The motorsports industry will be doing its share to help the economy as buyers from more than 60 countries are expected to attend the 22nd annual Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show in Orlando, Fla.

Taking place at the Orange County Convention Center from Dec. 10-12, the show is recognized as one of the best places to conduct motorsports business internationally. Last year, it attracted more than 40,000 attendees.

"The racing products and machinery that will provide new revenue streams and new sources of profit for racing entrepreneurs in 2010 will all be on display in Orlando," said John Kilroy, editor of Performance Racing Industry magazine. "It's a remarkable and unique opportunity for racing professionals to see it all in one hall—thousands of new racing products. There's nothing like it."

One of the leading manufacturers of performance marine products and hardware, Hardin Marine announced it will be manufacturing direct-replacement exhaust manifolds for GIL Marine and Mercury Marine high-performance exhaust systems.

The Palm Coast, Fla., company also revealed in early December that it will produce direct replacements for GIL Marine offshore battery boxes and cooling system sea strainers. Utilizing its state-of the-art engineering center with solid modeling design capabilities, the company hopes to reduce costs while expanding new product offerings.

“Our manufacturing of these replacement GIL Marine quality-proven products will allow us to help satisfy an even broader customer base with their high-performance marine needs,” said Jeff Stull, vice president of operations for Hardin Marine. “With our existing manufacturing and distribution strengths, which have made Hardin Marine an industry leader, we will be able to continue the health and quality of these products people have come to appreciate from us.”

For more info on Hardin Marine and its products, visit www.hardin-marine.com.

Editor’s note: This is the first blog from Oh Boy! Oberto driver Steve David, who clinched his second-consecutive National High Points Drivers championship in the H1 Unlimited circuit in Qatar. David will regularly contribute—as will other high-profile folks in the performance-boat industry—as part of the new Powerboat Web site to debut later this month.

I'm writing this from the shores of Doha, Qatar (next to Saudi Arabia), where we just wrapped up the final race of the season for the Unlimited hydroplane circuit, which is now known as H1 Unlimited.

Many of you know Qatar from its offshore teams led by his excellency Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al Thani. It was in fact Sheikh Hassan who brought the Unlimiteds to this magical place.

The results from this race tell only a small story of the roller-coaster ride the weekend presented. I was leading in the points standings going into the event and just needed a win in Heat 4 to wrap it up before the Final. While leading that heat, I did what we know as a “blowover.” Click here to see the video.