Motor City Hot Rod & Racing Expo

[Luke Bogacki]

Just wanted to let everyone know a little bit about the upcoming Motor City Hot Rod & Racing Expo. I'll try to post some information and updates here every few days and I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have about the show. We hope to see you in Novi!

What is the Motor City Hot Rod & Racing Expo? The expo is a unique event designed to gather quality equipment manufacturers, service providers, racers, cruisers, and hot rod enthusiasts of all kinds under one roof. Vendor space is reserved exclusively for new product manufacturers and service providers – the Motor City Hot Rod and Racing Expo is not a swap meet or a car show. Unlike a typical “trade only” show, the expo is open to the public: any hot rod enthusiast is welcomed and encouraged to attend.
The idea behind the expo is to put you, the enthusiast, face-to-face with the manufacturers of products that you are interested in learning more about and/or purchasing. The days of the local speed shop are essentially gone – today we’re forced to read about the majority of products, and make purchasing decisions based on what we see on the internet. The expo provides an opportunity to see these products in person; touch and feel them. Better yet, manufacturers or reps will be on hand to answer any questions you may have. The expo promotes retail commerce; if you’re so inclined, you can purchase most products at the show and take them home with you.
Who will be there? The vendors and exhibitors who have already registered for the Motor City Hot Rod & Racing Expo include staples of the local hot rodding industry like Detroit Performance Center, Woodward Fab, Watson Racing, Big Stuff3, Sound of the Soul, Holbrook Racing Engines, and more. In addition, the expo will feature national manufacturers like Auto Meter, Holley Performance, Aeroquip, K&N Engineering, Vintage Trailers, Wiseco Performance Products, and many more. The list of exhibitors is constantly being updated as the show approaches, to see the latest list visit www.MotorCityRaceExpo.com.
In addition to the typical exhibits, reigning NHRA Top Fuel World Champion Shawn Langdon will be on hand at the expo for a meet & greet and autograph session on Saturday from 3:00-5:00. Ready- Set-Race will have a massive booth to house their fun and exciting full size slot cars. For drag racers (or those who’d like to be), BW Promotions and PCD Wraps will host a practice tree shootout event on Saturday afternoon (more details on the website).
Why should I attend? If you’re in the market for new products or services for your hot rod, or simply want to see the latest components and trends in the automotive aftermarket industry, you don’t want to miss the Motor City Hot Rod & Racing Expo. Many vendors will offer money saving specials exclusive to the expo; stay tuned to www.MotorCityRaceExpo.com for complete details in the coming months.
Even if you’re not necessarily in the market to buy, the expo will provide tons of entertainment and learning opportunities for any hot rod enthusiast. In addition to the exhibitor displays, the expo will host a pair of roundtable discussions. The first will include current racing champions of various tracks, series and sanctioning bodies: learn more about the local, regional, and national stars of motorsports. The second roundtable will feature successful entrepreneurs within the automotive aftermarket. Have you ever dreamed of starting your own hot rod related business from your own garage? This roundtable will allow you to meet several men who have done just that, as they explain their ideas, along with the opportunities and challenges that they met along the way. The expo will also house countless instructional seminars, hosted by manufacturer representatives.
The expo will be the social event of the winter, providing an opportunity to meet racers and hot rod enthusiasts from throughout the region. All of your friends will be there! The Suburban Collection Showplace features spacious clean facilities, quality concessions, and several bars throughout the expo layout.
Where is the expo? The Motor City Hot Rod and Racing Expo will take place at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, MI. The Showplace is conveniently located just off of interstate 96 (take either the Novi or Beck rd. exit and follow the signs). Suburban Collection Showplace is Michigan's premier exposition, conference, and banquet center. For motel information, visit www.MotorCityRaceExpo.com.
When is the expo? The Motor City Hot Rod & Racing Expo will take place March 22-23. Doors open at 10:00 AM each morning. Saturday the show closes at 6:00 PM, Sunday the show closes at 3:00 PM.
How do I get involved? To attend the show, you don’t have to do anything but show up at the Suburban Collection Showplace on March 22 or 23 with your $10 admission fee. Any and everyone is welcome to come check it out.
At this point, there is still limited booth space available as well. Interested vendors and exhibitors can visit www.MotorCityRaceExpo.com for details.