2009 SEMA Show: Auto aftermarket prepares for show time in Las Vegas

The annual trade show of the Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA) is the Lollapalooza of shows for automotive and truck equipment, accessories, and customization. (See our other SEMA coverage.)  
 
SEMA, as both the organization and its show are known, is about to open its doors in Las Vegas, running from November 3-6. And we’re talking about a lot of doors. SEMA occupies virtually every square inch of every hall in the Las Vegas Convention Center, and spills out onto surrounding sidewalks, parking lots, and nearby hotels. The related AAPEX show covers more aftermarket equipment, and it runs from November 3-5 at the nearby Sands Expo Center.
 
SEMA says more than 100,000 attendees from some 100 countries come to their annual extravaganza, making their way through two million square feet of exhibits containing everything from custom wheels to brake pads, to electronics and the latest safety equipment.   
 
But sorry, gearheads, SEMA is not open to the general public. We’ll be there for the whole show, reporting on what we see and acting as your eyes, ears, and feet. You can thank us for that last one. Last year, I brought along a pedometer and logged eight miles the first day, seven the second, then decided I’d had enough and left it in my room after that.  
 
But while we’re walking, what would you like to see and read about? Let us know, and we and our sneakers will do our best to find it.
 
—Jim Travers