Racing Show Return to Drive Major Boost
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowMore than 40,000 racing industry professionals are expected to descend on Indianapolis this week for the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show. Visit Indy estimates the event, which begins Thursday, will have a $45 million economic impact. The show is returning to Indianapolis for the first time since 2004, after announcing a merger last year with the International Motorsports Industry Show.
Originally Posted October 31, 2013
News Release
Laguna Beach, Calif. — The Performance Racing Industry Trade Show’s return to Indianapolis has seen an immediate increase in exhibiting companies, as the show known as “The Three Biggest Business Days in Racing” has already grown by more than 200 exhibitors for 2013.
Just as impressive, 100 racing companies that have never exhibited at either the PRI or IMIS trade shows will be on hand for the 26th annual PRI Trade Show, December 12–14, 2013, at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis.
“New racing technology is the big magnet that draws racing professionals from across the U.S., and the world, to Indianapolis for the PRI Trade Show,” said John Kilroy, producer of the PRI Trade Show. “The exhibits are the star attraction, and we'll have an extraordinary array of new racing components and precision machining equipment on display.”
The show is returning to Indianapolis for the first time since 2004 after its owner, the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), acquired the International Motorsports Industry Show (IMIS) in late 2012, consolidating it with the PRI Trade Show under the PRI brand for 2013 and beyond.
In addition to the growth in exhibitors, this year's Race Industry Week—the days leading up to and including the Show—has grown to include 45 events in what will result in a seven-day flurry of activity.
“There's a lot of excitement around the PRI Trade Show’s return to Indianapolis,” said Kilroy. “The combination of new exhibitors along with our returning exhibitors from both the PRI Show and IMIS show is going to make for an incredible showcase of the latest advances in racing technology. Add in the growth of Race Industry Week, and everything points toward a terrific week for doing business in the racing industry.”
This year's PRI Trade Show will play host to exhibits from over 1175 racing companies occupying over 3300 booths, and attract more than 40,000 racing professionals from across the US and 72 countries.
For additional details on the 2013 PRI Trade Show, including hotel and travel information, visit www.pri2013.com. Also, check the web page periodically for program updates, as well as times and locations for all Race Industry Week events.
Source: Performance Racing Industry Trade Show
Originally Posted November 20, 2012
News Release
Diamond Bar, California –The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) announced it has finalized an agreement to purchase the International Motorsports Industry Show (IMIS), the racing trade show that has been held annually in Indianapolis since 2009.
The IMIS will be consolidated with the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show, which returns to Indianapolis for 2013 and beyond. The 2013 PRI Trade Show will occupy the entire Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, with Thursday, Friday, and Saturday Show days, December 12-14, 2013.
The acquisition unifies the racing industry's two trade shows into one, creating the opportunity for exhibitors and buyers to do business in a single location.
“The racing industry needed to have just one motorsports trade show in the U.S. I'm proud to say we've accomplished that,” said Scooter Brothers, SEMA chairman of the Board of Directors. “We have all worked toward a common goal, and have succeeded on behalf of the industry. To have a single home for the racing trade show is clearly the best thing for the industry, and working together with Chris Paulsen (co-founder of IMIS), we got it done.”
Both the PRI and IMIS trade shows will take place as scheduled for 2012. The PRI Trade Show will be held November 29-December 1, in Orlando. The IMIS will be held December 6-8, in Indianapolis. The IMIS transaction is set to close in December 2012.
“We formed IMIS in 2009 to bring a hardcore racing tradeshow back to Indianapolis,” Paulsen said. “We grew a lot faster than we ever could have dreamed of and we couldn't be happier that a hardcore racing tradeshow will remain in Indianapolis for years to come. SEMA will be great stewards of the hardcore racing industry and I couldn't be more pleased that Indianapolis will remain the center of motorsports both on and off the track.”
“Being from Indiana, having a hardcore racing trade show in Indianapolis was very important to me,” said Tony Stewart, three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion and co-founder of IMIS. “That's why I got involved with Chris and Jeff (Stoops, co-founder of IMIS) to help form IMIS and bring back a show to Indianapolis. I know SEMA will do a great job to make sure Indy remains the place for hardcore racing. The State of Indiana and City of Indianapolis, especially Governor Mitch Daniels and Mayor Greg Ballard, were huge allies of the show and I know the city and state will continue to help grow the motorsports industry in Indiana.”
The 2013 PRI Trade Show will be organized and produced by the PRI team based in Laguna Beach, California, with John Kilroy at the helm as Vice President/General Manager. This year's PRI Trade Show in Orlando is the 25th edition. PRI also publishes the racing industry's only business magazine.
“We are excited to bring the PRI Trade Show back to Indianapolis, where exhibitors and buyers experienced six very successful racing industry trade shows, from 1998 to 2004,” said Kilroy. “Chris Paulsen, Jeff Stoops, Tony Stewart and the entire IMIS team have done an excellent job starting up a new racing trade show, and we promise to build on their mission to keep Indianapolis the annual epicenter of new racing technology.”
“This consolidation is all about helping the racing industry to succeed,” said SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting. “Unifying the racing industry's trade shows makes it more affordable for all to participate and allows us to focus on providing the greatest value and benefits for the racing segment. Look for the association to be adding resources and services to help participants get maximum value from the PRI Show in Indy.”
ABOUT SEMA:
Founded in 1963, the SEMA trade association provides services and resources to businesses in the automotive specialty equipment industry. Members include manufacturers, distributors, retailers and marketers of products that enhance the styling and functionality of cars, trucks and SUVs. In addition to producing the premier automotive accessories trade show, where more than 100,000 individuals come to do business, SEMA offers education, research and several publications specifically targeted to the industry. The association also represents its members with a legislative advocacy group. SEMA acquired PRI in March, 2012.
ABOUT PRI:
The Performance Racing Industry (PRI) serves the racing industry through the PRI trade show and the PRI Magazine. With more than 1,000 companies exhibiting at the annual trade show, the event is the world's largest auto racing trade show and the gateway to the worldwide racing marketplace. The monthly magazine complements the show with issues between 130-380+ pages and is recognized as the “voice of the racing marketplace.” PRI was purchased by SEMA in March, 2012.
ABOUT IMIS:
The International Motorsports Industry Show (IMIS) is the United States' premier hardcore racing trade show, conducted each year at the Indiana Convention Center and owned by Chris Paulsen, owner of C&R Racing, Jeff Stoops, president of Stoops Freightliner, and three-time and reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart. From car buil