The 2010 Sand Sports Super Show brought a huge collection of sand cars, UTVs, aftermarket parts and off-road enthusiasts to the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, California. Held September 17–19, the 12th annual show also served as an unofficial kickoff to Southern California’s dune season.
Despite the difficult economy, exhibitor participation was solid and the fairgrounds were packed with people. Vendors I spoke with reported stronger-than-expected sales, offering some welcome optimism as riders prepared for another season in the dunes.
More importantly for us, the show demonstrated how quickly the UTV market was growing. The new Can-Am Commander had just reached dealerships, four-seat Polaris RZR builds were becoming more common and the Kawasaki Teryx remained one of the aftermarket’s favorite performance platforms.
The New Can-Am Commander Arrives
The Can-Am Commander 1000 was the newest side-by-side on the market. Because production machines had only recently reached dealers, relatively few aftermarket companies had enough time to complete builds before the show.
DragonFire Racing and Todd’s Custom Billet were among the exceptions, displaying Commanders equipped with custom cages, bumpers and long-travel suspension.
I also displayed my Commander 1000 XT in the UTVGuide.net booth. It was equipped with a Muzzys dual exhaust, Axia Alloys mirrors and paddle tires from Fullerton Sand Sports mounted on OMF Performance billet-center beadlock wheels.
Favorite UTV Builds and Products
Todd’s Custom Billet Can-Am Commander 1000 X
Todd’s Custom Billet transformed a 2011 Commander 1000 X with its new plus-four-inch long-travel suspension and Elka Stage 4 shocks. The build also featured a TCB front bumper, opening doors, a bolt-on rear cage, custom paint, a Rigid Industries LED light bar, Crow harnesses and a billet mirror.
DragonFire Racing Larry Roeseler Kawasaki Teryx
The Larry Roeseler Signature Edition Kawasaki Teryx was built with a clear emphasis on performance. Its plus-six-inch DragonFire Racing long-travel suspension used relocated front and rear shock towers to accommodate longer Fox 2.0 shocks.
Other changes included a bed delete, radius-style roll cage, DragonFire seats and harnesses, 14-inch Baja Crippler beadlock wheels and ITP BajaCross tires. Power came from an 840cc fuel-injected V-twin.
Supreme Tool Polaris RZR CVT
K&T Performance displayed a new Polaris RZR CVT manufactured by Supreme Tool alongside its turbo RZR components. The beautifully machined assembly was more than a display piece: Supreme Tool was already working on a Kawasaki Teryx application and planned to turn its attention to the Commander afterward.
Raceline SxS MT Tires
Raceline Wheels introduced its six-ply SxS MT tire in sizes ranging from 25 to 30 inches. A set of 30-inch tires appeared in the DragonFire Racing booth on Baja Crippler beadlock wheels. Installed on a long-travel Polaris RANGER, the aggressive tires completed an imposing show build.
New Pro Armor Accessories
Pro Armor may have displayed more new UTV products than any other company at the show. One highlight was the Quick Shot, a combined jack carrier and spare-tire tie-down system. It included a jack, mounting provisions for Quick Fist hardware and three ratchet straps.
Pro Armor had also added a slam-shut latch to its popular aluminum RZR doors. An upgrade kit allowed owners of earlier doors to add the new latch system. Other products included Polaris RZR rock sliders, RANGER doors, an extended RZR 4 rear cage and new door graphics.
VIAIR Onboard Air System
VIAIR displayed a clean onboard compressor and air-tank installation in a Yamaha Rhino. The company also operated a compressor inside a water-filled display tank to demonstrate its sealing and resistance to harsh conditions.
Walker Evans Racing Polaris RZR 4
One of the standout race machines was Matt Parks’ Polaris RZR 4, built by Holz Racing Products. It featured a custom Holz chassis and long-travel suspension, Walker Evans 2.5-inch shocks and a Holz/Kroyer Stage III 800cc engine. Maxxis Bighorn tires were mounted on Walker Evans beadlock wheels.
A Snapshot of the UTV Industry in 2010
Looking back, the 2010 Sand Sports Super Show captured the industry during a major period of change. The Yamaha Rhino and Kawasaki Teryx had helped establish the recreational side-by-side aftermarket, while the Polaris RZR was pushing the category toward higher-performance sport machines.
The arrival of the Commander gave builders another platform to develop. Even though only a few completed Commander builds made it to this show, it was already clear that cages, suspension systems, exhausts, wheels, tires and other accessories would quickly follow.
The extensive collection of long-travel builds, turbocharged machines, race cars and newly developed accessories at the show confirmed that UTVs were no longer a small corner of the sand-sports market.
More Sand Sports Super Show Coverage
Historical note: This report reflects the products, companies and observations documented during the September 2010 event. Some companies or products mentioned may no longer be available.
Some photographs were provided with permission by Hot Shot Racing. Images may not be reused without permission.
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.
