What It’s Like to Attend the Insane, Awesome, and Closed-to-the-Public SEMA Show in 35 Photos

{"meta_title":"What It's Like to Attend the Insane SEMA Show in 35 Photos \u2013\u00a0News \u2013\u00a0Car and Driver","meta_description":"The closed-to-the-public SEMA show is full of parties, celebrities, wild builds, and more. See what it's like to be there at Car and Driver.","meta_keywords":"2014 SEMA show, parties, Honda, Gran Turismo Awards, Magnus Walker, Porsche 911, Richard Petty, GM, Ford, Batmobile, photos, what it's like, Las Vegas, convention center, attend, CEC wheels, booth babes","news_keywords":"2014 SEMA show, parties, Honda, Gran Turismo Awards, Magnus Walker, Porsche 911, Richard Petty, GM, Ford, Batmobile, photos, what it's like, Las Vegas, convention center, attend, CEC wheels, booth babes, cars, car news","related":[{"link":"http:\/\/http://ift.tt/1slsJuF","img":"http:\/\/blog.caranddriver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Coolest-Classics-118.jpg","title":"15 of the Hottest Classics at SEMA: Porsches, Mustangs, Off-Roaders, and More"},{"link":"http:\/\/blog.caranddriver.com\/this-blown-66-chevelle-is-the-sema-car-everyone-is-talking-about\/","img":"http:\/\/blog.caranddriver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/1966-Chevrolet-Chevelle-by-Ringbrothers-PLACEMENT-626x382.jpg","title":"This Blown \u201966 Chevelle Is the SEMA Car Everyone Is Talking About"},{"link":"http:\/\/http://ift.tt/1ptFEiQ","img":"http:\/\/blog.caranddriver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Jeeps-of-SEMA.jpg","title":"FCs, Jeepsters, CJs, and More: The Awesome Classic Jeeps of SEMA"}],"slides":[{"id":169153,"title":"","body":"The annual SEMA show in Las Vegas is technically an automotive trade event but has evolved into a no-holds-barred display of tuning and customization genius. There are always hundreds of lifted trucks, slammed imports, and engine-swapped muscle cars. Yet there's far more to the show than that\u2014the parties, the celebrities, the high-octane demos, the excess of it all. (And the Rascal scooters. Seriously, we saw a guy from Road & Track on one.) Unfortunately, SEMA isn't open to the public, but that doesn't mean you can't experience what it's like to attend the craziest show on the automotive calendar. Enjoy!","src":"http:\/\/blog.caranddriver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/What-Its-Like-to-Attend-SEMA.jpg","mimetype":"image\/jpeg","photographer":"Michael Simari","illustrator":"","make_id":"0","model_id":"0","submodel_id":"0","make_name":"","model_name":"","submodel_name":"","year":"","submodel_alias":""},{"id":168936,"title":"Magnus Walker's Iconic Porsche 911 \"277\"","body":"Stumbling across Magnus Walker's famous 911 \"277\" is a normal-ish occurrence for a show like SEMA.","src":"http:\/\/blog.caranddriver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/What-Makes-SEMA-SEMA-101.jpg","mimetype":"image\/jpeg","photographer":"Michael Simari","illustrator":"","make_id":"11","model_id":"54","submodel_id":"0","make_name":"Porsche","model_name":"911","submodel_name":"","year":"","submodel_alias":""},{"id":168938,"title":"Magnus Walker's Next Iconic Porsche 911","body":"Stumbling across a project in progress, in this case, Magnus Walker's next 911 build, is a bit less ordinary.","src":"http:\/\/blog.caranddriver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/What-Makes-SEMA-SEMA-102.jpg","mimetype":"image\/jpeg","photographer":"Michael Simari","illustrator":"","make_id":"11","model_id":"54","submodel_id":"0","make_name":"Porsche","model_name":"911","submodel_name":"","year":"","submodel_alias":""},{"id":168990,"title":"Magnus Walker","body":"Meeting Magnus Walker and talking shop about his next build? Okay, there's no way we can play it cool\u2014we nerded out hard-core.","src":"http:\/\/blog.caranddriver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/What-Makes-SEMA-SEMA-129.jpg","mimetype":"image\/jpeg","photographer":"Michael Simari","illustrator":"","make_id":"11","model_id":"54","submodel_id":"0","make_name":"Porsche","model_name":"911","submodel_name":"","year":"","submodel_alias":""},{"id":168957,"title":"Boxed Bride and Wedding Party","body":"If we could encapsulate SEMA into a metaphorical box, then make that box real, this is what it would look like. Oh, Claus.","src":"http:\/\/blog.caranddriver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/What-Makes-SEMA-SEMA-112.jpg","mimetype":"image\/jpeg","photographer":"Michael Simari","illustrator":"","make_id":"0","model_id":"0","submodel_id":"0","make_name":"","model_name":"","submodel_name":"","year":"","submodel_alias":""},{"id":168940,"title":"Sometimes You Run Into Richard Petty","body":"We're basically best friends with the King now. Hey! Richard! Wanna hit up Red Lobster?! Our treat!","src":"http:\/\/blog.caranddriver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/What-Makes-SEMA-SEMA-103.jpg","mimetype":"image\/jpeg","photographer":"Michael Simari","illustrator":"","make_id":"0","model_id":"0","submodel_id":"0","make_name":"","model_name":"","submodel_name":"","year":"","submodel_alias":""},{"id":168942,"title":"Original Batmobile, Anyone?","body":"It's telling that, at SEMA, the original Batmobile decorates the lobby. ","src":"http:\/\/blog.caranddriver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/What-Makes-SEMA-SEMA-104.jpg","mimetype":"image\/jpeg","photographer":"Michael Simari","illustrator":"","make_id":"0","model_id":"0","submodel_id":"0","make_name":"","model_name":"","submodel_name":"","year":"","submodel_alias":""},{"id":168944,"title":"Original Batmobile, Anyone?","body":"Holy Toledo, Batman! You've been relegated to the auto show's entrance!","src":"http:\/\/blog.caranddriver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/What-Makes-SEMA-SEMA-105.jpg","mimetype":"image\/jpeg","photographer":"Michael Simari","illustrator":"","make_id":"0","model_id":"0","submodel_id":"0","make_name":"","model_name":"","submodel_name":"","year":"","submodel_alias":""},{"id":168946,"title":"Rad Rod Pickup","body":"There are dozens of choice rat rods at SEMA every year, but this one stood out, thanks largely to its frequently exercised\u2014and automatic\u2014slammed air-bag suspension.","src":"http:\/\/blog.caranddriver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/What-Makes-SEMA-SEMA-106.jpg","mimetype":"image\/jpeg","photographer":"Michael Simari","illustrator":"","make_id":"0","model_id":"0","submodel_id":"0","make_name":"","model_name":"","submodel_name":"","year":"","submodel_alias":""},{"id":168948,"title":"Rad Rod Pickup","body":"Seemingly at random, the truck would lift up on its air springs with a hiss\u2014before lowering itself without warning. A few bystanders barely escaped.","src":"http:\/\/blog.caranddriver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/What-Makes-SEMA-SEMA-107.jpg","mimetype":"image\/jpeg","photographer":"Michael Simari","illustrator":"","make_id":"0","model_id":"0","submodel_id":"0","make_name":"","model_name":"","submodel_name":"","year":"","submodel_alias":""},{"id":168949,"title":"Rad Rod Pickup","body":"Two rat bikes are the perfect rat accessories for a rat truck.","src":"http:\/\/blog.caranddriver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/What-Makes-SEMA-SEMA-108.jpg","mimetype":"image\/jpeg","photographer":"Michael Simari","illustrator":"","make_id":"0","model_id":"0","submodel_id":"0","make_name":"","model_name":"","submodel_name":"","year":"","submodel_alias":""},{"id":168951,"title":"Rum-Running Classic Chevrolet Wagon","body":"When approached from the front, this matte-yellow Chevy wagon wowed us with its SEMA-perfect beach cruiser vibe. ","src":"http:\/\/blog.caranddriver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/What-Makes-SEMA-SEMA-109.jpg","mimetype":"image\/jpeg","photographer":"Michael Simari","illustrator":"","make_id":"0","model_id":"0","submodel_id":"0","make_name":"","model_name":"","submodel_name":"","year":"","submodel_alias":""},{"id":168953,"title":"Rum-Running Classic Chevrolet Wagon","body":". . . until we walked around the the rear, where we found enough rum to kick off a proper beach party.","src":"http:\/\/blog.caranddriver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/What-Makes-SEMA-SEMA-110.jpg","mimetype":"image\/jpeg","photographer":"Michael Simari","illustrator":"","make_id":"0","model_id":"0","submodel_id":"0","make_name":"","model_name":"","submodel_name":"","year":"","submodel_alias":""},{"id":168955,"title":"Rum-Running Classic Chevrolet Wagon","body":"For the record: No, we did not take shots. But we wanted to.","src":"http:\/\/blog.caranddriver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/What-Makes-SEMA-SEMA-111.jpg","mimetype":"image\/jpeg","photographer":"Michael Simari","illustrator":"","make_id":"0","model_id":"0","submodel_id":"0","make_name":"","model_name":"","submodel_name":"","year":"","submodel_alias":""},{"id":169088,"title":"And Finally, the Parties","body":"The best part of SEMA is that it's all one big convention for the various industries that cross paths there\u2014and that means there are a LOT of parties. Like this one we attended for the Gran Turismo Awards, in which Sony-selected judges pick their favorite rides from the show.","src":"http:\/\/blog.caranddriver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/SEMA-party-01.jpg","mimetype":"image\/jpeg","photographer":"Michael Simari","illustrator":"","make_id":"0","model_id":"0","submodel_id":"0","make_name":"","model_name":"","submodel_name":"","year":"","submodel_alias":""},{"id":169089,"title":"Sony Gran Turismo Awards party, continued","body":"The Sony Gran Turismo party was hosted at Vegas' newest club, Drai (don't ask us how to pronounce that), and featured multiple PlayStation, er, stations where you could play Gran Turismo. ","src":"http:\/\/blog.caranddriver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/SEMA-party-02.jpg","mimetype":"image\/jpeg","photographer":"Michael Simari","illustrator":"","make_id":"0","model_id":"0","submodel_id":"0","make_name":"","model_name":"","submodel_name":"","year":"","submodel_alias":""},{"id":168959,"title":"Ford-Powered Superformance Cobras Drifting","body":"If you waited in a long enough line, Ford would sit you in the passenger seat of a Superformance Cobra replica and let a driver slide it all over the parking lot.","src":"http:\/\/blog.caranddriver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/What-Makes-SEMA-SEMA-113.jpg","mimetype":"image\/jpeg","photographer":"Michael Simari","illustrator":"","make_id":"0","model_id":"0","submodel_id":"0","make_name":"","model_name":"","submodel_name":"","year":"","submodel_alias":""},{"id":168961,"title":"Ford-Powered Superformance Cobras Drifting","body":"With those walls so near, this seems mildly risky, no?","src":"http:\/\/blog.caranddriver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/What-Makes-SEMA-SEMA-114.jpg","mimetype":"image\/jpeg","photographer":"Michael Simari","illustrator":"","make_id":"0","model_id":"0","submodel_id":"0","make_name":"","model_name":"","submodel_name":"","year":"","submodel_alias":""},{"id":168963,"title":"Ford-Powered Superformance Cobras Drifting","body":"Oh look! A blue one!","src":"http:\/\/blog.caranddriver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/What-Makes-SEMA-SEMA-115.jpg","mimetype":"image\/jpeg","photographer":"Michael Simari","illustrator":"","make_id":"0","model_id":"0","submodel_id":"0","make_name":"","model_name":"","submodel_name":"","year":"","submodel_alias":""},{"id":168968,"title":"Airbrushed Goddess","body":"In your best Ron Burgundy voice, say it with us now: \"Sweet Neptune's daughter!\"","src":"http:\/\/blog.caranddriver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/What-Makes-SEMA-SEMA-118.jpg","mimetype":"image\/jpeg","photographer":"Michael Simari","illustrator":"","make_id":"0","model_id":"0","submodel_id":"0","make_name":"","model_name":"","submodel_name":"","year":"","submodel_alias":""},{"id":168970,"title":"Hot Wheels Twin Mill","body":"Nearly every kid's Hot Wheels collection ever has included a Twin Mill, so predictably, this full-size example was mighty popular.","src":"http:\/\/blog.caranddriver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/What-Makes-SEMA-SEMA-119.jpg","mimetype":"image\/jpeg","photographer":"Michael Simari","illustrator":"","make_id":"0","model_id":"0","submodel_id":"0","make_name":"","model_name":"","submodel_name":"","year":"","submodel_alias":""},{"id":168972,"title":"Hot Wheels Twin Mill","body":"Just look at those proportions! They work even better in 1:1 scale.","src":"http:\/\/blog.caranddriver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/What-Makes-SEMA-SEMA-120.jpg","mimetype":"image\/jpeg","photographer":"Michael Simari","illustrator":"","make_id":"0","model_id":"0","submodel_id":"0","make_name":"","model_name":"","submodel_name":"","year":"","submodel_alias":""},{"id":168974,"title":"Hot Wheels Darth Vader Car","body":"Is it just us, or does the Darth Vader car look out of place outside in the Las Vegas sun? Needs more Death Star.","src":"http:\/\/blog.caranddriver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/What-Makes-SEMA-SEMA-121.jpg","mimetype":"image\/jpeg","photographer":"Michael Simari","illustrator":"","make_id":"0","model_id":"0","submodel_id":"0","make_name":"","model_name":"","submodel_name":"","year":"","submodel_alias":""},{"id":168978,"title":"Stadium Trucks!","body":"Ford's outdoor exhibition gifted us with a stadium-truck jumping and drifting session early on the second day of SEMA. ","src":"http:\/\/blog.caranddriver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/What-Makes-SEMA-SEMA-123.jpg","mimetype":"image\/jpeg","photographer":"Michael Simari","illustrator":"","make_id":"0","model_id":"0","submodel_id":"0","make_name":"","model_name":"","submodel_name":"","year":"","submodel_alias":""},{"id":168980,"title":"Stadium Trucks!","body":". . . and liftoff!","src":"http:\/\/blog.caranddriver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/What-Makes-SEMA-SEMA-124.jpg","mimetype":"image\/jpeg","photographer":"Michael Simari","illustrator":"","make_id":"0","model_id":"0","submodel_id":"0","make_name":"","model_name":"","submodel_name":"","year":"","submodel_alias":""},{"id":168982,"title":"Stadium Trucks!","body":"","src":"http:\/\/blog.caranddriver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/What-Makes-SEMA-SEMA-125.jpg","mimetype":"image\/jpeg","photographer":"Michael Simari","illustrator":"","make_id":"0","model_id":"0","submodel_id":"0","make_name":"","model_name":"","submodel_name":"","year":"","submodel_alias":""},{"id":168983,"title":"Stadium Trucks!","body":"","src":"http:\/\/blog.caranddriver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/What-Makes-SEMA-SEMA-126.jpg","mimetype":"image\/jpeg","photographer":"Michael Simari","illustrator":"","make_id":"0","model_id":"0","submodel_id":"0","make_name":"","model_name":"","submodel_name":"","year":"","submodel_alias":""},{"id":168986,"title":"Mini Ford F-150 SVT Raptor","body":"This is a golf cart, made to look like a Ford F-150 SVT Raptor. Ask us how badly we want it. Go ahead, ask.","src":"http:\/\/blog.caranddriver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/What-Makes-SEMA-SEMA-127.jpg","mimetype":"image\/jpeg","photographer":"Michael Simari","illustrator":"","make_id":"0","model_id":"0","submodel_id":"0","make_name":"","model_name":"","submodel_name":"","year":"","submodel_alias":""},{"id":168988,"title":"Bedazzle All of the Things","body":"Sparkly engine top ends, sparkly model bottom end.","src":"http:\/\/blog.caranddriver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/What-Makes-SEMA-SEMA-128.jpg","mimetype":"image\/jpeg","photographer":"Michael Simari","illustrator":"","make_id":"0","model_id":"0","submodel_id":"0","make_name":"","model_name":"","submodel_name":"","year":"","submodel_alias":""},{"id":168991,"title":"General Motors Ride and Drive","body":"Similar to Ford's \"Out Front\" parking-lot demo arena, showgoers can take (slow) spins in GM's latest and greatest.","src":"http:\/\/blog.caranddriver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/What-Makes-SEMA-SEMA-130.jpg","mimetype":"image\/jpeg","photographer":"Michael Simari","illustrator":"","make_id":"2","model_id":"349","submodel_id":"6515","make_name":"Chevrolet","model_name":"Camaro","submodel_name":"Chevrolet Camaro coupe","year":"2015","submodel_alias":"2015 Chevrolet Camaro coupe"},{"id":168993,"title":"General Motors Ride and Drive","body":"A long exposure and pan makes this Camaro look fast. In reality, it was governed to 11 mph. Or the driver was governed to 11 mph. Either way.","src":"http:\/\/blog.caranddriver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/What-Makes-SEMA-SEMA-131.jpg","mimetype":"image\/jpeg","photographer":"Michael Simari","illustrator":"","make_id":"2","model_id":"349","submodel_id":"6515","make_name":"Chevrolet","model_name":"Camaro","submodel_name":"Chevrolet Camaro coupe","year":"2015","submodel_alias":"2015 Chevrolet Camaro coupe"},{"id":168994,"title":"General Motors Ride and Drive","body":"GM's outdoor playground also allows SEMA attendees go for rides with Ron Fellows driving school instructors, who drive much, much faster than 11 mph. ","src":"http:\/\/blog.caranddriver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/What-Makes-SEMA-SEMA-132.jpg","mimetype":"image\/jpeg","photographer":"Michael Simari","illustrator":"","make_id":"2","model_id":"151","submodel_id":"6350","make_name":"Chevrolet","model_name":"Corvette","submodel_name":"Chevrolet Corvette Stingray coupe","year":"2015","submodel_alias":"2015 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray coupe"},{"id":168996,"title":"Purple on Purple on Purple","body":"Few things at SEMA are subtle, so why do up a low-slung beach buggy in anything but layers and layers of purple?","src":"http:\/\/blog.caranddriver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/What-Makes-SEMA-SEMA-133.jpg","mimetype":"image\/jpeg","photographer":"Michael Simari","illustrator":"","make_id":"0","model_id":"0","submodel_id":"0","make_name":"","model_name":"","submodel_name":"","year":"","submodel_alias":""},{"id":169021,"title":"Velocity Wheels Custom Ram 1500","body":"A hood mural depicting actress Megan Fox as the Mona Lisa holding a mustachioed Mona Lisa mask? Check.","src":"http:\/\/blog.caranddriver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Most-Outrageous-1221.jpg","mimetype":"image\/jpeg","photographer":"Michael Simari","illustrator":"","make_id":"0","model_id":"0","submodel_id":"0","make_name":"","model_name":"","submodel_name":"","year":"","submodel_alias":""},{"id":168989,"title":"Liberty Walk\u2014for Kids","body":"There were Liberty Walk\u2013fettled rides all over SEMA this year, but this stanced children's ride-on toy might just have been our favorite.","src":"http:\/\/blog.caranddriver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Most-Outrageous-142.jpg","mimetype":"image\/jpeg","photographer":"Michael Simari","illustrator":"","make_id":"0","model_id":"0","submodel_id":"0","make_name":"","model_name":"","submodel_name":"","year":"","submodel_alias":""},{"id":169090,"title":"Honda Soire\u00e9 with Dash Berlin","body":"We also found time to crash Honda's \"Soire\u00e9\" at the Tao nightclub. And now, if you don't mind, we're going to sleep for a week straight, because if there's one takeaway from our synopsis of what it's like to attend SEMA, it's that this show absolutely wrecks you\u2014in an awesomely good way.","src":"http:\/\/blog.caranddriver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/SEMA-party-03.jpg","mimetype":"image\/jpeg","photographer":"Michael Simari","illustrator":"","make_id":"0","model_id":"0","submodel_id":"0","make_name":"","model_name":"","submodel_name":"","year":"","submodel_alias":""}]}



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