When you think of a dune buggy, you usually visualize a cute little vehicle, probably based on a old VW bug, with the body stripped down and some oversized tires bolted on.
But this week, out in the Southern California desert north of Palm Springs, scores of super-buggies are competing in something called the King of the Hammers.
These 4-wheels have monster engines and suspensions. The race requires a vehicle that can reach 100 mph or more on the flat scrub and sand, and that can also climb over boulders and up the face of a vertical rock wall.
Just finishing the race is a victory. There are legions of broken axles and blown out suspensions, and the vast majority of drivers suffer the indignity of being wenched out of the way. In some cases, other drivers motor right over downed buggies, treating them as just another obstacle along the way.
The King of the Hammers started out as a contest between a group of off-roaders back in 2007. This year, more than 30,000 fans have staked out spots in the desert to watch and, in many cases, participate. And most of the vehicles are home-made, garage projects, cobbled together with love by off-roaders who like to push the limits, and then push them some more.