The week-long King of Hammers off-road race and festival concludes on Saturday in Southern California
Thousands attended for the chance to blow off steam in the temporary Hammertown settlement
Locals welcome the boost to the economy but some fear that COVID could spread at the event
Organizers required a negative COVID test from all participants and mandated masks at the festival
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Every year, tens of thousands of people descend on a rough stretch of desert north of Joshua Tree for a weeklong off-roading festival and series of extreme races.
Billed as one of the toughest desert off-roading races in the nation, the King of the Hammers event is often described as part Burning Man and part “Mad Max.”
During the event, Hammertown a temporary city complete with named “streets,” generators, team garages and food and vendor booths rises over a dry lakebed. Hulking, souped-up vehicles traverse the rough terrain of Johnson Valley, an off–highway vehicle riding area run by the federal Bureau of Land Management.
Massive California off-road event to go ahead despite stay-at-home order
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Fans gather around a racer at the 2018 King of the Hammers off-road event in San Bernardino County, Calif.Ivory B / Yelp
In the midst of a COVID-19 surge that has ravaged Southern California, a massive multiday event that draws thousands of visitors and gearheads from across the country is moving forward.
The King of the Hammers a series of off-road races in Johnson Valley, San Bernardino County, that combines desert racing and rock crawling is scheduled to kick off on Jan. 28, despite the risk of virus spread, reports the LA Times.
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Every year, tens of thousands of people descend on a rough stretch of desert north of Joshua Tree for a weeklong off-roading festival and series of extreme races.
Billed as one of the toughest desert off-roading races in the nation, the King of the Hammers event is often described as part Burning Man and part “Mad Max.”
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During the event, Hammertown a temporary city complete with named “streets,” generators, team garages and food and vendor booths rises over a dry lakebed. Hulking, souped-up vehicles traverse the rough terrain of Johnson Valley, an off–highway vehicle riding area run by the federal Bureau of Land Management.