Photo Highlights of the 2011 SEMA Show

The 2011 SEMA Show kicked-off on Tuesday, November 1, drawing more than 100,000 attendees and more than 2,000 exhibitors. The Show highlighted thousands of new products and tricked-out display vehicles, as well as a host of informative educational seminars designed to help push the specialty-parts industry forward. Attracting a wide range of celebrities, from NHRA’s John Force to Olympic Gold Medalist Apolo Anton Ohno, the SEMA Show serves as your portal into the specialty-equipment industry’s latest news, trends and innovations.

Highlights included the SEMA Awards, where the Chevrolet Camaro won for the Hottest Car, the Ford F-Series for Hottest Truck, Jeep Wrangler for Hottest 4x4-SUV and Fiat 500 for Hottest Sport Compact Car. One of the Show’s largest draws, the New Products Showcase, featured more than 1,500 entries this year.

Check out the following photo essay of some 2011 SEMA Show highlights:

Mike Spagnola, founder and president of Street Scene Equipment, talks about the incredible WD-40/SEMA Cares Dodge Challenger built by Chip Foose. The vehicle will be auctioned by Barrett-Jackson on January 21, 2012, and proceeds will go to the Childhelp and Victory Junction Children's charities.		Chris Perry, General Motors vice president, global Chevrolet marketing and strategy, announces a "small car assault" during a press conference Tuesday morning on the Show floor.
The triple-threat, world-pop band ALIZMA entertained at a special exhibitor appreciation BBQ held Monday night, prior to the opening of the 2011 SEMA Show.		Deputy Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing, Peter M. Perez, of the U.S. Department of Commerce (left), presents SEMA Chairman of the Board Paul "Scooter" Brothers with a certificate of appreciation during the Global Media Awards Ceremony.
Wounded Afghanistan veteran SPC Michael Brewer (left) and a gunner comrade were awarded a Baja off-roading excursion, courtesy of exhibitor Addictive Desert Designs, Affliction and the Wheelers4Warriors project.		For the first time ever, Meguiar’s gathered top show cars from around the world to create a special “Car Crazy” International Vehicle Showcase at this year’s SEMA Show.
Ideas Alive: Featuring the New Products Showcase is the SEMA Show’s number-one buyer destination. It’s set up to offer one-stop shopping of all the industry’s hottest new innovations.		Just how popular is the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro? Popular enough to win the 2011 SEMA Award for Hottest Car and become a Hot Wheels sensation – with a full-size celebration of the latter honor gracing Chevy’s SEMA Show booth.
Performance, the life blood of the automotive aftermarket, was on full display in myriad forms at the 2011 SEMA Show, with engine exhibits often enthralling just as many admirers as the racing show vehicles themselves.		With more than 270 exhibitors, the Trucks, SUVs & Off-Road section at the 2011 SEMA Show featured booths dedicated to the latest trends in tonneau covers, bedliners, toolboxes, cabs, off-road accessories, suspension components, trailer and towing accessories and lighting products.
The South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center provided an ideal vantage point to see the latest wheels and wheel accessories making their debut at the 2011 SEMA Show.		The Global Tire Expo is where industry professionals gather to meet leading exhibitors, attend targeted educational seminars and participate in a host of activities.
The annual NHRA Breakfast was a huge hit this year as a packed crowd gathered Wednesday morning at the Las Vegas Hilton to greet the NHRA’s “Nitro Generation” panelists, which included John Force (right) along with featured panelists from the Tonglet, Coughlin, Tasca and Force families.		During the SEMA Show New Products Breakfast attendees joined Olympic Gold Medalist Apolo Anton Ohno for a first-ever look at his newly customized one-of-a-kind Cadillac.
A proud Pietro Gorlier, Mopar Service, Parts & Customer Care President and CEO, aboard a Jeep Wrangler, named 2011 SEMA Award winner for Hottest 4x4-SUV.		The crew from West Coast Customs brought their talents to the 2011 SEMA Show in the form of the West Coast Customs Experience, a week of professional installer classes where Showgoers worked hand-in-hand with the West Coast team to build four Chevrolet Sonics before the Show ended Friday.
Vic Edelbrock congratulates the Loara High School engine team from Anaheim, California, upon their win at the third annual “Showdown at SEMA” competition. The engine tear-down and rebuilding contest represents the title event of the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge National Championship.		Returning to the SEMA Banquet stage, stand-up comedian and actor Sinbad rocked the house with laughter yet again. It was the perfect encore to his 2004 SEMA Show performance.
Also at the Show Banquet, industry veteran John Menzler of the Comp Performance Group delivered a heartfelt and emotional thank-you at being named SEMA’s Person of the Year.		Joel Ayres, a member of the SEMA Board of Directors, discusses the trade organization’s wide-ranging charity involvement before a packed 2011 SEMA Show Banquet hall.
Recently inducted to the SEMA Hall of Fame, famous racer and hot-rod builder Art Chrisman (left) received industry accolades at the 2011 SEMA Show Banquet.		The 2011 SEMA Show made a premier venue for major new vehicle and product unveilings. Here Lexus introduces its eagerly awaited GS-F Sport to the industry.
Automotive and racing celebrities were spotted throughout the Show. Here Tim Duncan is interviewed about his drifting demonstrations in the crowd-pleasing Ford Out Front exhibition lot.		Another all-star panel, including renown designer and builder Chip Foose, took the stage at the SEMA Show Vehicle Technology Center to discuss performance branding in a session entitled "How to Design and Market to Enthusiasts."