Race Prep - King of the Hammers 2025

Hope ya enjoy...

For those that know me they know how I am. I’ve been known for last minute change of plans. Well you can Thank Randy Rod with Jimmy’s 4x4 for this one. Lol

Our prep started as normal, roughly forty five days out from our departure date. Getting the Trent fab car ready for the long, grueling journey to Johnson Valley and what is to be thrown at us.

Well, then Randy decided to shake up the Off Road community by putting all the toys up for sale as he restructured his business.

I saw this as a huge opportunity to jump back into the big boy class. (Unlimited 4400)Thinking there is no way I could ever afford to get into such an iconic, bad ass machine. I decided to reach out and have a conversation with Randy. What a solid guy. A week later, Beef and I are on the road to pick up a new to us single seat independent front suspension car.

It’s now three weeks before the big race. This new car changed a lot for us. Just the mental logistics that go into this race is exhausting. Ask any racer in any class. So much to get done. The car needed to be personalized to fit my needs. ie; seat, peddles, gps, visibility, etc. not to mention the suspension needed lots of work for me to feel comfortable to push the limits that I know this car is capable of.

We got to our campground on the lake bed that our friends from A1 rentals secured for us and we immediately set up our home for the next two weeks. What a spot! Luis and Ramero already set up our tent and all. Where else can you go and literally be trackside for two weeks and get so much action right in front of you?

Boy, the lake bed was already full of dust. Not to worry…it freakin' snowed. It snowed for a while!! Lmao. We got a solid three inches. Pretty cool experience as we are in the desert. Definitely gave a different perspective.

No need to worry about the dust for a while.

Time to get to work… immediately we start reaching out to Bilstein to figure out the suspension issues. After working with Nathan for a bit we discovered we are in need of several springs front and rear. We searched for these high and low in the middle of nowhere. It always amazes me how so many vendors do not bring supplies with them to this event. We happened to be passing by the King shocks booth and figured we’d ask just one last time. Boy am I glad we did. Chris really knows his stuff. Even though we aren’t running their equipment he took the time to help get us dialed in. Plus HE had every spring we needed right there. Now THAT is service. The team and I make quick work swapping all the springs in. By this time Greg from Rock and Road Performance gets to the lake bed for the week. He and Zack immediately get to work on their magic on the suspension doing their science/math/ stuff that all of us hated in school. I’ve always been fascinated by their ability to make every car I’ve ever raced so much safer. They took this iconic car from being uncontrollable and coil binding to literally cruising comfortably through three foot whoops with a ten foot spread at seventy miles per hour all while keeping the car planted in a straight line.

Now excited we have a “race car” they open the qualifying course for practice. How exciting this qualifier was. Little short course leading into a high speed rock hill climb lifting the front wheels off the ground, peaking a hundred yards or so to a three tier drop off bouncing off each one. Up “short bus” with pace, across the ridge on top to a steep strategic, boulders bashing down hillside rushing back into short course. What a rush! Eighty five percent of this is all visual to the crew, family, friends and fans. This is by far the best qualifier I’ve seen and been a part of in the 13 years that I’ve been going to King Of Hammers. We spent the next couple of days pre running and perfecting the car. The rest of the crew all get to camp just in time for qualifying.

We are first up, no pressure…everyone is chatting about the gap jump. “Pssh, what gap jump. I’m used to flying in the air over Birds jumps.” (Bird builds all of the tracks for U4 and NorCal rock racing, our local track.) Flag drops, I’m off! “Shit!!! Car is sputtering! Wtf! We put so much into this car, never had a misfire! Corner is coming up, shit THE GAP jump (a forty foot open gap) abort, abort!!” I took the by-pass around it. “Switch fuel pumps hurry” I’m scrambling! Push, push!! Car starts to clear up but something is definitely wrong. I kept pushing all the way through the qualifier taking the final position through the day of a starting position, 48 out of 99 cars. The worst I’ve ever qualified. I was so disappointed. I had so many expectations for this qualifying run that I didn’t even go back to camp. The car and I needed some quality time together lol. Once I got back my head was clear. The crew and I jumped on the phone immediately with Mast Motorsports. They identify a few issues and get us back up and running. (So we think/wait for it)

Time to get my head in the game to start thinking, strategy, fuel, mileage, racecourse, etc. We could only do this so much as qualifying was on Wednesday, but yet, Dave (race promoter) decided to switch things up this year and not release the third lap for the unlimited class until noon the day before the race on Friday. A great idea. This to me could be an equalizer. This is what keeps the race truly competitive from the garage built racing teams to the Major factory sponsored teams. So much mental preparation with jumping into a single seater car.

See if you haven’t noticed I take this racing preparation in sections if you will. One hurdle after another. This helps me mentally as we get ready for the green flag to drop. By that time everything is behind us and I can focus on what is important in that moment. The team and I work on the navigation for hours. Literally eight hours on the ipad. Collectively working with our friends at Addarak racing.

This is just a glimpse into my madness as we prepare for such an iconic race. Please hold tight for the race day write up. You guys have so graciously waited long enough for this write up I wanted to get you something now.

Thank you, everyone for sticking around this long.