One of the most exciting events of
the year for our industry, certainly on the West Coast, is the Off
Road Expo each October. With barely a month to go before the 2005 Off
Road Expo in Pomona October 8 - 9, we thought we should check in on
our old friend Bob Bower, Vice President of Marketing & Sales
for the Show, and see how last minute plans are progressing. He was
nearly exploding with enthusiasm. "I'm so excited, I can't see straight. It's
like getting ready for the Baja 1000. You keep your eye on the
start - when that green flag drops Saturday morning [of the show],
it takes on a life of it's own." Bob's race analogy makes perfect sense for the
concept of the show and why the exhibitor space has sold out year
after year. "If you do well, you just keep on going until
the checkered flag drops at 5 pm on Sunday night. If you're lucky,
the exhibitors don't ever see you stand it on the nose!" The majority of exhibitors at the expo are "the
little guys, that live and breathe offroad. They just happen to
have a business too." This is a chance for enthusiasts to meet
face-to-face with the innovative minds behind many of the products
that are on the market today, and many that are still in early
creative stages. The Expo isn't a superficial marketing yawner
for whatever junk you can find off the shelf anywhere. Others shows
have come and gone for many reasons, but mainly because producers
of those shows have lost sight of who they are there for - the
ticket buyers. "They matter more than anything. They're in for
a treat." As Bower puts it, "it's a two-day party.
It's 17 hours of bench racing with your buddies!" Well put, Bob. We'll see you there, and bring
coverage back to all the readers that aren't able to come join
you! For more information on Off Road
Expo®, visit www.offroadexpo.com | 
