Open House at SEMA Headquarters in Diamond Bar

By Glenn Oyoung

Networking. Most people dread networking. Those people need to join SEMA (also known as the Specialty Equipment Market Association), because I can tell you that SEMA does it right. Last week the stars aligned – specifically two of the hats I wear. My role as director of client relations for Blue C had me slated to attend the SEMA Garage Open House and then I got an email from none other than our fearless Editor at LA Car, Doug Stokes, inviting me to go check out the event.

The SEMA staff did a fantastic job of putting on a networking event that checked all the boxes. The cars on display were stellar, both in terms of variety as well as quality. My favorites included the Paul Newman/Bob Sharpe Racing 280ZX owned by Adam Corolla on display in the SEMA photo cove, actor Sung Kang’s super clean Fugu Z, and a lowered yellow school bus sporting some seriously shiny dish wheels.

After feasting on cars, trucks, and motorcycles I enjoyed catching up with old industry friends and meeting new faces while feasting on the ridiculously tasty spread provided by SEMA. I even ran into my favorite SEMA staffer, Janet Francisco Lee. I’ve known her since 7th grade! (We have dirt on each other so I’m just going to leave it at that…on second thought, let’s just say if the New Kids on the Block had a concert during the SEMA Show I know someone who’s name rhymes with Granite who would feign a cold.)

The other highlight of the show was the gorgeous SEMA Garage itself, which after all was the point of the event. I’ve had the chance to shoot at the SEMA photo cove and that alone is a great reason to be a SEMA member. Throw in the measuring sessions available to each member (the new Acura NSX was on display for that very same reason), 3D printing services, a dyno, and the ultimate weapon – the support of the fantastic SEMA staff – and every automotive aftermarket professional there probably came away with the understanding that our network has every reason to succeed.

SEMA Beyond the Party and Beyond the Show

Notes by Doug Stokes

Needless to say being invited to the SEMA Open House at their HQ in Diamond Bar last Thursday night was very cool. The event was aimed at celebrating SEMA’s “Garage” and the impact/influence that it has had on the industry since its launch two years ago.

It was a celebration of the organization and the membership that had a sense of “serious fun” this time what with recent EPA forays into what many feel are draconian regulations that would seriously wound many forms of motorsport that many of enjoy and SEMA’s quick and responsible response to the threat.

The cast of characters on hand at SEMA HQ on Thursday eve ranged from company presidents of a number of very well-known high performance outfits, to well-know racers from virtually every aspect of motorsports, and from stars of TV motor shows to Hall of Famers like the legendary Gary Hooker. Flat out, pegged-tach-irvana for motorheads like yours truly.

But, as mentioned, there was very serious side to the night as well. SEMA the fun stuff was happening all right, but at the same time everyone there was well aware of their organization’s titanic battle to turn back the EPA’s continuing attempt to put a lot of its members (and their customers along with) virtually out of business.

SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association, was formed in the early sixties by a coalition of “speed”* equipment manufacturers who felt the need to have a responsible and responsive organization that would represent their interests in the halls of legislation and advance the public’s knowledge and understanding of their contribution to the excitement and pleasure of motoring.

Once a year, it seems that just about everyone knows about SEMA. The organization throws a week-long block party out in the Nevada desert at a town called Las Vegas. Every cool part, part, assembly, concoction, publication, dream car is on display and the people who sell them are there to see, spend and stock up on. Of course everyone who is even remotely associated with the business is there, World Champion drivers, NASCAR and Indy Car legends and latest sensations, movie stars… Seminars, speeches, dinners, late nights, (hey … it’s ‘Vegas baby) and early mornings. That’s the public face, the perception. The real work of SEMA, the stuff that matters to car people as much as it matters to SEMA members who sell stuff to car people, goes on just about 24/7/365. This is an organization that’s very serious about us (you, me and all our friends) having fun and pride and personality in our automobiles, motorcycles, and trucks.

Interested readers who seek more proof that SEMA is far more than an incredible industry show that rocks Las Vegas for one week a year are directed to the organization’s site at sema.org.

*In fact, the organization’s original first name was Speed … that was changed in 1970 to more closely define the membership which includes every aspect of automotive aftermarket manufacturing and services, not just racing.

Photographs by Albert Wong. Glenn Oyoung is an Editor-at-Large for San Gabriel Valley-based LA Car. Doug Stokes is its Editor.