ORLANDO, Fla. - There's nothing else like it on the planet: 1,000,000 square feet of the hottest new racing products, latest advances in motorsports engineering and the best of today's precision automotive machining equipment.

The Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) in Orlando, Fla., will once again be packed with over 40,000 racing entrepreneurs from around the world, and over 1400 exhibiting companies, all there to profit from the extraordinary array of exhibits and special events scheduled to take place at the 21st annual Performance Racing Industry Trade Show. The PRI Trade Show takes place on Thursday through Saturday, Dec. 11-13.

"The Show gives us an opportunity to see what's new and discuss how to market products and how to sell them," explained Brent Kaeding, owner of the racing retail store Kaeding Performance of Campbell, Calif. "It has just been a great asset to our business since the first one we attended, and I've been to 19 of them. My favorite part is getting a chance to see all of our suppliers and all the other racers who I don't usually get an opportunity to see."

As the world's largest racing trade show, with 1,000,000 square feet required to house the event, the PRI Trade Show is quite a spectacle to see. With social gatherings like the PRI Happy Hour, Exhibitor Reception, and Grand Opening Breakfast with featured speaker Dale Inman, there are several chances to meet up with old industry friends and make new business connections. The Industry Roundtable and PRI seminars offer plenty of educational opportunities, while the All-Stars Kart Race, presented by Snap-On Stars of Karting, and the Engine Builder Charity Sweepstakes boast tons of excitement and fun for racing professionals.

"It was the best show I've ever been to in my life," said Frank Stone of Dream Cars in Atlanta. "PRI is doing what I want done. You're focused in the market that I do my business, and more importantly, the people are there to do deals, and they're there to network, and it's not a beauty contest. I established a lot of new business relationships. It was a phenomenal show."

Advanced Engineering Technology Conference (AETC) -- Arrive a few day early for the 19th Annual AETC, which is presenting the Advanced LSX Engine Conference. These three fast-paced days, Monday through Wednesday, Dec. 8-10, are filled this year with information on topics surrounding high performance LSX engine. Expect to see the latest cutting-edge technology while also learning power secrets from the experts. And meet hundreds of fellow race engine builders during the breaks, or at lunch or breakfast. To register, go to www.aetconline.com.

Industry Roundtable -- Held one day before the Show opens, you'll get the inside line on 2009 and beyond at the 12th Annual Industry Roundtable, created by all-time legendary engine builder Smokey Yunick. This professional forum of industry insights was attended by more than 600 members of the racing industry last year. It takes place on Wednesday from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the Orange County Convention Center meeting room.

Jeff Hammond, one of the greatest crew chiefs in NASCAR history and TV race commentator, is returning for another year to moderate the discussion. This year's panel includes:

Joie Chitwood, Indianapolis Motor Speedway President & COO
Cruz Pedregon, HHRA Funny Car Champion and Team Owner
Ken Schrader, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and USMTS Modified Driver
Kevin Miller, USAC CEO & President
Ritchie Lewis, Lucas Oil Late Model Series Director
Paul Zalud, Snap-On Stars of Karting President
Scooter Brothers, COMP Cams Director of R & D

Grand Opening Breakfast -- Kicking off the 2008 Performance Racing Industry Trade Show, the annual Grand Opening Breakfast will be better than ever this year. The winningest crew chief in NASCAR history is set to take the stage and share his favorite racing stories and experiences with a full house of racing industry professionals. As the longtime legendary crew chief for Richard Petty, accumulating nearly 200 wins managing the famous #43 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car, special guest speaker Dale Inman will present some interesting insight about working with Lee and Richard Petty.

"For me personally, it is going to be quite a treat to have Dale Inman as our Grand Opening Breakfast speaker because of what all he and the Petty's accomplished during those early years of NASCAR," said Steve Lewis, show producer. "Dale can spin a great yarn, and I know the packed house of all our attendees and exhibitors will really enjoy hearing first hand from Dale what it was like to work in the tiny, little Petty garage and prepare those iconic blue Plymouth race cars to go out and do battle with the best in NASCAR in those days and win consistently."

Enjoy a tasty breakfast with over 3,000 of your industry friends, and some fun with Dale Inman. It takes place on Thursday morning, Dec. 11, in the Northwest Corner of the Exhibit Hall. Doors open at 7 a.m. and breakfast is served immediately. The program starts at 8 a.m. sharp, and you must have your Trade Show credentials to attend this event.

Trade Show Days -- The Performance Racing Industry Trade Show schedule is as follows:

Thursday, Dec. 11, 9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 12, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 12, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Machinery Row -- One of the most popular Show destinations is Machinery Row, where over 100 machinery manufacturers will have live, hands-on demonstrations set up for engine builders, fabricators, and the like. With companies like Sunnen Products, Mazak, Rottler, Mustang Dynamomter and so on, Machinery Row will be bigger and better than ever before. CNC machining, precision automotive machining, and fabricating tools are just a few of the types of race shop equipment that will be displayed and demonstrated.

Engine Charity Sweepstakes -- While you're cruising down Machinery Row, don't forget to buy your tickets for the Engine Builder Charity Sweepstakes. A new race engine, built by Nick Ramey of Roush-Yates Engines, will be raffled off. Organized by Sunnen Products, all proceeds will be donated to the Victory Junction charity. Tickets are $3, or 2 for $5, and the winning ticket will be drawn on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. at the PRI Trade Show. The winner will incur all costs of transporting the engine from the Orange County Convention Center.

UK Racing Technology -- Another valued region of the Show is Motorsport Valley, which is the largest single block of international racing companies exhibiting at the Show. The Motorsport Industry Association (MIA) refers to the UK racing trade group, and the British race engineering businesses that exhibit with MIA are compiled to form Motorsport Valley. MIA always brings F1 technology and other European expertise to the PRI Trade Show.

Xtrac, Stack, Carrosser, Aerospace Metal Composites, Willans Harness, Active Sensors, Gill Sensors, RFR Cars, Jenvey Dynamics, Variohm Eurosensor, Precision Technologies, MTA, Rimstock Team Dynamics, VBOX USA, and more are all signed up to exhibit in Motorsport Valley. For information on the MIA, go to www.the-mia.com.

International Lounge -- Also at the Show is the International Lounge where translation services, e-mail access, private conference rooms, and other services that may be required by our international buyers or exhibitors are available. We are excited about the growing number of international buyers, and we want to make them feel at home while visiting the PRI Show. The International Lounge is conveniently located near Motorsport Valley.

PRI Happy Hour -- Before heading out to the action-packed kart race or perhaps a business dinner, come mix and mingle with your industry friends at the PRI Happy Hour sponsored by Budweiser, and enjoy complimentary Bud or Bud Light, chilled to perfection. Delicious appetizers will also be served, and for more fun, the world famous Bud girls will be in attendance. So sit back and relax with a cold beer and hot hors d'oeuvres while listening to a live band rock out. The festivities kick off on Thursday at 6 p.m. in the South Lobby of the Convention Center.

All-Stars Karting Classic -- Immediately following the PRI Happy Hour, make your way outside for the 3rd Annual All-Stars Kart Race presented by Snap-On Stars of Karting. Famous racers from NASCAR, IRL, ALMS, Grand-Am, NHRA, and more, will be venturing back to their karting roots and competing on a technical six-turn race track purpose-built for this occasion. The race is split up into two divisions: the All-Star "Masters" division and a division for the best of the regular Stars of Karting competitors, who could possibly be future pro drivers.

2008 Indy 500 Rookie of the Year Ryan Hunter-Reay will join a number of pro racing's top drivers for this third annual events, including 2004 Indy 500 winner Buddy Rice, road racing veteran Bryan Herta, NASCAR star Jamie McMurray, Grand-Am star Michael Valiante, former F1 and rising star of ARCA and NASCAR Scott Speed, NASCAR driver A.J. Almendinger and French open wheel racer Nelson Philippe.

"I grew up karting, like many of the other drivers, and still to this day I have two karts, and it's my main off-season training program," Hunter-Reay said. "It's just something that I absolutely love to do so if there's a kart race and guys who I race against in the regular season are going to be racing in it, I want to be racing against them. And they have drivers from other types of series so it's something I've been wanting to do for a couple of years now."

The race is held in the parking lot adjacent to the Convention Center, and the green flag waves at 7 p.m. Karting equipment is one of the fastest growing segments of exhibits at the PRI Trade Show.

Seminars -- On both Friday and Saturday, plan on attending any of the PRI management seminars, which are educational, informative, and industry-specific programs for racing retailers and engine builders. The seminars last from 8-9 a.m. and are held in the Convention Center Meeting Rooms.

"From the Internet to financial management strategies, the seminars allow racing entrepreneurs to get some of their biggest questions answered in regards to operating their businesses," said John Kilroy, editor of Performance Racing Industry magazine. "A respected race engine builder will even take you 'behind the scenes' and share his experience and insights in running this kind of business. In other words, there's a lot of knowledge on the table, and it's at no charge. You just have to get there."

Featured in one of this year's seminars is noted race engine builder in the road racing arena Paul Hasselgren of Hasselgren Engineering. He's suited up to present a seminar on managing a race engine business. Hasselgren Engineering received the TRD Engine Builder of the Year Award nine straight times for its dominance in the Champ Car Atlantic series. Titled "Managing Strategies for a Race Engine Business," Hasselgren's seminar will be held at 8 a.m. on Friday morning.

Additional seminars scheduled on Friday morning are "The Inside Line on the Growing Kart Market," presented by Andre Martins, of Tony Kart Florida and "The Science of Race Car Crash Safety—Get Up To Date," by John Melvin, Ph.D., Tandelta, Inc.

This full slate of seminars continues on Saturday morning with "The 10 Essentials Your Website MUST have to Survive and Thrive," presented by Danielle Renner, of Trinet Solutions; "Top 10 Tips for Improving the Management of a Small Business," by University of Central Florida Professor Dr. Bruce Barringer; and finally, "What You Need to Know About Youth Safety in Motorsports," by Dr. John N. Majerus, Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering at Villanova, and head of Racing Vehicles, Inc.

Bud on the Bus -- PRI offers a complimentary shuttle service to and from the Convention Center and Show hotels on each day of the Trade Show. But on Thursday and Friday, Budweiser will once again sponsor "Bud on the Bus," offering a free beer to the shuttle bus riders who are traveling from the Show to their hotels.

The shuttle will run according to the following schedule:

Wednesday, Dec. 10, 8 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 11, 6 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 12, 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 13, 7 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Online Itinerary -- To plan your visit to the PRI Trade Show, PRI has online tools available on its website that include a virtual tour of the PRI Show floor plan. Use the Exhibitor Search engine to find out which of your favorite companies will be at the Show. You're able to locate all your key business contacts and suppliers and also plan out a schedule to make the most out of each day at the Trade Show. Once you're on the Trade Show section of the website, go to "Create Your Personalized Itinerary," and then to "My Show." You'll be able to set up appointments on your online calendar, add exhibitors to your 'must see' list and add the events that you want to attend.