NEW AUTO RACING EXPO INVOLVES LOCAL COMMUNITY
Anderson, IN - August 17, 2010 - There is a new auto racing industry
show set to debut this Thanksgiving weekend in Indianapolis, and
organizers of the event hope to showcase their once struggling
community of Anderson, IN in a new show that will attract support on a
national level.
The Great American Motorsport Exposition will inaugurate at the Indiana
State Fairgrounds on November 26-28, 2010. The new auto racing Trade
Show - Fan Fest. - Auction will cater to everyone involved in the sport
including: fans, drivers, tracks, media, sanctioning bodies, and retail
individuals of the sport.
Show founder, Gary Schlafer, is a former driver and successful
businessman who calls Anderson, IN home.Schlafer, along with his
wife Connie, have saw the highs and lows of their local community during this time.
" The city is going through a transitioning period right now " explained Schlafer. " We
were a city that was once dependant on employment from General Motors
plants, and no longer have that luxury. Those jobs aren't here any
longer and many have left the city in search of employment.
" Many people might not realize that the City of Anderson has been a
major contributor to the sport of auto racing both past and present.
Even in our current troubled economic times, Anderson is still a strong
contributor " continues Schlafer. " Rick Dawson, owner of Anderson
Speedway, has done a great job of putting the city in the national
spotlight with events such as the Little 500 and Redbud 300 races. We
have several national sanctioning bodies that call Anderson home
including: International Outlaw Figure 8 Series (IOFS), Great Lakes Pro
Series, and the Midwest Vintage Oldtimers Race Car Club. The Mayor's
Cup Grand Prix is a huge Karting event held annually in the city and
promoted by the Sertoma Club.The local Anderson Soap Box Derby club
has shown an interest and will be a participant as well " concluded Schlafer.
The Great American Motorsport Exposition is a national industry trade
show event and many insiders believe it to be the biggest fan oriented
trade show in the country. Interestingly, Schlafer hopes to use the
show as a way to bring exposure to the city of Anderson." Our show
director, David Sink who is also from Anderson, and I want to show how
Anderson contributes to the sport regularly. We've gotten Anderson
Speedway and the local sanctioning bodies to come out and support the
show. " I'm proud to call Anderson home and I'm pleased that I can use our
show to promote Anderson in a positive way. The Great American
Motorsport Exposition is an Anderson based business and all of our
staff reside here as well. The weekend of the show we'll have some of
the biggest racing personalities, drivers, tracks, and sanctioning
bodies from all across the country. It just tickles me we are going to
have so much support from the Anderson community there as well. People
might not realize that Anderson was the home of a couple of national
racing champions as well. In the early 1930's Bob Carey was a AAA
champion and Brain Tyler was a USAC National Sprint Car champion in the
late 1990's. Long-time car owner Larry Contos calls Anderson home and renowned author Dave Argabright got his start in racing working at Anderson Speedway as well as our local newspaper. So once again, Anderson has contributed in so many ways and hopefully we can recognize these individuals and clubs over the coarse of the weekend " concluded Schlafer.
Schlafer is a former sprint car driver who is credited with a third
place finish in the 1986 Little 500. Schlafer owned and operated
several businesses in Anderson before briefly moving to Beaver Dam, WI
to build and operate Beaver Dam Raceway. Upon the sale of Beaver Dam
Raceway in 1999, Schlafer remained idle from
the sport until he announced details of the Great American Motorsport
Exposition in early June. Schlafer recently gained his auctioneers
licence and is one of the few trade show owners who can conduct his own
auction given the fact he is a licensed auctioneer.
Currently the show has received support from several national
sanctioning bodies and tracks including: The All Star Circuit Of
Champions, Eldora Speedway, Must See Racing Xtreme Sprint Series,
Champion Racing Association, Eldora Speedway, Winchester Speedway,
Little 500 Hall Of Fame, Quarter Midgets Of America, All Star Late
Models, USSA, and the USA Modified Series among others.
Schlafer has been promoting the show non-stop in recent weeks. Schlafer
appeared on the AM 540 ESPN Milwaukee ' Racing Roundup ' radio show Monday
night and ' Anderson Live ' on AM 1240 WHBU on Tuesday Morning.
Schlafer will also be in Slinger, WI to present trophies during the
Must See Racing Xtreme Sprint Series event Saturday night August 21st.
The event will air on local television to Comcast subscribers on a tape
delayed basis. Air time TBA.
Several fan themed events are planned during the weekend including: a
recognition of the woman of racing, night of champions, and the
first-ever national Figure 8 reunion. Fans will also have a chance to
meet racing personalities and obtain autographs. Over 100 racing cars
of all types will be on display over the coarse of the weekend. Details
will be made public as they are finalized on the official website
http://greatamericanmotorsportexposition.com/