Trackside-Suzy
11-17-2015, 02:32 PM
SEMA REPORT: Some things I noticed
My plan was to wander all of SEMA and to take as many pictures and videos as I could to bring you an immersive experience in what SEMA is all about. Why would I do this? Well frankly, I was going to do it so that all of you who wish you could go, would feel like you’d already been, and stay home. Why didn't I do it? Because I found myself consumed with telling anyone who would listen about the car I was there to represent.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/11/20151105_164757_zpsj52hiain-1.jpg
Here’s the thing about SEMA: It’s a trade show.
This means that people who work in the industry are at the show to do business. SEMA is supposed to be where deals are done, relationships are formed and next year’s sales quotas can start to form. SEMA is the place where companies showcase their latest and greatest in hopes of pleasing current commercial customers and partners and forge relationships with new strategic alliances. SEMA is not a convention of enthusiasts but rather a high-priced global sales meeting. Unfortunately, this enormous show has become more of a convention and less of a trade show and this could be the show’s demise.
(I'm sorry for the lack of photos on this post, I lost my cell phone a the show and I'm left with only a few shots I took with my regular camera.)
I was at SEMA to show off a charity tribute build for a reasonably famous amateur race team. I didn’t need to sell anything although the car was showing off a one-of-a-kind part for a great vendor who was happy to try and sell more (so that it would no longer be one-of-a-kind) of these parts to the right audience.
What SEMA really is: A reunion of automotive professionals; a chance for enthusiasts who finagle a badge, to see the latest TV car celebrities (and maybe an old timer or two); a mob scene of epic proportion and bragging rights for the average Joe to tell his buddies he saw Richard Rawlings from Gas Monkey Garage.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/11/20151105_164745_zpsz9ftrnli-1.jpg
While I never got more than a couple of hours to check out the show (and usually at the crack of dawn) I was able to run through a couple of the halls, take some crappy videos and notice a few trends. (All the vids are on the Pro-Touring Facebook page.) I was also able to see a bunch of people who I don’t normally get to see since moving from the West Coast, so I suppose it was a reunion of sorts for me too.
TRENDS
Firstly, the pro-touring movement is not lost on aftermarket specialty motorsports equipment. When it comes to mechanical stuff, I saw lighter, faster and more effective. Each year I see more suspension, more power-adders, more bolt-on and more ‘ease of use’. This year was no exception. Notable from Chevy was the Camaro 6 which is starting to take on a lot of the Corvette looks in my opinion and Ford with a 300+ horsepower Focus. (Autocross killer?)
While I’m sure trucks are always a trend, it seemed like the entire show had trucks in it. Every major manufacturer and section of the show had a truck --or ten. Additionally, the aftermarket for trucks went for miles. Work trucks, emergency response trucks, off-road burly trucks, off-road luxury trucks. Urban and military assault vehicles with any number of lights, bells and whistles – and by whistles I mean horns suitable for a train that were randomly honked to the displeasure of anyone within a mile.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/11/20151106_093700_zpsakv0yttr-1.jpg
Paint and body was consumed with wraps – wrap it on the go, wrap it metallic, wrap it flat, wrap it in an hour. There were durability and speed contests all week showcasing all manner of applications. I cannot help but think that with this many vendors in the market, wraps should start to come down in price eventually. While I’m sure advances are being made in the finishing market, I wasn’t able to see it with all of the crowds looking at colored saran wrap and rubber paint. This must be why Glasurit had Jay Leno in their booth to get attention.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/11/20151105_164050_zpsmiz5zxz3-1.jpg
Another trend that continues to expand was the colored anodized aluminum wheels. Every wheel manufacturer that I saw had colored wheels. Some were subdued and tasteful and some could be seen from space. The prevailing color of copper was most notable – shiny, bright or darker, copper seemed to be everywhere. When I say that the market has expanded, I had not previously noticed the colored (beyond painted/powder coated) wheels on trucks. There is nothing quite like seeing a pickup truck lifted to the moon with off road suspension capable of taming a tank and a six-inch snorkeled exhaust… sporting lime green or brand-new-penny-copper 40 inch wheels. I’ll just say this: it’s not for everyone, but it does make a statement.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/11/wheels_zpsbqmuqwgl-1.jpg
One thing that still blows me away (and I’m not saying it would be anyone here because most of you know better) but I’m surprised that the TV show guys continue to get so much attention. By TV show, I mean the “reality” TV builders who hodge-podge stuff together and generally hack up cars and do work that cannot be acceptable in the real world. TV shows that are focused on the lack of common sense and actual car knowledge (or illegal racing) vs. the artists and real-world builders. These current celebrities get mobbed for autographs and attention and I think it diminishes the great work that some of the smaller builders are doing.
While we’re talking about builders, the competition for builder’s awards was FIERCE. I cannot imagine the judges having to decide which cars to award. Artistry and innovation continue to boggle your mind when you see what is coming out of back-alley shops across the country – many are one-man operations with no intentions of becoming famous or getting a TV show. These are the guys (and gals) that should be mobbed, in my mind; but what do I know?
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/11/20151106_154340_zpsgbabceph-1.jpg
Pro driver Shawn Umphries with Hillbank/Superformance honchos Ashton and Mikey.
Lastly, the outdoor arenas were probably the most fun for me (probably because I got to go outside while there was daylight) – Ford out front had a mix of Cobras, trucks and exotics squealing tires and showing off the latest and greatest from builders like Hillbank, who were generous enough to let me ride along. I didn’t hit the Chevy “proving grounds” because the line was too long and I figured I can squeal tires in a Chevy any time.
Next year, I have big plans to get you better videos and more coverage… if I don’t’ have to ‘man’ the booth.
My plan was to wander all of SEMA and to take as many pictures and videos as I could to bring you an immersive experience in what SEMA is all about. Why would I do this? Well frankly, I was going to do it so that all of you who wish you could go, would feel like you’d already been, and stay home. Why didn't I do it? Because I found myself consumed with telling anyone who would listen about the car I was there to represent.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/11/20151105_164757_zpsj52hiain-1.jpg
Here’s the thing about SEMA: It’s a trade show.
This means that people who work in the industry are at the show to do business. SEMA is supposed to be where deals are done, relationships are formed and next year’s sales quotas can start to form. SEMA is the place where companies showcase their latest and greatest in hopes of pleasing current commercial customers and partners and forge relationships with new strategic alliances. SEMA is not a convention of enthusiasts but rather a high-priced global sales meeting. Unfortunately, this enormous show has become more of a convention and less of a trade show and this could be the show’s demise.
(I'm sorry for the lack of photos on this post, I lost my cell phone a the show and I'm left with only a few shots I took with my regular camera.)
I was at SEMA to show off a charity tribute build for a reasonably famous amateur race team. I didn’t need to sell anything although the car was showing off a one-of-a-kind part for a great vendor who was happy to try and sell more (so that it would no longer be one-of-a-kind) of these parts to the right audience.
What SEMA really is: A reunion of automotive professionals; a chance for enthusiasts who finagle a badge, to see the latest TV car celebrities (and maybe an old timer or two); a mob scene of epic proportion and bragging rights for the average Joe to tell his buddies he saw Richard Rawlings from Gas Monkey Garage.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/11/20151105_164745_zpsz9ftrnli-1.jpg
While I never got more than a couple of hours to check out the show (and usually at the crack of dawn) I was able to run through a couple of the halls, take some crappy videos and notice a few trends. (All the vids are on the Pro-Touring Facebook page.) I was also able to see a bunch of people who I don’t normally get to see since moving from the West Coast, so I suppose it was a reunion of sorts for me too.
TRENDS
Firstly, the pro-touring movement is not lost on aftermarket specialty motorsports equipment. When it comes to mechanical stuff, I saw lighter, faster and more effective. Each year I see more suspension, more power-adders, more bolt-on and more ‘ease of use’. This year was no exception. Notable from Chevy was the Camaro 6 which is starting to take on a lot of the Corvette looks in my opinion and Ford with a 300+ horsepower Focus. (Autocross killer?)
While I’m sure trucks are always a trend, it seemed like the entire show had trucks in it. Every major manufacturer and section of the show had a truck --or ten. Additionally, the aftermarket for trucks went for miles. Work trucks, emergency response trucks, off-road burly trucks, off-road luxury trucks. Urban and military assault vehicles with any number of lights, bells and whistles – and by whistles I mean horns suitable for a train that were randomly honked to the displeasure of anyone within a mile.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/11/20151106_093700_zpsakv0yttr-1.jpg
Paint and body was consumed with wraps – wrap it on the go, wrap it metallic, wrap it flat, wrap it in an hour. There were durability and speed contests all week showcasing all manner of applications. I cannot help but think that with this many vendors in the market, wraps should start to come down in price eventually. While I’m sure advances are being made in the finishing market, I wasn’t able to see it with all of the crowds looking at colored saran wrap and rubber paint. This must be why Glasurit had Jay Leno in their booth to get attention.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/11/20151105_164050_zpsmiz5zxz3-1.jpg
Another trend that continues to expand was the colored anodized aluminum wheels. Every wheel manufacturer that I saw had colored wheels. Some were subdued and tasteful and some could be seen from space. The prevailing color of copper was most notable – shiny, bright or darker, copper seemed to be everywhere. When I say that the market has expanded, I had not previously noticed the colored (beyond painted/powder coated) wheels on trucks. There is nothing quite like seeing a pickup truck lifted to the moon with off road suspension capable of taming a tank and a six-inch snorkeled exhaust… sporting lime green or brand-new-penny-copper 40 inch wheels. I’ll just say this: it’s not for everyone, but it does make a statement.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/11/wheels_zpsbqmuqwgl-1.jpg
One thing that still blows me away (and I’m not saying it would be anyone here because most of you know better) but I’m surprised that the TV show guys continue to get so much attention. By TV show, I mean the “reality” TV builders who hodge-podge stuff together and generally hack up cars and do work that cannot be acceptable in the real world. TV shows that are focused on the lack of common sense and actual car knowledge (or illegal racing) vs. the artists and real-world builders. These current celebrities get mobbed for autographs and attention and I think it diminishes the great work that some of the smaller builders are doing.
While we’re talking about builders, the competition for builder’s awards was FIERCE. I cannot imagine the judges having to decide which cars to award. Artistry and innovation continue to boggle your mind when you see what is coming out of back-alley shops across the country – many are one-man operations with no intentions of becoming famous or getting a TV show. These are the guys (and gals) that should be mobbed, in my mind; but what do I know?
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/11/20151106_154340_zpsgbabceph-1.jpg
Pro driver Shawn Umphries with Hillbank/Superformance honchos Ashton and Mikey.
Lastly, the outdoor arenas were probably the most fun for me (probably because I got to go outside while there was daylight) – Ford out front had a mix of Cobras, trucks and exotics squealing tires and showing off the latest and greatest from builders like Hillbank, who were generous enough to let me ride along. I didn’t hit the Chevy “proving grounds” because the line was too long and I figured I can squeal tires in a Chevy any time.
Next year, I have big plans to get you better videos and more coverage… if I don’t’ have to ‘man’ the booth.