Car Lovers All Smiles at SEMA Tradeshow

by Diane Taylor

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Mayor Goodman may claim to be the country’s happiest mayor. Last week, I visited what must be country’s happiest trade show, the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) trade show. Individuals who love cars, work on cars, sell cars and personalize cars all come to Las Vegas for SEMA.

A rarity, only one photographer.
More than 100,000 people attended SEMA.
Photo by Diane Taylor

Personally, I know nothing about cars. Ask me to point out a carburetor and I’d have to use one of my lifelines. But I love SEMA. Lots of good looking men with muscles are all smiling and acting as if they had died and gone to heaven. I wasn’t the only woman in attendance, but generally, this was a man thing.

Cars were everywhere, inside and outside the Las Vegas Convention Center. The cars were all shiny and perfect, even if they made their original debuts in the 1930s. Some were decorated with intricate artwork; others were pristine; still more advertised the products inside. Folks with digital cameras were falling all over each other to take photos to show the folks back home.

Of course, cell phones and texting were evident, too. When I was in the new product pavilion, one of the visitors was on the phone reading out-loud the descriptions of the new products he was seeing. He ended the conversation with, “Gee buddy; I wish you could be here.”

Although final figures at the trade show will not be available for two weeks, the estimated attendance of 100,000 plus can’t be far off. People were everywhere. The temporary employees from Eastridge Personnel who were directing folks to the registration areas had their hands full; waves of people came toward them constantly all needing guidance,

George and Lazarus Palanacki have a “tuning business” in Wadsworth, OH. They come to SEMA every year and spend all their time at the four-day show. “You can’t see everything in less time,” they said. The Palanacki group was staying at the Bellagio Las Vegas and noted they are so tired at the end of the day, partying is not even an option. They also noted their business is good in this economy; maintaining cars is more important than replacement.

Please notice me; I am ferocious!
Photo by Diane Taylor

Exhibitor Ben Mizban, President of T-Rex Grilles, is also a SEMA regular as an exhibitor. Since this reporter is so lacking in car knowledge, I stopped at Mizban’s booth because I did understand grilles. Mizban explained one can fancy up a car by installing a special aluminum or stainless steel grille at a price from $125 to $600. “If you want one of our grilles, go on the internet and you’ll find a distributor,” he said. (Grilles aren’t my thing, but they were pretty.)

Well, maybe cars weren't the only attraction.
Photo by Diane Taylor

Another product I understood? It was a new large rear view mirror where the left hand quarter of the mirror shows a video of what a camera is recording behind the car. One wouldn’t even need to turn a head to back up.

At one point, I heard a young man behind me asking attendees about their show experience. He was Las Vegas local Paul Lago from McGuire Research surveying people on behalf of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

And finally, I met another local with work because of the convention. He was freelancer David Reddish working with PRG Audio. His job was to set up audio equipment for the many meetings and seminars held in conjunction with SEMA. Reddish was surveying the crowds from a second-floor perch in the North Hall. He agreed, “SEMA is really something.”

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