The weather turned warm and sunny a little earlier than usual this year, and that’s good news for the fifth annual ATV and Off Road Expo.
Since 2002, event organizer Shawn Kolbe has been bringing the off-road community together on the first Sunday in May to get ready for summer fun.
On Sunday, Kolbe’s show will fill two halls at the Portland Metropolitan Exposition Center with all manner of all-terrain vehicles, off-road motorcycles, sand cars, rock crawlers and four-by-fours.
“If you have any interest in off-roading, we’ll have multiple clubs at the show. For example, we have the Pacific Northwest 4WD Association. They put on events out in the woods where they teach you how to go off-roading responsibly. You just don’t go flying off into the woods,” Kolbe says.
Equipment, supplies and off-road vehicles of all sizes will be for sale at the show.
“You can buy everything from helmets and gloves to full-on quads, sand cars and trucks. We’ll have vendors for parts as well as fully prepared vehicles,” Kolbe says.
“You can walk off with a Honda VTEC-powered sand car straight from the showroom floor,” he says.
Those who buy a vehicle at the show will join a popular and growing hobby.
Kolbe says that Oregon has issued more than 250,000 ATV permits, allowing access to public lands designated for ATV use.
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department will have a booth at the show, providing information about safety and access to state lands.
Kolbe likes to emphasize the family aspect of the sport at the show, encouraging the younger crowd with the High School Quad Challenge, a competition that is part car show and part game show, by offering free parking and admission for youngsters who enter the event.
“Our High School Quad Challenge is sponsored by Full Bore Innovations and SMI Motorsports. It’s open to all currently enrolled students 14 to 19 years of age. Every kid will get two free passes, so they can bring a friend or parent along,” Kolbe says.
“They have to show proof of current enrollment and they have to be available from noon to 2 p.m. to talk about their quad. Part of the judging is how much they know about their quad and the sport. It’s not just for those that have the most bling-bling,” Kolbe says.
In addition to the high-school quads, anyone may enter their off-road vehicle for general judging.
“The judging came about because the vendors all bring complete vehicles that show off what they do. After the first year, we realized we had a show. So the first 1,000 people in the door get a ballot, and we give away the people’s choice award. You get to vote on all the vehicles in 20 different categories,” Kolbe says.
Parking at the exposition center costs $7, or you can ride MAX to the show.
Admission is $7 for adults, and kids under 14 get in free with a paid adult admission. “We work hard to keep the prices low so two people can park and get in for about $20,” Kolbe says.
The show opens at 8 a.m., and Kolbe encourages people to come early.
“There will be tickets given out at the door, and if you match your ticket with a vendor, there are prizes, including T-shirts, hats and things like that. We have lots of giveaways this year. We’ll also have special show pricing on some parts and equipment,” he says.
Since its inception in 2002, the show has grown from a small group huddled at one end of Hall A, to a massive 134,000 square feet in Hall D, one of the biggest halls at the center.
“I’ve always hoped it would get this big, but the real dream is to become a two-day event next year. We’re already scheduled for May 5 and 6, 2007. We’ll be the first weekend in May rather than the first Sunday,” Kolbe says.
You can find out more about the ATV and Off Road Expo at the Web site, www.atvandoffroadexpo.com, or call Shawn Kolbe, 503-796-0858.
BY JEFF ZURSCHMEIDE
For the Tribune's Accelerate section
Article Reference: http://www.portlandtribune.com/adxl8.cgi?id=Z050406
Since 2002, event organizer Shawn Kolbe has been bringing the off-road community together on the first Sunday in May to get ready for summer fun.
On Sunday, Kolbe’s show will fill two halls at the Portland Metropolitan Exposition Center with all manner of all-terrain vehicles, off-road motorcycles, sand cars, rock crawlers and four-by-fours.
“If you have any interest in off-roading, we’ll have multiple clubs at the show. For example, we have the Pacific Northwest 4WD Association. They put on events out in the woods where they teach you how to go off-roading responsibly. You just don’t go flying off into the woods,” Kolbe says.
Equipment, supplies and off-road vehicles of all sizes will be for sale at the show.
“You can buy everything from helmets and gloves to full-on quads, sand cars and trucks. We’ll have vendors for parts as well as fully prepared vehicles,” Kolbe says.
“You can walk off with a Honda VTEC-powered sand car straight from the showroom floor,” he says.
Those who buy a vehicle at the show will join a popular and growing hobby.
Kolbe says that Oregon has issued more than 250,000 ATV permits, allowing access to public lands designated for ATV use.
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department will have a booth at the show, providing information about safety and access to state lands.
Kolbe likes to emphasize the family aspect of the sport at the show, encouraging the younger crowd with the High School Quad Challenge, a competition that is part car show and part game show, by offering free parking and admission for youngsters who enter the event.
“Our High School Quad Challenge is sponsored by Full Bore Innovations and SMI Motorsports. It’s open to all currently enrolled students 14 to 19 years of age. Every kid will get two free passes, so they can bring a friend or parent along,” Kolbe says.
“They have to show proof of current enrollment and they have to be available from noon to 2 p.m. to talk about their quad. Part of the judging is how much they know about their quad and the sport. It’s not just for those that have the most bling-bling,” Kolbe says.
In addition to the high-school quads, anyone may enter their off-road vehicle for general judging.
“The judging came about because the vendors all bring complete vehicles that show off what they do. After the first year, we realized we had a show. So the first 1,000 people in the door get a ballot, and we give away the people’s choice award. You get to vote on all the vehicles in 20 different categories,” Kolbe says.
Parking at the exposition center costs $7, or you can ride MAX to the show.
Admission is $7 for adults, and kids under 14 get in free with a paid adult admission. “We work hard to keep the prices low so two people can park and get in for about $20,” Kolbe says.
The show opens at 8 a.m., and Kolbe encourages people to come early.
“There will be tickets given out at the door, and if you match your ticket with a vendor, there are prizes, including T-shirts, hats and things like that. We have lots of giveaways this year. We’ll also have special show pricing on some parts and equipment,” he says.
Since its inception in 2002, the show has grown from a small group huddled at one end of Hall A, to a massive 134,000 square feet in Hall D, one of the biggest halls at the center.
“I’ve always hoped it would get this big, but the real dream is to become a two-day event next year. We’re already scheduled for May 5 and 6, 2007. We’ll be the first weekend in May rather than the first Sunday,” Kolbe says.
You can find out more about the ATV and Off Road Expo at the Web site, www.atvandoffroadexpo.com, or call Shawn Kolbe, 503-796-0858.
BY JEFF ZURSCHMEIDE
For the Tribune's Accelerate section
Article Reference: http://www.portlandtribune.com/adxl8.cgi?id=Z050406
