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PRI Show Has Everything

The STUPIDBAKER was on display to showcase the products of Automotive Specialists who built the SB2 V8 engine that powered the car in to a speed of 228 mph at the 2013 Bonneville Speed Week. [Russ Lake Photo]

by Mary Champion

The main lobby of the Indiana Convention Center was called the 2014 Hall of Champions as several cars of various types that won their respective series championships were on display, with vintage photos from the Indianapolis 500 above the cars.  [Russ Lake Photo]

The main lobby of the Indiana Convention Center was called the 2014 Hall of Champions as several cars of various types that won their respective series championships were on display, with vintage photos from the Indianapolis 500 above the cars. [Russ Lake Photo]

Indianapolis, Ind. – The annual Performance Racing Industry (PRI) show was held Thursday, Dec. 11 through Saturday, Dec. 13 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis with over 1100 exhibitors displaying anything and everything related to the motorsports and high performance industry.

In addition to exhibits, many seminars were held at the show and a number of industry related conferences were held earlier in the week. Among the conferences was the Advanced Engineering Technology Conference (AETC), which brings together industry insiders to exchange information on the latest race engine building technology. Among the other conferences held were conferences on improving safety in motor sports and the third annual Race Track Business Conference with panels led by several of the nation’s top race promoters, including Cary Agajanian.

Just walking into the 1,300,000 square foot facility and seeing nothing but performance related exhibitors is mind-boggling, as is the realization that the motorsports industry has become an enormous segment of the economy, with the show being one of the 100 largest trade shows in the country.

The show also has international appeal, attracting buyers and attendees from 70-plus countries.

According to Francisque Savinien, PRI’s director of Global Sales and Marketing. “We have exhibitors here from every corner of the world – Australia, Argentina, Sweden, Japan, Estonia and more. We have buyers here from all over the globe, and are hosting a large group from FIA Europe.”

To assist those from abroad there is an International Lounge available, which offers translation services, e-mail access, private meeting rooms and more.

On the show floor there were booths for sanctioning bodies, publications, engine builders, part suppliers, fabrication companies, machining companies, chassis and performance body builders, and anything else you can think of remotely related to the high performance business.

Just realizing how many companies are in performance-related businesses and how many people were in attendance at the show, was a wake-up call as to just how much the industry has grown through the years and has become a significant component of the American, and world-wide, economy.

Attendance at the show is strictly controlled and is by credentialed admittance only. It is not a show for fans but a place for those in the industry to conduct business and see the products available in the marketplace. Even with a restricted group of attendees, attendance at the event was about 48,000.

The attendance restrictions are beneficial as everyone there has a specific reason for being there. In addition, a number of high profile racing people could look around and conduct business in a controlled atmosphere. Among the “racing stars” I spotted at the show were Scott Dixon, Rusty Wallace, Jeff Burton, Robbie Reiser and Mark Martin, all of whom were just blending into the crowd. I understand Tony Stewart and several other notables were there as well, but I did not see them.

If you ever have a reason to go to the show, I highly recommend you take advantage of the opportunity.

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