2008 OFF-ROAD IMPACT COMES TO TOWN

Moving ORI from Las Vegas to the Anaheim Convention Center placed it at the heart of the off-road industry.

In its fourth year, the Off-Road Impact Trade Show & Conference brought together industry heavy-hitters to network, showcase new products and gain insight into the business side of the Off-Road Nation. For the first three years, Off-Road Impact has been held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, but for 2008 the event was moved to the Anaheim Convention Center in Southern California in an effort to bring the show closer to the heart of the off-road industry. The three-day event took place from Thursday, March 6 through Saturday, March 8, opening with a series of conferences designed to provide practical business insight and offer technical advice, helping companies become more profitable. Dirt Sports' sister publication, Off-Road Business, also hosted its annual State of the Industry Report luncheon.

Bruce Myers, Walker Evans and Ivan Stewart shared race stories and their business insight during the Breakfast of Champions.

Friday morning kicked off with the Breakfast of Champions, which featured Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame inductees Ivan "Ironman" Stewart, Bruce Meyers and Walker Evans. Emcee'd by Dirt Sports' Editor at Large Marty Fiolka, The Breakfast of Champions was a highly entertaining component of ORI, as the three racing legends entertained attendees by sharing tales of their racing careers and insight into the business side of the market. After a day on the trade-show floor, Friday night featured the awards dinner that awarded Dirt Sports' Monsterpiece in Metal Award as well as Driver of the Year, along with Off-Road Business' industry awards.

"For all these awards, there is some stiff competition," Fiolka said. "All of these individuals have played a vital role in the off-road industry."

The winner of the Monsterpiece in Metal was chosen from the 12 Masterpiece in Metal vehicles published in Dirt Sports during 2007. Jeff Davis Class 7 by Normile Concepts was this years winner.

The Monsterpiece in Metal Award, an award sponsored by Monster Energy Drink and awarded to one of the Masterpiece in Metal projects covered in Dirt Sports over the past year, was awarded to Jeff Davis for his Class 7 by Normile Concepts. Dirt Sports Driver of the Year, which was announced in our March 2008 issue, was awarded to Rob MacCachren, who was noted for having impressive SCORE and CORR victories in 2007. MacCachren thanked his team owner and Tecate SCOREBaja 1000 co-driver, Mark Post, for helping him achieve the team's amazing victory in Mexico. The Best New Product was given to the self-proclaimed "new kid on the block," Kent Kroeker, and his company KORE, for its 4x4 Pre-Runner Series Long Travel Suspension system for light-duty ISS pick-ups.