Larry Callahan
11-06-2007, 07:35 PM
https://www.pro-touring.com/events/SEMA/SEMA2006/logo-2006-sponsor.jpg
I survived another show and I already can't wait for 2008. I saw more cool rides then I can remember and I met a lot of great new people. For me the greatest part about SEMA is the people. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the cars but being able to shake the hand and share a beer with those you have only e-mailed or talked to on a message board does it for me. That's the reason I set up our first SEMA dinner 7 years ago. Despite my being a nervous wreck speaking in front of a crowd it's still one of the best days of the year for me.
Our dinner has really become something that I look forward to and there are a lot of people to thank. Once again Bill Howell stepped up and did most of the talking and for that I thank him. I don't know what I would do without him there. I also need to thank our dinner sponsors. Without all the support of all of them especially Paul Clark at Hydratech Braking Systems (http://www.hydratechbraking.com/), Kyle & Stacy Tucker of Detroit Speed & Engineering (http://www.detroitspeed.com/) and John Hotchkis of Hotchkis Suspension (http://www.hotchkis.net/) our dinners would have ended a few years ago.
I also want to thank everyone for all the great door prizes. I swear one of these years I'm just going run with all the parts and finish my own car. LOL! We gave away a set of wheels from bonspeed (http://www.bonspeed.com/), carbon fiber from Anvil Auto (http://www.anvilauto.com/), a Hydroboost system from Hydratech (http://www.hydratechbraking.com/), Marquez Design & Fbrication (http://www.marquezdesign.com/) billet parts, big gift certificates from Detroit Speed & Engineering (http://www.detroitspeed.com/), Hotchkis Suspension (http://www.hotchkis.net/), Air Ride Technologies (http://www.ridetech.com/), Vintage Air (http://www.vintageair.com/), American Autowire (http://www.vintageair.com/), Ron Davis Radiators (http://www.rondavisradiators.com/), Hermance Design (http://www.hermancedesign.com), Swartz Extreme Performance (http://www.schwartzperformance.com/), Musclerodz (http://www.musclerodz.com/), Optima Batteries (http://www.optimabatteries.com/) and more. We had shirts and hats and DVD's and Goodie bags from Goodies Speed Shop (http://www.goodies-speedshop.com/), Popular Hot Rodding Magazine (http://www.popularhotrodding.com/index.html) brought tons of stuff and we even gave away custom designed sponsor t-shirts this year.
The final prize of the night came from GPSuperStore (http://www.gpsuperstore.com/). They gave away a Prodigy Custom (http://www.prodigycustoms.com/) Total Car brake package including Wilwood (http://www.wilwood.com/) front and rear brakes, Prodigy Customs (http://www.prodigycustoms.com/) Master, E brake Cables, Braided hoses, Fluid, Safety wire and even the safety wire pliers. Heck, they even offered to install them if the winner wants to bring the car down. Now that's what you call a complete package.
I also need to thank Mary Pozzi, Chuck, Joey, Michael and the gang at Prodigy Customs (http://www.prodigycustoms.com/). Without their help setting up, working the door and pedaling shirts I don't know what I would have done. I thank you all once again.
As usual our dinner was a full house and with that there is a funny story. It's funny now but it was not funny a few weeks ago. If you have one of our SEMA shirts look at the logo in the center on the back. Notice the playing cards under the words "Full House"? Well, I don't play poker much and the first version had a picture of a royal flush under the text. It wasn't until after I had the screens made that Carl Casanova pointed it out to me. So, I had to have the screens re-made but luckily the shirts were not being printed until the next morning. Phew! I'm glad Carl was paying attention. I could not imagine the harassment I would have received by giving away shirts in of all places Las Vegas.
Watch for more pictures and stories soon from our dinner and some cool stuff I found at SEMA. For those of you that didn't make it in this year please join us next year. We have found a new location close by. It's the Best Western Mardi Gras Hotel & Casino (http://www.mardigrasinn.com/). From the south hall I was able to limp there in under six minutes. Watch for discounted hotel room rates and info soon.
For now please check out our pictures by clicking here (https://www.pro-touring.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=11798). Also, if you have any pictures of our dinner I would love to have them and put them in our gallery. Please e-mail them to [email protected]
I survived another show and I already can't wait for 2008. I saw more cool rides then I can remember and I met a lot of great new people. For me the greatest part about SEMA is the people. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the cars but being able to shake the hand and share a beer with those you have only e-mailed or talked to on a message board does it for me. That's the reason I set up our first SEMA dinner 7 years ago. Despite my being a nervous wreck speaking in front of a crowd it's still one of the best days of the year for me.
Our dinner has really become something that I look forward to and there are a lot of people to thank. Once again Bill Howell stepped up and did most of the talking and for that I thank him. I don't know what I would do without him there. I also need to thank our dinner sponsors. Without all the support of all of them especially Paul Clark at Hydratech Braking Systems (http://www.hydratechbraking.com/), Kyle & Stacy Tucker of Detroit Speed & Engineering (http://www.detroitspeed.com/) and John Hotchkis of Hotchkis Suspension (http://www.hotchkis.net/) our dinners would have ended a few years ago.
I also want to thank everyone for all the great door prizes. I swear one of these years I'm just going run with all the parts and finish my own car. LOL! We gave away a set of wheels from bonspeed (http://www.bonspeed.com/), carbon fiber from Anvil Auto (http://www.anvilauto.com/), a Hydroboost system from Hydratech (http://www.hydratechbraking.com/), Marquez Design & Fbrication (http://www.marquezdesign.com/) billet parts, big gift certificates from Detroit Speed & Engineering (http://www.detroitspeed.com/), Hotchkis Suspension (http://www.hotchkis.net/), Air Ride Technologies (http://www.ridetech.com/), Vintage Air (http://www.vintageair.com/), American Autowire (http://www.vintageair.com/), Ron Davis Radiators (http://www.rondavisradiators.com/), Hermance Design (http://www.hermancedesign.com), Swartz Extreme Performance (http://www.schwartzperformance.com/), Musclerodz (http://www.musclerodz.com/), Optima Batteries (http://www.optimabatteries.com/) and more. We had shirts and hats and DVD's and Goodie bags from Goodies Speed Shop (http://www.goodies-speedshop.com/), Popular Hot Rodding Magazine (http://www.popularhotrodding.com/index.html) brought tons of stuff and we even gave away custom designed sponsor t-shirts this year.
The final prize of the night came from GPSuperStore (http://www.gpsuperstore.com/). They gave away a Prodigy Custom (http://www.prodigycustoms.com/) Total Car brake package including Wilwood (http://www.wilwood.com/) front and rear brakes, Prodigy Customs (http://www.prodigycustoms.com/) Master, E brake Cables, Braided hoses, Fluid, Safety wire and even the safety wire pliers. Heck, they even offered to install them if the winner wants to bring the car down. Now that's what you call a complete package.
I also need to thank Mary Pozzi, Chuck, Joey, Michael and the gang at Prodigy Customs (http://www.prodigycustoms.com/). Without their help setting up, working the door and pedaling shirts I don't know what I would have done. I thank you all once again.
As usual our dinner was a full house and with that there is a funny story. It's funny now but it was not funny a few weeks ago. If you have one of our SEMA shirts look at the logo in the center on the back. Notice the playing cards under the words "Full House"? Well, I don't play poker much and the first version had a picture of a royal flush under the text. It wasn't until after I had the screens made that Carl Casanova pointed it out to me. So, I had to have the screens re-made but luckily the shirts were not being printed until the next morning. Phew! I'm glad Carl was paying attention. I could not imagine the harassment I would have received by giving away shirts in of all places Las Vegas.
Watch for more pictures and stories soon from our dinner and some cool stuff I found at SEMA. For those of you that didn't make it in this year please join us next year. We have found a new location close by. It's the Best Western Mardi Gras Hotel & Casino (http://www.mardigrasinn.com/). From the south hall I was able to limp there in under six minutes. Watch for discounted hotel room rates and info soon.
For now please check out our pictures by clicking here (https://www.pro-touring.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=11798). Also, if you have any pictures of our dinner I would love to have them and put them in our gallery. Please e-mail them to [email protected]