FYI WIRZ: Performance Racing Industry Show Draws Crowds and Kid Speed

Speed in motorsports is for all ages.  Speed is always about numbers too, big numbers: 1,000 motorsports companies displaying countless products—engineering. Engine parts, suspension components, data acquisition, safety gear, metal alloys, coatings, machining equipment, race electronics—in 3,000 booths on nearly 1,000,000 square feet at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.

Speed is the theme during the first week of December, three days where more than 30,000 buying attendees converge for Performance Racing Industry Trade Show. 

To attend, all one needs to be is a bona fide racing company or employee. But those folks can join numerous seminars throughout the week requiring paid attendance to be privy to great advice from top motorsports professionals.   

Speed is not just for adults, and although PRI insurance regulations require that all attendees be at least 18, exhibition content and stories about youths dedicated to speed surfaced at the popular show.    

On display for the crowd was a very colorful truck with a special driver. 

Kid K J (K.J. Olson-Watson) has been driving a Monster Truck since he was six-years-old, but he’s more experienced and older now—at seven.   

Kid K J is billed as “The world’s youngest Monster Truck driver,” and for good reason—he is.  K J was a part of the exhibition for Uncle Tod Motorsports and hence, not restricted to the 18-year-old age limit required for attendees.         

Kid K J drives a specially-built half-sized Monster Truck and he was eager to describe it.. 

“It’s seven feet high and 10 feet long and 2,500 pounds,” K J said.

And besides wearing a Hans Device that all race drivers wear, what about his safety equipment?

“Full roll cage and fire protection system and a five-point safety harness,” K J said. “And hydraulic-assist brakes.  They modified the truck by bringing the pedals closer to me and bringing the shifter closer to me and making a littler seat that can fit me.”  

Dad, Tod Weston, explained the mechanical details of the truck.  

“It’s complete two-scale half-size of the full Monster Truck that we run,” Watson said. “It has everything including 4-wheel drive, rear steering.  It’s got all the fire-suppression systems but it’s the exact same competition vehicle.  It’s not a toy.

"It’s a four-link suspension.  We’re using nine-inch Ford rear ends with Dana 44 axles although we’re beefing them up Dana 60.  The transmission in it is to run a two-liter Ford Focus motor, about 200 horse power a two-speed Powerglide in it.

"We hooked it into a custom-built transfer case.  It’s a 12 to one ratio.  It’s exactly the same as the big truck except when you look at it, it’s half-sized.” 

When asked what it’s like to thrill the fans with his driving of a half-sized Monster Truck, K J commented: 

“It feels really good and it’s really fun.”

Hopefully, timely quotes and that component explanation will satisfy gear heads out there, but Kid K J wasn’t the only kid story at the PRI. 

A late-season John Force racing story was told to WFO radio.com, Joe Costello, broadcasting from the Geico Insurance display area where Gecko souvenirs, little green guy stuff, were available to those walking by.    

John Force and Matt Hagan had a tight points race going into the final NHRA Funny car race in Pomono this year.  About 10 days earlier, Force described a moment during Halloween weekend at the next-to-last NHRA race in Las Vegas.   

“I said to that little kid at Halloween at Vegas, what are you going to be on Sunday?  And the kid said, ‘I'm going to be a boat captain.’  He had this little hat on. 

"And he goes, ‘What do you want to be, Mr. Force?’  I said, I want to be the points leader because that was the championship deal for the points at Vegas at Halloween. And the kid goes, little kid—I know you're not trying to be funny, but it was funny.  Kind of aggravated me.  Kid was so sharp. 

“He said, ‘What are you going to do, dress up like Hagan?’ Because he knew Hagan was in the points lead.  Kids know what's going on.  They tell the truth, you know what I mean?”

It’s suspected that many will understand Mr. Force.

Next year’s PRI Trade Show will arrive more new products and fresh racing stories in the first week in December 1-3, 2011 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.   

Until then—it’s a race to keep the speed.