Question for guys who have been to PRI

[My427stang]

Is it worth doing more than one day?  I have been to SEMA and we were pretty beat up trying to see it in a day. 

If anyone else is going let me know, maybe we can grab dinner. 

[jayb]

I think it depends on how long your list is.  If you are only there to look around and talk to a few different vendors, one day is probably enough.  If you want to see every booth, or talk to ten or twelve vendors, figure on two days.  The place is jammed most days, I have waited at some booths 30-45 minutes to be able to ask questions.

[RJP]

Is it worth doing more than one day?  I have been to SEMA and we were pretty beat up trying to see it in a day. 

If anyone else is going let me know, maybe we can grab dinner.

Ross, I've never been to the PRI show in Indy but I have been to a few when they were on the West coast. Santa Clara, Sacramento, etc. I saw just about everything I wanted to see in one day and that included breakfasts with keynote speakers that took about an hour or little more. I'm sure the Indy show is a lot bigger now than when it was on the west coast. FWIW I much preferred the PRI show over SEMA by leaps and bounds. PRI is geared more to the hard core gear heads, engine, transmission, rearend, chassis builders and associated machine equipment/tooling whereas SEMA has a lot of accessories, headlights and tail lights, stereo systems, wheels and what ever is the latest fad that is sweeping the car world at the moment. But I'm sure a lot has changed over the years since I last went.

[My427stang]

Thanks guys, I'll likely do only Friday.

[Barry_R]

Is it worth doing more than one day?  I have been to SEMA and we were pretty beat up trying to see it in a day. 

If anyone else is going let me know, maybe we can grab dinner.

Ross, I've never been to the PRI show in Indy but I have been to a few when they were on the West coast. Santa Clara, Sacramento, etc. I saw just about everything I wanted to see in one day and that included breakfasts with keynote speakers that took about an hour or little more. I'm sure the Indy show is a lot bigger now than when it was on the west coast. FWIW I much preferred the PRI show over SEMA by leaps and bounds. PRI is geared more to the hard core gear heads, engine, transmission, rearend, chassis builders and associated machine equipment/tooling whereas SEMA has a lot of accessories, headlights and tail lights, stereo systems, wheels and what ever is the latest fad that is sweeping the car world at the moment. But I'm sure a lot has changed over the years since I last went.

PRI is pretty much a 2 day minimum if you want to sit in on any seminars or see a lot of the show.  just too much ground to cover in a single day.

The west coast shows were "cute" in comparison to the main show in Indy (or Orlando when it was there).  Maybe 1/4 the size.  It's always been a better show than SEMA, although the tight racer focus has softened a bit these past few years and the vendor count has definitely dropped - no matter what the promotional stuff claims....

[My427stang]

If anyone is going, let me know.  I think I am going to try to meet Brent one day if he goes.  Would love to grab lunch or dinner if someone else is kicking around.

[mbrunson427]

Ross, John Bamber and my uncle Bob will be there for sure. I'm personally on the fence about it because I'm in Tulsa and there's not a very quick way to get there from here.

You guys should make a point of running into them, I can coordinate it. They will be arriving Wednesday night and leaving early Saturday morning.


Here's the way we do it: We write a list of all the people we want/need to talk with and plot them out on the map. First thing Thursday morning we do that while crowds are manageable. You'll have 2-3 hours before it really starts loading up and becomes slow to get around. From there we walk the aisles. Friday morning go back to see anything that we missed. We always give up by about noon on Friday.

[blykins]

I plan on being up there Friday.   Will be talking camshafts upstairs.

[bluef100fe]

I’m planning on attending Friday/Saturday with my brother. We will be driving down Thursday and As Barry said it’s really a two day deal if you stop to talk to any vendors. Assuming it’s as big as previous years there’s just a lot of ground to cover and lots to see.

[philminotti]

I've been to both SEMA and PRI as an interested spectator, not a builder or industry insider.  Although I love anything shiny that involves engines, I can tell you that PRI became a bit repetitive after about 6 hours.  I mean, how many pistons and rods can can an amateur really look at?  I'm almost ashamed to admit it, but I found SEMA more engaging overall and spent two full days in the exhibit halls.

[Barry_R]

I expect to be Friday/Saturday.
I have been going since about 1992
At this point it's as much a social event as a business function.

[BigBlueIron]

Recommend 2 days, spend the first day walking and deciding what you really want to look at then come back the next day to visit those places.