Your thoughts on SEMA?

[DOOM]

Just was wondering what everyones thoughts were on SEMA this year. This for me was not a good year. Every year pryor I had so many cars I just couldn't stop talking about. I had about five cars this year that really stuck out to me and thats it. Other than that it was just EHHH for me. But I did buy a new frame machine!:cheers:

[GNon18s]

If you have been there several times already then your probably just jaded to it all. Honestly, I only need about 5-6 awesome cars to stick in my mind to make it worth it.

[camcojb]

If you have been there several times already then your probably just jaded to it all. Honestly, I only need about 5-6 awesome cars to stick in my mind to make it worth it.
I agree with Mario, and I haven't quite put my finger on it yet. This was my 11th year in a row; if it was just because I was there several times why didn't I feel this on my eighth, ninth, tenth trip. I dunno.

[Musclerodz]

Car wise, not too many really stood above the others. There is always a number of high profile cars there, but I had seen many of the already at other shows. As far as the show itself, I had not seen it that busy since 07/08 before the big bust. As much as I go for the cars and vendors, I really like hanging out with friends I see once or twice a year, plus meeting new people and making new friends.:cheers:

[FETorino]

Just was wondering what everyones thoughts were on SEMA this year. This for me was not a good year. Every year pryor I had so many cars I just couldn't stop talking about. I had about five cars this year that really stuck out to me and thats it. Other than that it was just EHHH for me. But I did buy a new frame machine!:cheers:

If you have been there several times already then your probably just jaded to it all. Honestly, I only need about 5-6 awesome cars to stick in my mind to make it worth it.

This was only my second time at SEMA but I totally agree with Mario. There was just something missing.

But it was way busier than last year.

:cheers:

[Rick D]

Just was wondering what everyones thoughts were on SEMA this year. This for me was not a good year. Every year pryor I had so many cars I just couldn't stop talking about. I had about five cars this year that really stuck out to me and thats it. Other than that it was just EHHH for me. But I did buy a new frame machine!:cheers:


So Mario what did you buy??? I love a new frame machine:D

I got to buy two frame machines back in the early 2000 when I was still running shops. If I had to buy one today it would be a Celet first then a Car-o-liner next??

[fleetus macmullitz]

This was only my second time at SEMA but I totally agree with Mario. There was just something missing.



Fords?


:hello:

[Rick D]

Fords?


:hello:

:lmao: :lmao:

[Tuske427]

I enjoyed it. I've been going for a good ten years in a row now, and for me it's fun to see the cars, trends, and new products out. It's my automotive mecca. Granted, I usually go as a spectator, so I'm lucky to not have the stresses of meeting business goals, etc and can just enjoy the show for what it is.

I do take a lot of pics and I'll include the link as soon as I'm done uploading the pics.

[glassman]

Mario, i had the same feeling for the most part. Friday afternoon i was walking around kinda wondering "Now what?"
I love going every year and what i did like most about this year is meeting more new really great people, most of whom are here. And this year i had six close friends from the industry go also so we really got too bounce the different ideas off one another.

Plus I bought a plotter/printer for vinyl (over in the tint/vinyl area)...found the one i've been looking for...

Will I go next year? Most def. But I WILL make the OUSCI after watching the last three on tv (i got hooked after seeing OUSCI #2 on Speed in 2010)

My 2 cents.

Mike

[Sieg]

Being a Newb.............I don't get what you Vet's are saying :sieg: :D

http://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-2cfZdTC/0/XL/i-2cfZdTC-XL.jpg

http://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-Zj4dPrm/0/XL/i-Zj4dPrm-XL.jpg

http://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-D3B2B62/0/XL/i-D3B2B62-XL.jpg

http://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-WpnXw2Q/0/XL/i-WpnXw2Q-XL.jpg

http://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-gsjmpHN/0/XL/i-gsjmpHN-XL.jpg

http://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-bsLNMPv/0/X2/i-bsLNMPv-X2.jpg

http://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-BVB4Dr2/0/XL/i-BVB4Dr2-XL.jpg

:headscratch:

[DFRESH]

The Lat G party and the Speedtech party were the best part of the whole event since I got to see all the boys. Was great to meet you finally Mario. Looking forward to seeing your motor combo come together---I sure hope you will post up some pics of it as it comes together.

Seems like the older we get, the less exciting some of this stuff becomes--not that it isn't fun, but it losses some of its luster perhaps. I was talking to Jimi Day about this a bit over at the Optima booth. Still wouldn't miss it, but don't need to be there for an entire week anymore either.

[glassman]

Siegster, i think for me it was just information overload and being burnt out! But definatly had a case of the blah's Friday, till the cruise, that lifted my spirits

dude, you gotta keep takin pics, those were friggen awesome, does make me see if from a different angle. You nailed the lighting on what i believe to be the Fuller build for JetHot?

[Lous69]

There needs to be some kind of saying that parallels

"beauty is in the eye of the beholder" to describe how Sieg's photography skills bring out the best in virtually everything he shoots.

How he was able to get such good shots in that cray, crowded place is beyond me.

As Kevin Oeste always says, it's the artist more than the paint brush he uses.

Very nice pictures....as usual Sieg. It was nice getting to meet you last week.

[Sieg]

"beauty is in the eye of the beholder"

http://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-TLNQvmS/0/XL/i-TLNQvmS-XL.jpg

http://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-CMzXCfv/0/XL/i-CMzXCfv-XL.jpg

:thankyou:

[fleetus macmullitz]

Really like those pics of Lou's car Sieg. :thumbsup:

'A man's gift makes room for him.'

Fletch or DG said that I think.



:D

[Spiffav8]

The Lat G party and the Speedtech party were the best part of the whole event since I got to see all the boys. Was great to meet you finally Mario. Looking forward to seeing your motor combo come together---I sure hope you will post up some pics of it as it comes together.

Seems like the older we get, the less exciting some of this stuff becomes--not that it isn't fun, but it losses some of its luster perhaps. I was talking to Jimi Day about this a bit over at the Optima booth. Still wouldn't miss it, but don't need to be there for an entire week anymore either.

I couldn't agree more. For me, it's all about having fun with everyone. I only attended SEMA two days, but the after hour events happened every night and I can't tell you all how much I enjoyed them all. Even Optima, which is always cool, was all about hanging out and visiting with the gang.

Not sure about everyone else, but I had a lot more fun at Optima the first year, when it was guys with cars they built and Mary Pozzi setting up the autocross. They even allowed fun runs after and that was crazy cool!

The only car that really sucked me in was the 56 Buick by Troy Trepanier (hope I spelled that right). Other than that, nothing really wowed me. Not to say there wasn't some great stuff there. Maybe I just didn't get around enough. For some reason I spent a lot of time in the Off Road section and I'm pretty sure I'm going to end up buying Laurie a Jeep. LoL Anyone want to buy a brand new Ford Edge Sport? :rolleyes:

[fleetus macmullitz]

The only car that really sucked me in was the 56 Buick by Troy Trepanier

You and GW have excellent taste in hotrods Curtis. :unibrow:

[Spiffav8]

You and GW have excellent taste in hotrods Curtis. :unibrow:


and trucks. lol

[ironworks]

What is finally making it to the showroom floor is what guys who own shops have been seeing for a long time. Very few guys are spending big money to wow people now days. What used to be the typical over the top booth car at SEMA was a 500k plus car is now half that. You don't see all these cars with tons and tons of billet crap. Guys with money right now are invested and waiting. Guys with healthly business's that have survived the past 5 years are waiting to see what happens when the have not's vote Hillary into office in 2016. If you don't believe in trinkle down economics then go to SEMA, Things have changed.

I know guys who went all week last week and were cruising the Las Vegas Pawn shops Tuesday afternoon bored. they could not wait for the show to close on Friday so they could get their car and go home. I went over Tuesday and almost went back home Wednesday night after the Lat-g Party but stayed to spend another day with my customers that were attending the event and I went home Thursday afternoon instead on Friday.

[Stuart Adams]

What is finally making it to the showroom floor is what guys who own shops have been seeing for a long time. Very few guys are spending big money to wow people now days. What used to be the typical over the top booth car at SEMA was a 500k plus car is now half that. You don't see all these cars with tons and tons of billet crap. Guys with money right now are invested and waiting. Guys with healthly business's that have survived the past 5 years are waiting to see what happens when the have not's vote Hillary into office in 2016. If you don't believe in trinkle down economics then go to SEMA, Things have changed.

I know guys who went all week last week and were cruising the Las Vegas Pawn shops Tuesday afternoon bored. they could not wait for the show to close on Friday so they could get their car and go home. I went over Tuesday and almost went back home Wednesday night after the Lat-g Party but stayed to spend another day with my customers that were attending the event and I went home Thursday afternoon instead on Friday.

I would be curious to know why builders and businesses go to sema and is it worth the expense for them. I'm assuming it must be but looking from the outside I wonder. Does it really affect the bottom line? Multiple answers are possible from each perspective I get that. Just curiosity. It would be interesting to get their perspective.

[ironworks]

I would be curious to know why builders and businesses go to sema and is it worth the expense for them. I'm assuming it must be but looking from the outside I wonder. Does it really affect the bottom line? Multiple answers are possible from each perspective I get that. Just curiosity. It would be interesting to get their perspective.

Funny you should ask.

I have asked this question a lot lately. I think most parts vendors display because they feel like they have to and if they don't people think you have fallen off the map or your business is struggling. But if you display once and do not display again you will not get tickets to the event again. Monkey see Monkey do.

I think companies get a business gain if they display good products, I bought a 4 way manual press from Mitler bros this morning after seeing it at the show last week. So 3k later I helped them cover their expenses last week. I bet that booth with travel and hotel expenses cost them 40k once it is all said and done. I gave them 3k and lets say they have a 50% markup so they made 1500 profit from my sale last week. But if they would have send me a new catalog I might have bought the same thing with out the booth expense. They only had a 10x10 or 10x15 booth so they did not have much in their booth but the 4 way press caught my eye.

As far as a builder I don't think you have a chance at getting anything out of the show business wise unless your bringing something pretty awesome that will stand out or your a household name in the industry. The Ring Bros are a SEMA staple name and every one looks for what they did this year at the show. They will get lots of press from the cars they brought on internet news pages and from magazine coverage. the magazine editors already have plans to shoot the cars they build so it does not do anything to get them hooked up that way.

Now Chris Holstrom got the Gran Turismo award this week and I think he got a GM design AWARD and a Goodguys award. That is some recognition for a guy trying to get things going for his business. He will get on Internet news sites and Goodguys will announce it on their site and the GM design awards are just cool there is not alot of press with that. ( I got one a few years ago ) but it does introduce you to some higher ups at GM. ( networking is always good ).

Now just for example I think Tom Nelson ( who is a more well known name in the industry ) brought the charger that set right next to Chris's nova in baremetal, lots of cool fab, but I have not seen anything outside of SEMA about the car any where. Lots of my buddies wanted to go look at the Big billet parts and turbos and such at the show. But I don't think he got much press that I have seen and I doubt he got any awards for a baremetal car ( just does not happen ). But the bare metal 32 in Jet Hott's booth was and is all over the internet and I saw it on Instagram alot.

But what does all that do to put money in the business owners pocket? It will be super cool, to have a car we built in Gran Turismo (whatever) some day, But how many 14 year olds are gonna hire Chris to build them a car?

I see car building business comes from 2 avenues, Building relationships with guys and through dumb luck. If your a jack ass or a know it all the first way will be tough. The other is that you build a cool car and some where someone sees the car and that actual person has the financial horsepower to build what he wants. The reality of car building is that nicer the stuff you build the more people that want it and less and less people can actually afford it. Sucks but that is the facts.

I think displaying a car anywhere is better then keeping it locked in your garage. But is SEMA worth the thrash? Lots of guys think it is so great to get all these free parts and then realize that nothing in life is free. A company might give you a free parts but you realize that free parts cost you a week of hotel and a week of vacation and lots of other expenses associated with getting the car to the event. That free 700 part might cost you 2500. If you like the feeling of being "sponsored" that much, then by all means.

I had a great time last week not baby sitting a car and hanging out with my customers all day long and being able to let me guys go to the show and not miss a day of pay due to work some extra days in the past few weeks. I did more for my business last week just building relationships with current and possible future customer then I ever did being in a fancy booth spot.

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/tt248/ironworksspeed/C6-57%20truck%20project/BestGMTruck-IronworksSpeedandKus-3.jpg (http://s616.photobucket.com/user/ironworksspeed/media/C6-57%20truck%20project/BestGMTruck-IronworksSpeedandKus-3.jpg.html)
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/tt248/ironworksspeed/C6-57%20truck%20project/ShineAward.jpg (http://s616.photobucket.com/user/ironworksspeed/media/C6-57%20truck%20project/ShineAward.jpg.html)

[Stuart Adams]

Funny you should ask.

I have asked this question a lot lately. I think most parts vendors display because they feel like they have to and if they don't people think you have fallen off the map or your business is struggling. But if you display once and do not display again you will not get tickets to the event again. Monkey see Monkey do.

I think companies get a business gain if they display good products, I bought a 4 way manual press from Mitler bros this morning after seeing it at the show last week. So 3k later I helped them cover their expenses last week. I bet that booth with travel and hotel expenses cost them 40k once it is all said and done. I gave them 3k and lets say they have a 50% markup so they made 1500 profit from my sale last week. But if they would have send me a new catalog I might have bought the same thing with out the booth expense. They only had a 10x10 or 10x15 booth so they did not have much in their booth but the 4 way press caught my eye.

As far as a builder I don't think you have a chance at getting anything out of the show business wise unless your bringing something pretty awesome that will stand out or your a household name in the industry. The Ring Bros are a SEMA staple name and every one looks for what they did this year at the show. They will get lots of press from the cars they brought on internet news pages and from magazine coverage. the magazine editors already have plans to shoot the cars they build so it does not do anything to get them hooked up that way.

Now Chris Holstrom got the Gran Turismo award this week and I think he got a GM design AWARD and a Goodguys award. That is some recognition for a guy trying to get things going for his business. He will get on Internet news sites and Goodguys will announce it on their site and the GM design awards are just cool there is not alot of press with that. ( I got one a few years ago ) but it does introduce you to some higher ups at GM. ( networking is always good ).

Now just for example I think Tom Nelson ( who is a more well known name in the industry ) brought the charger that set right next to Chris's nova in baremetal, lots of cool fab, but I have not seen anything outside of SEMA about the car any where. Lots of my buddies wanted to go look at the Big billet parts and turbos and such at the show. But I don't think he got much press that I have seen and I doubt he got any awards for a baremetal car ( just does not happen ). But the bare metal 32 in Jet Hott's booth was and is all over the internet and I saw it on Instagram alot.

But what does all that do to put money in the business owners pocket? It will be super cool, to have a car we built in Gran Turismo (whatever) some day, But how many 14 year olds are gonna hire Chris to build them a car?

I see car building business comes from 2 avenues, Building relationships with guys and through dumb luck. If your a jack ass or a know it all the first way will be tough. The other is that you build a cool car and some where someone sees the car and that actual person has the financial horsepower to build what he wants. The reality of car building is that nicer the stuff you build the more people that want it and less and less people can actually afford it. Sucks but that is the facts.

I think displaying a car anywhere is better then keeping it locked in your garage. But is SEMA worth the thrash? Lots of guys think it is so great to get all these free parts and then realize that nothing in life is free. A company might give you a free parts but you realize that free parts cost you a week of hotel and a week of vacation and lots of other expenses associated with getting the car to the event. That free 700 part might cost you 2500. If you like the feeling of being "sponsored" that much, then by all means.

I had a great time last week not baby sitting a car and hanging out with my customers all day long and being able to let me guys go to the show and not miss a day of pay due to work some extra days in the past few weeks. I did more for my business last week just building relationships with current and possible future customer then I ever did being in a fancy booth spot.

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/tt248/ironworksspeed/C6-57%20truck%20project/BestGMTruck-IronworksSpeedandKus-3.jpg (http://s616.photobucket.com/user/ironworksspeed/media/C6-57%20truck%20project/BestGMTruck-IronworksSpeedandKus-3.jpg.html)
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/tt248/ironworksspeed/C6-57%20truck%20project/ShineAward.jpg (http://s616.photobucket.com/user/ironworksspeed/media/C6-57%20truck%20project/ShineAward.jpg.html)

Good post buddy.

[ironworks]

Good post buddy.


Thanks, Like I said I have been thinking about this stuff alot lately. What works and what does not.

Now I need to figure out how to clone the employees I have.

[EBMC]

Interesting thread because personally, I just wasnt into it this year besides seeing some of you guys of course! I thought maybe it was because I didnt have a car this year and it was kind of a letdown after last year with OUSCI and all. In fact I changed my flight to Thursday because I figured I was much more useful back at the shop (And I did have a very productive Friday and Saturday!)
I also think they need to be a bit more selective on the cars that are allowed to enter. There were many cars that had no business being there IMO. It has become so packed with cars, many mediocre at best, that the attention has been diverted away from the reason everyone is supposed to be there- The manufactures, the latest parts, equipment and networking. K&N did not have any cars in their booth this year for that reason. it got to a point that I photobombed many pictures because you cant walk anywhere without being in the way of people taking pics. (sorry to anyone that has my ugly mug in their pics!) I have a feeling there may be some changes coming.

[96z28ss]

It was hard to take pics this year cause of the amount of people. It broke their attendance record. They had 15,000 walk-in registering just on Tuesday.
Also Due to the Chevrolet driving area and the Ford Area outside they had so many new exhibitors that were stuck in conference room areas, and conference rooms at the LVH. They need to bring those large tent areas back.

[tubbed69]

Good post buddy.

Roger that is a good post,Ringbrothers do some awesome work but Ironworks is also way up on my list of top builders,keep it coming.:thumbsup:

[RBuhr69]

Does anyone know what the 6 cylinder motor is that Sieg posted?

[GregWeld]

Were there cars at SEMA???:popcorn2:



I only go to see my friends. How could that be boring??

[HandBuilt]

I think if your going to SEMA to enjoy a car show your there for the wrong reason. Apparently some of you forget that it is a business convention and a way to showcase the latest in the industry. We had a great time this year and hopefully gained some potential business.

I feel like some "builders" that go to SEMA just to look at cars by shops such as ring bros, rad rides, etc., are missing the point. and dont deserve the recognition anyway.

[Greg from Aus]

I think if your going to SEMA to enjoy a car show your there for the wrong reason. Apparently some of you forget that it is a business convention and a way to showcase the latest in the industry. We had a great time this year and hopefully gained some potential business.

I feel like some "builders" that go to SEMA just to look at cars by shops such as ring bros, rad rides, etc., are missing the point. and dont deserve the recognition anyway.

Nice first post :poke:

[BMR Sales]

Funny you should ask.

It will be super cool, to have a car we built in Gran Turismo (whatever) some day, But how many 14 year olds are gonna hire Chris to build them a car?



You never know! Remember the Posters you had on the Wall as a Kid? I sure that Kids that had a Lamborghini Countach or a Baldwin Motion Camaro Poster Grew Up & hit it big in Stocks, Ponzi-Schemes, etc & bought one of their childhood Dream Cars!

T.C.

[ironworks]

You never know! Remember the Posters you had on the Wall as a Kid? I sure that Kids that had a Lamborghini Countach or a Baldwin Motion Camaro Poster Grew Up & hit it big in Stocks, Ponzi-Schemes, etc & bought one of their childhood Dream Cars!

T.C.

That right there is long term marketing.

[fleetus macmullitz]

That right there is long term marketing.

Like seeing a builder updating us on the cool projects in his shop.

:D

[64pontiac]

Well guys, many great posts and insights here. I can give a bit of insight from my end, be it a naive and possible amateur one?

SEMA built my business. Not necessarily from a customer stand point, but from the inner framework up. I have been attending now for 6 years, this being the start of m 5th year in business under my own name. What I can tell you is this: Use it for the tool that it is and it is invaluable and indespensible. Meeting companies face to face and building relationships that otherwise happen over the phone is the ONLY way that I can buy and supply myself with the product I need to take our shop into the next level for our clients. Its funny how after even the second year, you can walk up to someone you deal with in a sea of a hundred thousand people with your badge flipped over and they don't even skip a beat, like your old friends.

On top of the manufacturers, its the only time that some canuk like me that is so far disconnected from the major "hubs" of the hot rod world can connect with other shop owners and business peers. Its really cool to have the commrodity and build those friendships so that when you are in need, its there for you. Yeah, there is a ton of politics (which we have experienced first hand) and there will always be the superficial aspects of it, and you will never get rid of the lookey lous. But all in all, for me personally I wouldn't trade it for anything at this point in my business.

Being a small time shop, I was not expecting the excitement that our car drummed up. Now I am partial to it because I built it, and I THINK its cool? but to have it go up on Hot Rod the first day, and get shot by all the mags and internet sites that it did, as well as make it onto V8tv was coverage I could not afford to pay for if I wanted to. Let me tell you for the BS that we put up with building these things, and the money we lose doing so, its nice to get something out of it. I guess our demographic is a bit different too, not being in Cali or even in the states for that matter. We dont have big events like goodguys or likewise, so we get absolutely no attention from the mags or media. Having our car break into the spotlight trickles down to our market area customers as they see it and realize what they have right at home!

On top of all of this, its been an amazing experience to be "sponsored" by a large company and see how things change and doors open when you meet the challenge. I had to pay for my "sponsored" parts, probably because I am a nobody, and maybe because its a high dollar item, but after doing so I can already, a few days after, see things changing from the response on that side of things. I think its cool too to help out. On Sunday, I actually spent the whole evening figuring out and setting up the booth I was in and helped with some technical articles, and didnt sit back and have an attitude or anything because thats the type of people we are! It was fun and a change from the daily grind. Helped take it down too on Friday. I made new friends and built up a super solid relationship with a huge company.

Take away from SEMA what you will. If you go in with a pessimistic attitude, then you will only take away a half full glass. I think too that we should all count ourselves lucky that, yes the industry is affected a bit, but all in all look at how it thrives even in the rough years when some industires fail and collapse. There may not be as many 500k cars, but there is damn sure alot more 250k cars. More than one way to build up the dollars in different denominations right?

Sure, there may be some cars that shouldnt be there, and hopefully it will be controllably downsized just a bit to make it a little more exclusive and manageable, but DAMN its a cool event and is well worth it for a guy like me!

Hope you enjoyed reading my 2 cents, thats all it is so take it with a grain of salt!

[DOOM]

[/B]

So Mario what did you buy??? I love a new frame machine:D

I got to buy two frame machines back in the early 2000 when I was still running shops. If I had to buy one today it would be a Celet first then a Car-o-liner next??
Rick I bought a new Chief EZliner they build an awesome frame rack that's for sure picked up there new measuring system to!:G-Dub: I go to the body shop section every year and purchase something new for the shop.
I think if your going to SEMA to enjoy a car show your there for the wrong reason. Apparently some of you forget that it is a business convention and a way to showcase the latest in the industry. We had a great time this year and hopefully gained some potential business.

I feel like some "builders" that go to SEMA just to look at cars by shops such as ring bros, rad rides, etc., are missing the point. and dont deserve the recognition anyway.

Okay not even going to justify this with a answer, but read above.:buttkick:

[Ron Sutton]

Well guys, many great posts and insights here. I can give a bit of insight from my end, be it a naive and possible amateur one?

SEMA built my business. Not necessarily from a customer stand point, but from the inner framework up. I have been attending now for 6 years, this being the start of m 5th year in business under my own name. What I can tell you is this: Use it for the tool that it is and it is invaluable and indespensible. Meeting companies face to face and building relationships that otherwise happen over the phone is the ONLY way that I can buy and supply myself with the product I need to take our shop into the next level for our clients. Its funny how after even the second year, you can walk up to someone you deal with in a sea of a hundred thousand people with your badge flipped over and they don't even skip a beat, like your old friends.

On top of the manufacturers, its the only time that some canuk like me that is so far disconnected from the major "hubs" of the hot rod world can connect with other shop owners and business peers. Its really cool to have the commrodity and build those friendships so that when you are in need, its there for you. Yeah, there is a ton of politics (which we have experienced first hand) and there will always be the superficial aspects of it, and you will never get rid of the lookey lous. But all in all, for me personally I wouldn't trade it for anything at this point in my business.

Being a small time shop, I was not expecting the excitement that our car drummed up. Now I am partial to it because I built it, and I THINK its cool? but to have it go up on Hot Rod the first day, and get shot by all the mags and internet sites that it did, as well as make it onto V8tv was coverage I could not afford to pay for if I wanted to. Let me tell you for the BS that we put up with building these things, and the money we lose doing so, its nice to get something out of it. I guess our demographic is a bit different too, not being in Cali or even in the states for that matter. We dont have big events like goodguys or likewise, so we get absolutely no attention from the mags or media. Having our car break into the spotlight trickles down to our market area customers as they see it and realize what they have right at home!

On top of all of this, its been an amazing experience to be "sponsored" by a large company and see how things change and doors open when you meet the challenge. I had to pay for my "sponsored" parts, probably because I am a nobody, and maybe because its a high dollar item, but after doing so I can already, a few days after, see things changing from the response on that side of things. I think its cool too to help out. On Sunday, I actually spent the whole evening figuring out and setting up the booth I was in and helped with some technical articles, and didnt sit back and have an attitude or anything because thats the type of people we are! It was fun and a change from the daily grind. Helped take it down too on Friday. I made new friends and built up a super solid relationship with a huge company.

Take away from SEMA what you will. If you go in with a pessimistic attitude, then you will only take away a half full glass. I think too that we should all count ourselves lucky that, yes the industry is affected a bit, but all in all look at how it thrives even in the rough years when some industires fail and collapse. There may not be as many 500k cars, but there is damn sure alot more 250k cars. More than one way to build up the dollars in different denominations right?

Sure, there may be some cars that shouldnt be there, and hopefully it will be controllably downsized just a bit to make it a little more exclusive and manageable, but DAMN its a cool event and is well worth it for a guy like me!

Hope you enjoyed reading my 2 cents, thats all it is so take it with a grain of salt!

Hey Tyler, it was great to meet you & talk cars at the Speedtech party. Take care !

[DBasher]

Question for the guys that found SEMA a bit off this year. Did you notice all the little details that Sieg and Al are posting? Or are you seein the pictures and thinking you may have missed something?

I've only been once, 2011, and found it to be overwhelming. Maybe, like a lot of events, it gets so big that to the vets it's just not the same. Or the anticipation of the event is so big that it's a bummer once you're out walkin around.

I look forward to Bonneville every year. I take a week off, drive 13hrs straight and sometimes spend 3 days before deciding to split. Sometimes I do it twice in the same summer! It's a car thing that I think most car guys understand.

:cheers:
Dan

[RECOVERY ROOM]

I have been going there since 1990, It is still the best place to see parts, network and just have a good time...ITS IN VEGAS. I like the fact that you can be with a bunch of like minded people in the same event and see more types of Motorsports in one place than anywhere else. I was glad to see that many people there, might be a sign of things somewhat getting better

[DRJDVM's '69]

I think that after going for quite a few years, you do get alittle "jaded" on looking at some of the builds....after seeing so many amazing cars year after year, it gets harder and harder to get that "wow" factor.. more difficult to be impressed as much..... the bar is so high there, that after awhile its easy to just be "wow, nice car...next".....

Just like the photographer that shoots supermodels and hangs out with hot women all day long :)..... I'd love to have that problem, but I'm sure after awhile even the wicked hot ones just don't stand out as much anymore.....

Anywhere else, and most of those cars would be jaw droppers.....

The first couple of years I went, I would often do central hall several times and go back and look at some of the same cars 2-3 times.....I rarely do that now, and felt like I could do the entire show in 2 days easy.....

Meeting up with all the guys you only see once a year, and putting faces to names and hanging out with guys that all have the same hobby is the best part, and the reason I will continue to go year after year....

[CarlC]

I was a bit late to the party this year but there were a few things that stood out.

There were a lot of people. That's a good sign that there is pent-up buying out there.

Though one had to look for them, there were some really great products that I had never seen before. Anyone see the all titanium exhaust systems coming out of the old Eastern Block aircraft companies? I had to wipe the drool from my chin after seeing the craftsmanship, but most people just walked right on by, myself included the first time.

Some builds were the same way. I watched lot of people walk right by, but to be able to talk to the owner and the builder is great. It's an awesome car.

http://imageshack.com/scaled/640x480/19/y75w.jpg

It's a real 1930 Cadillac on a Heidt's chassis powered by an LSA. There are three different custom machined rim sizes (fronts, rears, and two spares.) There's a flower holder on the dash. The interior and rumble seat is incredible. The smell of the leather.....

In the end being able to put a face to the name is great. Too often we never get the chance to do that.

[chevguy]

Second year in a row I haven't been to SEMA. That sure brings back a massive desire to get there. Hoping our economy picks up so I can make it next year:P

[Spiffav8]

.

http://imageshack.com/scaled/640x480/19/y75w.jpg

It's a real 1930 Cadillac on a Heidt's chassis powered by an LSA. There are three different custom machined rim sizes (fronts, rears, and two spares.) There's a flower holder on the dash. The interior and rumble seat is incredible. The smell of the leather.....



I went back to look at this car a few times. It was so nice, I didn't feel it was appropriate for me to get to close. It's one of those that really sucks you in.