Category Archives: SEMA

2017 SEMA Photo Gallery

Welcome to Las Vegas

Please enjoy this photo gallery from the 2017 SEMA Show

SEMA is always a time of excitement and energy. Shops and companies spend weeks and months getting ready to display their latest and greatest cars, trucks and accessories for the eager Buyers to check out. Vegas is the perfect setting for this type of mass materialism and blatant exhibitionism of awesome automotive aftermarket pimpery. If you haven’t made the time to go, definitely put it on your bucket list. If you can only take a quick tour of the outside displays and drifting track, it’s well worth your time. Just hop on the Las Vegas Monorail and ride it north to the Convention Center stop. Hop out, wander up the stairs and down the escalator to the observation deck and just hang out for a while. Bring a camera and take in the sites that any true car guy would appreciate.

2015 SEMA Photo Gallery

Welcome to Las Vegas

Please enjoy this photo gallery from the 2015 SEMA Show

SEMA is always a time of excitement and energy. Shops and companies spend weeks and months getting ready to display their latest and greatest cars, trucks and accessories for the eager Buyers to check out. Vegas is the perfect setting for this type of mass materialism and blatant exhibitionism of awesome automotive aftermarket pimpery. If you haven’t made the time to go, definitely put it on your bucket list. If you can only take a quick tour of the outside displays and drifting track, it’s well worth your time. Just hop on the Las Vegas Monorail and ride it north to the Convention Center stop. Hop out, wander up the stairs and down the escalator to the observation deck and just hang out for a while. Bring a camera and take in the sites that any true car guy would appreciate.

 

2014 SEMA Photo Gallery

2014 SEMA Photo Gallery

Here is a look back at some of the AWESOME that is the SEMA show in Las Vegas. I have been going for the last 4 years and plan to make it my regular yearly working vacation for as long as I can walk. After that, I’ll hop, roll, crawl through the expansive displays of car p0rn.

Please enjoy this gallery of some of the finest customized cars in this part of the world.

Photos by Steve Valline

 

2013 SEMA Photo Gallery

2013 SEMA Photo Gallery

Here is a look back at some of the AWESOME that is the SEMA show in Las Vegas. I have been going for the last 4 years and plan to make it my regular yearly working vacation for as long as I can walk. After that, I’ll hop, roll, crawl through the expansive displays of car p0rn.

Please enjoy this gallery of some of the finest customized cars in this part of the world.

Photos by Steve Valline

2012 SEMA Photo Gallery

2012 SEMA Photo Gallery

Here is a look back at some of the AWESOME that is the SEMA show in Las Vegas. I have been going for the last 4 years and plan to make it my regular yearly working vacation for as long as I can walk. After that, I’ll hop, roll, crawl through the expansive displays of car p0rn.

Please enjoy this gallery of some of the finest customized cars in this part of the world.

Photos by Steve Valline

 

2011 SEMA Photo Gallery

SEMA 2011 Photo Gallery

Here is a look back at some of the AWESOME that is the SEMA show in Las Vegas. I have been going for the last 4 years and plan to make it my regular yearly working vacation for as long as I can walk. After that, I’ll hop, roll, crawl through the expansive displays of car p0rn.

Please enjoy this gallery of some of the finest customized cars in this part of the world.

Photos by Steve Valline

Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational Videos

Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational Videos

It has been my privilege to attend the Optima Batteries Ultimate Street Car Invitational – OUSCI – following the SEMA show in Las Vegas for 3 years.

Unfortunately, I missed this past competition in 2014. But if you are in the area and would like some really cool entertainment, head on over to one of Optima Batteries’ events.

Here below are a handful of the Start / Stop challengers. I will upload some of the track action at another time.

Old School Cool

MRT Mustang

 

 

Videos shot by Steve Valline

2015 OPTIMA® Ultimate Street Car Series

2015 OPTIMA® Batteries’ Ultimate Street Car Series Event Schedule and Exciting Updates Announced

GT- 5th Gen Camaro w_logo

Many iconic racing venues to be revisited in 2015 along with the addition of several new locations; New classes defined; Rules have several important updates to ensure safety and maintain ‘streetability’

December 29, 2014 (MILWAUKEE) – OPTIMA® Batteries announced the full schedule of OPTIMA Batteries’ Ultimate Street Car series events and Qualifiers for the 2015 season, as seen below. A total of nine events will make dreams come true nationwide, including the popular event at Elkhart Lake, Wis., and the legendary OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational event in Las Vegas. The season-ending Invitational will once again take place at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on the weekend following the SEMA show.

2015 Schedule – OPTIMA Batteries’ Ultimate Street Car Series Events

·         Thunderhill Raceway Park, California – February 28 – March 1

·         Texas Motor Speedway, Texas – March 28 – 29

·         National Corvette Museum Raceway, Kentucky – June 6 – 7

·         Michigan International Speedway, Michigan – June 20 – 21

·         Charlotte Motor Speedway, North Carolina – July 25 – 26

·         Pike’s Peak International Raceway, Colorado – August 8 – 9

·         Road America, Wisconsin – August 29 – 30

·         Auto Club Speedway, California – October 10 – 11

·         2015 OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational, Las Vegas Motor Speedway – November 6 – 8

See more at the OPTIMA Batteries Website

“With the addition of some great new locations, like Pikes Peak and the Corvette Museum facility, and a return to many of the iconic tracks we loved last season, we are looking forward to the evolution of the OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car series toward being a little better every single year,” says Cam Douglass, director of marketing for OPTIMA Batteries. “We encourage enthusiasts to come out and participate in these events, and really enjoy a weekend in their high performance cars doing what they were meant to do in a safe, fun environment.”

As in 2014, experienced drivers and first-timers are all encouraged to participate. Separate run groups will be organized to ensure that drivers of similar proficiency (Novice, Intermediate, Advanced) are on the track together. Driving instructors will be on hand at all events to assist those who would like to improve their driving skills.

All New Classes Announced for 2015

A series of four distinct and separate classes have been created to classify vehicles of similar capabilities. The addition of the new class structure will give all participants the opportunity to compare the performance of their vehicle to others of similar weight and design, and awards will be given in each class.

·         GT – 1990 and newer 3,200 pound minimum weight two wheel-drive sedans, four-seat coupes and late-model trucks (example – 5th Gen Camaro, BMW M3/M5, Cadillac CTSV)

·         GTS (Sports car) – 1990 and newer 3,200 pound minimum weight factory production two-seater automobiles and any all-wheel drive vehicles (example – C5/C6/C7 Corvette, Mitsubishi Evo, Nissan GTR)

·         GTV (Vintage) – 1989 and older 3,200 pound minimum weight rear wheel drive (example – 1969 Camaro, 1987 Monte Carlo, 1974 Pontiac Firebird)

·         GTL (Lights) – All vehicles (including AWD models) under 3,200 pounds

See more about the vehicle classes and the series rules at the OPTIMA Batteries Website

2015 Rules Package Also Released

OPTIMA Batteries has also released the complete rulebook for the 2015 OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car event series. While the majority of rules remain untouched, there are some critical amendments that participants need to be aware of. All participating vehicles must be registered and insured for street use in their state of origin, and all vehicles will have to pass a cursory technical safety inspection prior to competing. Participants are encouraged to read the entire 2015 OPTIMA Batteries Search for the Ultimate Street Car Series Rules at the OPTIMA Batteries Website. For a taste of the excitement, check out video clips from past events on the OPTIMA Batteries’ YouTube page or visit the OPTIMA Batteries Facebook page to join the conversation.

About OPTIMA® Batteries
OPTIMA® YELLOWTOP®, REDTOP® and BLUETOP® batteries are available through leading battery distributors globally. When looking for OPTIMA Batteries consumers should look for the unique, colored-top and SIX PACK™ design which OPTIMA is known throughout the world. In 2012, OPTIMA added to its product line with the innovative OPTIMA®Chargers Digital 1200 Battery Charger for all automotive and marine batteries. To find out more information or purchase OPTIMA products consumers may visit www.optimabatteries.com. Consumers can also call 1-888-8OPTIMA (1-888-867-8462) for additional information.

SEMA 2014 – BMWs Oh Myy

2014 SEMA BMW Gallery

Z4 GT3

SEMA 2014 was absolutely spectacular. Every year is an overwhelming feast for the eyes. It is also brutal on the body. My feet hated me by the end of Day 2. But somehow kept right on going for 5 solid days. Thank you Feet. Especially the Left Foot. We don’t get along so well (I don’t trust him at all – lefty has always  been shady).feet-copy1

 

While there was car p0rn from every manufacturer and numerous aftermarket shops, there were certain categories of cars that deserved their own gallery. BMW doesn’t quite fit in the Exotics arena. But can’t cut the mustard next to the Bentleys and Rollers either. So being the sporty little vixens they are, BMWs get their own gallery. We can call it European Muscle I guess.

The highlight of the BMWs on display this year was definitely the Savini model hiding the GT3 M3 in flashy red chrome wrap  . . . or was it the Liberty Walk body kits on the chrome wrapped M4 . . .  or the carbon fiber body panels on the Z4M . . .  or the wide body kit on the Vorsteiner M4… or the GT3 Z4M . . . Whatever – YOU pick. My personal favorite was the GT3 Z4.

The Blog deity is telling me to add words so my copy is searchable…so here is where I tell you; if you have never been to SEMA, then it is hard to imagine the scope of the show. In order to capture a much coolness as possible, you have to speed walk from display to display, passing awesome cars and hot models along the way. No time to stop and take pics. Especially if you were here yesterday and already saw something – even if it was only out of the corner of your eyes.

There were dozens of cars that were not captured by my lens this year. And while that is a shame, you have to understand the nature of this beast. There is a balance between taking it all in, enjoying yourself, capturing content for others to enjoy and being kind to yourself. A second shooter would help…if anyone is interested in teaming up next year, let me know. We will need to do something together this year, in order for you to qualify as media for SEMA 2015.

Anyway, enough of my ramblings.

Enjoy the gallery and leave a comment if you feel so inclined. I know you want to . . . come on now . . . go ahead. Don’t be shy . . .

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