SEMA 2008 - My review - What happens in Vegas...

NYSpeed Automotive
1

Another year for SEMA. It was actually the 5th year for John and I to go to. Is time really going by that fast?

Well, what can I summarize with? Lots of awesome cars, good connections with key people and just plain fun.

I’ll list key events, mixing show and non-show stuff. Link to the full galleries are at the bottom of this post.

  • I was 3 feet away from meeting an icon that I have always wanted to meet, Gene Simmons from Kiss. He was at a meeting in the Palms Hotel after we got out of the Kicker party. I did get to at least tell him “You should have been the Apprentice” (He was on Trump’s Apprentice TV show this past season).

  • Mark and the gang at SCAP / Sound Choice in Grand Island won yet another SEMA award for the Saturn Vue they brought out to the show. They only had 5 weeks from getting the car to having to ship it off, and they did an awesome job on a well deserved win for 2008.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_WukLW43luIY/SRXUYQ0TD0I/AAAAAAAACF4/PP7NmdY79SI/s640/IMG_2726.jpg

  • We almost didn’t get to the airport. I, ummm, illegally parked the rental in a lot I shouldn’t have for a few hours of gambling before we went back to the airport. I went back to get it ready to go and there was a big orange sticker on the driver window marking it for a tow. Got in and drove it away before the tow truck showed up. Had to scrape off the sticker with a hotel key and saline solution. :slight_smile:

  • The 2010 Camaro was there in full force from GM. They brought out a Penske Racing styled Camaro, an LS7 Camaro, a Dale Jr Edition Camaro and some others. Drooooooool :slight_smile:

And the best part is that in talking with Chevy Production Manager Cheryl Pilcher, she told me that they ARE going to have the SS model available in blue.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_WukLW43luIY/SRXWgMbhTyI/AAAAAAAACQM/aCQGibPhvow/s640/IMG_2807.JPG

  • BlackJack is a fun game, but sucks when the dealer is on a roll. But it’s a good kill of time and getting some “free” drinks

  • The Lamborghini Reventon is just plain amazing in person. 6.5 liter, 12 cylinder, only 20 made :drool:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_WukLW43luIY/SRXiWWLIY5I/AAAAAAAAC8E/34GAejwT0cw/s640/IMG_3193.jpg

There were 3 gorgeous cars there that I could not step away from.
Completely perfect from top to bottom.

Supercharged 57 Chevy Convertible
The color was just amazing. And so clean and modern looking.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_WukLW43luIY/SRXTWzwocfI/AAAAAAAACBA/d3-ejMoHUkE/s640/IMG_2670.jpg

Old Ford Coupe with amazing paint
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_WukLW43luIY/SRXZKImphmI/AAAAAAAACcg/O_TPim_q5Rw/s640/IMG_2904.jpg

Amazingly clean and straight 69 Camaro
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_WukLW43luIY/SRXjOv4ScGI/AAAAAAAADAM/IPhuEWhLuBU/s640/IMG_3230.jpg

Look, a new convertible Challenger
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_WukLW43luIY/SRXgZUxNdwI/AAAAAAAACzg/_WNET00Ttp0/s640/IMG_3115.jpg

New Hurst Edition Challenger.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_WukLW43luIY/SRXbk9fD96I/AAAAAAAACl0/MKVcXKBFYSo/s640/IMG_2990.jpg

Oh yea, hot girls too.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_WukLW43luIY/SRX3E17Xg0I/AAAAAAAADGs/jqpYHW5KFII/s400/IMG_2638.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_WukLW43luIY/SRX3uK1xq9I/AAAAAAAADKA/SKDLduc-Ydg/s400/IMG_3185.JPG

And met with some celebs too

Chip Foose
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_WukLW43luIY/SRX4ZKbuJTI/AAAAAAAADMg/gKA-Mk7pzSA/s640/IMG_2573.JPG

Jack Roush
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_WukLW43luIY/SRX4wP5kUuI/AAAAAAAADOY/tM_gVxT1RMc/s640/IMG_2590.JPG

AJ from Overhaulin
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_WukLW43luIY/SRX5PA3pz_I/AAAAAAAADRE/ivNgR6HreQ0/s400/IMG_2685.JPG

Mario Andretti
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_WukLW43luIY/SRX5nRmv-BI/AAAAAAAADTA/7xM3_GziB1g/s640/IMG_2980.JPG

Courtney from Powerblock TV
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_WukLW43luIY/SRX55sCUM8I/AAAAAAAADUQ/oPq0B4cJboI/s640/IMG_3099.JPG

OK, links to pics:

Gallery 1 Show pictures:
http://picasaweb.google.com/rodandpiston/SEMA2008LasVegasGallery1PhotosByRodandPistonCom#

Gallery 2 Show pictures:
http://picasaweb.google.com/rodandpiston/SEMA2008LasVegasGallery2PhotosByRodandPistonCom#

SEMA 2008 Celebrities:
http://picasaweb.google.com/rodandpiston/CelebritiesAtSEMA2008LasVegasPhotosByRodandPistonCom#

Girls of SEMA 2008:
http://picasaweb.google.com/rodandpiston/GirlsOfSEMA2008LasVegasGalleryPhotosByRodandPistonCom#

Enjoy!

2

nice pics bro omg i wish i could have went

3

Only car there that does anything for me is the Koni GS Camaro.

That vue :iobarf:

4

ya it was a real good time and i thought a good show. i got some pics on my camera ill put up when i get home.

5

god dammit i gotta go somewhere to get the “cat in the hat” to sign my dashboard. some day ill make it out to sema

6

just got back last night and i got a chance to throw my pics on. my friend had my cam for a while so i didnt get to take as many pics as i would have liked.

falken tire mustang

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v313/Maxxman/DSC00285.jpg
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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v313/Maxxman/DSC00286.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v313/Maxxman/DSC00297.jpg
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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v313/Maxxman/DSC00312.jpg
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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v313/Maxxman/DSC00317.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v313/Maxxman/DSC00318.jpg

was really happy to see the mines gt-r there
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v313/Maxxman/DSC00322.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v313/Maxxman/DSC00320.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v313/Maxxman/DSC00321.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v313/Maxxman/DSC00330.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v313/Maxxman/DSC00335.jpg

this g was really nice aside from the terribly fitting wheels
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v313/Maxxman/DSC00337.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v313/Maxxman/DSC00338.jpg
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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v313/Maxxman/DSC00339.jpg
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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v313/Maxxman/DSC00357-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v313/Maxxman/DSC00369.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v313/Maxxman/DSC00348.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v313/Maxxman/DSC00301.jpg
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7

nice pics

8

Nice pics. Looks like an awesome show.

9

Gene Simmons is a greedy ultra-douche. If he was there, someone was paying him too much money.

But hot pics.

10

show was horrid.

no Greddy, no HKS, no Apexi, no BFG, no Michelin…

LOTS AND LOTS of random Taiwanese and Chinese companies selling unbranded garbage with shitty welds covered by aluminized coatings that are toxic and therefore not allowed to be applied in the US.

where the fuck did mishimoto come from?

dozens of companies selling non-HKS parts in HKS packaging, same with Blitz.

A taiwanese company showed up with the JUN logo, banner and catalogue selling all ebay grade shit… in a booth next to some real tuners.

Alot of ‘meh’ cars, i didnt even bother looking too seriously at any.

$7 smoothies and $20 parking…

11

We pretty much looked at the domestic based companies. It was down a lot from last year in booths inside and cars outside. Attendance wasn’t as bad as they thought it would be.

It seemed like there was less of the garbage Chinese companies as there were in the past.

$2.25 20 oz drinks under the Ford display and free parking at the Riviera parking ramp.

12

I love how the inside rearview mirror of the GS Camaro still has the Onstar buttons…

Onstar: “Hello Mr. Basil this is Onstar. We have detected a rollover in your vehicle on turn 7. Are you OK?”

Me: “No, I’m not OK. I’m actually on fire so if you could send the firetruck that would be great.”

Onstar: “We’re sending help right now and I’ll stay on the line with you until the Helicopter lands. Great pass on lap 53 by the way.”

Me: “Thanks, that chicane is a great place for passing. The fire is getting pretty intense so if you could… oh wait, they’re here. Nevermind.”

Onstar: “Have a nice day Mr. Basil.”

Me: “Thanks, I hope your day goes better than mine.”

Onstar: “rofl”

Me: “What?”

Onstar: “Nothing, have a nice day sir.”

13

so hot

14

Good pictures, better onstar conversation

15

^^thanks

is anyone else wondering why Hurst made a Hurst Challenger instead of a Hurst Camaro? They were known for the Hurst Oldsmobile back in the 70’s so I would think they would continue that trend, especially since there is an option for a Hurst shifter in the new Camaro.

16

Those GT-R’s are beautiful

17

Courtney > AJ

Just saying…

18

HAHAHA! :rofl:

19

We were at the Hurst booth for a while. They may have a Camaro next year. They are trying to get back into the program again and the first car for them to start with was the Challenger. That was the #1 car. All the rest will be black instead of white.

True that. Courtney was a very fun girl. We hung out with her for a few years in the past. However AJ was very cool this year and that was her 68 Firebird w/ an LS3 that she was standing next to.

20

You’re ghey…you go looking for junk you find junk.

I had a wicked show again. Talked to a bunch of cool people, say a bunch of wicked new parts, saw some inspirational cars.

One thing that really amazed me there was that 1,000hp street cars are now very common. It’s sad and cool all at the same time.