MGB: Las Vegas Bound - SEMA

Off to Vegas on Tuesday morning to attend the 2009 SEMA show. Leaving at O-Dark-Thirty (0300) to get to Indianapolis..we have a very early flight out of town.

Meeting up with Steve Carrick (Advance Autowire), Bill Guzman (Classic Conversions), Pete Mantell (Mantell Motorsport), and
Kelvin Dodd (Moss Motors).

I've sent Rusty a PM to see if we can meet up.

We have rooms at........Hooters Casino and Hotel. :drinking:

Anticipating a good time to be had by all....returning home on Saturday.

What does one do at a "SEMA Show" ??

[quote=Naomi]
What does one do at a "SEMA Show" ??[/quote]
Get through it as quickly as possible so they can get out of Vegas! ;)

Ok, I admit I loath Vegas. I've spent far too many days of my life working there.:eyeroll:

Oh I understand -- What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas and it ain't none of Na's business ;)

Specialty Equipment Marketing Association http://www.semashow.com

Pete and I attended last in 2005. We were at the convention center for 3 days and still didn't see everything that we wanted to see.

It's a great opportunity to see what is out there and available/new for the automobile industry.

We plan on hitting a lot of the speed equipment vendors - meeting some personalities - go out to the Carroll Shelby facility - and maybe even take in a show one night.

OH NO!!! I just realized I will be in Vegas next week. I thought those dates sounded familiar. Well, I guess if you guys are anywhere near Mandalay Bay then you can stop by and throw small rocks at me while I work. :X

[quote="Steve S"]
OH NO!!! I just realized I will be in Vegas next week. I thought those dates sounded familiar. Well, I guess if you guys are anywhere near Mandalay Bay then you can stop by and throw small rocks at me while I work. :X[/quote]

You're safe....SEMA starts tomorrow (11/3) and runs through Friday.

:beer:

Sounds like a plan. Could you define "small".


kelvin.

[quote="Steve S"]
OH NO!!! I just realized I will be in Vegas next week. I thought those dates sounded familiar. Well, I guess if you guys are anywhere near Mandalay Bay then you can stop by and throw small rocks at me while I work. :X[/quote]


Do we have to goto to Vegas for that or can we do it while you are still here in So Cal. :hot:

Naomi. Nowadays, what happens in Vegas usually ends up on the internet within one hour.

I have a guy working the Hyundai display making sure the cars stay pristine. None of my clients are spending nearly as much on that show as they used to. They used to go all out. I heard that last year was very small, I guess because of the economy. I wonder if it'll be any better this year.

[quote=Naomi]
What does one do at a "SEMA Show" ??[/quote]

one walks for miles and looks at all the neat stuff. And neater models hired to grace the booths.

SEMA=Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association (used to be "Speed Equipment....") -- Hot Rod stuff

the annual show is a speed parts exhibition. Pretty big.

There's another show -- the Performance Marketing Assn show in Indianapolis that's more racing oriented. And the Bog One, in London in early Jan (the only one of the 3 I've mentioned to be open to the general public)

[quote="Steve S"]
OH NO!!! I just realized I will be in Vegas next week. I thought those dates sounded familiar. Well, I guess if you guys are anywhere near Mandalay Bay then you can stop by and throw small rocks at me while I work. :X[/quote]
Steve what do you do at Mandalay Bay? I had a step son that was a Maitre'D at that Bar that has the flames in the front window wall. Can't remember the name of the place. I love Mandalay Bay. Went to a B52s concert there in 2002. Brought bathing suits so we could go into the water and get right up near the stage. Great night.

Have Fun Rick!

Maybe you can spot something for LBCs.

Cheers
Paul

[quote=comart45]Steve what do you do at Mandalay Bay?[/quote]We're shooting a commercial for them. I don't actually work for the hotel, I'll just be working at the hotel.

Sitting in the D-terminal of Salt Lake City waiting for our connecting flight to Vegas.

Rick....I might go after all....what is your cell#

Lloyd

[quote=balloonfoot]
Rick....I might go after all....what is your cell#

Lloyd[/quote]
You have a PM

Here's the view from D-terminal

where's your plane?

[quote=balloonfoot]
where's your plane?[/quote]

Don't have a clue. Hopefully somewhere between here and there....and in the air.

A good trip so far!

Today we talked with Dennis Gage (My Classic Car[/i]), Sam Memmolo ([i]Two Guys Garage[/i]), Brian Fuller ([i]Two Guys Garage[/i]), and Jessi Combs ([i]Extreme 4x4[/i]). We saw Barry Meguire (I wanted to talk with him, but didn't get that opportunity), Linda Vaughn (Miss Hurst of decades ago), Vic Edelbrock, Bill "Speedy" Smith (of Speedway Motors). And a lot of eye candy. Tomorrow I hope to meet up with Stacey David ([i]Trucks! and Gearz)

We saw MGE members Jon Rosenthal (last night outside Coyote Ugly), and Lloyd Faust and Jim Stabe (today at SEMA).

Not sure what's on the docket for tomorrow (or for that matter for the rest of tonight).

More to follow as we are planning a trek out to Shelby Motors before week's end.

tell steve thanks for me when you see him that is an amazing wiring harness he makes very high quality and very good workmanship itll be going in in a few weeks

Is Overhaulin' doing another live build out there?

You have Shorts on Rick!!!....Sure wish I was wearing mine! I've had long Johns on since we got home and it's been around 50 each day so far.

Enjoy!!

Tonight we walked from the hotel up to Treasure Island and back. Stopped for supper at Margueritaville,,,and a beer at Diablos. Kelvin and Pete called it a night; Steve and I sat at the bar at Hooters and drank a couple of beers and lost some money playing video poker.

Off to the convention center at 0820 in the morning...we're taking in the Imperial Palace's car collection and a show tomorrow night after SEMA.


Paul...the weather is GREAT here (although I think some of the locals believe it's cold.

Jerome...Chip Foose is here....but there is no rebuild going on that I know of...

Gavin...sent you message on to Steve.

I did talk to the folks who manufacture the struts that I use in my kits....there is a stainless steel version available...for $$$$$. If you really want some bling, let me know and I will special order them for you.

A productive day at SEMA. I met up with Stacey David (Gearz! on Speed TV) first thing and discussed some business with him. Completed the tour fo the Hot Rod showcase; met Courtney Hansen of Powerblock (Spike TV). Also met with Larry the Crash Test Dummy.

This evening the four of us on Mancation met Lloyd Faust and Jime Stabe for dinner...then off to a show.

Tomorrow we will be visiting the Carroll Shelby facility out at the racetrack, and then over to the Imperial Palace to view the cars there.

More later....

For those of you who don't know the guys in th ephoto above, from left to right:
Kelvin Dodd (Moss), Steve Carrick (Advance Auto-Wire), Rick himself, Pete Mantell of Mantell motorsports.

Sounds like a GREAT time!!! How does Jessi Combs look in person? Gotta be better than Courtney. :D Is she still hobbling like you Rick?

[quote=B-racer]
For those of you who don't know the guys in th ephoto above, from left to right:
Kelvin Dodd (Moss), Steve Carrick (Advance Auto-Wire), Rick himself, Pete Mantell of Mantell motorsports.

Sounds like a GREAT time!!! How does Jessi Combs look in person? Gotta be better than Courtney. :D Is she still hobbling like you Rick?[/quote]

I totally concur regarding Jessi vs Courtney. However, Courtney "redeemed" herself with a VERY outgoing and friendly personality! Jessi's gait was fine! :)

Compared to Courtney.....

And then there was Larry.....he thought I was after his job...note the matching shirts.....

Larry's booth was right across from Courtney's....his beady little eyes kept staring at her...

:)

Come on - we all know you're not in good enough shape yet to perform Larry's job! Looks like you guys are having a GREAT time! Spend an extra $20 wisely for me!!! ;)

[quote=mowog1]

Gavin...sent you message on to Steve.

[/quote]
Thanks!

Rick,
I didn't know you had a brother.

Great to run it to you and your posse at the MGM. I got back at mid-night and am now just going through the miriade of catalogues and neat information:
like power steering for an MGB.
Did you pick-up a sample of the micro-switch for your gas hood supports,great for an under-bonnet or trunk light.
So much more stuff, oh yeah, a 60's looking radio with 2 knobs where God intended them to be, an AUX port as well as a USB port and it is CD ready.Going to get one.
Loads more, which you saw too, that is if you had time with all you lollygaging with celebs???
Cheers

Today we took in the Shelby Museum and Manufacturing Facility and the Imperial Palace collection.

Great day!

Here's a picture of we Spuriites with the Vice President of the corporation, Gary Patterson, and the very first Shelby Cobra manufactured.

Oops.....here's the pic...

[quote=jon11]
Rick,
I didn't know you had a brother.

Great to run it to you and your posse at the MGM. I got back at mid-night and am now just going through the miriade of catalogues and neat information:
like power steering for an MGB.
Did you pick-up a sample of the micro-switch for your gas hood supports,great for an under-bonnet or trunk light.
So much more stuff, oh yeah, a 60's looking radio with 2 knobs where God intended them to be, an AUX port as well as a USB port and it is CD ready.Going to get one.
Loads more, which you saw too, that is if you had time with all you lollygaging with celebs???
Cheers[/quote]

Ditto! Larry and I hit it off quite well. He had a good sense of humour. We chatted with Tanner Faust yesterday as well...Yes..I took a gander at that microswitch :)

Here's some of the MGE Experience members at SEMA - dinner at an Irish Pub at the New York/New York complex's Irish Pub...

(L> R) Kelvin Dodd - Jim Stabe - Steve Carrick - Lloyd Faust - Pete Mantell - rick ingram behind the lense...

I am so envious......

wow...........a picture where Rick isn't squeezin' somethin'

That's only because he isn't in it. Surely he was squeezing something while taking the photo! ;)