Friends in Low Places

[Steve Chryssos]

We (Twist Machine) had a great time at SEMA. The paddle shifter won an award; We had three feature vehicles in the show; plenty of awesome response at the booth thanks to a killer booth location. I even got to drive the Billygoat around Vegas a coupla times.

But we had some bad news, too. One of our paddle shifter/steering wheel assemblies was stolen right off the display we had set up in the PCS (Powertrain Control Solutions) SEMA booth. So much for security. A $180 LeCarra steering wheel bolted to a $539 Shrifter--gone. Bummer!! They didn't steal the receiver, so the paddle shifter is kinda useless.

SEMA was no help at all, so I made a call to Charlie Tuna, a friend in LV who travels in all the wrong circles, and he got the thing back.

A friend of Charlie's hangs out with the crotch rocket crowd. Another crotch rocket punk was trying to hock our parts--still intact. My peeps explain what it is he's trying to sell and tell the "salesman" that it doesn't even work without the missing parts. The crotch rocket kid says he bought it off a guy who got it from a guy blah blah blah, so he wants his $100 back.

Bottom line: It cost us $100 but we got our parts back. Amazing.

[Damn True]

Note to self. Stevo knows shady characters in Vegas. LOL!

Hey ya never know when that kind of help might come in handy.

Good story. (still wanna hear the punch in the neck story) Glad to hear you got your stuff back.

[ProdigyCustoms]

Great news. Staying in touch with the drak side sometimes can pay off. How's that go, "keep your friends close and your enemy's closer"

[Rick Dorion]

'Hey, you take care of that thing?'

Glad you got it back.

[TonyHuntimer]

Hey Steevo,

I'm glad I could get those parts back for you.

CT~


P.S. How the heck did a theif steal the display? Did he steal it after hours? That's not like something you can just stuff in your pocket. Wow! That's awesome you got it back! It's good to be the son of the Godfather.

[Damn True]

Now I have that damn song stuck in my head!

[TonyHuntimer]

Me too.

T~

[trapin]

Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.

[MrQuick]

Say Steve, you wouldn't know Tony 2 toes would you? Well I made a bad roll while I was there and now he's tryin to give me a pair of cement Nike's... just thought I would ask...
Glad to here there was a happy ending to your story... sort of. I was also suprised how much scum bags could get away with there...even with security all over the place.

[parsonsj]

Glad to hear it! That's (sorta) great news!

jp

[96Z28SS]

I think you should've won an award for best marketing of a product at SEMA. The girl walking around with a steering wheel with the paddle shifter was a great idea. She was walking everywhere stopping people and getting them to try it out. There was always a crowd around her.

[1970cuda]

so let me get this right 100 for wheel and paddles how much for controller to complete the set up?

[Ralph LoGrasso]

Wow, I can't believe someone could steal actually steal a display of that size right out of the show. Glad to hear your homie got it back, though.

[Damn True]

The last time I went to Interbike (the bicycle industry trade show) a $7000 Carbon Fiber road bike with full Campy was swipped from the booth next to ours. They sent the dogs out once they realized it was gone and caught the guy in the parking structure loading it in his van. Turned out that they guy worked for one of the smaller industry magazines and claimed he was taking it for a photo shoot that was authorized by a guy who hadn't worked for that company in nine months.

[LTorres]

I got to see the Shrifter up close (what a truly amazing product it is) and as much as I would have like to steal it, I think I'll stick to buying one when the time comes. Geesh some people's kids.

[Steve Chryssos]

Hey Steevo,

I'm glad I could get those parts back for you.

CT~


P.S. How the heck did a theif steal the display? Did he steal it after hours? That's not like something you can just stuff in your pocket.

Yeah. After hours. Apparently, the security companies just hire people off the street the day before the trade shows start. No background check or anything. Probably a cleaning crew person and a security person working in concert.

This particular unit will be sold at a big discount if it checks out 100%. It's a universal model, so it works on Ford/Mopar and late model 4th gen F-Body columns. You get a discount and a hell of a story to go with it.

[Mean 69]

We were worried big time about theft too, so we hid the big dollar items after hours. One of my teammates called on Saturday morning after they had completely torn the booth down, and told me he couldn't find that darned Penske Racing triple adjustable coil-over, didn't know what had happened. $1300. I had a heart attack. He was kidding. And now he had better be on his toes come April Fool's day, or any other day I choose to repay the health checkup. I will say though, I was really worried about getting ripped, glad it worked out in the end for you. Unreal.

So, if anyone is looking for some excitement in life, start up a new company, and debut at SEMA. It's great fun!
M

[Bill Howell]

We (Twist Machine) had a great time at SEMA. The paddle shifter won an award

Sorry about the bad stuff, but I think everyone missed this part of the story. YOU GOT AN AWARD FOR THE PADDLE SHIFTER!!!!!!!!!!!!
I believe it was the international new product award, right? That is a hell of a deal and shows what a great product it is. I have been playing with mine now that we have the rev limiter set, damn, what a blast.
Anyway, congradulations of the award Steve, only one of those every year, and your company won it this year, quite an accomplishment!

[kmcanally]

I have done trade shows for the printing equip biz for 16 years...If it is not bolted down to the table then say good bye!

[TonyHuntimer]

Oh yeah!

Congratulations on the award Steevo!

Tony~