The
performance and racing industry will converge upon Indianapolis in
December 2009 for the first ever International Motorsports Industry
Show (IMIS). Scheduled to be held Dec. 2-3, 2009 at the Indianapolis
Convention Center, the show is owned and promoted by Performance Events
Promotions (PEP) and assisted in presentation by the Indiana
Motorsports Association. According to show organizers, IMIS will bring
together the global motorsports market and create a successful business
networking environment.
Chris Paulsen, owner of C&R Racing Inc., co-partner in PEP and
president of the Indiana Motorsports Association states, "Indy is the
Racing Capital of the World, and the IMIS show will thrive in this
town, which is deep in auto racing history and heritage. Our mission is
to create a ‘hard-core’ racing trade show that exemplifies this rich
heritage. I challenge anyone to show me a more advantageous location
for a true motorsports trade show."
Attendees and exhibitors at the show will be directly involved in
motorsports, drawing on the heritage of the companies that built the
foundation of the industry while tying in various other aspects of the
auto racing industry, including manufacturing, engineering, safety,
machining and more.
"This will not be a ‘fuzzy dice’ show," Paulsen emphasized. "It will
showcase only companies dealing with professional motorsports competing
wheel to wheel on a race course. We will welcome the manufacturing
equipment companies as well as the transportation side of the sport, as
these are both key elements to the industry. Basically, if it’s not
directly related to helping a race team take the checkered flag, it
won’t be displayed at IMIS."
The decision to host the show during the week, as well to bring a show
to the city of Indianapolis, was determined by a survey conducted
during the summer of 2008 by the Indiana Motorsports Association. "It
was clear to us that the survey respondents had a desire to return to
Indianapolis for a show like this, and we listened," said Executive
Director Tom Weisenbach. "We know this show can be successful in 2009
and look forward to working with our exhibitors to provide them with
the tools needed to make it a success for them as well."
Performance Event Promotions is comprised industry leaders Chris
Paulsen, Jeff Stoops and Tom Weisenbach. Paulsen is the owner and
president of C and R Racing Inc. and also serves as president of the
Indiana Motorsports Association. Stoops is owner and president of the
Stoops Automotive Group with locations in Indiana, Ohio and Florida,
among others. He also serves on the board of directors of the Indiana
Motorsports Association and is a longtime Indy car and sprint car team
owner. Also involved in PEP is Tom Weisenbach, executive director of
the Indiana Motorsports Association. Weisenbach has been the director
since May of 2006, adding to his tenure in the motorsports industry and
following work at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indy Racing League,
O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis and Keystone Marketing.
Stoops agrees with Paulsen about the importance of having such an event
in Indianapolis. "Indianapolis is the exact location for a motorsports
industry trade show and I am confident that it will be second to none,"
Stoops said.
The show will offer both attendees and exhibitors the opportunity to
showcase their motorsports organization to other like-minded and
operating companies in a professional and focused atmosphere. Another
focus of the show will be the importance of ongoing education for
industry members, and various technical training and educational
programs will be held throughout the event. These programs will focus
on aspects ranging from lean manufacturing and operations to
development needed for future industry leaders on a secondary education
level.
The Indianapolis Convention Center is within walking distance of nearly
200 quality restaurants, hotels and entertainment venues in downtown
Indianapolis.
"Some of our best business happens after-hours and the intimate
downtown area of Indy is ideal for this important networking. After
all, racers love cold beer, hot steaks and talking about racing and
business," said
Paulsen.
The inaugural event will occur during the year that marks the 100th
anniversary of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the city’s most famous
attraction. "The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is home to the two biggest
auto races in the world, and our 2009 show date will coincide with the
100th Anniversary celebration of that great race track," Paulsen added.
