American Motorcycle Dealer AMD 168 July 2013 | Page 19

JIMS USA: For the Californian engines, parts and tools specialist, Paul Platts said: “As an American manufacturer, it’s difficult to exhibit overseas. Most shows are either a retail environment or customer-specific. The idea of a professional trade show, similar to the Cincinnati V-Twin Expo, in a central European location is ideal. Big Bike Europe’s first attempt at this was on target. Compounded with the Custom Bike Building Championship ~ the potential for this show is big. In a nutshell, the concept and presentation was good, now we need the dealers and enthusiasts to attend and support it! I know for a fact that without this, no show will survive. Robin & AMD have done a great job building the championship over the past 10 years, I trust they will do the same with Big Bike Europe.”; www.jimsusa.com KIBBLEWHITE PRECISION MACHINING: The Californian valve train manufacturer’s Jacob Harrington said: “KPMI has a long and prolific history in the US, and we valued the opportunity that Big Bike Europe gave us to continue to introduce European dealers and riders to the performance, dependability and value that is built into every product we make.”; www.kpmi.us TTS WHEELS, GERMANY: Torsten Kröner, Owner: “I am very happy with how the show turned out. We met good people, it was well organized and the bikes were fantastic. We’ll be back!” www.wheelspoint.de PAASCHBURG & WUNDERLICH: Dieter Klann, Sales and Marketing Director: - “It was always going to be tough to start such an ambitious new project in the current market, and we are disappointed in the attendance. But it was a first year, and for me the overall concept remains valid. Provided there are clear strategies in place to grow the attendance for next year, then for sure we will look at exhibiting again.” www.pwonline.de WOOD PERFORMANCE: This was the first expo appearance outside of the United States for drag race legend Bob Wood’s carbs to cams performance parts program; www.woodcarbs.com RIDE WRIGHT WHEELS: Californian manufacturer of spoke and billet wheels, famous for the multi-color spoke options and popular ‘Fat Daddy’ spoke wheels; www.ridewrightwheels.com never been an international expo in Europe with that focus and those objectives. hilst there are important events in an already crowded international expo calendar, most of which have quite legitimately earned their place in the market cycle, they are either largely regional or national in nature, or they are broad-based OE dominated trade association shows such as INTERMOT and EICMA. The regional and national custom shows are dominated by a dealer/custom shop exhibitor community that is seeking to W engage with local consumers in a primarily retail environment. The broad-based OE dominated trade association owned shows also have an altogether different and also perfectly legitimate focus – one that seeks to develop participation in the Powered Two Wheeler (PTW) industry in general and do so primarily in the context of the business needs of the major motorcycle manufacturers. However, with workshop and parts department >>> revenue firmly center stage as the primary AMERICAN MOTORCYCLE DEALER - JULY 2013 www.AMDchampionship.com 19