One Week Until 2015 AIMExpo

With the countdown clock just outside of one week until the kickoff of the Third Annual American International Motorcycle Expo (AIMExpo), the anticipation surrounding the 2015 event continues to build as the days count down. North America’s premier powersports trade show is poised to be larger than ever with an increased number of exhibitors and attendees anticipated at Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center, October 15-18. Domestic visitors from all 50 states and Canada, and international visitors from nearly 50 countries will be welcomed to the unparalleled all-in-one platform that brings every facet of the powersports marketplace together in one place at one time, including trade, dealers, media and consumer visitors.

With more than 550 manufacturers and aftermarket brands, AIMExpo easily surpassed 2014’s exhibitor mark as increasing numbers of powersports companies have recognized Orlando in October as the place to be for business. Headlining the excitement is a record number of OEM exhibitors bringing the latest 2016 models for attendees to see and experience, both inside the OCCC, and on the demo ride courses at AIMExpo Outdoors!. A total of 17 OEMs will be represented on the exhibitor floor, including first-time participants Arctic Cat, BMW, Can-Am/BRP, Honda, and Yamaha WaterCraft. Importantly, this landmark achievement of OEM participation will also feature global and domestic debuts from several manufacturers.

At the off-road portion of AIMExpo Outdoors!, attendees will be able to put four-wheel vehicles to the test from OEM’s like Arctic Cat, Can-Am/BRP, Honda, KYMCO USA, Massimo Motors, Suzuki and Yamaha. For those more inclined to take to the streets, on-road demos will feature Can-Am/BRP, Honda, Kawasaki, KYMCO USA, Orlando Harley-Davidson, Suzuki, Yamaha and Zero. Ever ridden an electric motorcycle? For the first time at AIMExpo you can experience the quiet thrills of Zero’s electric fleet of vehicles.

If your powersports hobbies also take you to the water, AIMExpo offers up a strong marine segment this year with BRP’s Sea-Doo line, Gibbs Sports Amphibians and Yamaha WaterCraft on hand. Gibbs will show off its land and water capable dual-purpose vehicle – the Quadski – on the appropriately named “Quadski Lake” at AIMExpo Outdoors!.

The AIMExpo Mobile App, created in partnership with NADAguides, is now ready for downloading from the App Store and Google Play. The highly upgraded App allows users to actively make appointments while at the event, create an agenda for any one of the four days, and take shareable notes that can be organized by exhibitor or seminar. The interactive floor plan features zoom capabilities and a sort option by category that allows for easier discovery of similar exhibitors, while the wayfinding feature ensures users can find their way around AIMExpo at all times. By downloading the App you’re eligible for a 30-day free trial of the NADAguides Powersports CONNECT product.

In addition to all of these benefits of being at AIMExpo this year, the show is also featuring industry and non-industry personalities. Off-road racing pioneer and AMA Hall of Famer Malcolm Smith serves the celebrated role of “AIMExpo Champion,” while True Value President & CEO John Hartmann will share proven business practices and his own passion for riding to all trade and industry attendees as keynote speaker.

Malcolm Smith, this year's Show Champion — Malcolm Smith, this year’s Show Champion

In addition to Smith and Hartmann, the 2015 champions from the inaugural MotoAmerica season will be honored in the Media Hub and during the inaugural MotoAmerica Night of Champions awards ceremony on Friday evening, October 16th. Beyond the exhibitor floor, the Powersports Business Institute @ AIMExpo, sponsored by CDK Global Recreation (CDK) and National Powersport Auctions (NPA), will be more comprehensive than ever before with both industry and non-industry speakers.

AIMExpo Champion, Smith will be a focal point of several AIMExpo festivities, including Q&A sessions with fans, media appearances and signing copies of his brand-new autobiography in booth 2401. “Malcolm! The Autobiography” is available now from Malcolm Smith Motorsports, www.themalcolmbook.com and powersports dealers nationwide via Tucker Rocky.

John Hartmann, True Value President and CEO

Coffee and Keynote Courtesy of the MIC will kick off day two of AIMExpo’s trade days with coffee and Florida continental breakfast from 8 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. followed by the keynote address at 9 a.m. AIMExpo’s highly anticipated keynote speaker, well-respected corporate leader John Hartmann, brings his own enthusiast knowledge to the country’s premier powersports event. The avid motocrosser will share some of his experiences from nearly two decades as a senior corporate executive, sharing progressive business models with AIMExpo attendees on Friday, October 16 inside the Chapin Theater at the OCCC. The engagement is intended for all industry attendees – dealers, media and exhibitors.

MotoAmerica, led by multi-time World Champion Wayne Rainey and the KRAVE Group, helped bring the spotlight back to American road racing. A total of five champions from each of the inaugural series’ classes of competition will be recognized for their accomplishments this season at the awards ceremony on Friday evening. The 2015 champions are Cameron Beaubier (Superbike), Jake Gagne (Superstock 1000), JD Beach (Supersport), Joe Roberts (Bazzaz Superstock 600), and Gage McAllister (KTM RC390 Cup). Multi-time Superbike champion Josh Hayes and groundbreaking female rider Elena Myers will also be in attendance. In addition to Rainey’s leadership role at MotoAmerica, he will be in the spotlight at the AMA Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Saturday night when he is recognized as this year’s HoF Legend.

PSBI@AIMExpo, a comprehensive, dealer-focused educational program, expands to 42 seminar sessions among five tracks, targeting enhanced dealership profitability and operations. The entire curriculum is tailored specifically for dealers and focuses on improving all facets of the powersports retail business model in five key areas: Sales & Marketing sponsored by Fisher Investments; Leadership Plus sponsored by ARI Network Services; Service & Operations; Powering Profits sponsored by McGraw Powersports; and the newly added track geared toward AIMExpo’s growing V-Twin dealer audience, the Brick & Mortar Success Guide.

More than 550 exhibitors have already committed to this year’s AIMExpo, now a part of the Motorcycle Industry Council. Exhibitor presence builds each day and companies looking to take advantage of the AIMExpo platform should contact an AIMExpo Account Manager toll free at 855-MCShows (855-627-4697).For more information: AIMExpoUSA.com

The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame recently named Marilyn Stemp and Steve Piehl to its board of directors.

Stemp is a pioneering figure in the motorcycle industry, founding IronWorks Magazine with her late husband, Dennis, and becoming the first female editor of a nationally circulated, mainstream motorcycle magazine. She also revived their trade magazine, Iron Trader News; edits the monthly Kiwi Indian News; contributes to several powersports media outlets; and is the founding editor of Sturgis Rider Daily. Stemp is a noted editor and writer of several motorcycle-focused books. Her consistent support for charitable efforts in the industry include the annual Biker Belles Celebration, Las Vegas BikeFest and as campaign chair for the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum’s development plan in 2014. She co-founded the Flying Piston charity events taking place in Daytona and Sturgis each year and is a National Ambassador for All Kids Bike. Stemp was inducted into both the Las Vegas Motorcycle Hall of Fame and the Sturgis Museum's Hall of Fame in 2018, and in 2022 she was recognized as one of the Top 100 Women in Powersports by DealerNews.