The Original Off-Roader
Whoever said “those who can’t do, teach” never met Mark A. Smith.
Mark was a pioneer, a trail leader, and the kind of driver who didn’t just explore new terrain, he carved the path. Known as the father of modern four-wheeling, he founded Jeep Jamboree and helped turn off-roading into a true community. His work on the Rubicon Trail helped turn it into one of the most iconic and respected routes in the world.
But Mark’s story didn’t stop at the U.S. border.
He led the Expedición de las Américas, a 32,000-kilometer journey from Tierra del Fuego in South America all the way to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, crossing nearly every climate and terrain imaginable, including the notorious Darien Gap, which his team conquered in just 30 days, a third of the time it had taken the military.
In 1987, he played a key role in preparing competitors for the Camel Trophy, an overland test of endurance across Madagascar, marking the island’s first full north-to-south crossing.
But Mark wasn’t just about epic achievements. He was about sharing knowledge. He spent his life teaching practical, safe off-road driving techniques, many of which continue to guide us today.
Mark passed in 2014, but his legacy lives on in every trail driven and every tire tested.
On behalf of BFGoodrich Tires and the off-road community here in Canada and beyond, we dedicate this guide to Mark A. Smith, a man who redefined what it means to lead the way off-road.
Our BFGoodrich Story
There was a time when off-roading wasn’t something most drivers could just jump into. Sure, vehicles got stronger, and suspension tech kept moving forward, but without the right tires, none of it really mattered.
Until the late 1970s, most recreational trucks ran on bias-ply tires, rigid, punishing, and better suited to a tractor than a trail. They didn’t flex, didn’t grip, and absorbed about as much shock as a hockey puck. Driving off-road meant feeling every bump, rut, and rock, whether you were in the Rockies, the Shield, or the Prairies.
The industry was stuck between a rock and a hard tire. But we weren’t about to accept that.
At BFGoodrich, we pushed for a new kind of tire. Something radical: a radial tire tough enough to handle off-road abuse and smooth enough for highway use across long Canadian distances. People didn’t think it could be done, so we proved it.
We entered our radial all-terrain tire in the Baja 1000, North America's most brutal off-road race. Not only did we finish, we won. That moment redefined what off-road tires could be, and it set the foundation for everything we build today.
We still test our new prototypes at Baja. But the lessons we learn there apply everywhere, from the mud trails of Alberta to deep snow in Quebec. Many of our all-terrain and mud-terrain tires carry sidewall markings that nod to those victories.
Because if it’s built to win Baja, it’s more than ready for Canada.
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