By Chad Simon
2016 Battle of the Builders participant Ernie Manansala, founder and CEO of Kolab Agency, has entered a ’15 Nissan GT-R into this year’s competition. |
SEMA Ignited—the official SEMA Show after-party that is open to consumers—will kick-off for the third time ever, Friday, November 4, immediately following the close of the 2016 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Also for the third year, SEMA Ignited will serve as the backdrop for “SEMA: Battle of the Builders (BOTB),” hosted by Adrienne Janic and Chris Jacobs, during which the top three finalists will learn their fates.
In this week’s behind-the-scenes video, 2016 BOTB participant Ernie Manansala, founder and CEO of Kolab Agency, has entered a ’15 Nissan GT-R into this year’s competition. A former “35 Under 35” SEMA News recipient, Manansala has been an active member of the automotive specialty-equipment industry for years.
Now working on a new GT-R build for the 2016 SEMA Show, Manansala is looking forward to translating his previous experiences into a truly stunning end result. The ’15 Nissan GT-R will be exhibited in the Spyder Automotive booth (#21529), and features extensive modifications. Carbon-fiber pieces include a ducktail rear spoiler and a complete front hood. Various Takata pieces, including the seats, brackets and belts, complete the lightweight, racing-inspired interior. Check out the video to learn more about the products and highlights of this amazing build.
There were more than 27,000 registered attendees for the 2015 event—up 20% from the previous year. Held in the Gold Lot just steps away from the Las Vegas Convention Center, SEMA Ignited will feature automotive demonstrations, celebrity appearances, industry icons, food, music, cackle cars, Formula Drift action and a live taping of the 2016 BOTB competition that will premiere in early 2017 on the Velocity Channel. Vehicles from the SEMA Show will begin to parade out of the convention center around 4:00 p.m., and make their way to SEMA Ignited as thousands of fans line the streets of Las Vegas to catch a glimpse of the Show’s wildest rides.
Last year, 220 of the world’s best builders entered the BOTB competition, but it was Bobby Alloway who walked away with the top prize.
For more information, visit the SEMA Ignited and SEMA Battle of the Builders websites.