This year’s Outside Groove Racing Show featured more exhibitors and attendees than ever. In fact, this year it expanded more onto the second floor of the Jacob Building at Chilhowee Park in Knoxville, Tennessee.
More than 50 exhibitors displayed on the floor. They represented a wide range of motorsport disciplines, from drag racing, to drifting, to rally racing, to tractor pulls, to, of course, oval-track racing. Plenty of products were available for racers to purchase to help their efforts for this upcoming season.
Mike Morgan brought the centerpiece to the show, the truck dubbed Mackvader, which represented American Big Rig Racing. His ride exemplified the spirit of the show. Mackvader has competed in a variety of types of motorsport: drifting, drag racing, oval-track racing, road racing and more.
(For more on American Big Rig Racing, read “American Big Rig Series Brings a Crowd.”)
Upstairs, a special Kids in Racing section highlighted the many opportunities for youth to get involved in the sport, from go-karts, to sport compacts, to junior dragsters, to Bandoleros, to even a Top Wrench competition for those preferring to turn wrenches.
Also upstairs, several seminars took place, with three geared toward promoters. PRI Ambassador Tom Deery presented “How to Keep Them Coming Back.” Safety experts Kelley Carlton, of Kelcar Motorsports Media, Randy LaJoie, of The Joie of Seating, and Joe Vinson, of RaceCeiver, offered a track safety seminar. MyRacePass presented a promotors roundtable with Carlton, Austin Lloyd, of MyRacePass, and Brady Cupp, of Tazewell Speedway moderating. In addition, an announcers workshop and a karting tech certification seminar took place.
The Outside Groove Racing Show swap meet continued to grow as well. Attendees could score some deals on parts and equipment and racers could do some spring cleaning before the season opens in March.
The next Outside Groove Racing Show will take place February 21-22, 2025. It once again returns to the Jacob Building at Chilhowee Park in Knoxville, Tennessee. To secure exhibitor space for next year’s edition, email [email protected] .
The Outside Groove Executive Editor has covered motorsports since 2000. His many awards include the 2019 Eastern Motorsport Press Association (EMPA) Jim Hunter Writer of the Year and the 2013 Russ Catlin Award for Excellence in Motorsports Journalism.
