Racing Industry Asks, International Motorsports Industry Show Delivers

Racing Industry Asks, International Motorsports Industry Show Delivers

Exhibitors, Attendees Thrilled with Decision to Reschedule Third Annual
IMIS for December 8-10, 2011 in Downtown Indianapolis


INDIANAPOLIS (Jan. 7, 2011) – From the onset, the International Motorsports Industry Show (IMIS) has sought to provide a great location and a convenient time of year for hardcore racing companies to conduct business.

With that in mind, IMIS officials have moved the third annual IMIS to December 8-10, 2011, one week later than originally announced. The location, the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis, remains the same.

Immediately following the inaugural IMIS in 2009, the four founders of the show, Chris Paulsen, owner of C&R Racing, Tom Weisenbach, executive director of the Indiana Motorsports Association (IMA), Jeff Stoops, president of Stoops Freightliner, and two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart, announced a lifetime contract with the City of Indianapolis and released the dates of the show through 2015 in order to help exhibitors and attendees plan long-term. The dates of the 2011 IMIS were scheduled for Nov. 30-Dec. 2.

After IMIS announced its 2011 dates, the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Show, which is conducted in Orlando, announced its dates would take place at the same time as IMIS.

This unfortunately forced exhibitors and attendees attending both shows each year to make a very difficult decision. And, no matter what the decision, business was going to be affected in a negative way for many motorsports companies. Knowing that motorsports companies dreaded the possibility of the shows being scheduled at the same time, IMIS officials responded by doing what is best for the racing community by moving the show dates back one week.

“Obviously, we would’ve liked to have conducted the International Motorsports Industry Show on our original dates,” Paulsen said. “For whatever reason, PRI officials had to move their show to the same time as ours and that greatly affected the racing industry as they attempted to plan for the 2011 shows. It forced people into a very difficult decision.

“We went to some of our exhibitors and said, ‘Hey, what is best for your business?’ Many of them told us that they exhibited at both shows and the optimal thing would be for the shows to be on different dates. When we offered to move our dates back one week, the response was overwhelmingly positive and appreciated. While it’s not ideal for us to move our dates, our number one priority is to make sure our exhibitors can maximize their opportunity for business, and if that means moving our show, we’re more than happy to do it.”

Exhibitors, as expected, were thrilled with the move.

“By IMIS stepping up and switching their dates, it helped us a lot,” said Ken Hale, director of marketing for Wilwood Engineering. “Wilwood will be saving a lot of money and angst. We appreciate somebody stepping up.”

IMIS just completed a highly successful second show Dec. 1-3, 2010 at the Indiana Convention Center. Thought the show nearly doubled in size from year one, organizers ensured that the event remained for hardcore racers only.

A total of 579 companies purchased 1,145 booths for the three-day trade show, which annually offers individuals and companies from all facets of the racing industry the chance to interact, share ideas and products, build relationships and attend seminars to improve motorsports business around the world. For the inaugural IMIS show in 2009, 345 companies bought 572 booths, meaning that occupied floor space doubled in size in just one year and 234 new racing companies were added for the 2010 show.

“IMIS was a big hit for Roush Yates this year,” said Doug Yates, CEO of Roush Yates Engines. “Everyone from the motorsports industry was there and it was amazing to see how much the show has grown in just two years. IMIS is an effective place to conduct real business for our company and I look forward to attending next year.”

“Don Welsh and everyone at the Indiana Convention and Visitors Association (ICVA), as well as the local hotels, were extremely helpful throughout this process,” Weisenbach said. “Their support of IMIS and the racing industry as a whole is unbelievable. When we talked to them about a possible date change, they did everything they could to make it work. It wasn’t an easy task, as Indianapolis is a hotbed for conventions, but they understand how important the racing community and IMIS is to Indianapolis and how this change would help motorsports businesses throughout the world. I think that just reinforces how highly thought of the racing community is throughout Indianapolis and Indiana. Our city and state leaders are doing what’s best for racing companies, whether they’re located in Indiana or not.”

For more information about the International Motorsports Industry Show, visit www.imis-indy.com.