International Dealer News IDN 148 April/May 2019 | Page 27

THE AMERICAN REPORT
Parts Unlimited/Drag Specialties
Spring NVP Product Expo
Louisville, Kentucky, 16-17 February 2019
This year saw Drag Specialties and Parts Unlimited set up shop at the recently and expensively refurbished
downtown Kentucky International Convention Centre at Louisville, Kentucky, for the spring 2019 Dealer Expo.
The excellent and spacious venue could have swallowed the event, but record numbers of vendor and brand
booths, and of attending dealers, made it a well-organised and busy business weekend that rewarded and
motivated in equal measure…
he Parts Unlimited and
Drag Specialties Spring
NVP Product Expo proved
to be the biggest Expo
ever put on by LeMans
Corporation.
"The event not only hit its highest
attendee numbers of any previous
Expo, but it also exceeded all other U.S.
distributor shows by spanning over
8,000 sq. m with more than 240
leading exhibitors, including 25 brands,
that were new to the Expo.
"The expanded show space allowed
for larger displays to showcase the
newest products and accommodate
the record number of attendees."
Jeff Derge, Vice President of Sales, said:
"Our first year in Louisville could not
have gone better. Thank you to the
dealers, vendors and our team for
working the weekend with us. This
show is such an important part of
improving our industry. There are so
many great new products on the
market this year, and dealers were able
to spend quality time talking with the
vendors and reps to really get an
T
understanding of these products. In the
end, the dealers who attended will
deliver a better shopping experience
for every customer that enters their
stores."
The weekend kicked off on the
Thursday with training for the Parts
Unlimited and Drag Specialties Sales
Reps which extended into Saturday
and also included dealer training from
Alpinestars, Fat Baggers, Rekluse, S&S
and others. Expanded Expo floor
hours both Saturday and Sunday
provided dealers ample time to visit
exhibitors and see the newest
products.
The 2019 Spring Apparel Fashion
Show was a highlight of the show floor
during Saturday's Happy Hour. Gracing
the catwalk were new collections from
over 15 brands highlighting Thor, ICON,
Moose, Arctiva, Slippery and Z1R.
Mike Collins, President of LeMans
Corporation, commented: "What a
way to kick off the 2019 season. I've
never felt such enthusiasm and
optimism from dealers, vendors and
reps. We all need events like this as a
reminder as to why we are in this
business. It was a fantastic gathering
and we've set the bar high for our next
event."
The event came amid a slew of new
vendor announcements for 2019 from
Drag Specialties and Parts Unlimited -
from Eibach (UTV springs and
accessories) to Galfer USA (V-twin and
street bike brake pads and rotors) to Fat
Baggers (motorcycle parts and trike
conversions), Rekluse (clutches),
Woessner (pistons) and WildASS seats.
Following the sale of CruzTOOLS by
Dan Parks, the new owner, CycoActive
Riding Gear (Seattle), became a first
time NVP exhibitor, with Parts
Unlimited renewing its long-standing
relationship with the lifetime
guarantee backed CruzTOOLS brand of
hand tools and roadside emergency
tool kits for most powersports vehicles,
including street bikes, dual-sport,
adventure and off-road motorcycles -
"professional-grade, bike-specific tools
and kits designed for reliable roadside
or trailside repairs."
Owned by Race Winning Brands, the
Wiseco and Pro-X parent company,
Boise, Idaho, Rekluse joined the Parts
Unlimited portfolio, offering its award-
winning off-road and cruiser clutches,
including the TorqDrive Clutch Pack
and RadiusX.
In other news, Parts Unlimited has
renewed its sponsorship as the Official
Powersports Distributor of American
Flat Track for the 2019 season.
"Parts Unlimited has proven an
essential ally as we continue to grow
our fanbase within the motorcycle
community at large," said Michael
Lock, CEO of American Flat Track. "Our
fans are motorcycle enthusiasts and
will undeniably recognise the value in
names like Parts Unlimited and Drag
Specialties within our family of series
partners."