25 SHOWSTOPPING 4X4S FOUND OUTSIDE THE KING OF THE HAMMERS RACE

RIGS OF THE HAMMERS

- Jered Korfhage

Jim Goff, in the bobbed F-250, and Vinny Zimmerman, in the Chevy, put their trucks to the test on this rocky obstacle outside the 2022 King of the Hammers race.

With races roaring in the background, we patrolled the outskirts of the 2022 King of the Hammers event looking for the most unique 4x4s Hammertown had to offer. What is Hammertown, you ask? Well, during the King of the Hammers race week, and for many days leading up to it, what is normally a tranquil dry lakebed becomes host to tens of thousands of off-road enthusiasts. Hammertown and its "suburbs" refers to the network of pop-up race-prep shelters, campsites, off-road vendor displays, tasty food, and more that is built for the event. King of the Hammers features a week of racing where T1 trucks, side-by-sides, home-built 4x4s, and ultimately Ultra4 rigs compete in the legendary and rugged Mojave desert terrain. While the racing went down in the desert, we scanned the dusty landscape outside the racecourse for the rigs that might not have been competing, but certainly won our attention. Read on for more on the impressive machines we found.

Ron and Sharon Burton wanted a trail rig with a 92-inch wheelbase, roll-up windows, and a soft top-so the Austin Healy just seemed to make sense. The rig sits on a custom-built chassis, sports a four-link suspension with airbags and bypass shocks, and tears it up on and off the road with an LSA V-8, 6L80E, Advance Adapters Atlas transfer case, and Ford high-pinion 9-inch axles.

Don't miss the '06 Dodge chassis under Avdul Pula's immaculate International Harvester Travelette. The rig is set up to handle towing and trail duties.