Since its beginning 24 years ago, the PRI Trade Show has become a key asset to race teams, engine builders, track owners, fabricators and retailers in every form of motorsports. Last year, more than 1,100 companies came to the PRI Trade Show to exhibit, and nearly 40,000 motorsports professionals attended. PRI has its own unique constituency and culture, and it has a history of helping build businesses through face-to-face meetings between exhibitors and attendees.
As a kid, John Waraniak, SEMA’s vice president of vehicle technology, never gave much thought to a college education. He did, however, enjoy building fast toys—plundering the neighbors’ throwaways on garbage day and reconfiguring found treasures such as washing-machine pulleys, lawn-mower engines, old wagons and bikes into saleable contraptions. That was the sort of vision and imagination that led him to two master’s degrees as well as engineering soapbox racers, B-2 stealth bombers and Chevrolet motorsports programs.
McLeod Racing LLC, RideTech, Lucas Oil Products, Brenton Productions, Be Cool Inc. and more.
While submissions are accepted any time before the Show (October 30–November 2), manufacturers that return their ESRAs with deposits by April 27 will have greater opportunities to collaborate with Show organizers and participate in the Priority Booth Selection Process. The selection process is the first opportunity exhibitors have to select the actual location of their SEMA Show booths.
AP Exhaust Technologies, Crane Cams, Mile Marker, Kahn Media, Speedway Motors, Clean Seal, Katzkin Leather, CargoGlide and more.
Nominations for the SEMA Hall of Fame—the most prestigious honor presented to an individual by the association—are now being accepted. The deadline to submit nominations is March 16, 2012.
Created in 1969, the SEMA Hall of Fame is designed to honor outstanding persons in the industry who have enhanced the stature of, or significantly contributed to, the industry and/or the association’s growth.
I’d like to start this column by expressing our sincere thanks to all those members who voted on the recent referendum to reduce the size of the SEMA Board of Directors. Whether you voted for or against the motion, your participation is a key factor in maintaining a healthy association.