Event Coverage Go to SEMA Once in Your Life.

I've only been to SEMA once, 2001, if I remember right, airline flights had just become available again after 9/11.
I was like a kid in a candy store, lots to see (wink wink) besides cars, trucks and new parts. I've heard they have made the vendor girls dress more "appropriately".........darn.
If you cover the whole thing inside and out and you have old feet like me you'll be "hurt'n for certain".

 

Wen't 3 times in early 90's. From what I am reading that was a great time to attend. Got to meet and hang out with a bunch of builders, industry folk, race car drivers and team members after the show and various get together's around town.

Edelbrock's VIP party on top floor of Hilton ? next to convention center was supurb...

kat

 

I’ve been a few times as a”buyer” from a friends body shop to obtain credentials along with a few more friends and wives as “ employees “ of same shop.
The section with most of the cars was wall to wall crowded and you needed a 3 foot selfie stick to get any pictures.
Manufactures exhibits were aplenty but how many 5 spoke wheel styles and auxiliary light displays do you want to take in if you’re NOT there as your primary business?
Outside is a whole different vibe
All in all was a good time and took in some of the sights and sounds of the Vegas experience while there for a couple of days too, now, been there done that, I’ll watch it on Motor Trend TV in the future.

 

No hand shake, but it was pretty hard to miss him with a cowboy hat and white coveralls on. He seemed like a friendly down to earth guy.

 

Us normal dudes can't get in. You have to work in the industry or know someone who can get you a pass. I have neither.

 

I completely agree with you @Jive-Bomber !

I was there in 2015 as I transported the display vehicle for the Stewart Warner booth from Texas & back. It was an amazing week...I walked, listened, learned & met so many great folks during the day. The parties at night were tough to recover from to do it all over the next day!

I have been asked to do it again several times since, but have declined only because nowadays I prefer to be at home if I am not running miles.

God Bless
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ar-transport-hauling-open-or-enclosed.614419/

 

They've stepped up how they filter people out...in the old days, you could print a business card on your computer and use it to show you had a business, and pay entry at the event. Now you have to present real evidence of having a business, or something.

 

heh...that's one of the cars I took pictures of that year!

 

I had the opportunity to go in 2017, it is quite overwhelming, worthwhile going at least once. My brother was able to get passes from a friend who works for an auto supplier who had an exhibit there.

 

Yeah, Vegas trade shows require a love of humanity, lots of humanity

 

I attended the SEMA Show every year since 1992 until COVID hit. I attended as a buyer when I had my own business and then for almost 20 years as an educator because I taught auto mechanics in a prison here in California. The SEMA experience was invaluable to me to allow me to keep my program relevant as times changed and improvements came. I established friendships with many SEMA members . All in all, SEMA members donated almost $300,000 in parts and equipment to my program plus tremendous amounts of information that was priceless. I even got our prison education department to loin the SEMA Education branch. It was a marvelous relationship. Then COVID hit and SEMA went on line. After things were restored, I applied for my credentials and was told that I had to provide 2 pay stubs from an actual automotive related company to attend. I became persona non-grata after that. I talked to anyone and everyone at SEMA trying to get my credentials that had been so easy for almost 20 years. No dice! It was as though I was trying to rob a bank or some other foul deed. I had planned on this being my last show and personally thanking each individual and company that had given so much help to my program and kept it relevant, helping inmates gain employable skills. They couldn't care less. They claimed that I would get in the way of businesses. When I told them that I would always step back to allow the business make the necessary contacts, it fell on deaf ears. It seems that SEMA management had changed and president Cris Kerstin, a strong advocate for my prison had retired. So, SEMA is just a fond memory, I retired and the prison staff asked me to become a liason for them because instructors no longer were given education leave. A large improvement was lost and everyone suffered because of it.

 

Has always looked cool... maybe someday, although like many (most?) here, I don't have any connections, Direct or otherwise

 

I got in a few years ago when the SEMA Action Network offered free entry to people on their mailing list that were willing to give their input on some of the new products being presented. of course, you had to pay for transportation there, etc. need to be there as soon as doors open, with map in hand, to make sure that you did not miss any displays inside and outside. you can purchase/order stuff there. UPS had a booth for shipping. be sure to take pics otherwise you will never remember everything that you saw and heard.

 

Tell us again how you qualify as "normal" ?

 

Hello,
This section of the SEMA early program education is important to read and understand the procedures. It isn't or wasn't just a bunch of people wandering around with gift bags or grab off the display cases for mementos. It was a total display of how the industry was making ties with the community. As they were the supporters of the whole industry that we have seen in our days...

So, here it is separated so we could all read the important stuff that was a part of history.
Good on you @deucemac

EDITED FROM THE ORIGINAL POST:

I attended the SEMA Show every year since 1992 until COVID hit. I attended as a buyer when I had my own business and then for almost 20 years as an educator because I taught auto mechanics in a prison here in California. The SEMA experience was invaluable to me to allow me to keep my program relevant as times changed and improvements came.

I established friendships with many SEMA members . All in all, SEMA members donated almost $300,000 in parts and equipment to my program plus tremendous amounts of information that was priceless. I even got our prison education department to loin the SEMA Education branch. It was a marvelous relationship. Then COVID hit and SEMA went on line.

After things were restored, I applied for my credentials and was told that I had to provide 2 pay stubs from an actual automotive related company to attend. I became persona non-grata after that. I talked to anyone and everyone at SEMA trying to get my credentials that had been so easy for almost 20 years. No dice! It was as though I was trying to rob a bank or some other foul deed. I had planned on this being my last show and personally thanking each individual and company that had given so much help to my program and kept it relevant, helping inmates gain employable skills.

They couldn't care less. They claimed that I would get in the way of businesses. When I told them that I would always step back to allow the business make the necessary contacts, it fell on deaf ears. It seems that SEMA management had changed and president Cris Kerstin, a strong advocate for my prison had retired.

So, SEMA is just a fond memory, I retired and the prison staff asked me to become a liason for them because instructors no longer were given education leave. A large improvement was lost and everyone suffered because of it.

Jnaki

Thanks for the history and how people supported others at necessary times in our troubled society...

So, relevant and a big part of full inclusion of all parts of hot rods, drag racing, custom cars and all things automotive. YRMV

 

I went in '97. That was enough for me. I'm not a 'people person'. Don't get me wrong. It was great meeting some heroes and seeing some just crazy stuff but too many ppl for my taste.

 

It looks like it would be overwhelming. I’m not a people person either, I don’t like large crowds. Or small crowds for that matter. Or just crowds in particular. Small gatherings I can get by with.

Whatever, I’ll never get to go anyway. Don’t know anybody in the business or have the gold key to the good old boys club.

 

Hello,

Well, the show displays and convention is definitely crowded to overly crowded. It is part of a giant circus. Promotions galore and crowded at all hours. Las Vegas is not our thing since we used to go as a family package with my folks. It is nice to be somewhere when it is time to pay, everything is already taken care of by the Riveria Hotel/Resort due to some connections that my dad had from Los Angeles.

Back in the beginning, our small speed shop was on the first list of So Cal speed shops listed on a group of all So Cal shops. That group was the big time folks from all over, down to those that used the big time shops to get discounted parts and products. But, it was on our downhill side of drag racing and speed shop business. For the official SEMA directory when it arrived, we were no longer in business.

My brother and I used that list to get parts from all sorts of suppliers and it was a valuable list to start any business, let alone connections in the industry. In looking at some of the shows that present the SEMA shows, it has grown to almost exorbitant costs and entry. It is no longer a small group. Powerful, for all levels of hot rod and automotive industries. A showplace to get in contact with other suppliers in the same business.

Jnaki

My brother wanted to stay in the business with our shop as we were able to get some parts for our desert motorcycle racing exploits. That was an industry growing almost as fast as the hot rod/automotive SEMA group.

But, due to no one at our home address because both of us being in college classes, away from home, we decided to close the business license. Consequently our “Precision Racing Engines” shop and supplies ended within the next year, although we did continue with desert racing motorcycles and custom engine work + modifications.


Note:
So, our speed shop business turned into a desert racing motorcycle modification/prep shop. Then when the years of competition evolved, it turned into further development of surfing skills and shaping/repairs.
Instead of Precision Racing Engines, it was now "Surfboards and Repairs by Huey..." (another So Cal storyline...)
TO

Note 2:

What Does SEMA Stand For?

SEMA stands for the Specialty Equipment Market Association, and the organization dates back to 1963. Back then, it was called the Speed Equipment Manufacturers Association, and it was a small group of manufacturers that supplied parts and performance equipment to the hot rod community.

The name has changed over to "Specialty Equipment Marketing Association." As time moved on and the show, the trade organization behind it and the industry evolved. Original designation of Speed

Equipment in the title, became too focused on one segment of the automotive aftermarket. The show and the organization now cover a wide range of companies that make all kinds of aftermarket products for cars and trucks.

If you go to the SEMA Show today, the acronym could stand for "See Every Modification Available," or a bracket for a bracket for an accessory, for all cars, not just drag racing, hot rods or custom cars. Although, the emphasis on car displays leans to custom hot rods and show quality modifications done by the top builders. It is now a mish-mash of everything for automobiles and such. YRMV

 

My wife and I went along with a group of hotrod buddies that are in the trade around ten years ago. I’m a self employed carpenter by trade but have done some woodwork on several old cars wood structure. I was able to slightly bend the rules to get into sema. It was a sight to see.