Updated September 2026: This historical report has been reorganized and expanded with full-size photos, improved descriptions and links to related UTV Guide build features.
The 2016 Sand Sports Super Show captured the sport UTV industry during a period of remarkable growth. Arctic Cat, Can-Am, Polaris and Yamaha brought major displays to the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, California, while the surrounding aftermarket exhibits were filled with increasingly ambitious custom builds.
Polaris and Arctic Cat displayed new 2017 models, while Yamaha used cutaway displays and custom projects to showcase the YXZ1000R. Can-Am’s recently introduced Maverick X3 was also beginning to influence the direction of high-performance side-by-side development.
Instead of concentrating all our vehicles in one UTV Guide booth, we placed several project cars with the companies that helped build them. That gave our partners a chance to display their products on completed vehicles and spread the UTV Guide presence throughout the show.
Our Polaris RZR Turbo Builds
After receiving our RZR XP 4 Turbo demo vehicle from Polaris at Camp RZR, we tested it in stock form at Glamis and across open desert terrain. Its power, wheelbase and suspension made it an excellent starting point for a four-seat desert and dune build.
Our two-seat RZR XP Turbo was displayed by HiPer, allowing attendees to see its wheel and tire package as part of a complete vehicle. Keeping only one RZR in our own booth helped us support the manufacturers involved in the projects.
Rugged Radios Beach Buggy RZR
Rugged Radios created a large vendor area that stayed busy throughout the weekend. Its centerpiece was the Beach Buggy RZR, a Meyers Manx-inspired vehicle constructed around a turbocharged Polaris RZR XP chassis.
Although its body resembled an old Volkswagen-powered dune buggy, the custom vehicle retained four-wheel drive, long-travel suspension and the RZR’s turbocharged engine. NV Fab handled much of the one-off fabrication required to merge the classic body style with a modern UTV platform.
See the complete Rugged Radios Beach Buggy RZR feature, or visit Rugged Radios for its current UTV communication equipment.
Assault Industries Custom RZR
Assault Industries brought an extensively customized Polaris RZR to the show. The build demonstrated the company’s approach to combining functional UTV accessories with the fit and finish expected from a complete show vehicle.
Assault Industries was expanding rapidly during this period, developing billet controls, mirrors, radius rods and other components for popular sport UTV platforms. The company’s team was at the show meeting customers and discussing its growing accessory lineup.
See the current Assault Industries UTV product lineup.
Boondocker Long Car RZR
Boondocker displayed its Long Car kit on two highly modified turbocharged RZRs producing a claimed 280 horsepower. The bolt-on package extended the wheelbase of a two-seat RZR XP to approximately 102 inches—the same wheelbase Can-Am selected for the two-seat Maverick X3.
Increasing the wheelbase can improve straight-line stability and help a vehicle bridge deep whoops. The longer chassis also changes breakover clearance and low-speed maneuverability, making the conversion especially suited to open desert and dune terrain.
Sandcraft RCR Long-Travel RZR
Sandcraft RCR displayed an extensive RZR suspension system that went beyond conventional replacement control arms. Its redesigned front bulkhead moved the suspension mounting points forward to create new geometry and give the vehicle proportions similar to a small desert race car.
Sandcraft also showed RZR drivetrain upgrades and an oil-cooling system for the 2016 Polaris RZR XP Turbo.
STI Chicane RX Tires and Wheels
STI displayed tires and wheels for several types of terrain. The new 32-inch Chicane RX caught our attention because we were already using it on our RZR XP 4 Turbo project.
The Chicane RX used a closely spaced tread intended for hardpack, desert terrain and mixed trail use. STI’s selection of wheel offsets also allowed owners to adjust overall vehicle width and clearance around suspension components.
Cognito Hell Raiser Desert Race Car
Cognito Motorsports displayed several RZRs, but the stretched Hell Raiser race chassis was the standout. Its long wheelbase and heavily reinforced construction made even a four-seat production RZR appear relatively compact.
The large trailing arms, long suspension travel and extensive fabrication were designed for high-speed desert racing rather than simply creating a show vehicle.
TMW Off-Road Sand Hog
TMW Off-Road filled its booth with complete builds, including a two-seat long-travel RZR XP Turbo called Red Rocket. The vehicle was sold before we could arrange additional testing, but its fabrication and finish made it one of the company’s show highlights.
TMW also displayed Sand Hog, a Destination Polaris project that demonstrated the company’s ability to coordinate a complete dune build rather than supplying only individual parts.
SDR Motorsports Custom YXZ
More than a dozen SDR-built vehicles were distributed throughout the 2016 Sand Sports Super Show. They ranged from turbocharged Yamaha YXZ1000Rs to extensively modified Polaris RZR show cars.
The variety demonstrated SDR Motorsports’ ability to combine cage fabrication, bodywork, suspension, interior equipment and graphics into complete dune and desert builds.
Desertworks Chase Roof Rack
Desertworks introduced a full-length chase roof rack on one of our four-seat Project RZRs. The laser-cut structure incorporated stamped gussets, cargo capacity and mounting locations for lighting around the vehicle.
Vision X supplied the surrounding LED lights. The combination turned the RZR into a long-distance chase and adventure vehicle while retaining a carefully finished appearance.
Simpson Vortex UTV Seats
Simpson displayed its Vortex suspension seat with model-specific mounting rails. This approach allowed the core seat design to fit numerous RZR, Maverick, Commander, Wildcat, Teryx and Rhino applications.
The replaceable mounting system simplified vehicle fitment while retaining the bolstering and suspension liner expected from an aftermarket UTV seat.
Sparks Racing Yamaha YXZ1000R Exhaust
Sparks Racing introduced a Yamaha YXZ1000R exhaust with a fabricated header and large-diameter muffler. The YXZ’s high-revving three-cylinder engine made exhaust tuning and sound especially important compared with conventional CVT-equipped UTVs.
Sparks also displayed RZR exhaust systems and engine upgrades ranging from basic bolt-on components to more extensive performance packages.
GMZ Sand Stripper Paddle Tires
GMZ displayed its Sand Stripper paddle-tire range for high-output UTVs. The new XL HP measured more than 30 inches in diameter and was developed to put the power of modified turbocharged machines into the sand.
Paddle height, paddle count, tire diameter and rotating weight all affect dune performance. The appropriate combination depends on vehicle weight, horsepower, gearing and sand conditions.
DragonFire Racing RT Seat
DragonFire Racing introduced its RT seat line along with accessories for Polaris RZR and Yamaha YXZ1000R models. The company also displayed a YXZ rear bumper and several complete vehicles equipped with its bolt-on accessories.
DragonFire offered cage-strengthening components for owners who wanted additional reinforcement without replacing the entire factory cage structure.
Wolf Designs Werewolf V8 RZR
Wolf Designs displayed the Werewolf, a V8-powered custom RZR that had won the UTV Invasion Show ’n Shine. Built by TMW Off-Road, the Werewolf combined a highly modified Polaris RZR chassis with a V8 engine, custom suspension and distinctive bodywork.
Wolf Designs completed the vehicle with a custom graphics package that helped make it one of the most recognizable builds at the show. The company was also demonstrating its online wrap-design system.
Read our complete TMW Off-Road Werewolf V8 RZR build feature for more details about its V8 engine conversion, custom chassis and extensive fabrication.
Triple X UTV Seats
Triple X used an interactive display to showcase its range of suspension seats, upholstery materials and color combinations. Allowing attendees to sit in the seats was valuable because fit depends on occupant size, shoulder width, bolstering and seating position—not just appearance.
Rigid Industries Chase Light
Rigid Industries introduced a multifunction rear Chase light that combined dust, brake, reverse and cargo-light functions in one housing. Rear-facing visibility is especially important when groups travel through heavy dust.
Rigid also displayed RJ Anderson’s XP1K4 build, which included prototype mirrors with integrated LED lighting.
Vision X Widebody Yamaha YXZ1000R
Vision X displayed an orange widebody Yamaha YXZ1000R built by Powdercoat Industries and FabWerx. The vehicle incorporated several types of Vision X lighting, demonstrating how different beam patterns and housing sizes could be combined on one UTV.
KC HiLiTES Pro6 Light Bar
KC HiLiTES featured its Pro6 light-bar system, which placed round Daylighter-style housings in a curved or straight linked assembly. This provided the appearance of traditional off-road lights with the packaging and output of modern LEDs.
At its introduction, the Pro6 family included 32-, 39- and 50-inch configurations producing up to a claimed 20,000 lumens and more than 1,600 meters of beam distance.
Fullerton Sand Sports Tires and Wheels
Fullerton Sand Sports returned with sand-tire and wheel packages selected for specific UTV applications. The company’s real-world dune testing helped determine appropriate paddle counts, tire sizes and front-tire configurations for vehicles with different weights and power levels.
One show package combined four 30-inch Arisun tires with Raceline beadlock wheels. The original show price is now historical, but the display illustrated how dealers were packaging matched wheel-and-tire combinations for UTV owners.
HCR Racing Suspension
HCR Racing displayed several vehicles and examples of its UTV suspension construction. Its Elite components emphasized lower weight and an exposed tubular appearance suited to sand and recreational builds.
The company’s Dual Sport components used more extensively boxed construction and internal reinforcement for demanding mixed-terrain use. Available applications have changed since 2016, so visit HCR Racing’s current suspension catalog for current fitments.
XTC Hell RAZR
The XTC Power Products Hell RAZR was one of the most ambitious vehicles at the show. It used a heavily modified RZR chassis with a turbocharged 2.5-liter Subaru EJ25 engine, a Mendeola transaxle and extensive fabrication by TMW Off-Road.
The completed vehicle eventually produced approximately 500 horsepower. Its custom long-travel suspension, strengthened chassis and buggy-style drivetrain components were required to handle far more power than the original RZR platform was designed to produce.
Read our complete XTC Power Products Hell RAZR build feature.
Rugged Radios Beach Buggy RZR in the Dunes
The Hell RAZR and Rugged Radios Beach Buggy represented two very different approaches to radical RZR customization. The Hell RAZR concentrated on extreme power and desert-race fabrication, while the Beach Buggy hid modern four-wheel-drive UTV running gear beneath classic dune-buggy-inspired bodywork.
More Sand Sports Super Show Coverage
- 2017 Sand Sports Super Show
- 2015 Sand Sports Super Show
- 2014 Sand Sports Super Show
- 2013 Sand Sports Super Show
- 2012 Sand Sports Super Show
- 2011 Sand Sports Super Show
- 2010 Sand Sports Super Show
- 2009 Sand Sports Super Show
- 2008 Sand Sports Super Show
- 2007 Sand Sports Super Show
More Sand Sports Super Show Coverage
Explore UTVGuide.net’s complete Sand Sports Super Show coverage archive, with annual recaps, photographs and product highlights documenting the evolution of the UTV industry from 2007 through today.
