SCORE Journal

THE 2022 POMONA OFF-ROAD EXPO  SoCal’s Premier Consumer Off-Road Expo Was A Home Run        By Stuart Bourdon Photography by Stuart Bourdon, Dan Sanchez, and Steven Olsewski After a year gone dark due to COVID-19 in 2020, and a faltering comeback in 2021 at a smaller facility, the ebay Motors Off-Road Expo Presented by General Tires was back in a very big way for 2022 returning to its long-standing home and high-attendance numbers at the Fairplex in Pomona, California, October 1-2, 2022. SCORE International was also back at the expo taking over Building 7 to showcase the best in Baja racing with a variety of current and legendary race vehicles on display. The SCORE area was also the location for the announcement of the course map for the 55th BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 1000 race to be held November 15-20th in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico. Large crowds gathered in front of the SCORE Vision display to see the course and hear about the various sections of Baja it would cover. Off-Road Stars For autograph hounds, the 2022 Pomona Off-Road Expo was a treasure trove. Aside from the SCORE display, a few other exhibitors hosted off-road “stars” from various genres in their booths. However, for off-road racing fans, the massive SCORE International booth, that took up half of one of the large main halls, was the place to get autographs. Baja racing legends such as Rob MacCachren and Curt LeDuc,were two of many appearing in the SCORE International booth autographing posters. In addition to current racers such as Wanye and Kristen Matlock, Cody Reid, Wes Miller, Cayden MacCachren, Ricky Johnson, Mark Samuels and many others, Hall of Fame SCORE motorcycle champion Scot Harden was present, and named Grand Marshall of the 55th (2022) SCORE Baja 1000. Sal Fish (former president and owner of SCORE) was also in attendance, and during a special announcement, was named Grand Marshall for all four races of the 2023 SCORE Off-Road Racing season celebrating the 50th Anniversary of SCORE International. EXPERIENCING THE OFF-ROAD NATION Wandering the busy vendor halls and numerous outdoor displays, it was easy to see what the world of off-road was all about. There were dozens of customized off-road vehicles on display, as well as gear-slamming off-road action from drivers and vehicles of all shapes and sizes. Everything from t-shirts to tires, and cheeseburgers to churros, could be found at the 2022 Pomona Off-Road Expo. If you were looking for bargains and parts for your truck, Jeep, UTV, Pre-runner or all-out race vehicle, the Off-Road Expo was a winner. Just about anything “off-road” could be found, examined, bought, or learned about. Show specials made it easy to take home new products for significant savings, and the high-energy entertainment in the Fox Factory Proving Grounds and 4 Wheel Parts Rubicon Overland Experience added a circus-like atmosphere. The hundreds of parts, products, and provisions weren’t the only things that got the numerous expo attendees excited. The Fox Factory Proving Grounds, powered by Firestone in partnership with Hammerking Productions, provided a ride-along in Firestone-shod Jeeps. The “proving grounds” were also used by off-road racers like Blake Wilkey in his HeatWave buggy to thrill expo attendees with their aerial driving displays. If you were looking for more off-road action, the Rubicon Overland Experience presented by 4 Wheel Parts also offered a ride-along over boulders and other obstacles in off-road rigs specially modified for extreme rock crawling. Something New Not surprisingly, considering the ever-growing popularity of Overlanding, the Off-Road Expo’s new Overland Village was a big hit and saw lots of attendee attention. This large open area showcased fully outfitted overland vehicles as well as overland parts and accessory exhibitors. If you were interested in learning more about the Overlanding lifestyle, the Overland Village was packed with manufacturers, suppliers, and Overlanding experts on-hand to help get your off-grid vehicle-based adventures rolling. There were nearly 200 off-road vehicle, parts, and accessories manufacturers and suppliers displaying, and in some cases selling products at steep discounts during the 2022 Pomona Off-Road Expo. Off-road industry giants such as BFGoodrich Tires, Raceline Wheels, King Off-Road Racing Shocks, Optima Batteries, P.C.I. Race Radios, and 4 Wheel Parts were all present to offer advice on what might be best for your vehicle and style of off-road adventure, whether that be racing, rock-crawling, or Overlanding.

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