Scrap Down Smack Down Meets Hammertown

Surrounded by desolate mountains and endless desert, the spirit of automotive excellence lives and breathes the dust, dirt, and adrenaline rush that define King of the Hammers (KoH). This off-roading meccas, set in the heart of Johnson Valley, California (aka “Hammertown”) draws thousands each year – and this time, four Clarios plant employees and their guests were invited to experience it firsthand.



But this isn’t just about the trip. It’s about recognizing the work that connects events like KoH to the people who make them possible. Earlier this year, the US CAN Communications team launched a plant-wide Q1 Scrap Reduction Challenge – the “Scrap Down Smack Down” – and while everyone pulled their weight, two plants rose to the top. Winston-Salem, N.C., and San Antonio, Texas, significantly reduced scrap in their facilities, exemplifying what it means to take care of our processes and drive continuous improvement.

Their reward? An all-expenses-paid journey into the grit – and heart – that is KoH. The winners stayed in the OPTIMA Oasis, joined off-road rallies, went rock-crawling, watched OPTIMA-sponsored driver Christopher Polvoorde clinch his third consecutive Toyo Tires Desert Challenge Race victory, and gained a deeper look at how Clarios and OPTIMA batteries power performance and possibility across our business.