Off-Road Expo Has Spectacular Start
As the summer of 2000 gave way to the shorter, cooler days of fall, things were just getting started for Guy Petersen, promoter of the inaugural Off-Road Expo, which was held at the Fairplex in Pomona, California. During the two-day event, more than 10,000 off-road enthusiasts walked the aisles of the outdoor and indoor exhibits, getting inside information on all manner of mods and hot components for their 4x4s from the 200 booths manned by aftermarket manufacturers. Next year, the second annual Off-Road Expo takes place on the weekend of October 6-7, 2001 at the Fairplex. If you're near Southern California, we suggest you stop by for a look. There will be major automotive manufacturers represented, as well as an increased number of aftermarket companies just waiting to share their wares with you. For more information, contact: Off-Road Expo, (626) 599-8622.
The All-New 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer - Strength Upon Strength
Chevrolet recently introduced the 2002 Chevy TrailBlazer, an all-new midsize sport utility vehicle (SUV) that offers an unequaled combination of strength, power, and high-tech precision, wrapped in a design that evokes patented Chevy Truck toughness. The 2002 TrailBlazer will be available in Chevy dealerships in the spring of 2001 as an all-new entry in the Chevy truck family, giving Chevy the most competitive SUV lineup in the industry from Tracker to Suburban.
Using an all-new Vortec 4200, an inline-six configured engine, the TrailBlazer will offer the power of a V-8 engine, while supplying the efficiency of a six-cylinder. The new Vortec engine will provide an outstanding 270 horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque. A racing version of this powerful inline-six has won both the Baja 500 and the Nevada 2000 Best of the Desert races, competing against V-8 engines. "The 2002 TrailBlazer is absolutely all new and designed to deliver a new level of strength, power, security, ride and handling, and a true SUV toughness," stated Russ Clark, TrailBlazer brand manager. "It all starts with the 270hp Vortec 4200 inline-six-cylinder engine, which combines new technology with the proven balance of an inline-six engine. The TrailBlazer will offer unequaled power and smoothness, while providing excellent fuel efficiency."
These trucks were developed not only with outstanding power and efficiency, but also with refined ride and handling, ample cargo and passenger space, and long-lasting dependability. The new TrailBlazer offers a package of performance, features, and attributes specially tuned for the unique demands of SUV customers.
"This vehicle defines what Chevy trucks are all about," stated Clark. "The TrailBlazer is bigger, quieter, and more powerful than the Blazer, and will match up against any competition on the market."
The 2002 TrailBlazer - along with the GMC Envoy and the Oldsmobile Bravada - are the first products built on an all-new GM vehicle platform that establishes a new standard for technology in the midsize truck world. With features such as the exclusive OnStar system, the industry's first fully hydroformed frame, dual-stage airbags, and a five-link rear suspension, the 2002 TrailBlazer brings a host of innovative technologies to the midsize truck arena. This new generation of trucks is the key component in GM's overall strategy to be the industry's truck leader.
Toyota Trio Achieves A Triple VictoryToyota-powered off-road racers Jeff Kincaid, Rod Millen, and Johnny Greaves each dominated the muddy elements, as well as their opponents, when they claimed victory at the season's end of the Championship Off-Road Racing (CORR) event in Topeka, Kansas. Kincaid, of Crandon, Wisconsin, won the first of two races in his Toyota Tacoma to secure the 2000 Pro-Lite (small-truck) class championship. This was his 12th win of the year, which also set a new single-season record for victories.
"It's been a really great year, thanks to my team and family," Kincaid said. "The track was really muddy, but I told myself to just take the Tacoma around easy and we'd have the championship."
Rod Millen of Newport Beach, California, parlayed an amazing start from Sixth Place to a first-turn lead and won the final Pro-4 class (fullsize, four-wheel-drive) race of the year in his Toyota Tundra. The victory, his sixth of the year, ensured Second Place overall in the class.
"We're disappointed not to win the Pro-4 Championship because we really felt it was an achievable goal," Millen said, "But overall, it's been a really successful year. The team did a fantastic job throughout the year, and Jack Ault and Bill Smith always gave me a great Tundra to race."