Thought I'd dump some ideas into a thread to help anyone who's keen to come and check out KOH this year - I know there's a few already coming and a few more thinking about it. Feel free to add if you have found out anything / been before.
Dates: 6 - 12 Feb 2011
Ultra4 racing -Griffin King of the Hammers
Johnson Valley California
- Sunday Feb 6th 2011 Event move in. Driver registration and check in, course map release pre-running starts. Welcome party, and opening drivers meeting in the Hammertown Lounge
- Monday Feb 7th Pre-running continues, vendor show move in. Pre-run hospitality lunch on course, seminars begin.
- Tuesday Feb 8th Pre-running continues seminar schedule increases, last chance to register drivers vendor move in.
- Weds Feb 9th 4wheel parts Last Chance Qualifier, vendor show opens, vendor mixer
- Thursday Feb 10th Vendor show, UTV race, contingency line, pre-running closed, trail rides, Raceline show and shine, pit crew challenge. Most prepared club contest.
- Friday the 11th The 5th running of the Griffin King of the Hammers Approx 150 Mile 4wheel endurance race.
Distances:
LAX - JV: 154 miles, 3+ hours (traffic in LA is unpredictable at best)
Las Vegas - JV: 213 miles, 4+ hours
Other nearby airports:
Ontario, CA
Palm Springs, CA
Closest Towns:
Lucerne - 25 mins?
Yucca Valley - 20 mins
Palm Springs is the closest with decent hotels.
Driving:
You can drive in the US on your valid Australian license for up to 3 months. The majority of RV's can be driven on a standard car license.
Cheap 2wd rental cars can drive to the lakebed if you are careful. They cannot drive up backdoor.
RV rental:
Corona Motorhome Rentals did us a KOH discount last year. They were cheap, but we did have a few issues:
http://www.coronamotorhomerentals.com/rv.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
They can deliver to the lakebed if you just want to turn up - not a bad idea if you don't have time to stuff around.
Cruise America is the Thrifty of RV rentals. Lot's of people use them - usually smaller motorhomes.
You will probably need to have your holding tanks pumped out during the week. There are pump trucks that cruise the lakebed, however they are hard to organise, and need to be able to get to you (we got massively parked in this year). I think it cost $20.
There are HEAPs of hidden costs in RV rental. Insurance, propane, fuel, cleaning, pumpout, towing surcharge. You usually have to pay extra for bedding, kitchen stuff like plates. We bought a cheap bbq from Walmart. Cooking would have been difficult without it, however maybe team up with people to share this sort of stuff. The guys also bought some cheap camp chairs and sleeping bags once they got there because what they gave us for the motorhome was minimal.
Other Options:
People do camp out there. There are porta loos on site, but no showers.
Temps/weather:
Celcius: During the day it can get into the high 20's. You may be running round in shorts and t shirts. At night it can get very cold - below zero. There is a huge daily temperature variation. It snowed at JV the week before KOH 2010. The wind out there can be cold and brutal, day and night. Knowing JV it will be windy at least one day of race week. It rained last year too so that is possible. When it rains the lakebed turns to sticky clay mud that gets everywhere.
Tickets / Spectating:
KOH is a free event and as such there are no tickets, however expect there to be major changes to spectating this year. Drivers have been informed they will be disqualified if a spectator assists them this year (previously it was ok). I expect they will try to keep people back from canyons such as sledge. There is a heap of spectator safety information on the KOH website, please read it and take personal responsibility for your own safety. Don't stand on the outside of turns, or where you could get in the way in the rocks. Be aware of other spectators above you in the canyon - one of the only injuries this year was from a rock fall caused by another spectator.
Getting around:
KOH is miles from the nearest town. You may be able to organise a lift there on Pirate4x4 - I did this in 2009. Rental cars or RV's are the best. In terms of getting around out there, it's a big place. Backdoor is about the only bit you can walk to, altho the boys got keen and walked to Sledge last year too. Thumbing a lift around the event site is possible if you are up for that.
There are companies that rent rhinos / UTVs that you can tow behind your RV (if the rv company lets you). They are not cheap, at about $1000 a week, however you can get 4 person ones that are handy.
Phones / Internet:
Global roaming is expensive!!! You also usually need to request it to be turned on before you leave Aus and can take a couple of days. On the lakebed reception is limited. My optus phone roaming gets nothing. telstra is extremely limited but possible if you drive to the other side of the lake bed.
In terms of getting an American phone, Verizon is the best. I get almost full reception all over the place out there. AT&T is limited. Most of the cheap pre paid companies have no reception. A lot of american companies use different technology, so it's sometimes not as easy as buying a new sim card.
Internet again is extremely limited. Some of my friends have Verizon card that seem to work well. If you global roam with data you will spend more on your phone than your flights.
Resources:
- This page
- pirate4x4.com
- http://www.kingofthehammers.com/pdfs/Ultra4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Tour dates.pdf
- http://www.kingofthehammers.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
- kayak.com - good for cheap domestic US flights
Other tips:
If going to Vegas, Planet Hollywood has free secure oversize / RV parking for guests. No where else actually on the strip has this. I think it really is worth staying on the actual stip.
Grand Canyon is a long way from Vegas, even if you go on the tourist flight. If you go cheap it will be a 4am bus ride that get's back at 10pm, and it's still a pretty full on day on the little plane.
If people are honking and flashing their lights at you, you are probably on the wrong side of the road.
Some RV companies offer airport pickup which is handy as they usually are in the middle of nowhere
Do not get american dollars from any airport foreign exchange places, they give you the worst deal. I find it best to have a couple of dollars on me on the way over in case of emergency just withdraw from the ATM when I get there. You will get charged fees for this, and also anytime you use your credit card.
Have some cash with you when you come out to the event, as there's heaps of stuff to buy. The boys last year bought things from T shits, race books, plasma ropes, steering pumps and angle thingys. There is a trade show and they will usually be willing to do deals.
Radios: Most of the racers use private frequencies on VHF radios. If you know anyone that can lend you one you can listen in.
KOH Race Control: 157.450
BFG Pits: 153.395
Weatherman: 151.625
BFG Race Relay: 151.715
BN Motorsports: 151.295
Need anything? I plan on being out there Saturday or Sunday. My trailer will have a big Australian flag. If anyone has any more tips please add.
Ben
ben@bnmotorsports.net
....BUT WE DID FIND IT .... 
But thats ok we will jump on a bus/train/cab and have a look around LA as well.
