCOMING ISSUE. Email to: Dirtsports@dirtsportsworld.com
Who needs a chase truck when you have Terry Madden.
DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 11
KIDS KORNER PRESENTED BY: Jessie Owens | Age: 16 | UTV 1000/ Micro Sprint / Go Karts Photos Courtesy: Battle Approved
Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself, your family, and any obstacles that make you, you: A: My name is Jessie Owens. I’m 16 years old and I’m from Phoenix Arizona. I started racing when I was 9 years old in 2015 and now have 7 years of experience. Throughout the years I have won a total of 4 Championships and raced all around the country. I started out my career in Off-Road racing driving a RZR 170. After moving through the rankings all the way to a full size UTV we made the transition to pavement racing in go-karts. After gaining speed on pavement and coming away with some podiums I got a ride in a Micro Sprint for the 2021 season and has carried on to 2022 full time. Being a female in a male dominated sport comes with many challenges in racing. Throughout the years I have learned that when the helmet goes on there is no difference between me and all the other drivers on the track. I hope to show other young females in racing that you can also make your own mark in racing and be just as competitive. Q: What is it about Off-Road that brings you the most joy? A: OffRoad racing has brought me so much joy and love for the sport throughout the years. Some of the things I love most about it is the community aspect of it. I have made so many friends in my years of racing that they have become almost like family to me. Q: What are your favorite tracks and Ultimate goal for 2022? A: Some of my favorite tracks I have raced on are Wild Horse Pass where I also raced for my very first time and Adobe Mountain Speedway. Q: What are you going to change tomorrow to make yourself better than today? A: To make myself better than I was today, tomorrow I am going to be more positive and open minded. Q: How does your school work help you in sports? A: School work helps me in sports - as it gives me an education to be able to take my career to the next level. It keeps me on my toes with learning new things and gives me discipline to stay on track since I now do online schooling. Q: Where do you see yourself in five years? A: In five years, I see myself graduating high school and in college for business or marketing. Still racing full time in either a midget, sprint car or OffRoad and being a well-known name in the racing industry. Team Owen Shout-outs: Shout out to everyone who makes my dreams possible, my mom, my dad, all my family, the guys at the shop - Tyler, Logan, and Beau. Xtreme Machine & Fabrication, Scott Mears and 49 Motorsports for my micro ride. Dxstar race gear and Rob for keeping me in style and safe on the track. Lori Manes my Marketing Manager, Shane Saunders for helping manage Local Legends and Icons, crew chief Eric Morine, and Josh Castro for taking me on as your teammate. 12 | DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM
QUALITY. SAFETY. TEAMWORK. INTEGRITY. COMMITMENT. BUILDING CONSTRUCTION EXCELLENCE SINCE 1991
CAPTURED
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Zero Visibility: A race vehicle attempts to navigate the King of the Hammers Desert course. Photo: Jason Zindroski/High Rev Photography
COVER STORY
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GOMEZ CROWNED
KING
COVER STORY
Story: Shaun Ochsner Photos: Shaun Ochsner, Paolo Baraldi, Regine Trias, Bink Design, Robert Kranz
F
or years there have only been a small elite group of racers that have been able to conquer the Hammers. Why is that? To start with, the King of the Hammers is known as one of the toughest racers on the planet. The Hammer trails in Johnson Valley are lined with challenging and punishing rock waterfall sections with giant boulders bigger than most race vehicles. These obstacles threaten to break every single component on a racer’s vehicle. Those crowned “King of the Hammers” represent the best of the best in the rock crawling world. Is much like earning an Indy or Daytona title.
vehicles thinking they have the winning combination Founded by Jeff Knoll and Dave Cole in 2007, this annual event has to earn the crown. One grown to one of the biggest off-road of those racers is Raul rock crawling events in the world. Gomez. Gomez has spent Racers worldwide descend on the years trying to win the desolate dry lake bed for “Hammers crown. Gomez is a veteran in the elite 4400 class. He Week.” Many with dreams of has come close. In 2021, winning the elite King of the Gomez finished in third Hammers crown. Year after year, behind his brother JP who racers modify their Ultra4 18 | DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM
took second place at the Hammers. Gomez vowed to return the next year and finish in front of his brother. Not only did Gomez make good on that promise, he earned the holy grail of bragging rights in the Ultra4 community and notched himself into Hammers history earning the title of
GOMEZ CROWNED KING
“My crew killed it. We put this car in the lake bed on Tuesday. We got about an hour with it, yet here we are.” -Raul Gomez
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COVER STORY
King of the Hammers for 2022. Gomez joins multi-time winners Loren Healy, Shannon Campbell, Jason Scherer, Randy Slawson, JR Reynolds and Erik Miller. Josh Blyler is also part of that club, cracking the king’s code in 2020. Gomez raced a brand-new car at the Hammers. Builder Joe Thompson literally delivered the race vehicle to Gomez on the lakebed. It only had twenty test miles on it before the race. Healy was the top qualifier and started out front in his new Fun-Haver Bronco. All week, the Bronco had gotten a lot of attention. It was fast out of the gate and looked like it would give the other competitors a run for their money. Any of the former Kings had a shot at winning really. These are the guys that know the secret sauce. Some believe they hold a magic key to unlocking the most challenging obstacles at the Hammers. Really, it’s just pure luck with some smart driving and time management on their side. Sure, the equipment helps, but that alone won’t get you to the finish line first. Healy learned that on the first lap, suffering a mechanical failure with the Fun Haver Bronco electronic throttle body. Healy was forced to watch the rest of the 20 | DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM
from Hammertown. Jason Scherer was also on-track to win and had a commanding lead. On the final lap, a determined
Gomez passed Scherer who made a poor line choice in Outer Limits. Scherer had to get out and winch the car back over after his co-driver became trapped and was
GOMEZ CROWNED KING
unable to exit. For the final miles, Gomez, all alone in his single seat UFO fabrication buggy had a smooth sail to the finish line. Scherer was able to get back on the course and finish second. Next year, many of the same hundred racers will be back. Some will make equipment changes. All have one goal in mind. Win the King of the Hammers. The question remains, will there be another new King crowned? Or will a former King add another crown to their mantle? DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 21
KING OF THE HAMMERS
HAMMERS WEEK
Desert Races, Class 11 Shootout, King of the UTV’s and Everyman Challenge fill busy week at The King of the Hammers.
T
he King of Hammers isn’t just about the elite 4400 class. There are plenty of other classes that race in Johnson Valley during “Hammers Week.” In reality, there are races almost every day leading up to main Hammers event. The desert portion of King the Hammers began just two years ago as an invite only race for the T1 Unlimited trucks. It has now turned into a two-day race event that kicks of the busy Hammers week. There is plenty of fast desert terrain surrounding the rock sections of Johnson Valley making it a perfect venue for desert racers. The first day of racing kicked off with Class 10 open wheel buggies and UTV’s.
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Story: Shaun Ochsner Photos: Shaun Ochsner, Dave Arnold, Paolo Baraldi, Jason Zindroski, Art Eugenio, Royce Rumsey, Heather Lewis
The format is different from a typical desert race. Starting order is determined the morning of the race. Racers compete in a “prologue” style event racing a 33-mile loop. How they finish in the prologue will determine their starting position for the actual race. Scoring the best prologue time was Chase Warren. That would help Warren secure the overall victory later in the day. The second overall finisher was Mitch Guthrie Jr in a Polaris UTV. He finished right in the middle of two class 10 vehicles with a hard-fought battle. The second day of racing saw Unlimited and Spec trucks along with Unlimited open wheel buggies battle it out on course. The format
HAMMERS WEEK
was the same, starting with a prologue. Bryce Menzies has back to back overall wins in this race. Nailing the pole position, starting out front and in clean air should have made things easy for Menzies. Remember, this is desert racing, and anything can happen. A mechanical failure would shut down Menzies hopes for a three-peat. That opened the door for Kyle Jergensen who seized the opportunity and cruised to an overall win. In the spec class, Christopher Polvoorde held on for
DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 23
KING OF THE HAMMERS
his first career desert win in the class. Polvoorde a short course racer, has only been behind the wheel of one these machines since summer of 2021. Not even a year in and he has already proven himself as a top contender. Dustin Grabowski came away with a second-place finish in the class.
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HAMMERS WEEK
Challenge was created to allow for stock and near stock vehicles the opportunity to compete. These types of vehicles were some of the first legacy vehicles to compete in early Hammers races. One of those EMC veterans is Dan Fresh. Fresh has taken back to back victories in the 4500 modified class. This year, Fresh piloted a Bomber Fabrications buggy in the Legends class for an easy win. Fresh was out front all day long. The other story was in the stock 4600 class, which was dominated by Ford Broncos sweeping the podium. Team As the week went on, UTV’s took Fun Haver took the overall win with to the same rock course the 4400’s would be running. It’s pretty amazing teammates Loren Healy and Vaughn to see the evolution of the side-by-side Gittin Jr sharing driving duties. The over the years how capable they have two typically compete against each other in identical Broncos. Also become. Kyle Chaney topped an all claiming a win was John Matthews Can-Am podium in the 4500 class. This was his first Because of the rising costs of building King of the Hammers after six years of trying. an unlimited purpose-built rock buggy to compete in the elite 4400 class at the Hammers, the Every Man Also, back in the mix was the popular Class 11 shootout. The Class 11 Volkswagen is suddenly increasing again in popularity and twenty-six of these machines came to do a battle on the custom Hammers short-course under the lights. Blake Wilkey won the inaugural event in 2021 and made it known he was ready to come back and grab his second win. Wilkey, challenged only by one car during the 20-lap event reigned supreme with a back to back victory.
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FEATURE
BUILDING
HAMMERTOWN
Story: Shaun Ochsner Photos: Shaun Ochsner, Jason Zindroski, Lee Perfect, Heather Lewis
I
n 2008, the second “official” King of the Hammers race, there were a cluster of 50-60 motor homes, trucks and trailers on a dusty, dry lakebed in Johnson Valley, California. There were only a few dozen invited competitors that year. Hammertown as we know it today or even knew it a decade ago did not exist. It was more of a camp, with a large bonfire. “Hammercamp” was located on the east side of the lakebed and subsequently had decent phone service. The race was livestreamed on the web with a couple of webcams connected to cellular cards, which in those days ran a premium. The cards had to be
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tethered to a computer as did the webcam. The live video could only cover the immediate area of the camp when vehicles came in to pit. The following year, founder Dave Cole moved “Hammercamp” across the lakebed and ordered a couple of giant party tents to shield everyone from the brutal elements. Mother nature is not always kind to the area. Winter conditions can mean the weather will be hot and dusty one day and cold with 40-mile-an hour wind gusts the next. There were still under a hundred competitors. The event only lasted a couple of days. Each year, the event
BUILDING HAMMERTOWN
grew just a little more. More tents were brought in. The days of the event became extended. Soon, a full-blown jumbotron truck showed up, street signs marked the area and Hammercamp became Hammertown. The manpower, planning and logistics that go into building today’s Hammertown is astounding. Planning begins almost immediately as the previous year event ends. Dave Cole needs to secure permits, contracts and handle a ton of paperwork. The costs DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 27
FEATURE
add up quickly for the event. Once Permits and contracts are in place, the actual physical Hammertown build begins, usually about a month before the first competitor even arrives on the lakebed. Cole’s small army of staff arrive at the site and plan to stay for the duration. On January 7th, weeks before the event, a GPS system is used to map out the entire site. Everything is carefully and accurately measured. Markers are put down all over the lakebed where things will go. These will determine where tents, street signs, generators and other infrastructure items will be placed. The crew gets to work hand filling tons of sandbags, erecting miles of fencing and building the town. They have just weeks to get everything ready before the first competitor pulls through the welcome gate of Hammertown. The weeks turn into long days as there is so much to do. Just a few days before the “official” opening, sponsors and vendors start to arrive and begin their set-up. 28 | DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM
BUILDING HAMMERTOWN
Large party tents and garages are already up and allocated. By now there are 51 staff motor homes already hooked up to large power generators and being serviced daily. One-hundred thirteen porta-potties have been delivered to Hammertown. Two stages have been built, one for two large headlining concerts- Pennywise and Sublime. A giant Ford Bronco display is also going up. KOH staffer Lee Perfect is buzzing around on a utility vehicle checking on various projects and putting out last minute fires. The crew is in full work mode and needs every bit of daylight to get things finished. They have just a couple of days before the first competitors begin to arrive and they are running behind. Hammertown opens to the public a week before any events begin. This allows the teams to get moved in and set up. This year, King of the Hammers hosted 527 race teams from the U.S., Russia, England Israel and New Zealand. The Jumbotron truck along with other TV production semis also DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 29
FEATURE
arrive. I.T. guru Travis Waldher oversees connectivity in Hammertown. Everything from staff laptops, webcasts, vendor pay point systems, guest media internet access points, and timing and scoring all need connectivity. It’s a monumental task. Cellular service in Hammertown is almost non-existent except for a single provider¬– Verizon. Those that are lucky enough to have that provider, or a provider that shares towers with Verizon, might intermittently receive signal for data and calls. The towers quickly get bogged down. Hammertown needs a reliable network to keep operations running. Waldher also oversees remote connectivity for the dozens of cameras around the course that provide live views of each race. The feed is also sent to two remote Jumbotrons located at Chocolate Thunder and Backdoor for the fans to watch the action. The San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department, Bureau of Land Management, San Bernardino County Fire and California State Parks all come together to provide mutual aid public safety for the event. There is even a private security company within the inner gates of Hammertown. The entrance gates are staffed 24 hours a day.
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BUILDING HAMMERTOWN
If there was a proverbial mayor of Hammertown, that would be Dave Cole. It’s his vision and input from those around him that allow the event to grow. Of course, all of the infrastructure in Hammertown comes at a cost. Spectators and participants pay a nominal gate fee to camp on the lakebed during “Hammersweek.” Some have complained about having to pay to access their free public lands, but many don’t realize what goes into building a city in the middle of nowhere on such a grand scale. This year saw 80,000 attendees, over 200 volunteers and 153 vendors. Those numbers don’t even include the crew help for those 527 racers that participate in the event. The amount of people in Hammertown rival populations in some cities. Every year Hammertown grows much like an urban area. Some now talk about camping out in the suburbs and making a “daily commute” in Hammertown. The town is built in about a month and tear-down takes just a week. Cole is already busy planning how to make the event bigger next year.
2022 King of the Hammers by the numbers: 80,000 spectators 200 volunteers 527 race teams 6,075 Pounds of Trash Collected during Daily Clean-ups at Obstacles 1 King Crowned DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 31
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KEYS TO THE CROWN Unlocking the Hammers
Story By: LaChelle Halliday Photos By: LaChelle Halliday, Ultra4, King of the Hammers
2 r e t p a Ch
I
f you recognize this grouping of what seems to be from a game controller, you are correct. This is the world’s most famous cheat code, The Konami Code, from the 1986 game Gradius on NES. Game creator, Kazuhisa Hashimoto added a code that allowed players to gain an extra 30 lives. The code was added solely for Hashimoto to easily play the game testing its features for bugs and glitches to ensure everything worked properly.
[Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start] The Hammers is a race beyond comparison as it stands as its own beast, ready to devour the next car who assumes they can conquer the legend. Winning the King of the Hammers isn’t for the faint of heart, or a weak mentality as it is known as the most difficult one day offroad race in the world pushing man and machine to their breaking points. In the fifteen years of its existence, only seven individuals have championed the vigorous trails. Multiple times they have won but only those seven. It’s been heavily speculated if there are cheat codes to the Hammers race, a possible key that unlocks a win amongst the Seven Seasoned Kings. Digging deep into the rocky depths of Johnson Valley asking questions, debunking the myths, and delivered the first key to the Hammers: CONSISTENCY. Seasoned champions, runner ups, and the newcomers all highlighted the importance of staying consistent, smooth, steady, and taking care of the car by racing your own race.
UNLOCKING THE HAMMERS
Randy Slawson has been racing King of the Hammers from the very beginning to include co driving for the winner, JR Reynolds, of the unofficial race in 2007. As he continued in offroad making his way behind the wheel he first became King in 2013, again in 2015 and was crowned for the third time during the 2021 event becoming only the third King to be triple crowned. The humbled driver and fabricator, spends his time designing and building his own Bomber Fabrication buggies with loyalty to his Spidertrax solid axles underneath and explains that his year “begins and ends in February” unlike the rest of the world. During King of the Hammers there could possibly be 40 Bomber Chassis buggies driving around Johnson Valley as he continuously sells his championed cars and builds them for customers.
As he began King of the Hammers as a co-driver, it came as no surprise his preference when asked, single seat or double?. Randy does race with a codriver and states the huge advantage by not only giving him someone to talk with but someone who can give him another perspective on which lines to use. When choosing the best co-driver, Randy prefers to stick with family and has raced with both his brother and cousin. The relationship between driver and co-driver is extremely personal, therefore having someone you can trust and truly knows you can be exponentially beneficial. 34 | DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM
KEYS TO THE CROWN CHAPTER 2
Everyone will always know when the Gomez clan arrives, either by the vast number of friends and family that come to support one another, or brothers JP and Raul trash talking each other every second of the day. From tech and contingency lines, over their radio frequency, to the podiums they ever so proudly stand upon, only to have wished to beat the other. With three brothers and a nephew all racing against one another in the impressive 4400 unlimited class, it quickly becomes apparent why each Gomez car is a UFO IFS Single Seat. Driving solo according to the Gomez brothers has its advantages, possessing all the decision-making power, and not having to listen to someone else in the car. However, both brothers agreed the disadvantages existed and presented themselves in contrast. Without someone else inside of the car, the duties single handedly all fall upon the driver, along with any mistakes made, or getting lost by yourself.
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UNLOCKING THE HAMMERS
Similarly, Triple King Shannon Campbell has led from the beginning age of the hammers winning the official first race in 2008. Over the last decade and some change, Shannon has evolved from a headstrong powerhouse running straight into battle to a constant, steady energy, slowing his approach to take the best line and keep his car in one running piece. Since his original crowning in 2008, again in 2011 and 2017, Shannon has piloted his self-built, Campbell Enterprises, solo seat through the trenches and underbelly of the Hammers. With the lighter weight of having a solo seater, Shannon adds it makes the car easier to work on, a skill he’s perfected over time as a solo driver. The downside to his ironman approach, could end costly on time as having an extra set of eyes, reading the GPS, and double-checking Shannon’s trail of choice, would have helped him at the 2022 Hammers. While racing in UTV classes, Shannon chose Jason Berger as his mellow style and level headedness helps ease Shannon’s excitement. Shannon, it’s time. 36 | DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM
Identically to his father, Waylon Campbell also single handedly pilots his own Campbell Enterprises self-built car. Separate from Shannon though, Waylon prefers a versatile approach to the course, training himself to know when to push, and when to ease down. Following in his father’s shoes, with the exact determination and driving skills, and showing as a top contender, causes the family rivalry to become heated quickly. However, when one Campbell needs assistance, they all pitch in to help one another as racers cannot accept outside spectator help, only racers. Although the inner family competitive tension can become tense for the Campbells, Shannon can always be heard troubleshooting over the radio to his children while another family member straps parts to the car to deliver to another on course. In agreeance with his father, driving solo sets a racer at a disadvantage for not having a second voice, someone to ease the excitement of racing, keeping them levelheaded while missing the extra hands to help winch or change a tire. In Waylon’s perspective, he doesn’t need to slow his aggressive driving as there is no one on-board to apologize to.
WILDCARD
ULTRA3 A LATE NIGHT GATHERING
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t started as an event and a race broke out. Well, not a real race. Certainly not a sanctioned race. So, what exactly is Ultra3? It’s a “gathering”. An event that takes place after dark in the western suburbs of Hammertown. More specifically, the location is known as Hammertown Heights. Those in the know, know where to go. Dozens of three-wheelers are parked near a large circle bowl type track dug out into the dirt.
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Story and Photos by Shaun Ochsner
ULTRA3: A LATE NIGHT GATHERING
Spectators either stand in the middle of the bowl or around the edges. Two-by-two, people race three-wheelers around the bowl. Someone keeps score. An emcee for the evenings “gathering” plays music. There are fancy lights. This is Ultra3. Started by some volunteers a few years ago, the gathering has been growing each year. More three-wheelers show up to partake in the fun.
The three-wheeler allterrain motorcycle hasn’t been manufactured by any company since their ban in 1988 by the US Government, yet there are still plenty of them out there being bought and sold on forums nationwide. One of the most popular models was the Honda Sport ATC. With a top speed of 58 miles an hour and a 65 by 57.88mm bore/ stroke on a 192cc motor these relics were made for racing.
Dubbed the “death trike” some of the participants have souped up the engines on the three-wheelers specifically for the Ultra 3 gathering. Zipping around the makeshift bowl, all night long, the participants would go head to head in an elimination round. But remember, this isn’t a race. It’s a gathering. Just one of the many late-night activities that happen after dark on the lakebed at the King of the Hammers. DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM |39
ELECTRIC RACING
ANNOUNCES NEW EV SPEC CLASS STORY BY: La-Chelle Halliday PHOTOS PROVIDED BY: La-Chelle Halliday, Shaun Ochsner, Ultra4
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Ultra4 and King of the Hammers, founder and CEO, Dave Cole, welcomed approved media guests, along with a handful of race teams, as he presented the EV spec racing program designed to jump start the electric innovation in the off-road world and motorsports at large. A stage had been erected at the forefront of the tent as a line of speakers began to introduce themselves and their involvement in the EV spec class. Swiftly it was known amongst the crowd as the new EV Board of Directors and partnering brands that would facilitate and provide engineering expertise to the eleven It is now 2021, and the race for electrification in motorsports is here, right outside our door as hand selected teams. was the land speed record of the 1960s. With Backed by a panel of talented individuals the recent technological advancements that immersed in off-road racing, including the world has seen in electric racing, it was, Hypercraft, Dana Inc, Dallara, and Fox, without question, bound to make its way into complete EV crate motor packages were off-road. First with the creation of Extreme E, placed into the tenacious hands of eleven led by the founder of Formula E, Alejandro Ultra4 racers who have committed to Agag, electric racing had officially arrived at developing and building EV powered Ultra4’s iconic race, King of the Hammers. vehicles for the next three years. he year is 1964, competition for the land speed record had become fierce with multiple powerful people watching. After a triumph the year prior, Craig Breedlove would be returning to the Bonneville Salt Flats against Art Arfons to secure another record with a goal to go 500 mph. This was an era of national optimism, fueled by the race to space and rapid technological advancements. After Arfons topped out at 434 on October 8th, Breedlove, October 15th, rocketed past his astonished crew with a record setting 526 mph.
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EV SPEC CLASS
After a year and a half of designing from a blank canvas, eleven teams received a complete Hypercraft EV drive system centered around an 800V Dana TM4 electric drive motor. The Dana TM4 EV motor pushes out 335 horsepower and 885 lbs. ft. of torque while powered by 40-kWh battery. Each motor package is identical to the next, however, it has been left to the teams to design their own vehicle and how they each want to apply that power.
“This is a grassroots racing program in the hands of people who know how to problem solve, drive, fix, and build back better. Ultra4 racers love a challenge and never give up. This is not talk or future dreams, this is here, now and in the hands of talented, determined people who will take EV performance development to the next level,” - Dave Cole
The coming months will be no less than exciting and enticing as race teams begin to build and test their own electric vehicles prior to the racing season. Questions arose instantly during the announcement as teams began contemplating real life situations during a race and were informed how certain actions used on a typical combustion motor would be distinctively contrasting to the EV motor, particularly battery consumption and the ‘hot swap’ technology the batteries possess. Without question, the integration and adoption of EV technology in off-road racing is here and now. It is crucial in aiding the growth of off-road racing, brands, partners and allowing us to hand it off to the next generation of off-roaders ‘better than we found it’.
PANEL SPEAKERS John Waraniak
| CEO Have Blue | Automotive Ambassador Troy Lee Designs
Dave Cole
| Co-Founder & CEO KOH & Ultra4 Racing
Cal Wells III
| Founder and Principal PPI Motorsports
Jake Hawksworth
| Founder and CEO Hypercraft USA
Stefano de Ponti
| CEO Dallara USA
Luca Pignacca
| Chief Designer Dallara Automobili, Italy
Bryan Harrold
| Program Manager of Fox Factory Racing
Troy Lee
| Founder and President Troy Lee Designs
Tom Zielinski
| President Z-Performance | Founder Detroit4Fest
Matt Caldwell
| Executive Director Tread Lightly!
DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM |41
FIELD TEST
FIELD TESTING THE
KAWASAKI
TERYX KRX 1000
Story by Dave Arnold Photos by Shaun Ochsner, Dave Arnold and LaChelle Halliday
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hen Kawasaki allows Dirt Sports World to test a vehicle, we go through extremes to put it through the paces. We want to know everything it can do and what terrain it can handle. It just so happened we were given the opportunity to test out the 2022 Kawasaki Teryx KRX 1000. Our testing grounds? The 2022 King of the Hammers in Johnson Valley, California. It couldn’t be A]
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a better time and location to test this capable UTV as we would be spending a week on the lakebed traversing the rugged terrain to cover one of the biggest off-road events in the world. Upon arriving at Kawasaki’s Foothill Ranch California Headquarters to pick the Teryx KRX 1000 up, I was met by Bobby Kerns, a factory Kawasaki technician. He tells me, “we
got this set up for you.” My mind wonders exactly what he means. Entering the back of the facility, we walk into a room that resembles an operating room. It is set up to service the extensive Kawasaki lineup. In the first bay sits a shiny black and green Teryx KRX 1000 UTV getting its finishing touches. I quickly realize this is the UTV we be taking out for our test. Right away I start to notice the OEM add on front and rear light bar, visibility whip and spare tire. As we inspect the vehicle more I notice the Kawasaki rear view mirror. Kerns points out the lower a-arm guards that were added. These will come in handy in the rocky terrain Johnson Valley is famous for. I am excited to test out the very cool OEM add-ons. Kawasaki offers dozens genuine accessories throughout their dealer
KAWASAKI TERYX KRX 1000
also noticed how much longer and wider this two-seater As we drive the KRX 1000 is then most others in this category. With the seats all out of the “operating room” the way back on both sides to load it onto the trailer, I really noticed how much room there is still enough storage space behind them. The stock there is in the interior. I am 6’1” and I tend to feel a little mounting points of the spare cramped in other UTVs. This tire are also out of the way, allowing you to pack gear on one felt very comfortable. I top for an all-day adventure. That includes a cooler. There are other Kawasaki genuine products you could buy to allow for a rack system to go up and over the tire such as a cargo rack tray. network.
Soon we were loaded up and heading off to Johnson Valley to set up for our 11day adventure at King of the Hammers. After arriving at our campsite to get the motorhome set up and leveled out, the sun had already gone down and DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 43
FIELD TEST
darkness had fallen across the lakebed. A perfect opportunity to unload the freshly prepped KRX and test out the lights. On the front we had Kawasaki’s 8-inch LED K-Glow light bar. It has two settings that include a styled green glow if you are parked off the trail at night and still allow yourself to be seen. The light bar features 4-flood light reflectors and 2 spot beam reflectors giving you a total of 6 LED light inside the bar. The stock headlights are already pretty good, but this little light-bar really brightens the night up. After making a quick loop around Hammertown, we would wait until the next day to really see what power the KRX 1000 has. I mentioned earlier there was storage space behind the seat. Our small six-pack cooler fit in there perfectly. In fact, we are able to get two of them back there. Filled with a little food and some cold drinks, we ready to take on an adventure at the Hammers. First up, some sand trails with plenty of whoops to test out the Fox suspension. The shocks are adjustable, and our current set up was
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set to basically zero with the factory settings. After hitting some whips, I made a few adjustments to stiffen the shocks up a little. I also adjusted the tire pressure and soon I had the KRX 1000 sailing through the sand whoops smoothly at well over 60 mph without a problem. I believe the longer wheelbase added to the smooth ride. After a few hours of speed runs, I really noticed how
KAWASAKI TERYX KRX 1000
solid the UTV was. Nothing felt cheap or loose about it, and the Kawasaki engineers really thought the design of this vehicle out. Throughout the day cruising around I also noticed also how good the gas consumption was on this naturally aspirated 1000 mL motor was. I barely used half a tank all day playing around. We put some put some good miles on it. Driving the car for a few days you start to notice little things. There’s no lag like other belt driven UTV’s. You get instant on power. As we cruised around to the various areas and different terrain, we came up to some small rocky areas. The KRX 1000 a rear camera for backing up, but it also has a front camera which really comes in handy for rock
crawling situations when you need to see what obstacles you are approaching. The KRX 1000 also has a winch, just in case you need to recover the UTV should it become stuck. Over at Chocolate Thunder, we parked on a steep sandy hill in the spectator area. I took the opportunity to play with some of the gauges on the KRX. The display shows inclination of angle of the UTV which is really handy in extreme off-camber rock crawling situations. Exiting the steep hills, I was able to put the braking system to the test. The stock slotted brakes really performed well. I got a lot of thumbs up as I drove the Kawasaki Teryx 1000 around Hammertown. Kawasaki brand ambassador
Jeremy McGrath even gave me the double thumbs up as I passed by the factory Kawasaki display. What it comes down to, if you’re looking for a really solid capable off the showroom floor vehicle, the Kawasaki KRX 1000 is the choice. There are several models available including the new KECS system on the ES version which feature electronically controlled shocks. This model is perfect for those who don’t want to have to fine-tune the suspension. The on-board computer will do everything. So, if you want to let the good times roll, you’ll definitely have a good time in the KRX 1000 and definitely won’t be disappointed! DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 45
DAILY DRIVER
FORD’S NEXT GENERATION RANGER RAPTOR
It’s coming to the United States in 2023! Story: Shaun Ochsner Photos: Courtesy of Ford Motor Company
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he long-awaited Ford Ranger Raptor is coming to the United States. The truck will hit the European market first later this year before arriving on U.S. soil. Customers have long awaited the baby brother to the F-150 to become available. The Ranger Raptor comes with a twin-turbo 3.0-litre EcoBoost V6. It has four electronicallycontrolled exhausted modes to fit your driving scenario. There are seven selectable drive modes. Much like its Bronco counterpart, modes include Quiet, Normal, Sport and Baja. The Ranger Raptor comes with
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FORD RANGER RAPTOR
FOX 2.5-inch live valve internal bypass shock absorbers. The chassis was designed specifically for offroading. The Raptor specific mounts and reinforcements on the truck include the C-pillar, load box and spare wheel as well as frames for the jounce bumper, shock tower and shock bracket.
Ford also added plenty of protection to tackle rough terrain. A front bash plate is double the size of the one found on the original Ranger. It is made from 2.3-millimeter-thick high strength steel. The plate protects key components on the truck including the
radiator, steering system, front cross member, engine sump and front differential. There are twin-rated tow hooks at the front and rear that provide recovery options. If one is buried, the other can still be accessed. Pricing for the Ford Ranger Raptor has yet to be announced. DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 47
NEW RIDES
THE PRODRIVE
HUNTER
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he Prodrive Hunter is a 590hp all-terrain vehicle. It was born from Sébastien Loeb’s Bahrain Raid X-treme vehicle that competes in the dunes of the Dakar Rally. Over the last forty years, Prodrive has learned a thing or two about extreme competition vehicles. The company has been in business building advance technology vehicles for motorsports competition. Its resume includes 6 FIA World Rally Titles, 8 FIA World Sportscar titles and 6 Le Mans titles. Those accolades only scratch the surface of awards Prodrive has won with its vehicles and drivers.
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PRODRIVE HUNTER
With all of that, Prodrive set out to build an all-terrain daily driver that would perform across any landscape. Thus, the Hunter was born. Prodrive says the Hunter is even more capable than Sebastien Loeb’s rally race version. Picture a 50% increase in power from the 3.5-liter V6 twin turbo engine and an upgraded suspension package. The daily driver is not bound by strict competition regulations. The manual sequential gearbox has been replaced with a six-speed paddle shift.
The interior of the Hunter feels more like a daily driver. A digital display gives the driver all of the vital information they need. The standard daily driver controls can also be found
on the center console. The Prodrive Hunter was also designed to minimize overall weight as well as optimize the weight distribution and
center of gravity of the vehicle. The body is made from lightweight carbon composite. It also includes recycled materials produced by Prodrive composites. DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 49
NEW RIDES
The development vehicle will be available for test driving in the Middle East. There hasn’t been any word on whether U.S. residents can get their hands on one.
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Performance Products
PERFORMANCE IS OUR MIDDLE NAME! CBR Performance Products Inc has a number of years of hands on experience from Motocross Racing, UTV Racing, Road Racing and Off-Road Racing. Many Teams and/or individuals who use CBR products are winning championships and seeing podium finishes. www.cbr-performance.com
ELECTRIC RACING
EXTREME E SEASON TWO
Story: Shaun Ochsner Photos: Courtesy of Extreme E
A
new driver couldn’t stop Team Rosberg X Racing from winning the Extreme E season opener. The team won the inaugural season of Extreme E in 2021. Driver Johan Kristofferson and Molly Taylor were the drivers. For the German based team. This year, Kristofferson is back but with new female teammate Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky. Ironically, both drivers are Swedish. AhlinKottulinsky competed for the JBXE team, driving alongside Jensen Button and later Kevin Hansen. She helped the team secure third place in the first championship round.
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Extreme E is in its second season. A successful 2021 saw the series travel all over the world with its mission to bring attention to changing and damaged climates. Extreme E is a self-sustained series that leaves almost zero footprint. Everything from provisions in the pits to many supplies are recyclable. The cars are electric and do not put out carbon emissions.
The opening round saw the series back where it started in in Saudi Arabia. Particularly the city of Neom. Qualifying first on the grid was team X44. At the end of the first lap, team McLaren’s Tanner Foust clipped the back of RXR’s Odyssey 21
causing Foust to roll the car. A red flag was brought out. Foust is in his first season with Extreme E. When the race resumed, officials started the cars out for a one-lap shootout, releasing them at intervals on how they entered the Switch Zone. X44’s Christina Gutierrez
EXTREME E SEASON TWO
was behind the wheel attempting to chase down Laia Sanz. While all of this was happening, Kristofferson took a wide line passing both for the lead and the win. The victory kicks off a great start for Team RXR’s road the championship. DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 53
TECH
Simple Maintenance on your Kawasaki Side-by-Side Story and Photos: Shaun Ochsner
R
outine maintenance is one of the most important parts of keeping your side-by-side properly running and performing to its full capacity. Kawasaki makes it very easy to complete routine maintenance on the Teryx KRX 1000. It is so simple, you can complete everything within an hour. There are different opinions on the frequency in which you should perform maintenance. A
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lot depends on usage. For high usage most manufacturers recommend routine maintenance at least once a month or once every 40 hours. Your owner’s manual should also provide a simple chart you can refer to optimize performance. Kawasaki sells a simple replacement kits with everything you need to perform your own maintenance right in your garage.
SIMPLE MAINTENANCE ON YOUR KAWASAKI SIDE-BY-SIDE
You definitely want to get that oil changed. The oil keeps all of the moving parts within the side-byside lubed and running smoothly. Kawasaki’s oil change kit comes complete with the necessary oil, oil filter, drain bolt sealing washer, disposable funnel and even a pair of gloves. The gloves are in Kawasaki’s signature green color. All you have to do is select your model for the kit you need. Changing the oil is easy. Simply remove the drain plug located on the skid plate towards the back of the UTV. You’ll need a socket from your tool box or a wrench. Be sure to use a pan to drain the old oil into and properly dispose of it. Before adding new oil, put the drain plug back in with the new drain bolt sealing washer from the oil change kit. You also want to make sure to use a torque wrench to torque the drain plug to spec to prevent leaks. Kawasaki recommends 15ft-lbs.
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TECH
The oil fil cap is located on the engine to the rear. It’s as easy as twisting off and pouring the new oil from the kit through the provided funnel. Kawasaki recommends pouring about 3 ½ quarts of oil, starting your UTV and monitoring the level in the view window just below the fill cap.
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Running the UTV allows the engine to suck the oil through the system. You may need to add a little more oil as necessary. Just above that is the oil filter which can also easily be changed by removing a couple of bolts.
SIMPLE MAINTENANCE ON YOUR KAWASAKI SIDE-BY-SIDE
The air filter is another item to keep a close eye on. Your air filter gets dirty very quickly, especially on dusty rides. It collects plenty of dirt, grime and other desert elements floating in the air to prevent all of that nasty stuff from getting through your engine. Kawasaki has made it very simple to remove and replace the air filter. The air filter is located directly behind the driver’s seat. Simply slide the seat forward and open the tabs on the compartment, remove the clips that secure the filter in place and pull it right out. Kawasaki recommends fully replacing the filter when you perform maintenance. A fresh new one will keep your Teryx in top shape. Kawasaki also makes a special branded engine coolant. Whether you need to just top off the coolant or fully replace the fluid, its available for your side-by-side, taking the guesswork out which coolant you need. All you have to do here is remove the front hood and locate the coolant reservoir. The back of the Kawasaki owner’s manual provides a place to record all of the maintenance you have done to your UTV.
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CHAPPY’S PIT STOP
COACHABLE Words: Steve Hanson
Matthew 13:3–8, NIV“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places…Other seed fell among thorns…Still other seed fell on good soil.”
I
have met countless drivers over the past near 20-years working trackside amongst the rocks, sand and asphalt. Drivers from all levels of ability from professional drivers to young kids in their first race. All those drivers have one thing in common, they all have room for improvement and need a driving coach. Problem is not all drivers see it that way, they either know it all, are uncoachable, or do not want to give anyone else credit with any performance improvements. The coach, driver relationship makes me think of the above parable of the farmer and the seed. This parable can also be said to be about the soil. All four types of soil are essentially the same dirt but are in different conditions and respond in different ways to cultivation. What made one soil more responsive and the other less? When the New Testament was written, communities were agriculturally based. A family would be appointed a section of land to farm. Every farmer’s plot was adjacent to their neighbor’s. To get to the fields, the farmers would walk along the boundaries bordering each field to avoid stepping on the growing plants. The “path” was held in common by all the farmers. Over time, the soil on the path would compact. It was never plowed and never fertilized. In the parable, the seed that is sown on the path is hard and impermeable not able to penetrate the ground because of the constant use. The second type of soil mentioned in the parable is the “rocky places” or the shallow soil where the plow didn’t cut deeply enough to break up the shale or hard ground just below
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the surface. This soil produced only plants with weak, shallow roots. The third type of soil mentioned is the thorny soil, most likely found in the corners of the field where the plow couldn’t reach; here, weeds overtook what was planted. All the types of soils mentioned here are in the same plot of ground with one major difference: Only one area was fully yielded to cultivation, to being changed and prepared for planting. That area was called the good soil. The greatest amount of fruit produced was not determined by how rich the soil was, but how yielded to the plow it was. The soil in each condition received seed, but not all produced quality fruit. Everyone receives seed, the Word of God. Everyone has potential for the harvest, living a fruitful life, but the ones who will produce the most fruit will be the ones most yielded to cultivation. In racing it doesn’t matter if you have the best driving coach there is, if you are not receptive to instruction and desire to make necessary changes, you’ll never reach your potential as a driver. More important, in life ask the question can I be “cultivated?” How correctable am I? How quickly do I repent? Can I self–correct? The greater my yielding to God’s cultivation the greater the capacity of my fruitfulness in life. How has God “cultivated” your life or someone you know? Do you see how that caused a more fruitful life? My prayer for you and our offroad community is that we have a soft heart, an open heart that is readily yielded to God’s Word and commands. Make us fruitful, I pray. Amen. you find yourself broken in the pits. Follow @rfc_dirtsportministry
CALENDAR
UPCOMING EVENTS MARCH
Curt LeDuc Swapmeet Soboba Casino San Jacinto, CA March 5th
EVENT TO ATTEND NORRA MEXICAN 1000
VORRA Fallon 250 Fallon, NV March 4th-6th The Mint 400 Las Vegas, NV March 9th-13th SNORE Battle at Primm Primm, NV March 25th-27th DP4 Round Two Johnson Valley, CA March 26th
APRIL SCORE San Felipe 250 San Felipe, Baja California March 30-April 3rd
Its back and its going all the way to San Jose Del Cabo for the first time since COVID. NORRA celebrates the classic rally vehicles that made historic Baja what it is today. Even Big Oly is showing up this year, the Bronco that won with Bill Stroppe. Its a little bit of modern mixed with a lot of vintage over the course of several days. You don’t want to miss it! For more information visit www.norra.com
Great American Shortcourse Victorville Fairgrounds San Bernardino, CA April 9th-10th M.O.R.E McKenzies 250 Lucerne Valley, CA April 23rd Best in the Desert Sliver State 300 Alamo, NV April 28th-30th NORRA Mexican 1000 Ensenada-San Jose Del Cabo April 29-May 6th
Have an event for our Calendar? Send us an email: dirtsports@dirtsportsworld.com DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 59
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