SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1543401
BUILT TO BE THE BEST King Shocks Reigns Over Desert Off-Road Racing By Dan Sanchez Photos by Jack Wright nMedia3 It was 30 years ago when Lance King founded King Off-Road Racing Shocks, and desert racers began to take notice. Today, sons Brett and Ross continue the process with new and innovative shock systems that dominate SCORE races and championships. As the Official Shock of SCORE-International, and title sponsor of the King Shocks 39th SCORE San Felipe 250, the company remains privately owned and dedicated to consistency, quality, and reliability. “Back when we first started, our dad came up with some original shock designs,” says Brett King. “Since all we knew was how to machine parts, and had a good reputation in the off-road market, we decided to try and make a go of it. Before we built a single shock, we had 32 on order!” Their success comes from being rooted in desert racing and knowing what racers want from their vehicles for optimum performance. “Everything we’ve done was based on our experience in Baja desert racing,” said King. “We designed shocks to go to Baja from day one. It’s been our passion and enjoyment to build shocks that are more technically challenging for this type of off-road competition. We like that part of it, and I’ve gone to every race over the past 30 years. Our experience shows in the many vehicles we put shock absorbers on.” Over the decades, King has dedicated themselves to one simple task: strengthening and improving its products. “We only do shocks,” says King. “We’re not building A-arms or other components. We design and build everything here, and it’s really hard to manufacture in the U.S. Other shock manufacturers are corporations in which many of their products are made overseas and assembled in the U.S., but we do everything here.” A trip to their 55,000 square-foot facility in Garden Grove, California, allows visitors to see what they are focused on. The lobby is simple with no big or fancy displays. Up front, employees are either busy taking and filling orders for customers, or bringing out the components customers have either purchased or have had rebuilt after many races. In the back, aisles of shock components are designed, manufactured, and assembled with careful precision. From OE replacement shocks for weekend off-road enthusiasts, to the largest 5-inch diameter King Kong shocks for off-road racing, each is made with the same level of dedication. “We build shocks for the upper five percent of the market,” says King. “Therefore, we’re not trying to sell millions of shocks to everyone. When we first started the company, we never really knew that off-roading would get to be as big. We were really just a race-car company, but more and more people wanted our shocks for their Ford, Toyota, and Chevy pickups, and even their Overlanding vehicles.” King says they use the same race components and technology from their racing shocks in their aftermarket OE replacement shocks. “All our shocks are customized to be bolted-on with no modifications,” says King. “We can even design a custom set of shocks for just about any type of vehicle and even manufacture them in custom colors if someone wants them that way.” As the off-road industry continues to grow and change with new vehicle designs, larger tires, and more aggressive drivetrains, King Shocks has continually met the needs of both racers and enthusiasts alike. “We stay true to our goals of putting quality and performance above all else,” says King. “We want to make sure our customers get what they pay for, and can enjoy the benefits of it, no matter if it’s just a better ride, or winning some of the toughest races in the world.” SJ