INDUSTRY NEWS
Formula Drift will conduct live drift demonstrations at SEMA Ignited. |
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Formula D Brings Live Drifting to SEMA Ignited
Formula Drift, the leading international drifting organization, will conduct live drift demonstrations at the 2015 SEMA Ignited event, taking place Friday, November 6, 3:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m., at the Las Vegas Convention Center Gold Lot.
Seating will be available for spectators to view the drifting demonstrations. Other activities and entertainment at SEMA Ignited include a unique collection of vehicles from the SEMA Show, celebrity appearances, music and more.
SEMA Ignited is the official SEMA Show after-party, where consumers are invited to connect with Showgoers and vehicles from the world’s premier automotive trade show. Show attendees who select the “SEMA Ignited” event on their applications can get into SEMA Ignited at no cost.
To learn more about the event or reserve tickets, visit www.SEMAIgnited.com.
Keynote & Coffee kicks off at 8:00 a.m., every morning of the Show. |
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Start the Day with Keynote & Coffee
The SEMA Show is bringing back one of the most exciting attractions from last year. Keynote & Coffee features thought leaders in business and industry to help attendees get an early start to the day with stimulating perspectives on how to look at business in a slightly different way.
The free seminars kick off every morning of the Show at 8:00 a.m., before the exhibit halls open and the conference sessions begin, meaning attendees have a chance to get their brains moving with new ideas about the industry before plunging into the day’s activities—and they’ll get a free cup of coffee to go along with it!
Each of the early morning Keynote & Coffee sessions have their own theme and speakers, who represent some of the most forward-thinkers you’ll find in the industry today. All of these speakers are available at no charge, first thing every morning of the SEMA Show, to set buyers in the right frame of mind before hitting the exhibit halls and conference sessions.
Download the 2015 SEMA Show App
The all-new SEMA Show mobile app helps attendees plan and navigate the Show with ease. It includes exhibitor listings and a virtual New Products Showcase. It’s also a way-finding device that leads buyers from one exhibitor or place to another.
Attendees who have used the app in previous years will need to download the new one. It is now available for download at www.SEMAShow.com/app.
The 2014 SEMA Person of the Year was Rich Barsamian. The 2015 award will be presented at the SEMA banquet. |
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Celebrate the Industry at the SEMA Banquet
The SEMA Show Industry Awards Banquet is an annual celebration of the specialty-equipment industry and provides the backdrop for the presentation of the SEMA Person of the Year, SEMA WD of the Year and SEMA Manufacturers’ Rep Agency of the Year awards. The 2015 SEMA Hall of Fame inductees—Joel Ayres, Jim Bingham and Dennis Gage—will also be honored for their contributions to the industry. The 2015 event will take place Thursday, November 5, from 7:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m., in the Paradise Event Center. This year’s featured entertainer is comedian Billy Gardell, who currently stars on the CBS hit series “Mike & Molly.”
Pre-ordered banquet tickets can be picked up in SEMA Central, located in the Grand Lobby.
Prepare for the Future of Vehicle Technology
The SEMA Show’s Vehicle Technology Briefing Seminar (TBS) program focuses on advanced vehicle technologies and government regulations immediately impacting SEMA members’ businesses, as well as future legislation, technologies, systems and engineering trends being implemented by OEMs. The primary goal is to help members understand the latest vehicle technologies and leverage SEMA-developed vehicle technology solutions, as well as new business opportunities, by providing open forums with industry leaders and experts for networking and learning about vehicle technologies that are important to them and relevant to their product-development and business plans.
Four vehicle-technology briefing sessions are scheduled for the 2015 TBS Program, themed “Fast, Smart, Cool and Connected.” The seminars will take place Monday–Thursday, 1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m. Attendance is free, but registration is required at www.SEMAShow.com/register.
With two taxi pick-up and drop-off locations, taking a cab is a convenient option. |
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The Ultimate SEMA Show Transportation Guide
Options abound in navigating to and from the Las Vegas Convention Center. The best choice varies depending on where Showgoers are staying and what time they’re arriving. More details about schedules, routes and pick-up and drop-off locations are available at www.SEMAShow.com/ground-transportation.
Shuttle Service: Various shuttles are available from select partner hotels to the airport, on a SEMA Show loop and to the AAPEX Show.
Monorail: Trains run every seven minutes. Exclusive discounts are available to SEMA Show attendees.
Taxis: Can be accessed from either the East end of the Performance Pavilion, or in the Blue Lot on the East end of the Grand Lobby, adjacent to Central Hall.
Uber and Lyft: Designated pick-up and drop-off locations are listed online.
Strip and Downtown Express (SDX): The public SDX service runs daily and includes 18 different stops.
Driving: Limited parking is available in the Gold Lot for a nominal fee.
Meet the Next Generation of Aftermarket Leaders
The 2015 Launch Pad business competition will take place Wednesday, November 4, 11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m., in the Upper North Hall, room N258. Five innovators, inventors and entrepreneurs under the age of 40 will showcase their business plans for marketing a new aftermarket product or service while a panel of seasoned judges evaluates and offers feedback.
Show attendees are invited to join in the excitement and learn about the contestants’ fresh ideas. Seats can be reserved now through the SEMA Show registration dashboard: www.SEMAShow.com/register.
Remember your first SEMA Show? I remember walking into my first SEMA Show more than 30 years ago. I entered the main hall and was amazed that we had actually filled almost half of the hall! I felt like saying, “Somebody pinch me. I am actually getting paid to be here working this Show!”