A successful week-long run of motorsports business activity concluded Saturday as the 2011 PRI Trade Show at the Orange County Convention in Orlando, Florida, came to a close.

“It was a very strong show, which we saw early barometers of with standing-room only at the breakfast on Thursday, and then with really strong numbers at our on-site registration,” said Steve Lewis, PRI Trade Show producer.  “We had three strong days that continued with people writing orders well into this afternoon.  But more important than it being a good week for PRI, it was a really good week for the industry.  What was going on in that building for the last three days will affect people at race tracks racing businesses around the world.”

Approximately 38,000 credentials were printed up for the PRI Trade Show, said Lewis.

No less than six major events ran in conjunction with the show beginning on Monday.  The Advanced Engineering Technology Conference (AETC), Claude Roelle’s Optimum G Advanced Vehicle Dynamics Seminar, the Professional Motorsports Circuit Owners and Operators Convention, the International Council of Motorsport Sciences (ICMS) annual Congress, the PRI Industry Roundtable and the FAST EFI University training course on electronic fuel injection in racing applications all took place during this year’s Race Industry Week.

Once again, this year’s PRI Trade Show was buoyed by an exceptional international turn-out.  Attendees from all over the world showed that racers have no boundaries or borders when it comes to reaching their one common goal – to go faster.

“The Show has been great for us.  We love this show because it has a good international flair to it,” said Ashley Garrett, of U.S. Legends Cars International.  “Our growth overseas has been phenomenal for us and we can attribute most of that to the PRI Show. The international buyers don’t buy four cars, they might buy 40 cars.  In fact, we have a buyer here from Australia looking to buy 10 Bandoleros today.”

The increase in exports abroad by American companies has been experienced by a number of PRI exhibitors.

“PRI is a great show,” said Mark  Kostrzewa, Motor State Distributing Product Manager.   “Our customers vary from drag racing to circle track, not just domestically but world-wide and PRI really gives us exposure to an international clientele.  We see a fair amount of our international customers here every year and that gives us the opportunity to have a face-to-face with them.  I don’t even know how to measure how important that is.  That exposure is just immense. They appreciate that opportunity and it’s what really builds a strong business relationship.”

International companies also were on hand on Orlando to sell their latest racing products.

“This is the fourth time in the last five years we’ve been here,” Ben Barlett, of the Australian AAAA.  “We have 21 Australian companies exhibiting here and it has surpassed our expectations.  We do shows all around the world, but no other motorsports shows here in the U.S. – just PRI.”

Another PRI exhibitor may be bringing more to the U.S. in 2013 than racing products as the Brazilian Formula Truck Series was exhibiting one of the series’ truck tractors on-site in preparation for its debut.

Preparation for the 2012 PRI Trade Show, which will take place Nov. 29-Dec. 1 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando officially began at 4:01 p.m. Saturday, right after the close of a very successful 2011 event.

It’s the third and final day of the PRI Trade Show, and this editor will likely leave the Orange County Convention Center at the end of the day just like so many racing industry buyers here with more left to do.

The three days goes by fast! No matter what’s on your agenda  each day, important conversation pop up in the middle of the exhibit aisles or in an exhibit. You learn a lot. Make decisions. Then get back to your own goals for the Show, appreciative of the value of these spontaneous meetings with racing professionals throughout the exhibit hall.

I wish to thank everyone for making the trip to Orlando for the three biggest business days in racing. It’s the world’s largest gathering of racers. A lot of business gets done, but there’s always been a genuine aspect of fun to the PRI Trade show as business relationships evolve into lifelong friendships. Plus, so many racing professionals end the racing season with, “I’ll see you at PRI.”

The exhibitors seem to repeat the value they find in the PRI Trade Show when they describe their goals for exhibiting: increase market share, get new business, expand international sales.

The buyers regularly describe the challenge of working the entire Show so as not to miss anything. This is the kind of Show where a solution to a technical challenge or a profitable new product to sell could be in a 10x10 booth of a new company in the next exhibit aisle. You don’t want to miss a thing here at the PRI Trade Show.

Most importantly, there’s a seriously renewed spirit to the racing industry. There’s a terrific confidence and energy in the business activity taking place throughout this exhibit hall. The 2011 PRI Trade Show is a real show of strength for the racing industry as a whole. We’ve met one of the biggest challenges in our lifetimes with the economic crash of 2008. We’ve met the challenge. We’re looking forward.

Both crowds and sales swelled at the 2011 PRI Trade Show on Friday, traditionally the busiest day of the three-day show at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.

Attendees arrived early on Friday morning and remained steady throughout the day.

“We’ve been very, very busy since the show opened yesterday,” said Dale Aldo, Motorsports Marketing Manager for Mopar, who’s highlighting its high-performance engine programs with its Gen-2 Hemi and Gen-3 Hemis, as well as the Mopar Drag-Pak. “We haven’t even had an opportunity to walk the show because we’ve been too busy.”

Similar reports were common throughout the Show.

“It’s been a fantastic show.  The foot traffic has been phenomenal and the energy is really up,” said Jason Cobb, of Impact by Mastercraft Safety.  “People want to take stuff right off the shelf – unfortunately, we don’t have the stock for that, but people want to get the product today. Impact’s been in in the industry for a long time and it’s absolutely imperative that we’re here at the PRI Show.”

“It’s been a great show so far,” said CV Products’ Ryan White.  “It’s been busy and very steady. We’re getting a lot of good feedback and seeing lot of customers that we don’t normally get an opportunity to see on a personal level – and a lot of international customers that you may not get a chance to see anywhere else.  The face-time we’re able to get here is second to none.  We’ve been coming to the PRI Show for more than 20 years and we’re here to stay.”
         
While exhibitors are beaming about the high-traffic volume and conductng business face to face, industry buyers are just as happy with the technology and product they’re finding on the show floor.

“It’s great to be at PRI,” relayed Clayton Triggs, of Swift Engineering Inc.  “We’re expanding our equipment base and we have 60,000 square feet to fill.  We’re looking to add autoclaves and lathes, as well as some additional machinery and we’re very happy with what we’ve found.  The only downside is that my feet hurt because there’s so much to see here.”

The opening two days have certainly delivered value for this year's Show.

“The aisles are full, but most importantly, people are doing business,” said Steve Lewis, PRI Trade Show producer.  “We had a great opening day and now it’s even bigger on day two.  It’s a little overwhelming.  The unique thing about the PRI Show is that we have such a great diversity here.  The bigger teams and shops are in here doing business and acquiring the latest technology, but I also had a young man come up to me and tell me that his family has been coming to the show for years and this will be their one-stop shopping for the entire year.”

Forty thousand racing business people from throughout the US and 65 countries are in attendance this year’s PRI Trade Show to get current with the latest in racing technology courtesy of the 1,000 motorsports companies introducing their new lines in racing products, machining equipment, motorsport engineering solutions and more.  

In an outstanding night of action-packed racing under the lights before a standing-room-only crowd of 3,500 members of the racing industry, Jan Heylen won the 2011 All-Star division race at the Red Bull Kart Fight at PRI, Powered by Rotax. He drove a CRG kart for the CRG USA team.

Jay Howard drove an Arrow chassis for the KartSport-Arrow team to a second-place finish, while the UK’s Ben Cooper, fresh off his Senior Division win in Dubai at the 2011 Rotax Max Challenge Finals, charged from P16 to claim the final spot on the podium. He drove a Praga kart, made by Intrepid, for the Praga North America team.

The Red Bull Kart Fight featured famed drivers from diverse series such as NASCAR Cup, X Games, IndyCar, ALMS, Grand-Am and the NASCAR Camping World Truck series. Heylen competed in Grand-Am in 2011, while Howard competed in IndyCar.

The race was held at the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show, on Thursday night, December 1, in Orlando. The PRI Trade Show is the world’s largest racing trade show, with exhibits by over 1000 companies, and attendance by 38,000 racing professionals from throughout the US and over 70 countries.

“It was an unbelievable and spectacular event! With Red Bull and Rotax as sponsors, the cooperation of the WKA and IKF, and all the great drivers, this was a great kart race!” exclaimed Steve Lewis, producer of the PRI Trade Show. “We’re so pleased to see karting so well presented before a standing-room-only crowd.”

Click here to view a photo gallery of the kart race.

The grandstand seating for 2500 was packed, and another 1000 people stood at the fence all the way around the race track, sometimes two or three people deep.

Drivers in the All-Star race included AJ Allmendinger, Tanner Foust, Cole Whitt, Ryan Briscoe, Alex Tagliani, Townsend Bell and more.

Heylen started in the pole position, but was soon overtaken by Howard, who started P2. Late in the race, Heylen took the lead in a bump-and-run, and kept it for the checkered flag.

“I got a little lucky with the lapped traffic,” said a modest Heylen, who won the last big kart race held at the PRI Trade Show. “I’ll be back next year,” added Heylen.

“This is a fantastic event,” said Howard. “I’m looking forward to coming back next year.”

In a Karters division packed with amazing talents, including the current world champion Jonathan Thonon, five-time world champion David Fore and last year’s world champion Bas Lammers, the winner was Daniel Formal. He drove an Intrepid chassis.

Cooper finished second. Thonon finished third in the Karters division final, driving a CRG chassis for the CRG USA team. The top 8 finishers competed in the All-Star division, starting at the back of the grid.

Red Bull also organized a series of qualifying races for amateurs throughout the US who then raced in the Amateurs division of the Red Bull Kart Fight. It was won by Brendan Johnson, with Jason Drescher taking second and Steve Troyer finishing third.

The races will be televised nationally on Fox Sports Net in two segments:

4:30 p.m., January 2—Amateur Race & Karter Division Broadcast
4:30 p.m., January 9—All-Star Broadcast.

Note that the segments are being run in simulcast, meaning that it will be on at 4:30 p.m. in all time zones. So, they’ll be simulcast at 4:30 p.m. Easter time, and also 4:30 p.m. Pacific Standard time.

Inside the exhibit hall, the same kart companies with chassis in the race were displaying their newest models to the racing industry buyers attending the PRI Trade Show. CRG, Arrow, Intrepid, Sodi, Birel, Praga, Zanardi, and DRT kart chassis were exhibited in the PRI Trade Show, along with such other karting suppliers as GoRotax, K1, AiM and more.

The 2011 PRI Trade Show opened to big crowds and enthusiastic buyers and exhibitors at the Orange County Convention in Orlando, Florida, on Thursday as the show returned to its traditional first weekend of December date. The event is widely viewed as the three biggest business days in auto racing.

The day began with a packed opening day breakfast as SPEED’s Dave Despain brought a live version of the popular Wind Tunnel program to the day’s festivities.  SPEED personality Robin Miller, NASCAR driver Ken Schrader, and a host of guests that included the legendary Don “Big Daddy” Garlits joined Despain on stage.

“We had a very strong opening today,” said Steve Lewis, PRI Trade Show producer.  “We had a standing room crowd of more than 3,500 for breakfast.  The show floor was packed, the aisles are full and everyone was happy.   Our registration people upfront were about ready to pass out from making so many badges.  It was a great first day.”

Representatives from throughout the racing industry were on hand today including an all-star showing from the driving world, including Garlits, Melanie Troxel and reigning Winternationals champ Morgan Lucas from the drag racing world; Indy 500 pole winner Alex Tagliani,  Ryan Briscoe, Townsend Bell, Jay Howard and others from Indy Car; and NASCAR stars A.J. Allmendinger and Cole Whitt.

But the biggest story of the day was that sales were reported to be brisk as companies looked to grow their businesses and introduce new product.

“Opening day was fantastic,” said Jeff Clark, of Roush-Yates Engines.  “We had a great turnout with people in our booth.  The racers are asking very good questions on the engines and on the parts.  We’ve definitely been able to grow our business from this.  The whole Roush-Yates initiative is branching out to drag racing, late-model, sprints, off-road truck, dirt late-models, dirt modifieds.  We’re engine builders and there are racers here at every grass-roots level and we have an engine for those racers.”

Those thoughts were echoed throughout the show floor.

“We’ve seen already this morning that we can sell parts washers without even having them on the floor,” said Drew Patey, of SafetyKleen.  “But the PRI Show is designed to showcase your entire company and this is the first time we’ve chosen to showcase everything we do.  Not only the awareness of our parts cleaning, but also that we’re in the oil collection business  - and when, you bring a 4,000-gallon oil truck and park it right in the middle of the PRI show, there’s no doubt that people know we’re in the oil business.  We only do two shows a year, the PRI Show here and the SEMA Show in Las Vegas.  It’s a given that we’ll be at PRI.”

Attendees proved to be as happy as the exhibitors.

“We’re here at the PRI show because most every company we do business with is here, and we’re here to check out the new technology,” said legendary engine builder Ed Pink, of Ed Pink Racing Engines.  “There’s a lot of people here and we’ve seen a lot of new vendors here.  It’s an excellent show.”

Over 40,000 racing business people from throughout the US, and 65 countries, are expected to be in attendance this year’s PRI Trade Show to get current with the latest in racing technology courtesy of the 1,000 motorsports companies introducing their new lines in racing products, machining equipment, motorsport engineering solutions and more.  

Directly below the aisle sign for the 1000 aisle is a presentation by the Quarter Mile Foundation, featuring the famed Swamp Rat XIII dragster built by Don Garlits, and Garlits himself signing autographs for his book.

The Quarter Mile Foundation is compiling video interviews of the pioneers of drag racing while they’re still with us. The goal is both to have a historical record of the start of the sport as told by the people who started it, and a documentary that may be aired nationally. It’s called Project 1320.

For more information, go to www.project1320.com.

We've got a great Industry Roundtable lined up for today (Wednesday) at 1:30 p.m. Open to all. Robin Miller, Dennis Huth, Brian Carter, Carl Wegner, Gill Campbell, Gray Garrison, Ray Wilkings, Dr. Hugh Scully, Scooter Brother. Jeff Hammond moderates.

Click here for more information on the Roundtable.

The Hot Rodders of Tomorrow is an organization actively welcoming high school students into the automotive world, and they will be exhibiting what they do at the PRI Trade Show in booth 331. The HRoT has a ton of industry support, and organizes engine competitions among high school students across the country.

Make a note to stop by, or for some real fun, the students will be competing at two times during the Trade Show in the HRoT booth:

Noon, Friday

10 a.m., Saturday

All of the teams in the competition are sponsored by companies that exhibit in the PRI Trade Show.

Great fun! We're glad to have an event featuring the next generation at the Show!

Orlando is a terrific place to mix business with pleasure. Now that the PRI Trade Show is in its sixth year in Orlando, longtime attendees and exhibitors of the Show have found favorite restaurants and nightspots that they tend to return to year after year. Within walking distance or a brief cab ride are over 150 restaurants, bars and nightclubs. Whatever you're hungry for--down home barbecue to fine dining--you'll find it within the neighborhood of the Convention Center housing the PRI Trade Show.

A very popular place for racers after Show hours is Pointe Orlando. It's within walking distance down International Drive past the Peabody. You'll find many choices, such as the Capital Grille, Maggiano's Little Italy, Taverna Opa, Copper Canyon Grill, Hooters, Adobe Gila's, Cuba Libre and more.

Also, check through a copy of the PRI City Guide to Orlando. It's inserted into the November issue of PRI magazine, and can be found at the information kiosks at the Show.

Click here to read it online.

A lot of business gets done after show hours, in addition to all the fun of hanging out with industry friends out on the town of Orlando.

We'll see you out there!

The Motorsport Industry Association (MIA), the racing trade association for the UK, is organizing a party for international buyers attending the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show. Tickets are $50 ($40 for MIA members).

Its official title is, "GRAND-AM International Business Party at 
Performance Racing Industry Trade Show Celebrating the 50th Rolex 24 at Daytona on January 28/29 2012."

The reception will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Thursday, December 1, in Room S 330 A on the third floor of the Orange County Convention Center.

Chris Aylett, the chief executive of the MIA, said, "In one place, this relaxed and informal event is the key meeting point and 'best value' way to make new contacts, explore new export opportunities and network at this, great international Show.

"The event will also celebrate the 50TH ANNIVERSARY of the great GRAND-AM 24-hour endurance race taking place, just an hour ‘up the road’ from Orlando, at the Daytona International Speedway - just a few weeks following PRI," he continued.

The MIA has also organized a tour of Daytona International Raceway. It takes place on Wednesday, November 30.

For more information, please contact Charlotte Austin at 
+44 (0)2476 692600 or email her at charlotte.austin@the-mia.com.