SEMA IGNITED

MICHAEL ECKERSON January 05, 2023 All Feature Vehicles

SEMA has been going on all week in Las Vegas. The exclusive industry-only event has an entire staff put in place and many obstacles for attendees and vendors to qualify for credentials – and – make certain you don’t get to go. But guess what? The SEMA Show is nowhere near as cool as the SEMA Cruise and SEMA Ignited that follow the big show. These are the events made just for the public. And man, do they ever put on a show!

It all starts at the conclusion of the SEMA Show. The announcement goes over the PA on Friday and the weary exhibitors let out a collective cheer. They’ve survived another grueling show. Now it’s time to pack it all up. And as tired as they all are, they get to work breaking down, wrapping and boxing their company display.

Kyle Tucker was crowned winner of the fifth-annual SEMA Battle of the Builders competition for his 1969 Chevy Camaro

Along the SEMA Cruise route, right in front of the fans

But not you. Now is your time! You’ve waited patiently all week. You have tried every connection you have to try and get your hands on a SEMA badge so you could get in to this massive industry show. But your connection won’t answer your calls anymore. Turns out you’re smarter and have purchased a pass to SEMA Ignited.

Your intelligence has been rewarded. Now you wait in a special area while nearly all the vehicles from the show start up inside and slowly parade passed you.

SEMA Cruise kicks off the night’s festivities. Most of the 1,400 SEMA Show vehicles rumble along a barrier-lined cruise path in front of the masses of enthusiastic crowds, including you. The emcees announce each of the vehicles and talk to their owner/drivers about the unique properties of their rides. All of this is captured on professional video cameras so the event can be broadcast on the web and SEMA specials by NBC Sports Network and PowerNation network that will follow in the coming months.

… intense, higher level of excitement

Emcee Kevin Oeste and SEMA President Christopher J. Kersting kick off the SEMA Cruise

Adrienne Janic host of TLC’s Overhaulin’

Celebrity, automobile collector and enthusiast Jay Leno joins the SEMA Cruise and SEMA Ignited

But you don’t care about that. You’re here! As the vehicles roll by, they take up their positions in a special area that will hold the entire SEMA Ignited show. SEMA Ignited is a rolling car show on steroids! The area is cordoned off and barricaded so these awesomely perfect vehicles can pass right in front of you. Later in the evening they crank up the Nitro Circus after the SEMA vehicles are all in their spaces. The Nitro Circus takes the event to an intense, higher level of excitement.

SEMA Ignited is a rolling car show on steroids!

The SEMA Battle of the Builders Sport Compact Winner Rod Nielsen’s 1972 Mazda R100

An exceptional example of the many high-riding trucks on display

To accompany the excitement, the SEMA Ignited organizers have arranged for facilities, food trucks, live music, retail opportunities, drift demonstrations, celebrities and a front row seat to the action!

So stop bugging that friend you know that is somewhat, remotely affiliated to the automotive aftermarket industry. Having a badge to SEMA is not the ultimate prize. SEMA is for the industry to gather, promote and do business. SEMA Ignited is for car lovers to gather, have an amazing experience and be entertained. It’s the event to attend..

Next year the SEMA Ignited event will be on Friday November 8th, 2019, starting at 3pm. Get your tickets to SEMA Ignited at semaignited.com.

We’ll see you out there!