2014 Off-Road Expo: Hot Weather, Cool Trucks, Hardcore Action!

Despite the triple-digit temperatures that cooked Southern California the weekend of October 4-5, 2014, one of the coolest dirt-dedicated consumer shows in the nation was a huge success. Upwards of 50,000 people invaded the Fairplex in Pomona, California over a two-day period to see all the latest off-road equipment and accessories from more than 300 vendors, exciting displays of racing action, tons of custom trucks of every type, and much more at the Lucas Oil Off-Road Expo.

There was so much to do and see at the Expo this year. If you wanted to learn how to rock crawl, there were off-road vehicle ride-alongs over a boulder-strewn course. A pair of built-to-the-hilt Jeeps were on hand, driven by experts, so you could get some pointers from the best in the business. An ATV and SxS ride-and-drive was also there, allowing those interested in these hot new vehicles to climb aboard and see for themselves how they handled over an off-road track.

The MAV TV Proving Grounds were the site of smoking tires and roaring engines as short-course off-road race trucks and karts performed burn outs, spun donuts, and got air off a 10-foot tall jump during the Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing and Kart Demos. For those autograph hounds, more than a dozen off-road racers were present at different times during the weekend to sign posters, hats, your forehead (yes, we actually saw a dude with BJ Baldwin’s autograph on his face).

Much of one building on the Fairplex was taken up by the SCORE Baja 1000 Exhibit that included a couple dozen race trucks on display, and a giant TV screen upon which off-road racing films were screened all day, including footage of the 2013 Baja 1000. The drawing for the start positions of all classes but Trophy Truck and Unlimited Class 1 was held at the Expo, and the 2014 Baja 1000 race course was announced. This year the run is all the way to the southern tip of the rugged and beautiful Baja peninsula. The Trophy Truck and Unlimited Class 1 starting positions will be decided in a 3.6-mile qualifying race held at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, November 4, 2014.

Of course, most of the attendees were there to check out all the cool new parts and accessories, and all the hot trucks on display around the Fairplex. For a full report on some of the best stuff we found at the Expo, check out our showcase of new parts and accessories for pickup trucks, Jeeps, and other off-road vehicles. To see the best of the hot trucks parked from one end to the other of the 2014 Lucas Oil Off-Road Expo, check out our full gallery of custom pickups, Jeeps, and race trucks.

Oh yeah, and then there were the girls. If you blew it this year and stayed home, bookmark its website and keep an eye on the calendar for next October so you won’t miss the 2015 Off-Road Expo. See you there!