International Dealer News IDN 115 Oct/Nov 2013 | Page 13

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ARK Blackwell, Vice
President, Special
Projects, Polaris
Industries, has been elected Chair of
the MIC Board of Directors.
Blackwell has served intermittently
on the board since the early 1980s
and takes over from outgoing Chair
Larry Little, who remains an active
elected board member after having
served as Chair for the last 10 years.
“It is an honour for me to serve
the industry as Chair of the MIC,”
said Blackwell. “This is a very
exciting time for the industry and for
the MIC. Although we certainly face
many challenges, I believe the MIC’s
work in providing valuable research,
educational opportunities and
government relations and marketing
support are all vital to our current
and future success. Also, I’d like to

thank Larry for his lengthy tenure
and for continuing service as a
director. On behalf of the members,
the other directors and the industry
at large, we are grateful for his
exemplary service, leadership,
counsel and investment.”
Blackwell added that one of the
many initiatives that he’s excited
about is the recent implementation
of the MIC’s new dealer and retailer
class of membership. He said: “I am
excited about the many benefits MIC
can provide to dealers, including the
ever expanding range of marketing
and statistical information, as well as
educational opportunities like the
new webinar series. Plus, having
dealer representation across the
country will add a powerful voice
when the MIC works on behalf of
the industry on legislative and

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The new Ducati 848 Evo - the
first model to be financed
through Ducati's new VAG retail
finance scheme in the United
States when the programme
went live in September this year

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regulatory matters and increasing
other threats to our industry.”
The Motorcycle Industry Council
exists to preserve, protect and
promote motorcycling through
government relations,
communications and media
relations, statistics and research,
aftermarket programme,
development of data
communications standards, and
activities surrounding technical and
regulatory issues. As a not-for-profit,
national industry association, the
MIC seeks to support motorcyclists
by representing manufacturers,
distributors, dealers and retailers of
motorcycles, s cooters, ATVs, ROVs,
motorcycle/ATV/ROV parts,
accessories and related goods and
services, and members of allied
trades such as insurance, finance

HE synergies that ownership by the
Volkswagen Audi Group bring to the table
continue to be exploited by Ducati in the
United States, with a new retail financing plan
available to their dealers through VW Credit - a
subsidiary of Volkswagen Group of America Inc.
Ducati Financial Services (DFS) offers new and
used Ducati buyers financing for their
motorcycles and a range of ancillaries and addons, such as their 'Ever Red' Motorcycle
Protection Plan, Guaranteed Asset Protection

Y the time you read this edition of
International Dealer News, the all-new
AIMExpo at Orlando, Florida, will either be
about to happen very soon, be currently taking
place (October 16th - 20th 2013), or have taken
place already.
Either way, the cycle of domestic US
powersports industry expo discontent that gave
rise to the AIMExpo project, and the panic that the
new show's announcement and inexorable march
towards apparent success triggered at Advanstar
Inc., the company that has owned and operated
the 'Indy' Dealer Expo, appears to have driven
'Indy' towards its final death throes.
After multiple versions of their response to the
new rival came and went, the latest twist in this
particular example of self-destruction comes with
Advanstar's announcement not only of yet another
change of date, but also now a change of venue
too.
In the past the company has consistently

Industry veteran Mark Blackwell has
been named Chair of the MIC Board
of Directors

and investment companies, media
companies and consultants.
www.mic.org

(GAP) plan, and 'Road Hazard' tire and wheel
protection plans. The United States is Ducati's
largest market with over 9,000 units sold there
last year.
Dominique Cheraki, General Manager of Ducati
North America, is quoted as saying "the
introduction of DFS marks a historic time for
Ducati North America. With specially tailored inhouse programme we are now able to effectively
enhance and improve the customer buying and
ownership experience." www.ducati.com

insisted that, of all places, Chicago would be one
of the very worst host cities in which to stage the
once pre-eminent domestic US powersports
industry trade show, but their latest news is
indeed of a move for Dealer Expo to the
notoriously expensive, rigidly unionised and
exhibitor-unfriendly embrace of Chicago's
McCormick Place.
What is more, having seen AIMExpo defy
Advanstar's historic insistence that 'sun-belt'
venues were death for the business focus of
trade show attendees by successfully attracting
nearly 400 exhibitors (and counting) to the
gentle climes of Florida in the Fall, Advanstar has
seen fit not just to move 'Indy' even further
North, but swap February for December!
Slated for December 5th - 7th 2014 (marking
a near two-year gap since the last and much
criticised Dealer Expo in February 2013) US
industry reaction to the move(s) has been almost
universally hostile; indeed the widespread

Chicago's notoriously
expensive, rigidly
unionised and exhibitor
unfriendly McCormick
Place is now slated to be
the new host venue for
Advanstar's Dealer Expo
in December 2014 - 22
months after the much
criticised final 'Indy'

scuttlebutt is that if AIMExpo #1 makes a
reasonable first year splash, then the chances of
there being a 'next' Dealer Expo at all, anywhere at
anytime, will be very much in the balance.
INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - OCT/NOV 2013

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