Mining Trade Show Gold...

A Racing Trade Show is virgin ground to any Team Member seeking that elusive nugget of information or fresh parts to bring on-track success in the new season. A little preparation and a lot of enthusiasm will go a long way toward making your Racing Trade Show experience profitable and productive.

Mining Trade Show Gold A Racing Trade Show is virgin ground to any Team Member seeking that elusive nugget of information or fresh parts to bring on-track success in the new season. A little preparation and a lot of enthusiasm will go a long way toward making your Racing Trade Show experience profitable and productive.

Think of each Show as a competition because you already know how to do that. Just like a race, you will have a limited time window to get to the track, through the gate, unload your equipment and familiarize yourself with the day’s conditions. No one can win if they don’t first show up on time and hopefully get to the front of the line.

Every one of your competitors already knows about the event and is busy preparing as well. As Mr. Penske says, “Effort Equals Results” and “Opportunity is when Luck meets Preparation.” As Foghorn Leghorn says, “The Early Bird Gets The Worm, Son.”

Do your research online and learn the details of each event and the Exhibitors expected to appear. Although it seems like you should have plenty of time to interact with them, you will likely find the actual Show Day(s) to be a bewildering maze of rapid new impressions, quick meetings and greetings and mind-numbing detail. Look over the Schedule information and identify any special meetings or seminars of interest. You will need to scope out their location in the facility so you can plan your wanderings to get to them at the correct time.

If the crowds are as big as expected, even securing comfortable seating or access to the room may be like Qualifying in itself. Make sure your pit equipment is ready. You will need a comfortable pair of shoes, a layered selection of personal clothing to allow adjustment to changing temperatures and a fresh rested cheerful attitude. Like a floor jack, anything you plan to carry will become a painful burden after 4 hours, so keep it light.

A Sharpie is always the Racer’s primary Trade Show mining tool. You may want someone’s autograph or someone may want yours. A quick scrawl on a brochure may be the only clue to remind you of a discussion you had with an Exhibitor that will lead to a gem you can cash in at the Track. Brief your traveling Crew Members on your Team’s goals for the day.

Let someone else take care of the kids or Nana for the day. They will just bog you down and you can’t afford to keep them fueled.

If you are looking for parts, identify the likeliest sources on the Floor Plan before-hand and mark them so you won’t pass them by. Know the questions you want to ask and the details you want to learn more about. You will have only fleeting moments to have conversations in each pit, er, booth.

If you are seeking to make contacts for sponsorship or support, bring a small portfolio of your Team’s history, current plans and goals. If you are looking for a Sprint Cup ride, check your Driver’s License and, if you have one, you are probably too old.

Whatever your hopes and dreams are, you will find a way to advance them at the Show. But you will have to keep digging. Don’t worry about bringing a cooler, bag or cart. You won’t be able to use them and there will be plenty of free bags for literature at various booths.

Bring enough money to buy a hot dog and drink. Go to a bank and get a loan if you think you will want two.

If you are attending to also buy parts in the auction, that is a whole different race. Bring lots of money and wave your hand every time the auctioneer looks your way and you will be fine.

Now get ready to run the Race…the gates are about to open…