39 minute YouTube Video by Matt’s OffRoad Recovery
(Event dates were March 9, 10 & 11)
Pre-preparation …
CAVING TO PEER PRESSURE
Matt drove the wrecker to and through an RV. “Stupid I know, but it was fun. My work here is done. It’s off to Hammertown.”
Video shows ‘not-so-solemn’ judges preparing for the event in their own special ways.

LIZZY EXPLAINS THE WRECKER GAMES
“Each contestant is going to pull an Isuzu Rodeo behind their tow truck going up the Triple 7 Trail.”
She gives a shout out to Ballard Auto Wrecking for donating cars and gets to the hard work of preparing them.

ROLLING INTO HAMMERTOWN
Matt – “We just found out that the trailhead was further than we had fuel for. Don’t judge us.”
Caught up with the group around 6:44.
Tom – “I know it seems strange we’re out testing our rig the very first minutes at King of the Hammers. We were just making jokes about how we don’t stage recoveries.”
Matt pipes in – “We’re about to stage a recovery.”

SOMETHING BREAKS AT 14:42
“Matt, you’re leaking something.”
He responds – “I’m very disappointed, I’m very sad, I’m upset, I’m chagrined. What are some other things I am?” After a successful recovery “I just ruined that with this. Winch me backwards.”
Color drains from the video, mournful music ensues.
They put a blast out on Instagram for necessary parts and headed to Hammertown to wait. The part Matt needs “isn’t super common anymore.” So they went shopping for other stuff they needed.
“The parts are supposed to be here in the morning. We’re making progress, we just need to be patient.”
Video goes to Adam’s Drive Shaft in Las Vegas “for parts.”
Lizzy gives an update from the shop.
Kelly makes it back with the drive shaft. Fortunately, they didn’t have to take the cab off to install.
Tom declares it’s “an awful, awful job.”
Matt: “Hey look, I’m in a metal band!”

THEY FINALLY GET IT TOGETHER
Tom gives an update at 2:30. “We’ve been doing this all day.”
Matt says “It went on with no trouble. If you can believe that… We came all the way down here to California to break the wrecker. We coulda done this at home. We were beatin’ her to beans when it happened.”

CRUISING NORTH OUT OF HAMMERTOWN – 29:57
“Looking for something else to climb.”
“Here we are at the top of Chocolate Thunder, but we didn’t go the course because it’s closed for racing.”
There’s a lot of sand. “It’s gonna do the dune just fine.”

NIGHT RIDING ON BAD TRAILS – 33:34
“All the good trails are being used so we’re on the bad trails.”
“Do you want to give that camera to somebody else and spot me?”
“I don’t know man, you gotta give it a bump.”
“Last time I did that I split my transfer case out…”

“YOU BROKE IT AGAIN.”
“We broke far less. We just broke the front this time. We can at least drive around on two.”

MATT REVIEWS THE EXPERIENCE – 37:07
“We’ve done everything we wanted to do and needed to do down here in Johnson Valley. We did break the wrecker twice … but it’s still going strong.”
They had to borrow Paul’s Rocky the Roadrunner magnet at one point.
Rocky the Roadrunner’s image has earned a place on the wrecker.

MATT’S FINAL WRAPUP – 39:12
‘That was a long and arduous trip. We found out a lot about the wrecker; we have a lot to do, but it’s going to be awesome.’

https://youtu.be/_fJ4w69ZMzs?si=eJZGxJQOciA4_WIG