The expanded Overland Experience in the West Hall booth #62236 of the Las Vegas Convention Center is a must-see destination at the 2022 SEMA Show. With a 50% increase in vehicles from 2021, SEMA Show attendees can get up close to the newest overlanding products and vehicles that suit all tastes and budgets.

With many similarities and connections to off-roading, adventure travel, aka overlanding, has strong roots in Australia and South Africa, and in the United States, its popularity has exploded over the past decade. Buyers at the 2022 SEMA Show can see products and vehicles specifically for overlanding in the expanded SEMA Overland Experience area. 

From high-tech campers to well-built cargo vans to capably built four-wheel-drive vehicles to off-road trailers, the special exhibit includes dozens of customized vehicles with products and gear to compliment all types of outdoor adventurers, including fully popped-out tents, survival accessories and portable kitchen systems. This fast-growing adventure lifestyle sector encompasses every backcountry activity from camping and fishing to kayaking and ATV riding.

Head to the West Hall to learn the latest trends and opportunities and technology that you can incorporate into your next build. 

With a 50% increase in vehicles from 2021, SEMA Show attendees can get up close to the newest overlanding products and vehicles that suit all tastes and budgets.

TIS Off-Road, led by urban car scene veteran and iconic entrepreneur Myles Kovacs, brought its Off-Road and Lifestyle Showcase to the 2022 SEMA Show. Located outside the West Hall, booth #70000, attendees can experience segments of car culture never before seen at the SEMA Show, including Low Rider Hopping, Mini Truck Bed Dancing and Truck Drifting. The exhibit also features more than 55 of the world’s top show trucks set to make their debut. See the automotive works of art performing daily at the 2022 SEMA Show.

At the TIS Off-Road exhibit, Showgoers can experience segments of car culture never before seen at the SEMA Show, including Low Rider Hopping, Mini Truck Bed Dancing and Truck Drifting.

The SEMA Battle of the Builders Presented by Mothers Polish top 4 finalists have been announced. The action concludes Friday, November 4, with the winner being crowned at 3:30 p.m. on Silver Drive. Cameras are following along to document the journey for a TV program set to air on Saturday, January 28, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. EST. (Visit www.semabotb.com for updates on TV airings.)

The competition recognizes one winner in four different categories:

• Hot Rod & Hot Rod Truck
• 4 Wheel Drive & Off-Road
• Sport Compact, Import Performance, Luxury & Exotic
• Young Guns—before crowning the coveted title, Battle of the Builders Champion.  

While a panel of industry experts narrows down the selection of vehicles, it’s the builders themselves who ultimately select the four class winners as well as the overall winner. 

2022 Top 4 Builders:

Hot Rod/Hot Rod Trucks

• Mike Ring - Ringbrothers, 1948 Chevrolet Pickup Loadmaster, Mothers Booth #22357

Sport Compact, Luxury and Exotics

• TJ Russell, 1991 Porsche 911, BAJA Front of Central Hall V052

4-Wheel Drive & Off-Road

• Jim Ring - Ringbrothers, 1972 Chevrolet K5 Blazer, HRIA Booth #23295

Young Guns 29 & Under

• Josh Michels, 1966 Chevrolet Corvette, Battle of the Builders Booth #10139

Welcome to day two of the 2022 SEMA Show in Las Vegas! From the Kick-Off Breakfast to NHRA stars, cool cars, drifting, special keynotes and the Toyo Treadpass, the SEMA Show is the place to see the latest automotive trends and technology. 

Watch the recap of yesterday's events:

With the 2022 SEMA Show approaching its third day, there is still plenty for Showgoers to experience both in the halls and out front of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Stay updated with Show information and plan the rest of your week by downloading the SEMA Show app.

Here are three SEMA Show experiences you won't want to miss on Thursday, November 3:

The Overland Experience area includes dozens of customized vehicles with products and gear to compliment all types of outdoor adventurers.

SEMA Overland Experience Showcases New Adventure Gear

The expanded Overland Experience in the West Hall booth #62236 of the Las Vegas Convention Center is a must-see destination at the 2022 SEMA Show.  With a 50% increase in vehicles from 2021, attendees are sure to see something to suit all tastes and budgets. From high-tech campers to well-built cargo vans to capably built four-wheel-drive vehicles to off-road trailers, you'll see a wide variety throughout the space. Come to the Overland Experience and see the latest technology you can incorporate into your next build. Be sure to include it on your Show Planner by clicking here. 

SEMA Show attendees can be part of the action by hopping on a motorcycle at the Ride With Us area in front of the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Ride With Us: Ride a Motorcycle in 30 Minutes

SEMA Show attendees can be part of the action by hopping on a motorcycle at the Ride With Us area in front of the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Through the program operated by the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC), Showgoers with no riding experience can learn to ride in 30 minutes. 

There is no cost for SEMA Show attendees to participate in Ride With Us. Riders must be at least 16 years old, and the MIC provides safety gear and at-your-own-pace instruction.

Themed “Further. Faster. Together.,” this year’s SEMA Show Industry Awards Banquet is a revamped, shorter program that now concludes at 9:00 p.m., and features an innovative layout to immerse the audience in the experience.

SEMA Show Industry Awards Banquet: Be There for an Important Announcement About the Future of the SEMA Show!

The 2022 SEMA Industry Awards Banquet takes place Thursday, November 3, at 7:00 p.m., at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino Paradise Event Center. Featuring a new layout and shorter program that ends at 9:00 p.m., Showgoers won't want to miss an important announcement about the future of the SEMA Show and the association.

Themed “Further. Faster. Together.,” the SEMA Show Industry Awards Banquet is the annual celebration of the specialty-equipment industry and is highlighted by a networking cocktail reception, dinner and entertainment. The banquet honors industry excellence through SEMA's industry awards, and a new award has been added for 2022—SEMA Automotive Influencer of the Year. The award was established to honor a content creator for their outstanding contributions to automotive culture and for creating a positive impact with automotive enthusiasts. 

Tickets are required for the event. Exhibitors can secure complimentary banquet tickets through their registration dashboard, while all Showgoers can purchase tickets at www.semashow.com/banquet.

The SEMA Battle of the Builders Presented by Mothers Polishes top 12 finalists have been announced. The action continues to unfold throughout the week, with cameras following along to document the journey for a TV program set to air on Saturday, January 28, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. EST. (Visit www.semabotb.com for updates on TV airings.)

Ringbrothers' ENYO 1948 Chevrolet Pickup Loadmaster is among the top 12 SEMA Battle of the Builders Presented by Mothers Polishes finalists.

The competition recognizes one winner in four different categories:

• Hot Rod & Hot Rod Truck
• 4 Wheel Drive & Off-Road
• Sport Compact, Import Performance, Luxury & Exotic
• Young Guns—before crowning the coveted title, Battle of the Builders Champion.  

While a panel of industry experts narrows down the selection of vehicles, it’s the builders themselves who ultimately select the four class winners as well as the overall winner. The top 4 will be announced Thursday, November 3, at 3:00 p.m., in North Hall #10139, and the winner will be crowned on Friday, November 4, at 3:30 p.m., on Silver Drive.

2022 Top 12 Builders:

Hot Rod/Hot Rod Trucks

• Ringbrothers, 1948 Chevrolet Pickup Loadmaster, Mothers Booth #22357
• Tyler Nelson, 1958 Ford F100, Mothers, South Silver Lot
• Tim Devlin, 1934 Chevrolet Roadster, HRIA Booth #23295

Sport Compact, Luxury and Exotics

• TJ Russell, 1991 Porsche 911, BAJA Front of Central Hall V052
• Shawn Bassett, 1991 Nissan Skyline GT-R, Moton Booth #20555
• CJ Pullman, 1977 Ford Pinto, Front of Central Hall Booth #V319

4-Wheel Drive & Off-Road

• Ringbrothers, 1972 Chevrolet K5 Blazer, HRIA Booth #23295
• Cody Dabney, 1970 Ford F-250, South Hall Booth #CO7
• Greg Ward, 1971 Toyota FJ40 Landcruiser, North Hall Booth #10215

Young Guns 29 & Under

• Cameron Cocalis, 2015 Scion FR-S, Toyo Treadpass
• Austin Phipps, 1966 Chevrolet Nova, Battle of the Builders Booth #10139
• Josh Michels, 1966 Chevrolet Corvette, Battle of the Builders Booth #10139

The OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational (OUSCI) brought live, action-packed excitement to the SEMA Show.

The competition’s Peak Performance Challenge (a timed segment) and the Lingenfelter Design & Engineering Challenge took place at the SEMA Show for the first time in 2021. Those two segments returned to this year’s SEMA Show, while the Autocross portion of the competition made its debut at the Las Vegas Convention Center’s Bronze Lot. The remainder of the OUSCI continues November 5–7, at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

The OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational (OUSCI) brought live, action-packed excitement to the SEMA Show.

“As an expanded feature at the 2022 SEMA Show, OPTIMA’s Ultimate Street Car Invitational is an iconic competition that showcases the aftermarket’s potential,” said Tom Gattuso, SEMA vice president of events. “With modifications that enhance the performance of the vehicles, the competing cars and trucks embody what the SEMA Show is all about.”

With six regional qualifying events spanning more than eight months, the OUSCI includes the country’s top road-worthy, modified vehicles. Top performers from the regional events receive invitations to participate in the final competition, with a handful of spots reserved for vehicles selected at the SEMA Show.

Since 2008 when the OUSCI debuted, an additional highlight for Showgoers has been a display of all 100 competition vehicles at the SEMA Show in an area known as OPTIMA Alley. At the end of the Show, the vehicles parade out of the convention center and make their way to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where they participate in a five-part competition. Last year, two of the segments kicked off the competition, which took place at the SEMA Show. This year, the SEMA Show hosts three of the five segments.

The Bronze Lot is located in the outdoor area south of South Hall.

Four legends took the stage at the SEMA Show's NHRA Breakfast, Wednesday, November 2, at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino Paradise Events Center.

The popular event, which has been a staple of the SEMA Show for more than 20 years, featured NHRA legends Don Prudhomme, Richard Tharp, Lee Beard and Frank Hawley coming together to discuss a thrilling topic: “Bent Rules, Bailed Fists and Drag Strip Battles.”

The SEMA Show NHRA Breakfast featured NHRA legends Don Prudhomme, Richard Tharp, Lee Beard and Frank Hawley coming together to discuss “Bent Rules, Bailed Fists and Drag Strip Battles.”

For the fourth time, NHRA on FOX announcer Brian Lohnes served as the panel moderator. He asked probing questions about some of the most amazing battles in NHRA history, and what it took for each legend to succeed. 

“The SEMA breakfast is one of the highlights of my year. With more than 1,000 NHRA fans jammed into the room at SEMA, the fun always flies,” Lohnes said. “We had Don Prudhomme, Richard Tharp, Lee Beard and Frank Hawley on the stage to tell stories of battling on the track, battling in the pits, bending the rules and bending the law.”

Don “The Snake” Prudhomme is a championship-winning driver and team owner and is regarded as a true icon in the sport, while Tharp was one of the sport’s most colorful figures while he won races and championships. Beard’s magnificent career as a crew chief spanned more than three decades, as he racked up 50-plus victories and world championships, and Hawley was a top-tier driver and one of the great minds in the sport as well, racing to a pair of world championships and multiple race wins.

The 2022 SEMA Show features an expanded SEMA Electrified section. Located in the North Hall, Booth #11268, the specialized exhibit area showcases the latest advancements in EV technology, including new products and solutions for EV platforms and conversions. In addition to SEMA Electrified, EV projects and products are also displayed throughout the Show floor. Additionally, the SEMA Show New Products Showcase—consistently voted as the No. 1 destination by buyers and media—added a new category for products related to EVs.

Located in the North Hall, Booth #11268, SEMA Electrified showcases the latest advancements in EV technology, including new products and solutions for EV platforms and conversions.

SEMA Electrified offers a collection of different applications for electrification in the aftermarket, from brand-new EVs about to hit the market to custom EVs that are available today.

“To continue to keep their appetite going for accessorization of vehicles, attendees can come and look at examples of different components for our late model EVs,” said Luis Morales, SEMA director of vehicle technology. “We also have vehicles that are fully converted from ICE to EV, and some are midway that show how those parts integrate into that conversion.”

SEMA Electrified also has components, including service tools and charging solutions, on display that help make these conversions happen. There are areas within the booth that are education-forward. One teaches the fundamentals of how to convert a vehicle. Another shows the safety and service tools available and how they apply to electric vehicles. There's also an electric vehicle kit car being built this week by Switch Vehicles, which will be running by the end of the Show.

SEMA Electrified also has components, including service tools and charging solutions, on display that help make conversions happen.

“The conversion side is getting a lot of attention, so we brought in some different powertrain solutions that are available to the conversion market, which is a big hit here,” Morales said. “Not everything being converted is running off of a Tesla motor, so people are seeing that there are different options available to them.”

Be sure to visit SEMA Electrified, located in North Hall, booth #11268.

Finalists vying for the 2022 SEMA Launch Pad grand-prize package valued at $92,000 have been narrowed down to two: 

Susan Pieper, DMOS Collective Inc.
Stealth and Delta Car Shovels: Premium indestructible advanced designed shovels that are easy to stow and mount on various vehicle racks and platforms.

Kevin Robinson, TRAC LLC
TRAC Tire Jack: Tool designed to make removing or installing a wheel/tire from a vehicle safer, simpler and easier.

They will go on to pitch their products on stage at the newly revamped SEMA Awards Banquet on Thursday, November 3.

Susan Pieper of DMOS Collective Inc. and Kevin Robinson of TRAC LLC are the top two finalists for this year's SEMA Launch Pad competition.

“Winning SEMA Launch Pad is truly an opportunity of a lifetime,” said Myles Kovacs, one of the competition's judges. “Not only does each competitor benefit from the experience, but we are also able to shed light on the products and services that fill a gap in the industry and can inspire future inventors to do the same.”  

Since 2013, the SEMA Launch Pad has served as the ultimate product-pitching competition for the automotive aftermarket. In addition to competing for a prize package that includes space at the world-renown SEMA Show and promotion on national television, contestants build connections and receive support from established experts who serve as judges and mentors in the program.

The four judges are Chip Foose, award-winning vehicle builder and artist best known from the TV hit series “Overhaulin’”; Jared Hare, an innovator and entrepreneur who founded Addictive Desert Designs in 2007 and has grown the company into one of the leading offroad brands; Kovacs, a trend setter who founded DUB magazine and launched TIS Wheels; and Alex Parker, industry advocate and CMO of the 2020 SEMA Manufacturer of the Year Winner Redline Detection.

“This year’s SEMA Launch Pad competitors were among the best that we’ve ever seen,” Kovacs said. “I’m constantly amazed at the ingenuity, passion and drive we see from competitors. It’s going to be difficult to select just one winner from the group.”

The Top 15 semifinalists have their products displayed in a special Launch Pad Corral of the 2022 SEMA Show in Central Hall booth #22970. A must see-feature, the Launch Pad Corral gives competitors an exclusive opportunity to educate Showgoers on their cutting-edge inventions through up-close interactive demonstrations or product displays. Competitors also get an opportunity to increase brand awareness, reaching thousands of potential buyers and business partners from all over the world while attendees learn of new innovations that could benefit their business and customers.

To attend the SEMA Awards Banquet and see the Top 2 contenders battle it out to be crowned the SEMA Launch Pad Champion, visit www.semashow.com/banquet.