page_title: King of the Hammers
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: King of the Hammers / History
caption_attribution_description: English: Ultra 4 Racing
context_page_description: King of the Hammers is an off-road race that combines desert racing and rock crawling. This race is held in February on Means Dry Lake at Johnson Valley, California United States. The race is broadcast live on the Internet at www.ultra4racing.com each year. King of The Hammers race week has expanded from one race, Nitto King of The Hammers, held each year on Friday, to a series of 5 races held throughout the week. The races include Can AM UTV Race on Sunday, The Every Man Challenge Race on Wednesday, The Toyo Desert Invitational on Thursday, and a new ULTRA4 vs. Rock Bouncer shootout held on Monday night of race week.
context_section_description: The King of the Hammers was founded by Jeff Knoll and Dave Cole in 2007. Jeff and Dave were in a bar and they planned this race on a napkin. The founders decided that there should be a trial run with a few good guys and a chance to have some fun.  There were only 12 teams at this first non-spectator invitational race.  They are referred to as the OG13. The OG13 are always invited back to race year after year. All past winners, or Kings, are also invited year after year.  The first official race was in 2008 and it was still a non-spectator race.  There were approximately 50 drivers in the first official race.  Race teams started at 30 second intervals from Means Dry Lake bed and navigated through the desert on a 50-60 mile set race course to their first rock course.
caption: Ultra 4 Racing, the Ultimate Desert Race.
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