The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) 45th annual trade show was held in Las Vegas, NV during the last week of October, 2012. But this show is for “trade only” meaning that the general public is not allowed. But that doesn’t mean the average Joe can’t steal a little peak at the fantastic SEMA cars.
It is true that the show will not admit a person that is not related to the automotive industry. And each entrance to the massive conference halls is staffed by badge monitoring guards.
But not all of the show is off limits! At the front of the Las Vegas Conference Center is a large parking lot designed for cars at speed. This year Ford took it over for some drifting. In the past, Toyota used it for some serious off-road dirt action. In this same front lot are some exhibitors and lots of cars to glance at.
Along the front of the convention center are over 300 cars parked on every square foot of concrete and asphalt. If the public waits until the show opens each day, they get a chance to hear a local high school band trumpet the daily opening. And while the crowds rush inside, the public can get a chance to see the exterior cars up close.
Meguiar’s has a huge stage outside of the center hall where Barry Meguiar interviews various auto industry leaders for segments of his “Car Crazy” television show. Various cars are background for this stage and can be seen throughout the show.
And these “outside” cars are not slouches. They are often contenders for industry awards. In fact the cars featured at the Hot Rod Industry Association exclusive Wednesday night banquet, will be seen in the front parking lot on Thursday morning!
Ironically all the cars that make you drool are not always featured at company booths. Some cars sit along the aisles and lobbies as the crowds rush by. I remember a few years back a beautiful red Chevy sat near the SEMA association’s lobby space. Only later did I learn it was a Boyd Coddington crafted car featured on his TV show and unveiled earlier that week at the show!
Finally, on Friday after the show, SEMA now features the chance to see the cars roll off of their red carpets. This gives all attendees the chance to see these cars growl their way out of the hallways, their stance air-lifted and exhausts bellowing.
So, the bottom line is even if you don’t have a badge to allow you entrance to the full show, there are still lots of cars you can see outside the velvet ropes.
See ya’ on the road.