COSTA MESA, Calif. – September 1, 2026 – Off-Road Expo presented by General Tire — the premier gathering of off-road enthusiasts, gearheads and industry leaders — today announced that the 2026 show’s Proving Grounds will be powered by King of the Hammers, the Johnson Valley race that fuses high-speed desert racing with extreme rock crawling. The Proving Grounds run both days of Off-Road Expo, October 3–4 at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, Calif.
Powered by King of the Hammers, the Proving Grounds will deliver an up-close look at the vehicles and drivers pushing the limits of off-road performance. Live demos feature purpose-built race machines, including the powerhouse King of the Hammers Ultra4 Class, UTVs and Pre-Runners. Each round gives spectators a chance to see what these rigs can really do — no frills, just skill and serious horsepower. After the action, drivers stick around for autograph sessions.
Five 30-minute demo sessions run across the weekend:
Saturday, October 3
12:00 pm – 12:30 pm
3:00 pm – 3:30 pm
5:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Sunday, October 4
11:00 am – 11:30 am
1:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Between sessions, race-proven vehicles are on display on the show floor, and a dedicated King of the Hammers activation anchors the program with merchandise and everything fans need to plan a trip out to Johnson Valley.
The Proving Grounds program also runs at the Sand Sports Super Show, September 18–20 at the OC Fair & Event Center.
King of the Hammers began in 2007 and has grown into a nine-day race week that draws roughly 80,000 attendees and hundreds of race teams to a temporary off-grid city in the California desert.
The two-day Off-Road Expo will also feature hundreds of top manufacturers showcasing cutting-edge products, exclusive show-only deals, new vehicle builds, displays of lifted trucks, slammed classics and customized rigs, OEM partner displays, and the latest in engines, suspension, wheels, tires and trail-ready gear.
Stay tuned for more vehicle and driver announcements. Tickets and full event information are available at offroadexpo.com.
About King of the Hammers
Produced by Hammerking Productions, King of the Hammers is the world’s toughest off-road race, combining high-speed desert racing with extreme rock crawling on public lands in Johnson Valley, Calif. KOH Week includes the Race of Kings, the Toyo Tires Desert Challenge, the Yokohama Every Man Challenge, the Can-Am UTV Hammers Championship, King of the Motos and more.
About Off-Road Expo
Off-Road Expo presented by General Tire is the premier gathering of off-road enthusiasts, gearheads and industry leaders, held annually at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, Calif. Off-Road Expo is produced by Bonnier’s Motorsports & Outdoor Group.
