Bigger? Somehow it was. Better? Without question.
Each year, the Specialty Equipment Market Association, better known tothe world as SEMA, puts together a trade show for the automotive andtransportation world. Each year, somehow, it manages to get bigger thanthe year before. It uses every inch of the Las Vegas Convention Center,most of its parking lot, and spills off into the AAPEX show that runs atthe Sands Convention Center. It's a three-day event that would challengethe biggest car buff that wants to see it all.
Success comes with strategy. SEMA organizers have done a great job inkeeping displays within a section that best defines the product ondisplay. For our purposes, the aisles of the racing and performancesection that stretched the entire length of the convention center werethe main focus. We did sneak out into restoration, electronics, andother areas just to see what was going on.
There are literally miles of aisles. Some reports say if you walk everyaisle once, you walk 22 miles. You usually walk a few of them more thanonce.
The show is designed to allow the manufacturers to display their latestinnovation and their stalwart products to potential customers. No retailselling is allowed. The exchange of business cards with follow up phonecalls and e-mails become the catalyst for achieving identificationgoals. Distributorships and dealer networks become the end result asbuyers rub elbows with racers, hot rod builders, and customizers in amixture of all that is right with the automotive world. Catalogs flyfrom booths, fodder for a plane ride home for many. Numerous socialevents and seminars help fill the day for a showgoer.
This year's event received positive reviews from most as traffic washigh each day. We brought back a few scenes from the show. There will bemore to see in the May issue of Circle Track as we get to theheart of the new products seen for the first time at SEMA. For now,let's just take you into the convention center for a small sample ofwhat the eye could behold.
A small portion of the large...
A small portion of the large crowd at the 2004 SEMA show. With over1,100 displays, crowd estimates of 50,000 are not far from reality. Justwait for a shuttle bus at the end of the show, and you'll begin to seehow many people traveled the floor.
Each year, SEMA invites companies...
Each year, SEMA invites companies with new products to display them in aseparate area. Wily showgoers rush to this display and jot down thenumber of the booth where they can get more information. This year, thenew products were right in the heart of the action at the central hall.
Barry Grant unveiled the newest...
Barry Grant unveiled the newest innovation for the small block Chevroleton the first day of the show. We all wondered what was beneath theblanket on display.
The new product is a three-valve...
The new product is a three-valve head produced by Triple D Induction, asubsidiary of Barry Grant.
Companies with new products...
Companies with new products always hope to be noticed. SEMA holds newproduct awards and, for the second year, the Primedia Technology Awardswere presented. In the Motorsports category, AFCO received the nod forthe two-way torque link. You'll see more on it in the May issue ofCircle Track. Bill Workman of AFCO (left) accepts the awardfrom Circle Track Editor Larry Jewett (center). Hot Rod TVemcee Doc Riley and Primedia's Michelle Turczyn look on.
The show featured plenty of...
The show featured plenty of display cars, and there were no limits. ThisMopar machine helps display a new lift.
There was plenty of glitz...
There was plenty of glitz and glamour. New models like the Toyota Scionspeckled the booths.
Trucks occupy a prominent...
Trucks occupy a prominent place at any SEMA show, but there's not enoughroom for all the vehicles. Outside the convention center is a gallery ofvehicles that included this lowered custom GMC. Many arrived early justto look at the cars and trucks outside.
Just when you thought you'd...
Just when you thought you'd seen it all, how about one of the largestFord trucks you've ever seen? This machine travels on treads and nottires. It cut quite an imposing figure in the impressive Ford MotorCompany booth.
For that night on the town,...
For that night on the town, there are vehicles like this stretchedToyota Tundra. It was impossible to get a picture without someonechecking it out.
Ford had a large presence...
Ford had a large presence with the introduction of the new Mustang andthe appeal of the GT40 dominating the attention. If you want to be seenat SEMA, you have to do it right because the competition is matchingyour efforts in eye-catching displays.
The chopper craze was evident...
The chopper craze was evident at SEMA as custom bikes were found indisplays like the Miller booth. This custom-made machine also had awelder painted to match. The work of the Orange County Chopper folks ofAmerican Chopper TV fame was scattered throughout. The Teutels, Paul andPaul Jr., were seen checking out the show.
When you have cool cars, you...
When you have cool cars, you have celebrities. Car guy Jay Leno was afirst day visitor.
Racing champion Tommy Kendall...
Racing champion Tommy Kendall was on hand at the Bosch booth to meet themedia. Bosch is celebrating the 20th anniversary of their platinum lineof premium spark plugs.
How do you keep those show...
How do you keep those show cars nice and shiny? You might ask Mr. Clean.He was on hand supervising the demonstration of the Mr. Clean AutoDrycarwash product.
When you have cool cars and...
When you have cool cars and hot celebrities, you have TV cameras.Several programs, such as Hot Rod TV, used the show as a backdrop forproductions. This TV crew checks out the Chevy in the Primedia boothbefore the booth was constructed. The TV studio would be in constant usethroughout the show. On the other side of the booth, Bob Long and MotorTrend Radio interviewed a number of top automotive celebrities.
Race cars? Sure, there were...
Race cars? Sure, there were plenty of those to be seen. Ryan Newman'sshow car was found at the Mobil 1 booth. While this car was on display,Newman qualified his race car on the pole at Phoenix (AZ) InternationalRaceway.
There were grassroots race...
There were grassroots race cars, too. Brandon Riehl's NASCAR AutoZoneElite Northwest Series car occupied a booth just weeks after sitting onthe pole in a series event in Washington.
The Las Vegas-based Orleans...
The Las Vegas-based Orleans Racing truck, driven on the NASCAR CraftsmanTruck circuit by Steve Park, is a familiar sight at the show.
The NASCAR Craftsman truck...
The NASCAR Craftsman truck driven by Carl Edwards was on display at thebooth of his sponsor, Superchips. Edwards made an appearance at theRoush Racing booth before going to Phoenix for the weekend's race.
There was just no room inside...
There was just no room inside for Bigfoot, the monster truck thatstarted the craze. The big Ford looks even more imposing on a trailer.
In the middle of the Ford...
In the middle of the Ford display, the cultural icon Rat Fink, creationof Big Daddy Ed Roth, paid homage to the hot rodders of the world. Mostof those who saw it were transported to the good old days of rodding andmuscle cars. The younger crowd simply didn't understand.