Indiana Convention Center
DIAMOND BAR, CA (Nov. 19, 2012) –The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) announced it has finalized an agreement to purchase the International Motorsports Industry Show (IMIS), the racing trade show that has been held annually in Indianapolis since 2009.
The IMIS will be consolidated with the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show, which returns to Indianapolis for 2013 and beyond. The 2013 PRI Trade Show will occupy the entire Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, with Thursday, Friday, and Saturday Show days, December 12-14, 2013.
The acquisition unifies the racing industry’s two trade shows into one, creating the opportunity for exhibitors and buyers to do business in a single location.
“The racing industry needed to have just one motorsports trade show in the U.S. I’m proud to say we’ve accomplished that,” said Scooter Brothers, SEMA chairman of the Board of Directors. “We have all worked toward a common goal, and have succeeded on behalf of the industry. To have a single home for the racing trade show is clearly the best thing for the industry, and working together with Chris Paulsen (co-founder of IMIS), we got it done.”
Both the PRI and IMIS trade shows will take place as scheduled for 2012. The PRI Trade Show will be held November 29-December 1, in Orlando. The IMIS will be held December 6-8, in Indianapolis. The IMIS transaction is set to close in December 2012.
“We formed IMIS in 2009 to bring a hardcore racing tradeshow back to Indianapolis,” Paulsen said. “We grew a lot faster than we ever could have dreamed of and we couldn’t be happier that a hardcore racing tradeshow will remain in Indianapolis for years to come. SEMA will be great stewards of the hardcore racing industry and I couldn’t be more pleased that Indianapolis will remain the center of motorsports both on and off the track.”
“Being from Indiana, having a hardcore racing trade show in Indianapolis was very important to me,” said Tony Stewart, three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion and co-founder of IMIS. “That’s why I got involved with Chris and Jeff (Stoops, co-founder of IMIS) to help form IMIS and bring back a show to Indianapolis. I know SEMA will do a great job to make sure Indy remains the place for hardcore racing. The State of Indiana and City of Indianapolis, especially Governor Mitch Daniels and Mayor Greg Ballard, were huge allies of the show and I know the city and state will continue to help grow the motorsports industry in Indiana.”
The 2013 PRI Trade Show will be organized and produced by the PRI team based in Laguna Beach, California, with John Kilroy at the helm as Vice President/General Manager. This year’s PRI Trade Show in Orlando is the 25th edition. PRI also publishes the racing industry’s only business magazine.
“We are excited to bring the PRI Trade Show back to Indianapolis, where exhibitors and buyers experienced six very successful racing industry trade shows, from 1998 to 2004,” said Kilroy. “Chris Paulsen, Jeff Stoops, Tony Stewart and the entire IMIS team have done an excellent job starting up a new racing trade show, and we promise to build on their mission to keep Indianapolis the annual epicenter of new racing technology.”
“This consolidation is all about helping the racing industry to succeed,” said SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting. “Unifying the racing industry’s trade shows makes it more affordable for all to participate and allows us to focus on providing the greatest value and benefits for the racing segment. Look for the association to be adding resources and services to help participants get maximum value from the PRI Show in Indy.”
ABOUT SEMA:
Founded in 1963, the SEMA trade association provides services and resources to businesses in the automotive specialty equipment industry. Members include manufacturers, distributors, retailers and marketers of products that enhance the styling and functionality of cars, trucks and SUVs. In addition to producing the premier automotive accessories trade show, where more than 100,000 individuals come to do business, SEMA offers education, research and several publications specifically targeted to the industry. The association also represents its members with a legislative advocacy group. SEMA acquired PRI in March, 2012.
ABOUT PRI:
The Performance Racing Industry (PRI) serves the racing industry through the PRI trade show and the PRI Magazine. With more than 1,000 companies exhibiting at the annual trade show, the event is the world’s largest auto racing trade show and the gateway to the worldwide racing marketplace. The monthly magazine complements the show with issues between 130-380+ pages and is recognized as the “voice of the racing marketplace.” PRI was purchased by SEMA in March, 2012.
ABOUT IMIS:
The International Motorsports Industry Show (IMIS) is the United States’ premier hardcore racing trade show, conducted each year at the Indiana Convention Center and owned by Chris Paulsen, owner of C&R Racing, Jeff Stoops, president of Stoops Freightliner, and three-time and reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart. From car builders to tire manufacturers to parts suppliers, every aspect of motorsports is represented at IMIS, which has a lifetime contract with the City of Indianapolis and reserved show dates through 2017. Nearly 25,000 attendees are expected for IMIS, which will feature more than 530 motorsports companies, including more than 100 that are new for 2012. And with several longtime exhibitors expanding their booths this year, the 2012 IMIS show floor will be bigger and better than ever.
For more information, visit www.performanceracing.com, www.sema.org or www.imis-indy.com.