Indoor Karting Venues Build Events Around PKE2010

Las Vegas, December 11, 2009: With the inclusion of the world of indoor karting into the PKE2010 show presented by the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup, dozens of facilities around the country have embraced this event as their own and are working hard to make this an annual event.

Indoor performance karting centers such as Xtreme Indoor in Ft. Lauderdale, Pole Position’s five locations and K1’s six locations are using the PKE2010 race as the basis for their own internal competitions to build the best possible teams to send to Las Vegas in February. With such a unique race environment, the prize money and the ultimate bragging rights, these karting centers are taking the challenge seriously and others are following suit.

Another important motivator is the fact that this event fully embraces the indoor community and places it front and center in the outdoor karting world. With simultaneous live tracks operating indoors and outdoors every attendee will be able to navigate their own path of interest and see it all in real-time action.

According to Tom Godfrey, founder of the Indoor Kart Racing League and race director for the first PKE2010 indoor arena mini-enduro, “Until now the indoor karting community has not had an event that truly focuses on our segment of the industry. The outdoor karting market has had a number of promotional and trade vehicles and there has been some minor representation but nothing to the magnitude that PKE2010 is bringing to the table.”

With more than 32 three-person teams of the maximum 48 allowed already registered, these competitors represent more than twenty indoor performance karting facilities from around the country. Many indoor competitors are anxious to show their skills in front of the outdoor community who often discount the driving techniques required to compete on these tracks. At the same time, there is talk amongst a number of outdoor drivers who are seeking opportunities to join the indoor teams and go head to head in the final group of twelve.

The South Point Event Arena is another exciting feature of this race. This 80,000 square foot venue offers more than 31,000 square feet of track surface with over 4400 stadium seats completely surrounding the track. Overhead are four diamond-vision screens that will broadcast the live TV footage from this Friday evening race as well as show teams, drivers and current standings. The facility will have the full Las Vegas entertainment feel with high energy music, lights and sound. The live streaming TV broadcast team will be calling the play-by-play live over the facility sound system as well as to the rest of the world. We also can’t forget the prize money. The $5000.00 purse will give the first place team $2500.00 in cash!

The race format is a 180 lap relay where each of the three drivers are responsible for 60 laps. There are weight equalizers involved which will make for exciting pit stops.

With regard to marketing to the indoor community, Ray Verhelst, Event Manager of PKE2010 said, “From a pure numbers standpoint, the indoor performance karting market is a sleeping giant. With more than 130 performance level indoor facilities in place nationally, we project more than 130,000 relatively new karting enthusiasts get behind the wheel each month. Our research shows that even at the most conservative percentages, there are enough indoor customers who have expressed real interest in stepping outside that could effectively double the size of the total outdoor kart racing community in under 18 months if given the right promotion.”

Verhelst added, “The partnership we have created with a number of the larger indoor facilities has allowed PKE2010 to reach out to proprietary customer lists that reach into the half million mark and we are inviting them to come and support their local indoor teams. For the exhibiting distributors, dealers, clubs and associations this is an amazing marketing opportunity to help new customers navigate the best ways to get involved within all aspects of grassroots racing.”

Finally, let’s not forget the magnetic draw of Las Vegas and the fact that PKE2010 is on Super Bowl weekend. More than 100,000 people travel to this gaming Mecca to partake in the weekend long football celebrations and PKE2010 is supporting the festivities with the South Point by incorporating a massive “Big Game” party immediately following the close of the show on Sunday.

For more information on the Indoor Arena Mini-Enduro and the rest of the PKE2010 show, visit www.pke201.com