Random Observations Stumbling Across The SEMA Show Floor

Hello, Vegas. Did you miss me? This joint is like some sort of cruel mistress for me and she likes it rough, if you know what I’m saying. It’s not even Day One and already I feel like a past-her-prime, ridden-hard-and-put-away-wet Glitter Gulch cocktail waitress who’s sucked down one too many Chesterfield’s in her time. In Blogville terms I’m eons late to this game having already been crushed by the likes of Boss Man Rob, John “10 Jameson’s Deep” Coyle, Jim (have yet to nickname him) Brennan and that smarmy little minx, Jen Dunnaway (I’m warning you, Dunnaway, Stay away from my Honda Booth!). This may be my first and only blog as the cocktail of cheap vodka, cold medicine, exhaustion and the smell of desperation may leave me face down in a steaming pile of a $3.99 all-you-can-eat buffet. Hit the jump to see some of what I saw as I try to get found in Lost Wages. Viva, SEMA!

This, my friends is the YoParts R35 GT-R. While that is an authentic Bob’s Big Boy. I have a love/hate thing going on with this car and in trying to get it “SEMA ready” this bitch almost killed me. As for the current and planned mods, Import Technology Group will be handling all of the performance work, and Ventross aero pieces, Forgeline wheels and Nitto rubber are just some of the other tasty bits for this R35. The car will be in display in our CarDomain SEMA booth (Central Hall, 24791) but the best part is that you can win this car! Check out YoParts.com/GTR for complete contest details.

The wildest part about SEMA – aside from the fact that this town makes you want to leave it all on the table – is that you can miss some of the best stuff if you’re not watching closely enough. Take this Stroppe Racing Big Oly Bronco in the Bilstein booth. At a very quick glance this looks like the ’68 Bronco in which Parnelli Jones blasted across Baja with, but noooo. It’s actually some sort of modern era tribute Trophy truck. This looks like one of those ironic porn star hipster kid moustaches except for the fact that this truck will crush said hipster kid. And then back up just to make sure there’s no life left in those skinny jeans.

At first glance this Gallardo in the Mobil One booth looks a bit played with it’s murdered out matte finish. It has a sort of Christian Audigier feel, somewhat douchey and definitely something that Coyle would rock if he could add a roof rack for his fixie. But much like Coyle, there is brooding, menacing beast underneath that trendy exterior.

Underground Racing tunes everything from Ford GTs to Vipers and this twin-turbo Gallardo is apparently capable of a 9.01-second quarter (on street tires!). From what I heard it also clicked off a 256 mph standing mile at the Texas Mile event a few weeks back. With a built motor UR can get some 1700 hp from one of these 10 cylinder mills. Just sitting on the show floor this engine was killing me softly.

Yowza, K&N’s old time attack G35 is alive and well. And speaking of live, I’ll be going live at SEMA today. Follow along as we try to bring the SEMA experience right to your monitor. Check out StreetFire.net/SEMAlive.