In just its second year, the AIMExpo in Orlando is already positioning itself as a must-do event in the industry. A massive dealer trade show that’s also open to fans, there will be a ton new products and new machines on display, as well as an awesome demo riding area outside with spots for dirt and street bike riding. It runs October 16-19, 2014 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. Click here for info.
This year, Cristy Lee, probably best known as pit reporter for the Fox Sports 1 broadcasts of AMSOIL Arenacross, will serve as hostess for the event. You can learn more about her via her Facebook page or on Twitter and Instagram at @CristyLee09.
Racer X: Congrats on the new gig working at the AIM Expo. I know that probably fans are familiar with you from arenacross. Give us an idea how that’s gone for the last two seasons doing that. How did you even get involved in those broadcasts in the first place?
Cristy Lee: First, I’m glad to be aboard. I’m really excited about AIMExpo. Arenacross has been great the last couple seasons. The series has really grown a lot with the induction of Ricky Carmichael’s Road to Supercross, the opportunity for a lot of young and upcoming riders to try their luck at Arenacross and then have the opportunity to move up to supercross. I hopefully should be back again for the 2015 season. Obviously, my love for motorsports and my work in broadcasting has lent me the opportunity to have jobs and opportunities like that. It’s good to be involved in two-wheel racing at the same time as working with the microphone and getting some information out there to the fans and telling riders’ stories. That’s what I love doing, for sure.
I know you have a background with motorcycles. It’s not like when you went to arenacross it was the first time you’d ever been around some bikes.
Most of my background in the two-wheel industry definitely comes from road racing. Definitely different, but obviously very much the same. The dirt world has inducted me nicely. It’s been great. I have some experience myself riding on a dirt bike, a lot less than I do on a street bike or a sport bike. It’s been a lot of fun and I love it.
What’s the extent of the sport bike experience?
I’ve actually been riding since I was 18. I couldn't wait to get my hands on a motorcycle…of course, to my family’s dismay! I’ve been riding a sport bike since I was 18. So I’ve been on a bike now for quite some time. Actually over the past ten years, I’ve been track riding only and turning some laps at racetracks across the country on several different sport bikes. Definitely a sport I love. I’m certainly by no means looking to move into becoming the next greatest thing in racing any time soon, but it’s just a hobby; it’s something I love. My personal experience can lend to my first-hand knowledge with the industry, which is probably what led me to become involved in motorsports so much.
So you were just riding a motorcycle because you wanted to? There wasn’t even a plan necessarily that eventually I’ll have a job involving that—it was just for fun?
Honestly, if you’d asked me ten or fifteen years ago if I thought I’d be doing what I’m doing right now, I’d probably look cross-eyed. Obviously, my love and my passion for two-wheels has drawn me to that. I really do love what I do, and it’s such a great opportunity to be at the racetrack and combine my love for motor sports and my interest and passion around broadcasting in general.
How crazy is it down on the floor when an arenacross event is going on? I’ve been there myself, and they use every inch of that track. It has to get pretty intense at times.
I have definitely gained a huge, huge respect for motocross racers in general and certainly the guys that run arenacross over the past couple years. Obviously, motorcycle road racing is a pretty extreme sport—any type of racing at that—but these guys are really grinding it out week after week. They’re tough on the bikes; they’re tough on themselves. It’s a really fun, but sometimes-brutal type of sport. And arenacross really takes that to the next level because you’re cramming what should be this giant outdoor motocross track into this tiny little space that’s basically equivalent to a hockey rink or a basketball court. It’s pretty crazy being out on the floor there sometimes with some gnarly roost and some crazy crashes. The excitement level never really drops at arenacross, that’s for sure.
And then to add to it, you got to work with Grant Langston for the last two years. I can tell you from personal experience, and anyone else who’s known him, and now you too, that it’s pretty intense hanging out with GL and doing the broadcast with him.
Yes, the Zulu Warrior! It’s been great working with Grant the past couple seasons. Obviously, you had a chance to spend your summer with him, which I’m sure was just divine. Grant’s a great guy. He really has a lot of experience and know-all of the industry. A lot of people remember him and look up to him. It’s really cool to have him on board with arenacross, and I did get to work with again in four-wheel off-road truck racing with the TORC series this summer, also. It was pretty cool. I did get my maximum Grant Langston time in during 2014, and those are definitely good times.
Let’s talk AIMExpo. The show was new last year and there have been other obviously big dealer industry shows, so I guess people had kind of an idea what to expect, but it’s still pretty new. These shows used to be a chance just for dealers to figure out what are the hot new products, but now the fans get to come too and it’s pretty varied. You talked about road racing; you talked about motocross. It has all that and a whole bunch more. There’s a lot to see there.
Of course. AIM’s really found a great way to provide that opportunity for both people and dealers. There’s a plethora of dealerships out there, and of course there are so many motorcycle enthusiasts. AIM’s really stepped it up and lent the opportunity for both. So it’s really cool for vendors because they have the chance to showcase their stuff earlier in the week, all their 2015 product, what’s new, and up and coming, to dealers, which is obviously how they sell their product. And then in the latter half of the week on Saturday and Sunday, they get a chance to showcase all their cool new stuff to the fans and the patrons and the people who are going to be buying these products. AIM’s really found a very good balance between the two, combining the best of both worlds. A little bit of dealer show, a little bit of fan fest. It’s definitely exciting. I was there last year. They really did a great job pulling off their inaugural year, and I’m really excited to see what they come up their second year in the game.
To me the coolest part was because the weather’s so good in Orlando, that outside test ride area, that was like heaven! That was awesome.
Absolutely, and I’m sure you know it’s also Biketoberfest, which is in Daytona, not too far from Orlando, so it’s pretty cool. They’re really channeling the two-wheel event weekend, having it in October in Florida, when it’s a great time to visit. As you said, the outdoor exhibit is great. If you want to do a test ride, on a dirt bike, an ATV, a street bike, what better place to do it than in sunny, warm central Florida? And Biketoberfest is just up the street, so if you were thinking maybe you wanted to try a nightcap on two wheels, if you head over to Daytona, it’s only about an hour away, and really have a pretty awesome, all-around two-wheel experience.
What’s your role going to be here? Where can they expect to see you, and what do you expect to be doing?
I will be doing a lot of interactive stuff onstage with the fans and patrons and viewers. Doing some interviews of course. I’m always a very big advocate of not only everything two-wheel related, but I’m of course a big advocate of everything two-wheel related that involves safety and also really just embracing women in the industry. I don’t necessarily like to break down boundaries, but I like to catch some people off guard sometimes with hey, just because I’m a girl doesn’t mean I don’t know anything about bikes and I don’t ride one and I know how to work on one. I really like lending my experience and knowledge to any female of course but also to anyone who’s really interested in motorsports or anything related to motorcycles. So I believe I’ll be doing some interviews on stage, probably do some autographs, shake some hands, kiss some babies, that whole thing!
It’s going to be a long couple of days it sounds like for you at least.
Yeah, but I love it. I could be sitting in a cubicle punching numbers into a computer everyday, and I’m just thankful that I have the opportunity to be part of these events like this. I’m thankful for the invite for brining me aboard.
Are you going to be able to escape out there and actually put a helmet on and do some riding at some point with all the stuff that’s going on? Can you sneak it? Can you make it happen?
That’s the million-dollar question! Obviously, any time I can throw a leg over a bike and get out there I’m always up for it. I know for a fact I’ll get some track time in at a different racetrack just prior to the AIMExpo. I’ll at least get my fix if I can’t that weekend. I know I’ll be pretty busy. But anybody willing to let me try something...I’ll have my gear with me. Just planting a little seed there, so if you’re listening out there, I’ll be ready!
That sounds exciting. I think it says a lot—you went to this show on your own; you bought a motorcycle to ride on your own. You’re probably as excited as anybody for this.
Oh yeah, it’s going to be a fun weekend. A lot of work leading up to this for everyone involved, but we think it’s going to a good time.
