MIC Gas Tank Finalists to Compete at AIMExpo in Las Vegas

Winner of Product/Service Innovation Contest to be Selected by Industry VIPs

IRVINE, CA – October 2, 2018 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – The Motorcycle Industry Council’s 2018 Gas Tank Competition finalists will display their innovations and share their business plans at AIMExpo presented by Nationwide this month in Las Vegas, having already won prize packages that include travel expenses, booth space and access to media at the giant powersports trade and consumer show.

At the expo, they will compete to be named winner, second place or runner-up by presenting their business plans to industry VIPs on Friday, Oct. 12, at 9 a.m. in the show’s Media Hub. Judging will be industry experts Bob Althoff, dealer principal, A.D. Farrow Co. Harley-Davidson Family of Dealerships; Andrew Leisner, senior vice president, managing director Bonnier Motorcycle Media; Kim Harrison, general manager, Coleman Powersports; and Jessica Prokup, marketing director, Twisted Throttle.

After months of working one-on-one with industry mentors and building winning business plans, the finalists are:

2018 Gas Tank Finalists	Company	Booth #
Chris “Tice” Theis and Phil Theisen	XDL Events LLC	2804
Jen Burch and Jon Dazeley	Hightail	2800
Leslie Padoll	Breaking Hearts & Burning Rubber	2801
Sean Stephens, Alan Hill, Alex Leonov	MotoLink LLC	2805

“Encouraging new entrepreneurs and innovators is important for the powersports industry and something the MIC will always support,” said Tim Buche, MIC president and CEO. “New ideas, new products and new services drive the industry forward, and we’re glad to see the continued interest in our Gas Tank Competition. We’re also glad to know that contestants learn a lot by being paired up with a veteran industry mentor, gaining valuable insights coming from years of experience.”

Gas Tank is open to individuals and groups, women and men, anyone with a new product or service idea. Entrants in the next competition must submit an application and “elevator pitch” video by Jan. 31 to be considered for the 2019 mentorship program. Those selected will be paired with an industry leader, who will offer coaching and advice on developing a business plan. Final business plans must be submitted to the Gas Tank Competition by June 14.

Up to five finalists will be chosen by July 8 to attend the 2019 AIMExpo presented by Nationwide at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Ohio on Sep. 26-29. The finalist prize package will include travel, booth space and valuable industry access. The show brings industry, press, dealers and consumers together in one arena and is the single most important event of its type in the North American market.

Finalists must be able to appear in person at the expo to present their business plan to an industry panel. Pitches will be evaluated on monetary growth potential, overall strategic plan, strategic partners, scalability, innovation, impact and viability and other criteria.

Please contact Cam Arnold at carnold@mic.org with questions about the Gas Tank Competition.

About Motorcycle Industry Council

The Motorcycle Industry Council exists to preserve, protect and promote motorcycling through government relations, communications and media relations, statistics and research, aftermarket programs, AIMExpo, 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, scooters, ATVs, ROVs, motorcycle/ATV/ROV parts, accessories and related goods and services, and members of allied trades such as insurance, finance and investment companies, media companies and consultants.

The MIC is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., with a government relations office in metropolitan Washington, D.C. First called the MIC in 1970, the organization has been in operation since 1914. Visit the MIC at mic.org.

Source: Motorcycle Industry Council