Send a rookie to SEMA, they're going to make a few rookie mistakes... even with veterans to help along the way — like Aaron Kaufman from Gas Monkey Garage, Sung Kang from "The Fast and the Furious", TV personality Courtney Hansen, Kenji Sumino from Greddy Performance, the Driving Line editorial team and many more.
This year I attended my very first SEMA Show, and I survived. Well, technically. Actually, I barely survived, but I did have a LOT of fun. (Yep, that's me on a drift ride-along with Matt Powers.)
Typically, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas... but my fellow editors at Driving Line had other plans. They thought it would be a good idea to record my experience and share it with the world.
A lot of people love cars, but only a fraction of them get to attend SEMA. I was one of the fortunate few the SEMA gatekeeper people allowed into the Show.
It was fun, don't get me wrong, but it was also exhausting.
Your feet hurt from all the walking and your head pounds from all the "after Show festivities." The event is massive, so it's easy to get lost.
My strategy going into this week was to take advantage of all the fun things SEMA had to offer, besides just looking at all the cool cars. For example, I tried out the BILSTEIN 360° 4D-Co-Driver-Simulator for a pretty cool Virtual Reality drift sesh.
I also learned how to mount a tire, courtesy of Hunter Engineering.
So watch the video at the top to learn what to do and what not to do at your first SEMA Show.
Like party every night 'til 5 a.m.
But I mean, if you're invited to a party The Chainsmokers are playing at, you best get out there and party like we ain't ever getting older.
Thank you to everyone who made my first SEMA Show an unforgettable experience. I wouldn't have survived without you!!!
(Video: BOWLS LA)