With over two decades of racing experience under his belt and three Ultra4 King of the Hammers trophies on his shelf, few names resonate as strongly as Jason Scherer.
The Early Days: Trail Adventures and Air Lockers
Scherer's off-road journey began in his first car, a Jeep CJ-7. He remembers wheeling the notorious trails of The Rubicon and Fordyce in Northern California, trails he still conquers today with his wife Dana, and their two children. He shares, "My first time ever using Air Lockers in a competition was actually in my same vehicle, my first car, my CJ. I turned it into a rock crawling competition vehicle, and we won the Donner Cow Rocks event back in 2002. It's kinda crazy to think that the same set of Air Lockers is the first set I got when I was 16, and it made it all the way through to being a competition-winning vehicle in the stock mod class for power-offs."
The Differential Advantage
Scherer places a spotlight on the game-changing impact of ARB Air Lockers in his off-road endeavors. "The Air Locker allows me to unlock the car, letting it steer easily without compromising performance. It drives much smoother to the desert when the car is open. Yet, as soon as I hit the technical rock trails and need everything locked up, engaging the air locker is the best way to go. It lacks the lash and other drivetrain issues, significantly contributing to our successes at the Hammers. It truly makes all the difference in the world."
ARB's Technological Leap
Reflecting on the evolution of his off-road mastery, Scherer acknowledges ARB's unwavering commitment to innovation. "What many people overlook about ARB is their dedication to developing parts as our series and our sport push the boundaries. From my first 9-inch RD99 locker to the current competition edition (RD99CE), they evolve with the sport. The technology we've learned along the way trickles down to regular lockers for street vehicles hitting the trails. This showcases the incredible effort ARB puts into their components and exemplifies their commitment to crafting gear that takes you off-road and back without a hitch."
Statistics
King of the Hammers Wins: 3
KOH Podiums: 9
Podium Finishes: 45
1st Place Finishes: 25
Championships: 8
Baja 1K Podiums: 5
2023 // King of the Hammers 2nd Place
2022 // King of the Hammers 2nd Place
2021 // King of the Hammers Top 10
2019 // KING OF THE HAMMERS CHAMPION
2018 // KING OF THE HAMMERS CHAMPION
2018 // Triple Crown of Off-Road CHAMPION
2018 // Crandon World CHAMPION
2018 // Fall Crandon Bush Run 1st Place
2017 // Baja 1000 3rd Place
2017 // Ultra4 Nationals 1st Place
2017 // King of the Hammers 3rd Place
2017 // LS Fest 1st Place
2016 // Ultra4 National CHAMPION
2016 // Ultra4 Fallon 250 1st Place
2016 // Ultra4 NorCal Stampede 2nd Place
2016 // King of the Hammers 2nd Place
2015 // Baja 1000 2nd Place
2015 // Nitto Nationals 2nd Place
2014 // Ultra4 Utah 2nd Place
2013 // Ultra4 NorCal Stampede 1st Place
2013 // Ultra4 Brawl in Blackwell 1st Place
2012 // Ultra4 Brawl in Blackwell 1st Place
2012 // King of the Hammers Top 20
2011 // King of the Hammers 3rd Place
2010 // VORRA Short-Course 4 Heat Wins
2010 // Baja 1000 2nd Place
2010 // Best is the Desert V2R 1st Place
2009 // KING OF THE HAMMERS CHAMPION
2008 // Baja 1000 1st Place (Class 17)
2007 // Pro Rock CHAMPION
2006 // Pro Rock CHAMPION
2006 // UROCK Super Crawl 2nd Place
2006 // UROCK NM 1st Place
2006 // UROCK UT 1st Place
2006 // Pro Rock Event 4 1st Place
2006 // Pro Rock 1st Place
2005 // UROC Supercrawl 2nd Place
2005 // UROC Nat’ls 2nd Place
2005 // Pro Rock 1st Place
2004 // UROC Series 3rd Overall
2004 // UROC Cedar City 1st Place
2004 // Calrocs CB 2nd Place
2003 // Calrocs 1st Place
2003 // Calrocs NV 1st Place
2002 // Calrocs Napa 1st Place
2002 // Calrocs Donner 1st Place
A Living Legend
"At the King of the Hammers, the goal is clear—reach the finish line, aim to win faster than everyone else. Yet, breaking along the way robs you of that chance to conquer. Reliability is key." For this reason, Scherer is a true advocate of ARB Air Lockers.
In conclusion, Jason Scherer's legacy in off-road racing isn't just defined by victories; it's etched in the challenging terrains he's conquered and the technology that has propelled him to success. the 3X KING of the Hammers is not finished, stay tuned to see where his journey takes him and the accolades he attains along the way.
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