Friday 7th November 2014

SEMA 2014

A first-hand perspective of North America's coolest trade show

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32 inches of polished and painted alloy propping up a metallic orange H2 SUT. It being impossible to miss a high-rise Hummer is the very first car I spot entering SEMA in Las Vegas. It utterly defines the 'Speciality' element of this huge trade show's name, though thankfully doesn't ultimately prove what SEMA's about. Even here in Vegas, where overt is normal, its ridiculousness jars. But then it's very quickly forgotten, not least as there are machine-guns attached to turbos on the car next to it.

Gatling gun turbos? Yes siree!

Call it childish stupidity, but the lifted bare-metal riveted Hauk Jeep with is WWII bomber theme and those Gatling-gun spinners appeals. It's equally ludicrous, but it's impossible not to be impressed with the commitment and single-minded dedication that's gone into creating it. It's in the parking lot, SEMA spilling out from its Convention Centre home and flooding the surrounding space all around the massive exhibition area. You want Trophy trucks and Baja buggies, then the entrance is the place to go, it littered with comically suspended, yet impeccably engineered off-road machines.

It's clear that, like Vegas's other activities, there's something for everyone. A donked Impala might share space with one of those off-road trophy trucks, a body-kitted Subaru, polished or not hot rod or Mustang. Indeed, you don't have to look far to see a Mustang, Ford seemingly have brought one of every type, with a good percentage of the booths bringing some more for good measure. None, absolutely none, better Ken Block's 845hp Hoonicorn RTR '65. Except to see it on a YouTube video soon.

Ken Block's Hoonicorn Mustang - badass

Ken from the block
Whatever your pleasure though it's here, the old and the new, the sublime and the utterly ridiculous. And people. Lots and lots of people, SEMA drawing exhibitors, buyers, sellers, media and the public from all around the world, so much so you'd have a job finding a hotel room if you happened to land at Vegas's McCarran Airport without accommodation.

There are manufacturers here - Ford, GM, FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles), Hyundai, Honda, Kia and BMW among them, though they're not the main act. SEMA's about the smaller players, those Speciality Equipment Market Association organisations that deal with everything from lift kits for your 4x4 or pick-up, to load liners, paint protection films, lift ramps, tools, or anything that's got any relevance in the world of motoring. If you need a three-balled tow bar or American flagged steering wheel this is where you'll find it, along with other highlights like jewel-encrusted wheel weights and replacement badges. For every questionable-taste booth there are hundreds more offering genuinely useful, innovative solutions to problems that you might not know existed. You need waterproof floormats for your new BMW i8? You'll find it at SEMA.

Lots of show, no more go - Vorsteiner M4

It's the cars though, the diverse, bewildering array of vehicular types that is so impressive, each stand bringing something new. There are definitely themes - the widebody, tacked-on wheelarch and huge, more often than not red, replacement wheels being two of note very obvious at this year's show. Those show cars do what's necessary, attracting people onto the stands for a look around.

Wide load
And people are buying. Vorsteiner's BMW M4 based GTRS-4, with its 10.5-inch wide front and 13.5-inch rear wheels covering its wider stance with buxom-hipped carbon fibre wings. The show car's sold, the $124,995 asking price seemingly not enough either, the buyer wanting it so much they added around 10 per cent to secure it. Vorsteiner's representative says there's nothing done to boost the car's performance to match its more assertive looks, though does talk of another 'easy' 100hp via some ECU tweaking.

Barn find Mustang attracted six-figure offers

It's the people as much as the cars themselves that are interesting at SEMA. Andretti's signing autographs, Von Hot Rod is pinstriping phones on demand and Magnus Walker stops for a chat about his latest '67 S RT project. His silver and blue, louvre-winged 911 has been brought along part-built but exhibiting Walker's usual high attention to detail and signature flourishes. It's one of only a handful of European cars though, SEMA unsurprisingly dominated by its home-market models.

Pic and mix
Several stand out, Roadster Shop exhibiting a number of immaculate muscle car updates on a variety of exhibitor stands. Little gets as much attention as its 'Sliced' Charger, the grey machine an absolute demonstration in exacting detail and defining a movement in the high-end muscle car business. Then there's the opposite end, a barn-find GT 500 Mustang that was bought 17 years ago for $15,000 after sitting for 20 years. It's still covered in the dust and straw it was found in, owner Scott Drake having turned down offers for $120,000 for it at the show.

Camry a perhaps unlikely SEMA star

Classics mix with modern, modifications range from the mild to wild, but there's a collective camaraderie that's unusual in the sometimes divisive world of cars. Humour too, a lot at Toyota, where its excellent sleeper Camry dragster raises an incredulous, admiring smile, Kia's karting weekend equipped Carens, complete with bored looking girlfriend/wife/mum impossible not to love, too. SEMA's where the manufacturers can have a little fun, as COPO Chevys, skater Scions, Mopar dragsters and DJ-equipped Minis testify, though SEMA's about the little guys doing big things. Pop it on your petrolhead bucket list, you'll not be disappointed.

 

[mrclav]

One thing I do love about SEMA is its unapologetic nature. I do think the Europeans (particularly the British) could learn a thing or two from this mindset. These guys are just as enthusiastic as any about cars, the difference is they're not afraid to have fun or live out their imaginations.

Not a lot of what I see here is to my personal taste but I greatly respect the effort put in by these guys. I know many on here will sniff though. Cue the typical, boring and derogatory Max Power/rapper/gangster/Russian/Arab/footballer comments...

Edited by mrclav on Friday 7th November 09:10