Do you want to go to SEMA?

Do you want to go to SEMA?

Story by Mike Tolliver and Shannon Fenton

Pictures Mike Tolliver

Let's start off with getting the disappointment out of the way, no I will not get you tickets. In recent years SEMA has been cracking down on John Q. Public access.  Gone are the olden days where one could walk in more or less off the street and gawk at all the amazing product on display. To that effect I had a conversation with a few fellow SEMA goers and asked a somewhat simple question, "How do you spot the notice or public at SEMA?". The answer a resounding  "Easy; they are the ones asking for the FREE stuff or giveaways.". I witnessed this behavior first hand at Kato-San of Liberty Walk Performance's booth. While I watched in disbelief someone requested the shirt straight off his back, I stepped in the told the guy take a fan and move on. People, this is why we can't have nice things. 

The size of today's SEMA has ballooned from the 'good 'ol days'. It would take actually being there to realize that there is allot truth in statements like "there are 16 miles of aisles if you walked them all'. This was before they started using all the parking lots to store cars and hold DE expositions. This year’s DE selections featured drifting and rock crawling. Seriously, SEMA today is less of a trade show and more a massive invite only automotive buffet style event. Alas, one can only consume so much.

Limited on time this year I wanted hit the big hall, wheels and tires and see the outside, foregoing the rest. Mostly I was shopping sponsors for the wide range of Happenstance events by focusing on the common ground, oil and tire companies.  We did however stop at favorites like Accuair , Airlift and H&R to visit with both old and new friends. Next we tracked down partner cars from Rotiform, 1552 , Avant Garde , VIP Modular and Dampfhammer wheels to name a few. I chatted with the business owners and media before bumping into Mike and Andrew from StanceWorks and The Offset. I found BigMikecares a few times and setup a dinner with the SOWO

Partners, #becausebags and Solowerks at BURGr . Closing down the evening with drinks in the lounge bar with folks at PlanetHollywood.

It’s an experience to find out who from your circle that you will inevitably run into at SEMA. Unsurprisingly the celebs are there amongst their lower rated reality star brethren. Bag upon bag of autographed posters and swag is to be had. But again, don’t be greedy, you don’t need the shirt off anyone's back. All in all its both a rush of people and product, take notes.  

To close, if you are serious about going to and enjoying SEMA (and can get tickets) remember this: while yes it is held in Las Vegas it may as well be held in Butte Montana as you simply won't time to enjoy anything 'traditionally' Las Vegas. And that is ok, trust me. While this was a fast trip I had a great time trolling around with Meisterwerks team and the Phantasy Kolors guys enjoying what is the automotive buffet to end all buffets. There is always next year.