As I type this blog entry I’m mashed up into the economy section of a rather medium sized airplane.   SEMA is an amazing experience, but it is pretty tiring and I’m definitely in need of a proper night’s sleep… I’m well pleased to be heading home.

Anyway, let’s jump in to looking at some more cars from the show floor to see what we can see:

 
Here is another view of the carbon fiber satin finished 350Z Andy Blackmore documented a few days ago. The gloss metal skull on the door contrasts very nicely against the black.

I do have to say IMO this satin look is starting to reach a final conclusion don’t you think? Feels like it has passed a saturation point now.

This drag prepped RX7 was the only representative of USA sport compact drag racing, I personally saw at SEMA 2008. To my eyes, it seems that this scene has reached a fork in the road and the glory days of the years gone past are well and truly gone. At least for the time being.

Thankfully sport compact drag racing is in good health elsewhere in the world.

 
Since some of you wanted to know a bit more about this retro NASCAR style street Superbird, I went back and looked at it in more detail.

The car is a collaboration between Year One, Bill Goldberg and Gillette Evernham Racing. Power comes from an off-the-shelf, unrestricted Dodge NASCAR engine, detuned to run on pump gas. Output is in the 800 bhp range.

Siebon Carbon had a large, impressive booth showcasing a wide range of carbon fiber body panels.

They probably had the largest number of tuned cars of any exhibitor, at their booth.

....For those who want to shave some weight off there IS-F….

Hey, I thought that the R35 manual says that you aren’t supposed to change any of the parts?

 
You knew it was going to happen.... Will reworked 1980s muscle cars be the next wave at SEMA?

 
This car certainly seems to have had the full treatment.

 
Attracting a large crowd in the Ford section of the show floor, was this amazing build, entitled “Golden Submarine”.

 
Created by Webbs Automotive Art, this car is a pure expression of the art of metal-craft. We’ll look at it in more detail in a separate post.

 
One observation that was fairly noticeable to me at SEMA, was that two key waves in the JDM focused automotive scenes were rather poorly represented: VIP Style and Japanese Classics. Some people in the US scene talk about how these are coming new waves in North America but there wasn’t much on show.

The only VIP Style car I clocked (and I certainly didn't see the whole show) was this S13 convertible built by Mickey Audrade.

 
Kudos to the vinyl designer on the car…. It is one of the most innovative representations of sponsor logos I’ve ever seen.
 

 
Thanks for repping Speedhunters Mickey!

 
I wonder what people will think of oversize wheels on Pro Touring cars in 10-15 years time.

 
A few of us from the Need for Speed office travelled down to SEMA this year. While I was running around Speedhunting and getting deals started for our Live event, some of the guys were showing our new game off.

At the Shelby boot, you could try your hand at outrunning the police while driving a Need for Speed Edition Terlingua.

 
I just had to go back and take another photo of the Petty short track Challenger. We need to see some street cars built up in this style IMO. So cool!

 
A few Germany tuners were on hand to show off their wares. Tech-Art had this fantastic 997 on display.

...And right across the walkway Brabus had a few Merc based cars on show. This is their V12S model. Looks pretty hardcore.

Pure race inspired Z4....

...One of my fav GTRs at the show... A few people were commenting that not all the many R35s at SEMA 2008 were... well... done in good taste let's say...

This blacked out Charger was one of many old school muscle cars on display in the vast Mopar display area.

Nice portrait shot of Jim from Formula Drift.

You guys wanted to see more shots of the tuned Smart car in the Falken booth... so here they are...

Detail shot of the front spoiler...

I have to commend the styling on this car...

Excellent wheel choice!

The man and his hair... Dai... who we found hanging out at the Falken booth... fancy that.

Ahh fantastic... a sprint spec 1984 Porsche 956.

My favourite piece of swag from the show was this Falken Ford GT stress relief cushion car thingie....

OK time to get away from the keyboard for a while... cheers!

:Rod