In an earlier article, I covered some of the history of King of the Hammers and how the Race of Kings got started. But what many people don’t realize is, there are multiple races and classes that run over the course of almost two weeks. You can find the 2024 KOH race schedule online as well as on the new “King Of The Hammers” app.
There’s more than just watching races at KOH
The gates are already open and Hammertown, population of 0 and nothing but a dry lakebed for most of the year, is assembled and hosting thousands of cheering fans for the first events, including King of the Motos (motorcycle), the Desert Challenge, ATVs, and of course, qualifying for the main events. Along with that are open trail times where anyone with a rock crawler can show off their prowess at spots like Chocolate Thunder and Backdoor. This party atmosphere has a Sturgis meets Burning Man vibe that is significantly different than many similar race events.
The Bronco team is legendary
Ford, and more specifically, Bronco, is making another huge appearance. The Ford Performance Team has entered both the Every Man Challenge and the Race of Kings this year. Returning legends like Vaughn Gittin Jr., Loren Healey, Jason Scherer, and Brad Lovell will be racing in both the Every Man Challenge and the Race of Kings, occurring on February 2 and 3.
The Every Man Challenge is a fan favorite and within reach if you dream of racing
The Every Man Challenge is open to all racers, but has a limit on the modifications that are allowed on the car. The idea is that anyone, man or woman, should be able to make those modifications in their garage, somewhat affordably, and race.
There are four classes, denoted by color, racing at the same time in this event: the 4600 Stock class (light blue), the 4500 modified class (orange), the 4800 Legend class (yellow), and EV (green).
The race itself is comprised of two laps that offer both high-speed desert driving along with incredibly difficult rock crawling segments. To put the difficulty into perspective, in 2023, 153 racers left the starting line, 44 made it to the second lap, and only 37 racers in all classes actually finished. In the challenging 4600 Stock Class, there were only four finishers and first through third were Broncos: Loren Healy, Brad Lovell, Bailey Cole, and John Williams. Broncos for the win!
Let’s talk a little bit about the requirements to race the Every Man Challenge. Those who are racing the most restrictive 4600 Stock Class must have a stock frame, factory engine and transmission, 35-inch DOT approved tires, 2.5-inch diameter shocks per corner, and mechanical steering.
The 4500 class allows more modifications including: a modified OEM Chassis or OEM Style Chassis, two 2.65 inch diameter shocks per corner, mechanical steering and 37-inch DOT approved tires. The 4800 Legend class is even less restrictive, and the EV class should speak for itself.
Who’s racing this year for Ford Performance?
The first Every Man Challenge was in 2012, and it’s interesting to see the evolution of these cars over the years, even with the limitations. Ford-sponsored teams this year include Brad Lovell with his son Adam, in car #4621, Loren Healy with Vaughn Gittin Jr. in car #2567, and Bailey Cole and Cole Johnson in car #13.
Last year, I was super impressed that the Ford racers came straight from the finish line with their vehicles to the Bronco Nation Basecamp for the second year in a row. They lined up their winning Broncos and allowed everyone to park their own Bronco in the mix, getting an unforgettable opportunity to meet the racers and take some great photos.
Here are a few of my photos from last year as I chatted with Loren, Vaughn, and Brad. I was shown the race damage and heard some great stories while they were still fresh.
The Race of Kings is the main event
The main event is The Nitto Race of Kings and is held on Saturday. It is comprised of three laps, covering approximately 200 miles. There are pits at both the start/finish line as well as remote desert ones. This is the race of the 4400 cars or Ultra4 unlimited class. The 2024 Ford racers include Loren Healy, Jason Scherer, Vaughn Gittin Jr., and Bailey Cole.
Racers must qualify for this event. Drivers can qualify for the following year’s race by:
- Finishing top 20 at KOH, or
- Finishing as one of the top 10 non-qualified drivers at regionals and nationals.
These cars are not limited on tire size, engine, or chassis design, other than to meet the safety requirements for the class. Unlimited cars must have a transfer case and be able to be driven in 4WD. These cars can be straight axle or independent front suspension (IFS).
My first KOH left me wanting more
In 2023, 109 racers started but only 32 finished all three laps. I was able to get very close to the pit at the start/finish line to capture a couple of pictures of Jason Scherer running in first place. Scherer, three-time KOH winner, finished physically in first place, but second in time to Gomez at a total of 5:46:15.
I took a Bronco and drove to an area called Turkey Claw to watch the battle on the third lap. You can tell when the leaders are approaching because of the helicopters. It was amazing to witness the speed and endurance of the vehicles and watch a Bronco ALMOST pull a win. Maybe in 2024?
If you’re not able to come to Bronco Basecamp this year and Chase the Race, you can still watch the events. Coverage gets better every year.
If you’ve never attended a King of the Hammers before, start thinking about and planning for 2025. It’s a great event where Broncos shine.
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