PRI Trade Show veterans recommend making a plan for time at the Show rather than just walking the aisles and discovering things by chance. The sheer size and scope of the Show can be overwhelming for the uninitiated.

The Show brings together industry leaders, motorsports icons, and the latest racing technology all in one place. So there’s really no debate: With such a broad range of things to do and people to meet, a little preparation will help ensure your time in Indianapolis is well-spent.

No annual event incorporates the various aspects of the racing industry quite like the PRI Trade Show does. Encompassing all forms of motorsports and open to qualified PRI Members, the Show provides competitors, engine builders, fabricators, retailers, and other members of the racing community with nearly limitless networking opportunities, insight from industry experts, and a hands-on look at the latest go-fast hardware.

More than a thousand businesses will showcase their latest products and services at this year’s Show; and with a broad range of seminars, live demonstrations, and special exhibits like Machinery Row and the EV Performance Zone, there’s certainly no shortage of interesting things to check out. While it can be tempting to simply dive in and just see what you discover while cruising around, the sheer size and scope of the Show can also be a bit overwhelming for the uninitiated. With that in mind, we asked previous attendees about the tactics they use to ensure that they get exactly what they want out of this incredible event.

Feet On the Ground

“Bring a backpack with you,” advised Eric White of 815 LSx Swaps, Machesney Park, Illinois. “Whether you’re there for media coverage and you’ve got equipment with you or you’re just there to check everything out, you’re going to end up carrying a lot of stuff over the course of the day. Swag is being given away all over the convention, and you don’t want to have your hands full all of the time. And I can’t emphasize this enough: Wear comfortable shoes. You’re going to be doing a lot of walking.”

White also advised allowing extra time at the Trade Show. “I thought I could get through it in a day, and that’s definitely not doable,” he confirmed. “There’s so much more than just the exhibitor booths. There are things like the Content Creation Zone and the Featured Products Showcase, and get-togethers like the PRI Happy Hour that give you a chance to network with colleagues in the racing industry. The PRI Education seminars are incredibly informative as well. You really need to give yourself at least a couple of days in order to see everything. If you can stay for the whole Trade Show, that’s even better.”

While at the PRI Trade Show, definitely take in the numerous scheduled events. “It’s always been a tradition of mine to attend the Grand Opening Breakfast,” said veteran Show attendee Caven Risk. “The new products are definitely a focal point for me, but over the years I have also developed a lot of friendships in the industry, and the PRI Show is the one time of the year that I get to see a lot of them in person.

“Once that’s over,” he continued, “I’ll go into the exhibitor area and walk down each and every aisle while also prioritizing the brands that are relevant to the racing that I do. Since I really don’t want to miss the seminars, I’ll try to coordinate it so that I’m in the hall where a seminar is taking place around the time it starts. That way I’m not running around all over the convention trying to get from one point of interest to another.”

Digital Scheduling

Veteran attendees offer their tips, but exhibitor Lou Lobsinger of Torqued Distribution’s national sales office in Troy, Michigan, shared some insights for those at this year’s Show, too.

“As an exhibitor, we want to have as much quality one-on-one time with folks at the event as we can, so we try to stay focused on a few key products, or product categories, at the booth,” he explained. “That helps us see more people throughout the day and doesn’t leave other people waiting around to talk to us. We also keep a time schedule at the booth so that everyone coming by knows which staffers will be at the booth at what time. That allows us to get out and see new products at the Trade Show while still being accessible and available to our customers.

“For those who haven’t been before, my advice would be to go through the Show Planner so you have an idea of which exhibitors you want to spend time with and what you want to talk about when you get there,” Lobsinger continued. “Once you walk into that exhibit hall, there’s just so much going on that it’s really easy to get distracted. The more disciplined you can be about following a game plan, the more successful the Show will be for you.”

Access the My Show Planner feature on the PRI website at pri2022.mapyourshow.com and click on “Show Planner” in the upper right corner. It’s quick and easy to create an account, and then you can schedule events, find information about exhibitors including their booth number and contact information, and even send the company an email in advance of the Show. In addition, users can save photos, product information, and special offers, which can be accessed before, during, and after the Show.

“One of the most useful tools you can have for the Show is the PRI mobile app,” confirmed Stephen Glover, who attended the PRI Trade Show as a crew member for the Wild Thing Pro Outlaw Drag Boat team, about the mobile version of the My Show Planner. “The app provides an overview of the floorplan and where the different
vendors are going to be located, so you can check out where everything will be well ahead of time. That allows me to make a checklist for the people I must see and the products that I’m interested in, and also note the booths that I can probably skip because they’re not going to be relevant to me specifically. There’s just so much going on at the Show that, even with three days to walk through there, you’re probably not going to be able to see it all.

“There are also a lot of racers and celebrities at the PRI Trade Show,” Glover continued, “and they’ll be scheduled to be at certain booths and certain times. So I also make a sort of ‘wish list’ of the folks I want to see and then follow them on social media to get updates on where they will be at a given
time during the PRI Trade Show. Plotting it out like that really allows me to maximize the use of my time at the event. The days fly by really quickly when you’re walking through all of it.”