{"id":4167,"date":"2016-02-18T13:28:44","date_gmt":"2016-09-26T16:58:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/utvguide.dev\/trip-report-king-of-the-hammers-2016\/"},"modified":"2018-01-14T07:47:30","modified_gmt":"2018-01-14T15:47:30","slug":"trip-report-king-of-the-hammers-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/utvguide.net\/trip-report-king-of-the-hammers-2016\/","title":{"rendered":"2016 King of the Hammers UTV Race Recap"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Jon Crowley, UTVGuide.net<\/a><\/p>\n

The 2016 King of the Hammers UTV Race is the first time that I haven’t either driven or co-dogged for this race.  I thoroughly enjoyed the stress-free weeks leading up to the race, and being on the lakebed without having all the last minute things to do. But it was tough on race day to not be in a car.<\/p>\n

I got my first look at the course on Thursday, when CartoTracks.com<\/a> released the map online. I quickly surveyed the course and although the length was about the same at 115 miles, the difficulty had gone way down. Instead of going up Wrecking Ball and Jackhammer, UTVs would be going down them. Jackhammer was a huge bottleneck for the 2015 race (see King of the Hammers 2015<\/a>) that required several must winch climbs.  In addition, the course would bypass Hwy 19\/20 for UTVs and also go down Aftershock. The course was certainly not a cake-walk, but I predicted to KOH media liaison Emily Miller that we would see the first finisher by 1PM.<\/p>\n

\"Motorhome<\/a>\"Diesel<\/a>
\nBig Rig Rear Ends our Trailer Shoving it into Motorhome<\/p>\n

I had a little issue on Saturday while heading to Johnson Valley in my motor home.  Just in Sacramento I turned off to to pick up Paul and Brett from Harts UTV and was rear-ended by a big rig hauling water. The impact shoved the trailer off the ball and then went through the radiator and into the 8.3L Cummins. The motor home was toast and the trailer could no longer be towed by the coupler. After sorting everything out with insurance and towing, I went back home to figure out a plan B. Thankfully a friend had a trailer I could borrow and another had room in his 5th wheel for Paul and Brett, so I ended up in my cabover camper and arrived about 24 hours after I was supposed to.<\/p>\n

\"High<\/a>\"Jagged<\/a>
\nRunning Turkey Claw with High Lifter and Jagged X<\/p>\n

We unloaded and joined in with the boys from Jagged X and High Lifter over at Turkey Claw. This is a fun little trail that is right next to camp and pretty tough.<\/p>\n

\"FOX
\nOur FOX Edition RZR XP 1000 on Turkey Claw<\/p>\n

Monday we ran out to pit 1, then did some of the loop out there.  No real rock crawling, but certainly not fast desert.  We ended up at the sand hill after leaving pit 1 again.  The sand hill can always be a game changer and I love this spot.  There is one alternate line a few miles back that is safer, but takes at least 5 more minutes.  Then down at the sand hill, there is another alternate up a short canyon that is a mix of rocks and sand.  The sand hill is by far the fastest route and I hit it in my RZR XP Turbo smooth the first shot, then got stuck on the second attempt.  After that I tried the canyon.  I go through, but it took a few back-ups and I would have lost several minutes.  To do the canyon fast, you need to carry some momentum, and that can be risky.<\/p>\n

\"Team<\/a>\"High<\/a>
\nPre-running up Jack North with Team Ducky Racing and High Lifter<\/p>\n

On Tuesday, we loaded up with Harts UTV, Team Ducky Racing and High Lifter with the intent of running up Jack North, then down Jackhammer.  We picked off Jack North pretty easy.  All the cars were running great and I was especially impressed with the guys from High Lifter.  For being down south mud guys, they did a great job in the rocks.<\/p>\n

\"Polaris<\/a>\"FOX<\/a>
\nOur RZR XP Turbo and FOX Edition XP1000 on Jack North<\/p>\n

After running Jack North, we attempted to follow the course and come down Jackhammer.  We made it all the way to the tough spot when we ran into a large group of buggies coming up the trail.  The trail is MUCH tougher coming up and it appeared that it was going to be a while before we could get through.  Team Ducky squeaked through, but the rest of us turned around and headed back to camp another way.  While the course is completely open for anyone to run on Monday and Tuesday, it was a bit disappointing to have a large group running the wrong direction.<\/p>\n

On Wednesday afternoon, we headed into Hammertown to check out the cars coming through tech inspection. In a sea of Polaris RZRs, it was refreshing to see some other manufacturers represented.  Two cars that caught my eye with the 2016 Kawasaki Teryx with Sara Price and Erica Sacks and 2016 Yamaha YXZ1000R that would be driven by Jason Weller of Weller Racing.<\/p>\n

\"Kawasaki<\/a>\"Yamaha<\/a>
\nTeryx Girls (Kawasaki Teryx) and Weller Racing (Yamaha YXZ1000R) in Tech<\/p>\n

The “Teryx Girls” would be the only all-female team to run and this would be their first attempt at racing King of the Hammers. They were also the only team running a Kawasaki Teryx.  Weller Racing was one of 3 or 4 teams running a Yamaha YXZ1000R.  After attending the Yamaha press event for the Yamaha YXZ1000R (see Yamaha YXZ1000R Review)<\/a>, I didn’t think there was a chance that anyone could run a YXZ1000R in the rocks. But Weller Racing teamed up with Tube Works to regear the YXZ transmission.  End result was a 30% lower 1-5 gear with an additional 40% lower 1st. This allowed them to adjust gear ratio for the larger tires, and also turn 1st gear into more of a granny setup.  Now we were talking!<\/p>\n

\"Blake
\nVan de Loo’s RZR XP1000 in Tech Inspection<\/p>\n

Blake Van de Loo was another guy I was going to keep my eye on.  We teamed up for the first time in 2013 with me in the driver’s seat and finished just 16 seconds behind Guthrie (see King of the Hammers 2013<\/a>).  Then in 2014, we swapped seats and he drove his current XP1000. We had some new car bugs to work out and ended 5th after a lot of adversity, but I knew he was super fast in the desert (see King of the Hammers 2014<\/a>). With his seasoned car, I knew he could be someone that could dethrone the King.<\/p>\n

Race day came, and I had Paul and Brett from HartsUTV.com<\/a> head out past Pit 1 to get some pictures and video.  I headed over to RM 2.  Right out of the shoot, Guthrie was in the lead by a decent margin. And Blake was charging hard having gained a few spots already. Being out front of the dust was a big advantage.<\/p>\n

\"Burt
\nDust and Traffic were Big Issues Past Pit 1<\/p>\n

Van de Loo gained spots and took the lead in the desert around RM 20. But then Guthrie passed him back at Pit 1 (second stop at this pit) when Blake stopped for fuel and to repair a broken sway bar. By RM 50 Van de Loo was back in the lead and Guthrie was right on his tail.<\/p>\n

\"2016
\nVan de Loo Ahead of Guthrie at RM 50<\/p>\n

At the Sand Hill (RM 57.5), Guthrie took the Sand Hil and Van de Loo opted for the alternate line in the canyon right next to it. With a clean run on either side, the Sand Hill is the fastest route, but not without potential pitfalls. But Guthrie had pre-run the Sand Hill several times and knew what it would take.  Van de Loo came through quick as well, but lost a little time with the tougher canyon.<\/p>\n