Building Klau in the Open, Week 5: King of the Hammers with Grant

Week 5 of building Klau in the open. This is the short version.

On Wednesday I loaded up the van and drove to King of the Hammers with my son. If you haven't heard of it, it is one of the hardest off-road races in the world. Desert speed sections lead into rock crawling so technical that million-dollar rigs get stuck, break, and sometimes roll. The best competitors in the world still struggle with the terrain. Of about 70 racers who started the main race, the Race of Kings, 2 finished. It's hard to describe how difficult it is.

We camped in a remote part of the valley, away from the crowds on the lakebed. On Saturday morning we watched the lead pack of the Race of Kings come through Jackhammer. We spent a lot of time talking about suspension geometry and tire selection. Grant is fully hooked on power sports now.

An adult in a helmet raising one hand and a boy standing on a rocky desert ridge under an orange sunset, with a dusty valley and mountains behind them

Sunset over the valley at King of the Hammers.

I came home smelling like campfire. Physically tired. Mentally refreshed.

Originally posted on LinkedIn on February 9, 2026.