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| Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Review posted by member: |
| office |
| Description: |
| SEMA, The Specialty Equipment Market Association is the largest gathering of automotive professionals in the world. The annual trade show, held in the sprawling Las Vegas Convention Center, attracted more than 120,000 domestic and international buyers along with 1700 exhibitors. |
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SEMA, The Specialty Equipment Market Association is the largest gathering of automotive professionals in the world. The annual trade show, held in the sprawling Las Vegas Convention Center, attracted more than 120,000 domestic and international buyers along with 1700 exhibitors. It’s not open to the public but industry insiders got to see hundreds of custom vehicles and thousands of booths, showcasing the latest in automotive hardware. The premise is simple. SEMA expands profit opportunities by bringing together everyone, from individual car builders to top-level industry leaders, all equally excited to see the huge assembly of the latest aftermarket hardware. More than 1400 new items were introduced in the New Products Showcase this year, giving the industry its first peek at accessories that will go into production this year. Demonstrations and seminars throughout the week added to their knowledge. Hundreds of media professionals covered the event (including Cruisin’ Style!), spreading the word by writing about the show and highlighting the hottest new products.
Bring comfortable shoes if SEMA is on your next year’s schedule. It’s a four-day event with exhibits in the multiple buildings that comprise the Las Vegas Convention Center. That means you will be lucky to see it all before the doors close on Friday. If this is your first time, you will find that the show has a Disneyland quality about it, delighting the true enthusiast at every turn. Whatever automotive item you wanted to see, whatever part you needed to buy, there was someone at the show who had it, and it was probably available in colors. Customized pickup trucks, cars, motorcycles, and SUVs glistened under the lights while showcasing their sponsor’s products. Major manufacturing support was strong and all the big names had huge displays, generally with concept vehicles that pulled crowds in like ants to a picnic. And, speaking of picnics, even the food was great at the dozen kiosks and cafes within the complex.
If you’re into automobiles and can finesse some credentials, set aside the first week in November and make SEMA a priority on your next year’s calendar. It is an event that you will remember for a long time. A word of caution: get plenty of rest beforehand because as exciting as the SEMA show is, the Las Vegas nightlife (If you do it right) can be even more strenuous!
Customized versions of the 2010 Mustang were
everywhere, like this one showcased in the Ford Pavilion
The new Camaro was equally popular,
like this wide-body “Silver Arrow” edition
from Bomex Aero
With 2,000,000 square feet, the Las Vegas
Convention Center was the perfect choice
for this year’s SEMA show.
With a shine about a mile deep in its PPG paint, “Serious” is a ‘35 Ford three window Coupe and the pride and joy of Harold and Rhea Schrader.
This eye-catching, 32 Ford, named “Fusion” is all steel, runs an LS-1 engine and has a Corvette-styled interior. Charlie and Elaine Tachdjian are the proud owners.
No one went past the Dynamat booth without stopping for a long look at “Slow Burn”, the highly modified ‘36 Auburn Boattail Speedster created by James Hetfield and Rick Dore.
Brent Scheider’s custom painted, ‘37 Cabriolet was the key attraction in the DuPont booth.
With a shine about a mile deep in its PPG paint, “Serious” is a ‘35 Ford three window Coupe and the pride and joy of Harold and Rhea Schrader.
There wasn’t much left of the original ‘60 Peterbilt when Randy Grubb was through with his customizing efforts but everyone agreed the finished product was amazing! Yes, that’s a 12-cylinder Detroit diesel with twin superchargers.
Chrysler never made a ‘55 station wagon but JF Launier certainly did, spending more than 11,000 hours on the chopped and stylized version you see here. His efforts resulted in a Riddler Great 8 finalist award and the Goodguys West Coast Custom of the year trophy.
Displaying a beautiful combination of flowing lines, the sleek Anteros from No2Alike had an Aston-Martin quality about it.
More than 1500 new products were introduced at this year’s show.
Customized in ‘59, the “Jade Idol” celebrates the fifty years of trend-setting, automotive design from legendary customizer Gene Winfield.
This pair of Mustangs, on display in the Ford Pavilion, could be yours. They are part of the Mustang Dream Giveaway Sweepstakes, benefitting the Healing Heroes Network, providing free medical care to veterans returning from the war. Go to www.wintheMustangs.com/sema for more information on this worthwhile cause.
Author Joe Greeves got a chance to chat with one of the event’s favorite celebrities, Chip Foose.
Booth Babes add just one more fun element to an already amazing event.
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