Off-roaders at expo work to debunk stereotypes
A group of off-roading enthusiasts took a step to debunk the roguish image of their hobby Saturday, hosting an expo promoting community service, safety and environmentalism in the sport.
The second annual Off-Road Expo, sponsored by the Christian Off-Roaders Association and Pioneer 4 Wheelers, offered four-wheeling demonstrations, overnight camping for families, a trail run and a competition to fill truck beds with food for the People’s City Mission.
Southview Baptist Church hosted the expo in an open lot just north of the church, near 13th and Arapahoe streets in Lincoln.
Rory Siebert, a Southview member, co-founded CORA in Nebraska, modeling it after similar Christian groups that target motorcyclists.
“Our goal is to reach the off-roading community with a Christian message,” said Siebert, an 18-year off-roading veteran. “We want to offer family-friendly off-roading, focused on safety.”
Siebert said community service is one of CORA’s key tenets.
Saturday, the group encouraged attendees to bring food to “Stuff the Truck.” Three trucks, a Ford, a Dodge and a Chevy stood with tailgates open. Brand loyalists filled the truck of their choice with donations for the People’s City Mission.
Family involvement and community service are values shared by another off-roading group rep-resented at the expo, the Pioneer 4 Wheelers club.
They plan to lend a hand in emergencies and natural disasters by using their four-wheelers to help emergency responders deal with potential crises.
More than 30 members of the club have joined with the city of Lincoln’s disaster preparedness efforts. Led by the group’s Safety Marshal Tom Hiser, the members have taken fire safety classes, Ham radio and emergency relief trainings.
He said besides volunteering for disaster relief, the group emphasizes four-wheeling with sensitivity to preserving the environment.
“We’re slowly changing the public’s perception of 4-wheeling,” Hiser said.
Reach Lisa Munger at 473-7306.
The second annual Off-Road Expo, sponsored by the Christian Off-Roaders Association and Pioneer 4 Wheelers, offered four-wheeling demonstrations, overnight camping for families, a trail run and a competition to fill truck beds with food for the People’s City Mission.
Southview Baptist Church hosted the expo in an open lot just north of the church, near 13th and Arapahoe streets in Lincoln.
Rory Siebert, a Southview member, co-founded CORA in Nebraska, modeling it after similar Christian groups that target motorcyclists.
“Our goal is to reach the off-roading community with a Christian message,” said Siebert, an 18-year off-roading veteran. “We want to offer family-friendly off-roading, focused on safety.”
Siebert said community service is one of CORA’s key tenets.
Saturday, the group encouraged attendees to bring food to “Stuff the Truck.” Three trucks, a Ford, a Dodge and a Chevy stood with tailgates open. Brand loyalists filled the truck of their choice with donations for the People’s City Mission.
Family involvement and community service are values shared by another off-roading group rep-resented at the expo, the Pioneer 4 Wheelers club.
They plan to lend a hand in emergencies and natural disasters by using their four-wheelers to help emergency responders deal with potential crises.
More than 30 members of the club have joined with the city of Lincoln’s disaster preparedness efforts. Led by the group’s Safety Marshal Tom Hiser, the members have taken fire safety classes, Ham radio and emergency relief trainings.
He said besides volunteering for disaster relief, the group emphasizes four-wheeling with sensitivity to preserving the environment.
“We’re slowly changing the public’s perception of 4-wheeling,” Hiser said.
Reach Lisa Munger at 473-7306.
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