New Zealand’s annual CRC Speedshow motoring event wants to become Downunder’s equivalent of the spectacular SEMA show in the United States – and organisers are asking Kiwi motoring fans to pony up with the cash to do so.
CRC Speedshow has teamed with crowdfunding platform PledgeMe to raise around $350,000 to get bigger and better and “take the show to the next level.”
Organisers are seeking to rival the annual Speciality Equipment Market Association (SEMA) in Las Vegas, the premier products event for the wide world of motoring.
CRC Speedshow managing director Ross Prevette – pictured below in the Stutz – said crowdfunding provided the opportunity. “We want to become the southern hemisphere’s SEMA, which is entirely possible, if we can get this financial support,” he said.
“Quite simply, securing this funding through equity crowdfunding will make the show unquestionably epic.
“Imagine the world’s biggest motoring and motorsport stars coming to New Zealand, in potentially their first and only public visit. It would be awesome.”
Prevette said although international buyers see potential in growing the show, his team is determined to keep it locally owned and operated.
“We could easily take these international offers, but we believe it’s important to keep it local with a group of dedicated people,” he said.
“So that’s why we’re offering it to local investors through our crowdfunding campaign – firstly to allow it to stay here but also to show the world how we Kiwis do it down here.”
The dedicated pldg.me/speedshow web page will give people more information. It goes live on February 28.
SEMA each year draws thousand of visitors from around the world. It is not open to the public – attendees have to pre-register.
Last year SEMA drew 60,000 people to the Las Vegas Convention Centre. More than 2500 new products were on display from 2400 exhibiting companies. SEMA this year is on between October 31-November 3.