Rahal to be keynote speaker
Rahal was a three-time CART champion and won the 1986 Indianapolis 500 during a distinguished racing career that twice saw him named as the U.S. Driver of the Year. As a team owner, he's won both a CART title and the IRL Indianapolis 500. His Rahal-Letterman Racing team currently campaigns in the American Le Mans Series. He also is a successful businessman and past CART president and chief executive officer.
"The PRI Show is one of the most important and vital gatherings of racing people in the entire country and I am honored to serve as one of the keynote speakers in the first-ever Motorsports Business Forum to be held in conjunction with PRI," said Rahal. “The organizers are fully committed to motorsports and I look forward to a full week of participation with the forum and everything else we are doing with the Road Racing Drivers Club and with Formula BMW Americas."
Opening two days prior to the start of the PRI Trade Show at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL, the Motor Sport Business Forum-North America (MSBF-NA) is preparing for its inaugural event at the new Hilton Orlando, Dec. 8-9, 2009.
International Speedway Corporation Vice Chairperson and CEO Lesa France-Kennedy will join Rahal as one of the two keynote speakers for the inaugural Motor Sports Business Forum-North America
The Motor Sport Business Forum North America will be organized and hosted by Switzerland’s IM2 Events, which has established a series of similar events in Monaco, Abu Dhabi and Malaysia. Just Marketing International (JMI), the leading global motorsports-exclusive marketing agency, will serve as the North American co-host and manage the marketing and communications.
“We have held Motor Sport Business Forums in Monaco for the last five years and successfully launched the Middle East edition in 2008," IM2 CEO Simon Berger said. “I am very pleased that so many major players from the global motor sport arena have made early commitments to our inaugural North American event."
“To add someone of Bobby Rahal’s stature, both on-and-off the race track, participating in the Motor Sports Business Forum, is setting up Orlando up as the place to be in motorsports this December," said Steve Lewis, producer of PRI’s show. “To feature many of the key decision-makers in motorsports involvement in the MSBF, along with the latest technology and equipment showcased at the PRI Show will make this a truly unique first in American motorsports. We are obviously delighted that MSBF has chosen to host their event just prior to the PRI Trade Show,""
Like the Abu Dhabi and Monaco events, the Orlando edition of MSBF will focus on the commercial side of the sport with presentations from management representatives from leading teams, sponsors, championship promoters and industry executives.
“The PRI Trade Show and MSBF-NA, coupled with PRI’s annual Industry Roundtable, the accompanying Advanced Engineering Technology Conference, our Grand Opening Breakfast featuring Wind Tunnel’s Dave Despain and our popular PRI All-Star Karting Classic now makes this five of the biggest days in racing," Lewis declared. “It’s become increasingly important to add December 8-12 to the racing industry’s business calendar."
Companies and racing individuals wishing to exhibit and/or attend the PRI Trade Show can go to www.performanceracing.com or call 949.499.5413. To register for any MSBF event go to: www.msbforum.com.