LEAD

SEMA 2015: Rigs and Rides

The Diesel World staff dubbed me the SEMA virgin. According to the crew, checking out the Los Angeles Car Convention, as a kid, wasn’t comparable to roaming the 1-million square-foot Las Vegas Convention Center (during SEMA) as an editor for the largest diesel magazine in the United States. One was a car show for the public: the other was the automotive industry’s premier trade show, and it was about time I saw it for myself.

This last November would mark my first time witnessing the behind-the-scenes action of the automotive industry (meeting advertisers, shaking hands with celebs, attending photo shoots, and well, conducting business) and I was anxious to take it all in. It would also be my first time getting paid to travel, something I had always wanted to get paid for. How many guys can say they get flown out to Vegas—to take pictures of diesels?

UNBELIEVABLE…

When I observed the rows of customized vehicles lined up as far as I could see (and almost as far as I could walk) I realized that browsing the SEMA show wouldn’t be like any other show I’d attended.

I entered a room near the Lexus booth, and eager to capture some diesel rigs, sprinted past the array of rainbow-colored rice rockets and onto the South Hall where most of the real talent was parked.

I don’t need to say much more, but know this, as my colleagues and I snapped as many pics as we could in a four-day period (which passed like a blur) we didn’t have a finished product in mind—not really. We just knew these rides were worth immortalizing, and that if we put them together…they’d make one heck of a gallery.

So, enjoy flipping over the next few pages’ worth of content. Someone has to appreciate all the hard work we put in at SEMA. DW

2015 SEMA Show:

Number of Exhibitors: 2,350

Total net square feet: 1,181,400

Total number of buyers: 69,916

Total attendees: 159,757

Registered Media: 3,505

Number of Products in the New Products Showcase: 3,079

Number of Seminars held and attendance at the Seminars: 64 seminars; 6,905 total attendees

Good idea? Or recipe for disaster?
Good idea? Or recipe for disaster?
Fusion Bumpers had a massive showing this year with 46 heavily customized trucks on display. Every one being something we’d love to drive every day.
Fusion Bumpers had a massive showing this year with 46 heavily customized trucks on display. Every one being something we’d love to drive every day.
Rat rods always have a special place—anywhere. And Steve Darnell from WelderUp always brings some of the best to the show.
Rat rods always have a special place—anywhere. And Steve Darnell from WelderUp always brings some of the best to the show.
Toyota’s Back to the Future edition Tacoma. Not a diesel, but you know your childhood self is screaming “I want it!”
Toyota’s Back to the Future edition Tacoma. Not a diesel, but you know your childhood self is screaming “I want it!”
Premier Performance built this rat rod that were sure could eat just about any other rat rod on the track, and the dyno as well! Powered by a 6BT complete with a compound turbo setup and six—yes six—15 lb. nitrous bottles in the bed. Talk about overkill!
Premier Performance built this rat rod that were sure could eat just about any other rat rod on the track, and the dyno as well! Powered by a 6BT complete with a compound turbo setup and six—yes six—15 lb. nitrous bottles in the bed. Talk about overkill!

SEMA 2015

Anybody want a tank?
Anybody want a tank?

SEMA 2015

SEMA 2015

Allout Offroad Performance built one of, if not the cleanest and most well thought out Fords we saw all week. In terms of usability, and quality of mod’s done, it’s one we’d be extremely proud to drive every day.
Allout Offroad Performance built one of, if not the cleanest and most well thought out Fords we saw all week. In terms of usability, and quality of mod’s done, it’s one we’d be extremely proud to drive every day.

SEMA 2015

With the release of the new Cummins powered Nissan Titan, Nissan has decided to go after a new land-speed record with this truck dubbed “Triple Nickle.” The 5.0L Cummins will be looking to best the current record in its class of 191 mph with the engines rated 555lb-ft. torque rating (hence the name, “Triple Nickle”).
With the release of the new Cummins powered Nissan Titan, Nissan has decided to go after a new land-speed record with this truck dubbed “Triple Nickle.” The 5.0L Cummins will be looking to best the current record in its class of 191 mph with the engines rated 555lb-ft. torque rating (hence the name, “Triple Nickle”).

SEMA 2015

SEMA 2015

SEMA 2015

 A former Diesel World feature truck, this F-100 is one of the cleanest hot rod trucks we’ve seen in a while and is powered by an equally clean 6BT Cummins.
A former Diesel World feature truck, this F-100 is one of the cleanest hot rod trucks we’ve seen in a while and is powered by an equally clean 6BT Cummins.

SEMA 2015

Kevin Aguilar, the editor of our sister magazine Street Trucks, spotted his skating hero, Tony Hawk, and was lucky enough to grab a pic for us.
Kevin Aguilar, the editor of our sister magazine Street Trucks, spotted his skating hero, Tony Hawk, and was lucky enough to grab a pic for us.
Former Top Gear host and Lost in Transmission star Rutledge Wood. He really is a true car guy thru-and-thru.
Former Top Gear host and Lost in Transmission star Rutledge Wood. He really is a true car guy thru-and-thru.

SEMA 2015

The BugattiMax is one clean and high-end Duramax-powered off-road Pre-Runner built by Kibbetech in Newbury Park, California. And it’s for sale people!
The BugattiMax is one clean and high-end Duramax-powered off-road Pre-Runner built by Kibbetech in Newbury Park, California. And it’s for sale people!

SEMA 2015SEMA 2015

SEMA 2015

SEMA 2015

This GMC was built by Dustin DeLeon, a former employee of Gas Monkey Garage from the popular TV show Fast And Loud. With a full body drop, it doesn’t get much lower than that.
This GMC was built by Dustin DeLeon, a former employee of Gas Monkey Garage from the popular TV show Fast And Loud. With a full body drop, it doesn’t get much lower than that.

SEMA 2015

You May Also Like

DW  DOG  e

Bully Dog Days 2014: Diesel’s Top Dogs Converge In Idaho

Diesel’s Top Dogs Converge In Idaho July in Southeast Idaho can only mean one thing to the local diesel community, and that’s the Dog Days […]

Florida Truck Fest

The Sunshine State’s Premier Event Returns It doesn’t take much to lure us down to Florida in the middle of winter. As if 80-degree weather, […]
DW  DYNO LEAD

Smokin’ Up The Valley Charity Diesel Event

Smokin’ Up The Valley Charity Diesel Event The diesel community has the reputation of being generous, especially when it comes to charity. Typically, diesel enthusiasts […]

WET AND WILD

RUDY’S DIESEL PERFORMANCE FALL 2016 TRUCK JAM For most of the Midwest and Eastern diesel motorsports competitors, the annual Rudy’s Fall Truck Jam is the […]