What It’s Really Like to Race the Every Man Challenge at King of the Hammers

The Every Man Challenge at King of the Hammers represents something special in the off-road racing world. While the main event gets all the glory with its unlimited buggies and massive HP, the EMC brings a different flavor - one where regular folks with garage-built rigs can test themselves against the same brutal terrain that breaks the best machines in the sport.

Jason Kaminsky knows this reality better than most. Racing in the 4600 class, he’s witnessed firsthand just how unforgiving this 114-mile gauntlet can be. When he explains that only one vehicle out of 25 starters crossed the finish line in his class one year, you start to understand the magnitude of what these racers face. That’s not just tough - that’s absolutely savage.

The EMC throws everything at you over nine grueling hours. You’re looking at roughly 70 miles of high-speed desert racing mixed with 40 miles of technical rock crawling. Starting at 8 AM on Thursday morning, teams have until 5 PM to complete the course or face a DNF. Those nine hours might sound generous, but when you’re dealing with bottlenecks at major obstacles, mechanical failures, and the sheer physical demands of wheeling a rig through Johnson Valley’s most punishing terrain, time becomes your enemy fast.

What makes the Every Man Challenge so compelling is watching everyday wheelers tackle obstacles that would make most weekend warriors turn around. Take Nicholas and his ‘88 Suzuki Samurai - a perfect example of the grassroots spirit that defines this event. Racing car number 4672, Nicholas represents exactly what the EMC is about: regular people with day jobs who spend their evenings and weekends building something capable of surviving King of the Hammers.

Nicholas works construction, recently welcomed a new baby, and somehow found time to prep his Samurai for another shot at the course. After a disappointing first attempt, he and his team went back to the drawing board. New motor, fresh third members front and rear, upgraded axle shafts, and a lighter wheel package - all aimed at solving the broken axle shafts that plagued their previous run.

The beauty of running a Samurai at KOH isn’t about being competitive with the big dogs. Nicholas freely admits they’re probably the slowest car on course, but that’s not the point. The point is proving that someone can buy a Samurai, build it in their garage with friends, and go have an absolute blast at the most prestigious off-road race in North America.

Turkey Claw becomes the perfect stage for this philosophy. When Nicholas and his co-driver Curtis hit the infamous rock trail, they found themselves in a massive traffic jam. Instead of sitting in line like sensible racers, they decided to put on a show. Taking the option line to the left, they found themselves in a sketchy situation when the Samurai started tipping. With a course official yelling “go driver go driver” and Curtis spotting a rock that could save them, they made a commitment that paid off spectacularly.

The car caught that rock and rode itself back onto all four wheels, sending the team into celebration mode. They passed 15 or 20 cars in that section and set the tone for their entire race day. That’s the EMC spirit right there - making the best of a bad situation and turning it into the highlight of your race.

The Every Man Challenge attracts a diverse field of competitors, from weekend warriors to seasoned veterans. The Samurai contingent includes drivers like Amber Turner, who consistently performs well, Anthony Hadel with his methodical driving style, and Ken, who runs an aggressive program that can hang with much more expensive builds. This variety creates interesting dynamics on course, especially when faster classes start catching up to the smaller-displacement rigs.

Mechanical failures remain the great equalizer. Nicholas and Curtis were running strong until their clutch cable snapped in Resolution, the final rock section before Hammertown. Rather than risk getting stuck in an unrecoverable position, they made the smart call to retire. The off-road community showed its true colors when fellow racer Callen showed up at their camp the next day with spare clutch cables, no questions asked.

The EMC teaches lessons that extend far beyond racing. Time management, problem-solving under pressure, and staying calm in stressful situations all become crucial skills. When you’re wrenching on your rig at a remote pit with the clock ticking, you learn to prioritize and work efficiently. When you’re picking a line through a gnarly rock section with faster traffic breathing down your neck, you develop decision-making skills that translate to everyday life.

For anyone considering taking on the Every Man Challenge, the message from veterans is clear: just do it. You don’t need the perfect build or unlimited budget. Start with what you have, build it slowly, and focus on reliability over raw performance. The sense of accomplishment that comes from crossing that starting line makes all those late nights in the garage worthwhile.

The Every Man Challenge proves that King of the Hammers isn’t just about million-dollar unlimited buggies and factory-backed teams. It’s about regular people pushing their limits, building something with their own hands, and testing themselves against some of the most challenging terrain on the planet. Whether you finish or not, you’ll walk away with memories, friendships, and skills that last a lifetime.