Toyo Tires has renewed and increased its sponsorship of Vision Entertainment's Hot Import Nights. This is the third year Toyo has sponsored the series, which kicked off February 5th at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego, CA."The company's increased involvement has resulted in renaming the event to the Toyo Tires' Hot Import Nights," according to Richard Goodwin, president of Vision Entertainment. Formerly, the series was called Hot Import Nights Presented by Toyo Tires.
"Toyo Tires' hot Import Nights features more than 100 performance automotive industry and lifestyle vendor booths, live musical acts in a nightclub setting with a sophisticated lightshow, and more than 300 show cars at each date," states Goodwin. New this year is the expansion of the show beyond California, with Hot Import Nights planned in Secaucus, NJ, Chicago, IL, and Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
"We're taking the show national this year, based on the incredible success and unprecedented growth we have experienced," adds Goodwin. This year's venues are also larger in order to accommodate the sell-out crowds.
"We owe much of our success to Toyo Tires," he continues. "They took a chance with us in the very beginning — they had the foresight of what this event would mean to our audience. They went way above-and-beyond what a title sponsor normally would do, and for that, we are extremely grateful."
The 2000 schedule is as follows:
April 8, SanMateo Exposition Center, San Mateo, CA
April 29, Meadowlands Exposition Center, Secaucus, NJ
June 3, McCormick Place Convention Center, Chicago, IL
October 15, Hot Import Daze (a daytime version of the event), Hidden Valley, CA
December 2, Broward Convention Center, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
There will also be one additional California date which has yet to be announced.
"We have had such stellar success with Hot import Nights that we decided to take our sponsorship to the highest level possible," explains Earl Knoper, senior vice president, marketing, Toyo Tire (U.S.A.). "It's the perfect venue to showcase our Proxes line of ultra-high performance tires. We're looking forward to another sell-out year."
This is the first time tickets to all events will be available on-line. There is still room for show vehicles at each venue, but exhibitor space is sold out.
During each event, Toyo will host a hospitality and display area where attendees can receive free posters and register to win a set of Toyo tires. In addition, Toyo will continue to hold the "Best Dressed on Toyos" competition at all events. The winner at each show will receive a trophy, and then will compete in a final "Best of Show" contest, with first prize being an all-expense-paid trip to the SEMA show in November, where the winning vehicle will be displayed in the Toyo Tire booth.
Link for more info: www.hotimportnights.com
