Erik Bauhofer

Erik Bauhofer

My name is Erik Bauhofer and I am the Store Manager for the 4 Wheel Parts Performance Center in Redondo Beach, California. I’ve been the store manager here for the past two years and before that I served as the Store Manager for our Compton location, the Assistant Manager in Laguna Hills, and a Sales Representative in Irvine (now closed). All these years have increased my interest and dedication to the off road community.

I am a confessed motor-head, gear-head, and petrol-head enthusiast. My love for automotives started at a young age. My family was always interested in various vehicles and owned several sports cars while I was growing up. I still love my sports cars and currently own a 1973 Alfa Romeo GTV.

My first off road experience was in the 1980s. Back then, it was popular to have big roll bars in little trucks and lots of lights and shocks. My friend and I thought we were really cool driving extremely fast off road. Later, in college, I purchased a Toyota Land Cruiser and built a huge lift with 39” tires on it. It was a bit much but a ton of fun in the mud! Since then, I have gone through a couple of sports cars and an old 1984 Jeep Cherokee that saw some off road use as well. At the moment, I am driving a 1999 Jeep Cherokee that has some minor modifications to it (in addition to my sports car). I have the best of both worlds.

Working at 4 Wheel Parts has given me the opportunity to further drive into the off road community. I am a member of the Capo Valley 4 Wheelers Club, participate in 4 Wheel Parts off roading events, and volunteer for the 4 Wheel Parts Jeep Speed Team Number 1717. Drop by my store or maybe meet me on the trail!

Come visit Erik Bauhofer at the 4 Wheel Parts Performance Center in Redondo Beach, CA! Redondo Beach 4 Wheel Parts

The Redondo Beach 4 Wheel Parts features a recently remodeled showroom, making it one of the company's largest showrooms with all the latest products. From the 405 freeway, exit on Inglewood going west, take a left on Marine, and we're just up the road on the left hand side. We also have the honor of hosting the 4 Wheel Parts race team, which features 2 trucks: the Pro 2 CORR truck and the class 2 desert truck.

4 Wheel Parts Performance Center - Redondo Beach, CA
2500-B Marine Ave
Redondo Beach CA 90278

Rookie Racing Part 2

Erik Bauhofer | 1999 Jeep Cherokee | March 10th, 2011

Rookie Racing

After our previous race issues, we had to spend more time on the engine rebuild.  Not only did we break a distributor gear, but we had a lifter go flat.  This was our miss on one of the cylinders.  Once the Jeep was back in the shop, we found that our camshaft was junk as well.  Many of the lobes were almost round.  The cam was replaced with a new grind and when we fired it up again, it had a mean growl that it never had before.  Now we were ready to race, but unfortunately the Jeepspeed season was over. Where to race now?

Read Rookie Racing Part 2

Rookie Goes Racing

Erik Bauhofer | 1999 Jeep Cherokee | November 15th, 2010

Lifting the Jeep

One of the advantages of running the Redondo Beach store is that some of the 4 Wheel Parts race vehicles are prepared here.  One in particular is the 1717 Jeepspeed owned by our G2 leader, Eric Heiden.  When I first arrived, the car was in bad shape overall but we just kept entering the car and continuing to do well.

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1999 Jeep Cherokee Sport

Erik Bauhofer | 1999 Jeep Cherokee | October 21st, 2010

4 Wheel Parts Redondo Beach

Well, now that you have read about me, let me tell you about my Jeep. It is a 1999 Jeep Cherokee Sport. This was not my first choice – I really wanted a 2004-2006 TJ unlimited. I told my wife of my plans to sell some of my vehicles and then build up the TJ. Her response was as predicted: “There is no way in #%$@ that I am making payments on one of your #%&*#$ toys.” Ouch!

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