In the time of a worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, most events have been cancelled or postponed. King of the Hammers, an annual off-road racing event, is an exception. King of the Hammers received its permit January 14 from the Bureau of Land Management, and the race will go on as usual in 2021, starting January 30. Managing editor Tami Roleff explains the safety precautions organizers say are in place to keep the week-long race from becoming a “super-spreader” event…
The 14th annual King of the Hammers off-road race, which in past years has brought 50,000 to 60,000 spectators to Hammertown in the Means Dry Lake bed in Johnson Valley, will take place this year January 30 to February 6.
Organizers say they have entered into an agreement with MedNext, a healthcare provider, to implement a COVID-19 response plan. The plan calls for 80% of attendees to test for COVID-19 at home prior to arriving; the rest will be tested onsite. In addition, masks and social distancing will be required.
County Public Health Director Corwin Porter, said, “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.”
Supervisor Dawn Rowe said in a press release, “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.”
Statement from the BLM regarding the KOH permit:
In continued close coordination and adherence to COVID-19 safety protocols, the County of San Bernardino and the Bureau of Land Management, California Desert District, have concluded that public health safeguards planned by organizers of the King of the Hammers are sufficient to allow the event to take place on public land in Johnson Valley from January 28 – February 6. In accordance with the Governor’s Stay at Home Order, professional sports on outdoor racetracks are permitted with certain mitigation measures in place. In addition to requiring face coverings and social distancing, COVID-19 home testing kits will be included with advance online ticket purchase and event attendees entering Hammertown will be required to undergo a mandatory health screening, which will include a temperature check and proof of a negative test result to gain entrance to the event. COVID-19 rapid result tests will also be available for purchase for $20 on site.
“We have developed a COVID Mitigation Plan for the event and intend to test 90% of all participants, media, staff, and vendors before they ever leave home,” said King of the Hammers event organizer Dave Cole. “There are several other facets to the plan, including free testing for local residents, social distancing, and mandatory face masks. We have built the operations plan to support the mission of responsible outdoor recreation and dispersed camping on public land and we are looking forward to a safe and successful event,” concluded Cole.
https://www.ultra4racing.com/2021-king-hammers-covid-19-testing-faq
https://ultra4racing.com/king-hammers-race-receives-permit-approval
