,
This Lexus is Gordon Ting's own and while it wasn't at the Lexus booth, it still made a great advertisement. Besides the bright blue color I lust over in all cars, the “wimpy” 467hp 5.0L V8 engine was also fitted with a 100 shot of nitrous oxide for a nice shot in the arse.
Garrett's booth model is pretty hot.
Owner Ernie Manansala Jr. upgraded to the Gt-R from an NSX. He called this his life savings. Twin Garrett turbos and a Greddy catalog supplement the power (upwards of 1,000hp) to propel this red rocket Rocket Bunny (batteries not included) widebunny down a track with likely Chelsea DeNofa behind the wheel.
Noticeably missing from the Falken booth were any Formula Drift cars. Rumors also went up around their last hurrah as a team. End of an era?
It's a Wrap! Kinda like a car condom, right?SEMA IGNITED:
SEMA Ignited was the first ever public event after 47 years of industry only show. 20,000 spectators registered to go to the event. The event started with a cruise from the convention center, which was led by a 3d printed car- the Strati by Local Motors. The carbon infused plastic car was “printed” at the show and PUT ON TOP OF drivetrain components from a Renault Twizzy. The cruise went down Paradise Road for 2 miles before ending at the Linq, also home to the GRC course a few days prior.
Battle of the Builders: For the first year, Battle of the Builders was a competition between 129 car customizers entering 165 vehicles. Automotive mag editors chose the top 10 finalists who will now judge each other's cars and vote in the winner for a television show filmed at SEMA Ignited after Friday wrapped up in the convention center. These were the finalists:
Bobby Alloway, 1937 Chevy Coupe
Gordon Aram, 1978 Ford Mustang II
Ringbrothers, 1966 Chevy Chevelle
Dale Dondel, 2014 Ford Raptor Pre-Runner
Rick Dore, 1948 Jaguar
Jeff Kinsey, 1932 Ford 4-Door Sedan
Troy Ladd, 1932 Ford Roadster
Larry McCrae, Jeep JK
Steve Strope, 1967 Ford Black Ops Fairlane
Kyle Tucker, 1969 Chevy Camaro
Tucker ended up claiming the prize of Ultimate Builder. Here's a link to the build.
Seemed like only a few days ago we were breaking down the SEMA 2013 booth at Whiteline (one for you, one for me) and yet another year come and gone. Umami burgers with a UFC fighter (more to come in MIQ), glow sticks and bottle service at clubs (TAO, Drai's at the Cromwell, TAO) and some very late nights at Hard Rock Hotel guessing the price of the local “rentals”. The newly discovered horseshoe bar beats circle bar anyday. I also learned that Palomino is Skank-glish for “shake your chocolate pie hole.” After a week recovering and catching ZZZ's, MIQ be good to go. Of course, there's always PRI.
More SEMA 2014 to come. Feeling nostalgic? Check out these SEMA articles from prior years:
