MANDATORY COVID TESTS AT KOH 2021

A race update for King of Hammers 2021: Health and Safety

King of Hammers, an event that draws 100,000 people for a week-long festivities of off-road racing, is less than two months away. California is now in a three-week stay-at-home order issued by Gov. Gavin Newsom amid a spike in COVID-19 cases bringing total cases to 28,000. Barbers, dine-in restaurants, gyms, and other government deemed “non-essential” businesses are now closed for the time being, making the future of the event King of Hammers actually happening amid this pandemic was looking dull- for obvious reasons. 

Ultra 4 and Hammerking Productions, the parent organizations of the King of Hammers have been working with San Bernardino county diligently to do everything in their power to make sure the event happens. Surprisingly, they did it, it is actually happening, in their most recent press release, the announced an update to the King of the Hammers Special Recreation Permit  a 5-year Special Recreation Permit with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) this allows the King of Hammers 2021 to happen on January 29. To ensure the health and safety of everyone one at the event they will require at least 80% of attendees to be tested for COVID-19 prior to arriving at the event, while the remainder 20% will be administered on-site. This was the result of developing a strategic COVID-19 response plan with MedNext, a health care provider, though the full plan hasn’t been announced yet, but it is to be expected that face masks will be required as well as social distancing. 

At Dusty Summit, we are thrilled that Hammerking and Ultra 4 has taken these step to ensure the health and safety of everyone, it truly shows the dedication they have put into this event. We aren’t health professionals, but this seems like a great idea to require a COVID test and will do anything to ensure we are able to go out there and help tell the stories throughout the week. They could have easily canceled it and waited until 2022, but this event was so important to not only them but the racers, sponsors, vendors, media, and spectators they did everything in their power to make sure it happens. For that, we thank you, and we will see you on the lake bed.  

You can check out the full Press release below.

If you have any questions you can visit them at Ultra4racing.com

King of the Hammers Special Recreation Permit Update

As local governments, businesses, and members of the public learn to adjust and adapt to the mitigation measures that were put in place as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, King of the Hammers is no exception. Our organization is actively working alongside the County of San Bernardino and multiple government agencies to ensure a safe and responsible outdoor recreational opportunity for everyone in attendance in 2021..

.

To that end, Hammerking Productions is pleased to announce that we’ve entered into an agreement with MedNext, a state-of-the-art healthcare provider, to assist with the implementation of a COVID-19 Response Plan for the testing of all participants and attendees. The plan calls for 80% of attendees to test at home prior to arriving at the event, with the remainder to be tested onsite.

.

“The COVID-19 response plan that King of the Hammers and MedNext staff devised is comprehensive, thoughtful, and puts into place mitigation measures that address my concerns from a healthcare perspective,” said San Bernardino County Public Health Director Corwin Porter.

.

Added San Bernardino County Supervisor Dawn Rowe, “As a local elected official, it’s clear that Hammerking Productions is committed to meeting all state and local COVID-19 guidelines. They’ve gone above and beyond the typical amount of protocols that are required for outdoor recreational activities such as this.”

.

Hammerking Productions, currently in the third year of a 5-year Special Recreation Permit with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), is also coordinating with federal officials to ensure the 2021 event is safe for all attendees and race participants. BLM staff will continue to participate in all aspects of operational planning for King of the Hammers to ensure it complies with state and local COVID-19 health orders.

.

With the COVID-19 Response Plan and extensive safety protocols in place, Hammerking Productions looks forward to seeing King of the Hammers participants on the lakebed beginning January 29, 2021.

.

This is an opportunity that we have worked hard to earn and we expect attendees to support and cooperate with the new safety measures that will be in effect.