INDIANAPOLIS — 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 and 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.
