San Bernardino Co. Pays Hammerking $250K for Barstow to Needles Trail
San Bernardino County's board of supervisors voted Tuesday to give Hammerking Productions $250,000 to develop an off-road vehicle corridor running from Barstow to Needles . The company, which stages the King of the Hammers races in Johnson Valley each year, will use the money for planning, development, and evaluation of the route. The supervisors approved the contract unanimously as part of the consent agenda, a list of items passed with a single vote. The county had originally set the $250,000 aside in its budget to support legislative efforts aimed at enabling an off-road race from Barstow to Needles on public roads, with the stated goal of boosting regional economic activity and tourism. Tuesday's action redirected that money to Hammerking for the corridor project instead. Recreation, Not Racing, Says Hammerking CEO Reached by telephone after the meeting, Hammerking CEO Dave Cole said he has no plans to turn the corridor into a race. "This is purely recreation. We're just trying to get access to people," Cole said. "I have no desire for, nor do I think that area could ever support, racing." What the Contract Covers Under the contract, Hammerking is tasked with evaluating opportunities to connect existing legal routes, public
San Bernardino County, CA · 3d
