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FEATURE INTERVIEWS:

Dr. Jamie Meyer – The High Performance Expo:

This week I caught up with friend of the show Doctor Jamie Meyer. He has been on many times since we first started fifteen years ago, dating back to one of my first “big time” interviews with him in Episode 53. At that time he had been recruited away from his self-started Ford drag racing series to General Motors to lead their performance parts initiative (now Chevrolet Performance), and quite frankly he was a pretty big deal! More interesting is that Jamie’s background and education path was NOT in racing or the automotive/business world at all….it was in anatomy and cell biology (and he really does have a Ph.D)! He then went on to become president of the first PRI show – right in 2020 no less. Now, he’s part of a brand new trade show endeavor that combines the racing industry with the aftermarket….and it all takes place next June in Race City, USA (Charlotte, NC).

Dr. Jamie has been involved in all aspects of the biggest automotive aftermarket and racing industry trade shows, from Vegas, to Indy, and everything in between. Those events have their niche, while some are more consumer focused and some or only industry focused. Some are solely part of the aftermarket – or are heavily aftermarket – are only only racing specific. None are on the Eastern side of the country that put all the big time players in one spot. None are during the best travel season (summer time).

One thing he has heard repeatedly is that people in the industry want a “business only” trade show. At the big shows you see a lot of glitz and media but little time to sit down as a supplier to a business operator to find out how to get these great products into the hands of customers. On the flip side, consumers desperately want to find their way IN to the big trade shows to get one and one access and be part of the game.

Jamie has listened and is working on the first ever dual high performance event where one venue has a business to business setting to foster growth in the industry and the other has great racing attractions for the general public. The show, The High Performance Expo (TheHPX) will give businesses a chance to sit down and communicate without the distractions normally associated with huge trade shows. It’s intent is to combine with best of what the restoration/aftermarket/racing industries have together in the environment and culture that can only be found in Charlotte, the home of NASCAR. And it’ll happen next June with the North Carolina Motorsports Association (NCMA) as The HPX show sponsor. This organization (founded by racing legends like Richard Petty and Rick Hendrick).

Charlotte at nightThere is a lot of work still going on to make The HPX to be the must attend restoration, aftermarket, and racing trade show of the year. The HPX will span not only downtown Charlotte but out to the Charlotte Motor Speedway and they are working with other potential racing locations as well. Jamie assured us that this will be a very diverse and exciting event for both commercial and consumers alike but held in different locations to allow the businesses to do what the businesses need to do, grow the industry.

You can find out more about the show at TheHPX.com and watch the promotional videos at YouTube.com/@TheHPX and scroll though the pictures at Instagram.com/HighPerformanceExpo.

Thanks Doctor Meyer!