Luwin1026
11-11-2003, 08:38 AM
I was tired. My legs felt like jelly. I felt like I had walked for miles. My hands were imprinted from the handles of the heavy bags I was carrying. There were masses of people everywhere. The sights and sounds consumed my senses, almost to a point of overwhelm. And yet I was loving every single moment of it. I’m not referring to my recurring dream of fleeing a Communist or terror-inflicted country by foot. I’m talking about SEMA 2003!!
For those not in the loop, SEMA stands for Specialty Equipment Market Association, and they put on one of the hugest shows yearly. One of such venues is Las Vegas, only a stone’s throw away from my hometown of Los Angeles. What better way to spend a few days relaxing at a nice hotel, chowing down on some sumptuous buffet, and look at cars all day? I packed my bag and was ready to go, but I came across one obstacle – you had to be an industry insider in order to get into the show, as it is not open to the public. After a couple calls and inquiries, I was able to secure a pass to the show thanks to Brabus (not the shop, but the BNZsport member), and off I was!
When I first walked in the convention hall to register, I was immediately amazed by the sheer magnitude of the show. Being my first time there, my heart raced at the anticipation of the things that I would see. I wasn’t able to get very far as I had to be photographer for Brabus as he posed with various models. But being the great friend and fellow forum member that I am, no sacrifice is too big to put a smile on a buddy’s face.
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0QgAAAPwSu2onALb6ZfHZ6ySnVYphy392nxSI2hTJ2ceUoaSne hbF2lBixdA9uxIchKPnTMBZczDz6SDKr1SEu7Ip4HcuS5eQD4M hSzFa7CU/Image006.jpg?dc=4675446741385630576
As expected, there were tons of imports, with the Nissan 350Z appearing to be the display car preferred by a lot of aftermarket companies. This is not your average import show, however, so each car was top-notch and expertly done. It is obvious that the scissor-door coversions, crazy vinyl graphics, big brakes, shiny coilovers, and glistening titanium exhausts were not just slapped on without forethought – the cars there were assembled by their tuners with a purpose in mind and showcased their products in convincing fashion.
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0QgDOAvoSSWonALb6ZfHZ68EKpCQIuhzd9gWrribKvrLlG3Qb8 LFRjJlhEcirrIkwjMbXxJsMt3cJj2zQyY8iHwHBSxEejKnHRZe 7O94TzSY/Image004.jpg?dc=4675446741381728519
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0QgDOAvwSvWqeZtPScgEKAgAa0NWT5a10sQo8xB9m38jIP2g1V XdRWr!oRuOCWRY6EUg38wT8SGHwGSo7fKuvELH8GH2ZefsBDc9 3Jswy3bY/Image105.jpg?dc=4675446741959003938
As you head into the wheels/suspension section, I began to see more Euros. There was chrome everywhere, and I was tempted to go up to several chrome wheels and touch the spokes just to see if they would spin or not. There was a plethora of wheel companies that chose blingin’ Benzes to show off their new wheels, most likely due to the floss factor of the car.
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0QgA0A*0S92onALb6ZfHZ61m7LlgC!c*VlJLGlyPBpTebX4Inb 73eLMEGWhowULuAvkyK6Y5Ui7RBTefDIm2k99ZE6WhFy0y09rt NLV3Xn4k/Image034.jpg?dc=4675446741433925097
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0QgDOAvwSv2onALb6ZfHZ6zhQ68PY8upu71xkCaxA5gNqTyYCM K!Z04TKdO9rsmMP23VVsfAcfefXEGSMLSI5IigeUZKStacP!96 2Fbzuw4w/Image042.jpg?dc=4675446741448066675
Speaking of flossin’, thanks to Brabus’s hook-up, I was able to attend the private product unveiling reception of a company called Davin, which in fact holds the claim of first inventing the spinning wheel several years ago. After munching on appetizers and taking advantage of their open bar, we had a chance to see their new bling-bling products, some of which cost more than an entire car!
As the night was still young, we were thinking about our options for dinner when we came across a stroke of luck and timing. Thanks to The Wheel Supply, we were able to attend the Brabus private reception, where they pulled out all the stops in the form of sick cars, an awesome buffet, and did I mention – sick cars? They unveiled their Startech Crossfire, which looked absolutely stunning. But their SL55 with the K8 package and their S600 with their T12 package stole the show, each thumping out 550+ horsepower!
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0QgDKAgATqGsnALb6ZfHZ6659LZ0fQXzhd50JH!FfIaALAboU* 6Sk0tEY!y0DpsKDQBW7IzyfxHQ*drgIgv5PvZNo7ZHysXbnZB5 CNhTEzwo/Image091.jpg?dc=4675446741934643520
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0QgDOAv4SNWsnALb6ZfHZ68U!BL!RCRCVGK2ZpFdjdzDXpoDm7 KcYMY20MEDYvj3exYipBOrZ7hxXyCcX8SYsBvB6MxmhErscc*p QoFEWKEc/Image080.jpg?dc=4675446741916849629
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0QgDKAv4SM2snALb6ZfHZ66TffVB3ru!g95x!iu4gh*EtNaMch sAI0tp*jnErSnPVk5Mub2ID2DWadnoUvajPd!BN8M8oKa*lBVz Vs47OeXw/Image062.jpg?dc=4675446741892591017
Even though I was only there for 2 short days, it was crammed with cars, food, and fun. I’ll let the rest of the pictures do the talking. I’d like to thank BNZsport.com, Asia Empire, The Wheel Supply, Davin, and Brabus North America for giving me this chance to check out the beautiful machines and share them with my fellow members! See you again next year!
For those not in the loop, SEMA stands for Specialty Equipment Market Association, and they put on one of the hugest shows yearly. One of such venues is Las Vegas, only a stone’s throw away from my hometown of Los Angeles. What better way to spend a few days relaxing at a nice hotel, chowing down on some sumptuous buffet, and look at cars all day? I packed my bag and was ready to go, but I came across one obstacle – you had to be an industry insider in order to get into the show, as it is not open to the public. After a couple calls and inquiries, I was able to secure a pass to the show thanks to Brabus (not the shop, but the BNZsport member), and off I was!
When I first walked in the convention hall to register, I was immediately amazed by the sheer magnitude of the show. Being my first time there, my heart raced at the anticipation of the things that I would see. I wasn’t able to get very far as I had to be photographer for Brabus as he posed with various models. But being the great friend and fellow forum member that I am, no sacrifice is too big to put a smile on a buddy’s face.
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0QgAAAPwSu2onALb6ZfHZ6ySnVYphy392nxSI2hTJ2ceUoaSne hbF2lBixdA9uxIchKPnTMBZczDz6SDKr1SEu7Ip4HcuS5eQD4M hSzFa7CU/Image006.jpg?dc=4675446741385630576
As expected, there were tons of imports, with the Nissan 350Z appearing to be the display car preferred by a lot of aftermarket companies. This is not your average import show, however, so each car was top-notch and expertly done. It is obvious that the scissor-door coversions, crazy vinyl graphics, big brakes, shiny coilovers, and glistening titanium exhausts were not just slapped on without forethought – the cars there were assembled by their tuners with a purpose in mind and showcased their products in convincing fashion.
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0QgDOAvoSSWonALb6ZfHZ68EKpCQIuhzd9gWrribKvrLlG3Qb8 LFRjJlhEcirrIkwjMbXxJsMt3cJj2zQyY8iHwHBSxEejKnHRZe 7O94TzSY/Image004.jpg?dc=4675446741381728519
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0QgDOAvwSvWqeZtPScgEKAgAa0NWT5a10sQo8xB9m38jIP2g1V XdRWr!oRuOCWRY6EUg38wT8SGHwGSo7fKuvELH8GH2ZefsBDc9 3Jswy3bY/Image105.jpg?dc=4675446741959003938
As you head into the wheels/suspension section, I began to see more Euros. There was chrome everywhere, and I was tempted to go up to several chrome wheels and touch the spokes just to see if they would spin or not. There was a plethora of wheel companies that chose blingin’ Benzes to show off their new wheels, most likely due to the floss factor of the car.
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0QgA0A*0S92onALb6ZfHZ61m7LlgC!c*VlJLGlyPBpTebX4Inb 73eLMEGWhowULuAvkyK6Y5Ui7RBTefDIm2k99ZE6WhFy0y09rt NLV3Xn4k/Image034.jpg?dc=4675446741433925097
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0QgDOAvwSv2onALb6ZfHZ6zhQ68PY8upu71xkCaxA5gNqTyYCM K!Z04TKdO9rsmMP23VVsfAcfefXEGSMLSI5IigeUZKStacP!96 2Fbzuw4w/Image042.jpg?dc=4675446741448066675
Speaking of flossin’, thanks to Brabus’s hook-up, I was able to attend the private product unveiling reception of a company called Davin, which in fact holds the claim of first inventing the spinning wheel several years ago. After munching on appetizers and taking advantage of their open bar, we had a chance to see their new bling-bling products, some of which cost more than an entire car!
As the night was still young, we were thinking about our options for dinner when we came across a stroke of luck and timing. Thanks to The Wheel Supply, we were able to attend the Brabus private reception, where they pulled out all the stops in the form of sick cars, an awesome buffet, and did I mention – sick cars? They unveiled their Startech Crossfire, which looked absolutely stunning. But their SL55 with the K8 package and their S600 with their T12 package stole the show, each thumping out 550+ horsepower!
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0QgDKAgATqGsnALb6ZfHZ6659LZ0fQXzhd50JH!FfIaALAboU* 6Sk0tEY!y0DpsKDQBW7IzyfxHQ*drgIgv5PvZNo7ZHysXbnZB5 CNhTEzwo/Image091.jpg?dc=4675446741934643520
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0QgDOAv4SNWsnALb6ZfHZ68U!BL!RCRCVGK2ZpFdjdzDXpoDm7 KcYMY20MEDYvj3exYipBOrZ7hxXyCcX8SYsBvB6MxmhErscc*p QoFEWKEc/Image080.jpg?dc=4675446741916849629
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0QgDKAv4SM2snALb6ZfHZ66TffVB3ru!g95x!iu4gh*EtNaMch sAI0tp*jnErSnPVk5Mub2ID2DWadnoUvajPd!BN8M8oKa*lBVz Vs47OeXw/Image062.jpg?dc=4675446741892591017
Even though I was only there for 2 short days, it was crammed with cars, food, and fun. I’ll let the rest of the pictures do the talking. I’d like to thank BNZsport.com, Asia Empire, The Wheel Supply, Davin, and Brabus North America for giving me this chance to check out the beautiful machines and share them with my fellow members! See you again next year!