By PETER DAY
Senior Reporter
MEANS DRY LAKE • Joe “Dirt” Gardner left his beloved surfboard at home in Maui, Hawaii, but last week he had everything he needed right in Hammertown.
Joined by his co-driver Erin Maskal and enthusiastic crew chief Mark Provanza, the tall, handsome off-road racer was one of thousands who called a remote stretch of dirt and eerie rocky outcroppings home since the last week of January.
The Hawaiian trio is among numerous racing teams and thousands of spectators who made treks from many parts of the United States, Europe and beyond.
“Currently, we have 430 teams confirmed to participate throughout the week in various races,” said Shannon Welch, communications director with Ultra4 Racing, which sponsors the annual off-road racing extravaganza. “We have 39 states represented, including Hawaii and Vermont. We also have several Australians, a Belgian, many Canadian teams, and teams from Indonesia, Japan, Mexico and the UK.”
Although miles from the Pacific, Gardner’s crew could enjoy familiar sights — several young blonde women serving up free Monster Energy drinks, handing out free Monster gear and spinning thumping hip-hop and rap music. Though no alcohol is provided server Madison Louch said she’s had numerous, curious inquiries.
“Someone asked, ‘OK, what goes good with tequila?’” Louch said.
And for those who have partied too much, she has a product recommendation that’s sure to ease a hangover.
“It’s called Rehab,” she said. “It’s peach tea and Energy.”
For those who want to get a respite from the party vibe, they can walk up a staircase to the Monster Energy structure for a 360-degree view of the valley, including of the rock crawling locations: “Claw Hammer,” “Chocolate Thunder,” “Jackhammer” and “Wrecking Ball.”
Spectators from Lucerne Valley
Several from Lucerne Valley attended the centerpiece of the weeklong event, last Friday's King of the Hammers. Longtime resident Roger Peterson was tooling around Hammertown in his 4x4, and Bill Lembright of the Lucerne Valley Market and Hardware Store brought along his camera to take action photos of the world's best rock crawlers. Closer to the event, Johnson Valley residents provided discount wristbands through the Johnson Valley Improvement Association.
Fun for kids too
Hammertown wasn't only for adult recreation, youngsters had a good time as well.
A miniature track in the center of the town offered kids of all ages to test their remote control car operating skills. “The kids have been doing this all day,” Ashley Stevherson of the northern California town of Plymouth said last Tuesday.
According to Stevherson, the track operators let the kids play with cars provided by the track the previous day, but on this day participants needed to provide their own. Luckily, a store on wheels was located adjacent to the track. But the price for the RC cars?
“They cost $650,” she said.
Wingnut Racing driver Justin Foxworthy of Auburn brought his entire family to see him successfully qualify for Friday’s famous King of the Hammers race. Joining Foxworthy was his wife Liz Foxworthy, 3-1/2-year-old Sara Rae and 7-month-old Jane.
The family has come to Hammertown since before they were born.
“From womb to forever,” Foxworthy said.
Retirees from Colorado
For several years, Bob Weissenborn of Evergreen, Colo. and a group of 4x4 enthusiasts he calls the “Magnificent 7” maked the trek to Hammertown to take in the sites and volunteer their services. The men are retirees who love tooling around in their 4x4s, which admittedly is an expensive hobby.
“It’s called J.E.E.P.,” one member said. “Just Empty Every Pocket.”
After their trip, the group met their wives in Scottsdale, Ariz., where both the men and women will give a surprise greeting. One year the wives greeted their husbands wearing nose rings (which turned out to be temporary). This year the men will be sporting sombreros and black mustaches.
“While this is a racing event, it’s also a huge community of off-roaders that come together once a year,” Welch said.
And that equates into the toughest competition, camaraderie and memories that will last a lifetime.
“Oh, we’re having a blast!,” Provanza said last week. “We’ve had fun since the second we got here. This is epic!”
For more information and race results, visit http://ultra4racing.com/category/king_of_the_hammers/