Are you an automotive enthusiast who has always wanted to experience the thrill of meeting with racing legends and walking the aisles of industry trade shows like SEMA or PRI but aren’t “in” the industry? Well, mark your calendars because Hot Rodders of Tomorrow and Winner’s Circle Speed and Custom are hosting the 10th annual Race and Performance Expo (RP Expo) on February 25th and 26th, 2017, in the greater Chicagoland-area of Schaumburg, Illinois.
The Race and Performance Expo is similar to industry trade shows like SEMA and PRI in that while waiting for race tracks across North America to thaw out, performance manufacturers and retailers get to show off the latest and greatest performance products for cars and trucks, industry experts share their knowledge through seminars, deals are made, ideas are exchanged – the difference? It’s all geared towards the consumer, and tickets are now available to the general public.
2017 Race And Performance Expo - Key Details
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Show Dates And Times:
Saturday – February 25th, 2017
9:00 am-5:00 pm
Sunday – February 26th, 20179:00 am-4:00 pm -
Location:
Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center – 1551 N. Thoreau Dr., Schaumburg, Illinois 60173 -
General Admission:
Saturday – $15.00 / Sunday – $10.00
2-Day VIP Speed Pass w/ early entry – $25.00 -
Lodging:
Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel –
1551 N. Thoreau Dr., Schaumburg, Illinois 60173
(847) 303-4100
Limited rooms at special rates for RP Expo attendees available here.
“We consider the RP Expo a consumer show, where die-hard performance enthusiasts get the opportunity to interact with their favorite manufacturers, engine and car builders, retailers and sanctioning bodies face to face. While also checking out or purchasing the latest performance products that were revealed at SEMA or PRI, where the average consumer isn’t allowed to attend,” says Stockenberg. “This event gets bigger every year. We started in a 35,000 square foot hall and last year finally had to upgrade to the nearly 150,000 square foot Schaumburg Convention Center. We have all the major players in attendance, from Moroso, Holley and Comp Cams, to Edelbrock, Canton, and World Products just to name a few.”
“This year we also have a number of awesome seminars,” explains Stockenberg. “For example, Hoosier Tire will be joining us for the first time and will be hosting a racing tire question and answer session open to anyone in attendance. Jeanette DesJardins of Car Chix will also be holding a motorsports marketing seminar for aspiring racers and established race teams wanting to learn how to promote themselves and do it more effectively.”
“Hot Rodders of Tomorrow is our [Winner’s Circle/RP Expo] parent company and the title sponsor of the 10th annual RP Expo,” states Stockenberg. “The first qualifying round of the 2017 Engine Challenge will be held at the expo, and with 24 teams from high schools competing over a period of two days – it’s guaranteed to be a competitive qualifier.”
“We are also excited to debut the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Junior Dragster Racing Series, headed by Ryan Gortney. We will have 12 junior dragsters at the show to give the general public an idea of what this new program is all about, and Gortney will be also be doing a Briggs and Stratton engine tear down as the first event for the series.”
Things you won’t want to miss at the 10th annual Race and Performance Expo:
- Exhibitors – 100,000 square feet of exhibitor space, including performance parts manufacturers, retailers, car builders, engine builders, racecar trailer manufacturers, race tracks, sanctioning bodies and club racing groups.
- VIP Speed Pass – A 2-day event pass with early access to the convention center (8:30 am), first dibs on hot ticket items at the swap meet, and more!
- Swap Meet – A massive enthusiast driven swap meet for drag racing, musclecars, hot rods and circle track parts.
- Seminars – Gain invaluable technical and marketing knowledge from some of the biggest names in the automotive industry.
- Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge – Watch as 24 high school teams from the East Coast and Midwest compete head-to-head in the first qualifying round of the 2017 engine build challenge.
- Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Junior Dragster Racing Series Debut – 12 junior dragsters will be at the show and Ryan Gortney will be heading a Briggs and Stratton engine teardown as the first event for the program.
- Car Builders Showcase – Check out some of the coolest builds from the biggest names in the industry in person.