SEMA Show 2002 - Viva La Sema

For one week at the end of October, Las Vegas and the aftermarket collided in spectacular fashion, filling two stadium-sized convention halls with the industry's latest and greatest. Yes, the annual SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) Show once again emerged from hibernation and beached itself in the Nevada desert, brimming over with the newest products and project cars in the land.

While even SEMA couldn't avoid the effects of a distressed economy and attendance was noticeably down, the show was still the prime showcase for several exciting developments that will shape the year to come. Most notable was Honda's prominent support of import drag racing, with the unveiling of RJ de Vera's RSX race chassis-which will be finished and campaigned during the '02 race season-and the announcement of a rear-wheel-drive Civic Si to be championed by Adam Sarawutari.Honda also managed to score big with the RSX, several of which littered the SEMA floor, tuned and tweaked by aftermarket suppliers in every imaginable way. The other OEs were out to make big impressions as well. GM brought a vast array of aftermarket-equipped vehicles,Toyota touted Chris Rado's FWD Celica and Craig Paisley's Tacoma, Nissan announced its commitment to sell Nismo performance parts here in the U.S., and Ford showed off its SVT Focus.

And, of course, there was SEMA's bread and butter: the aftermarket, which was represented in full force. HKS displayed its 180SX drag car, GReddy showcased an all-new turbo kit for the RSX, and AEM debuted its stand-alone engine-management system. Skunk2, DC Sports, XS Engineering the list goes on and on. But don't worry, we've got it all on film, so you won't miss a drop: the parts, the cars, and the girls. So check it out and remember: always, always double down.

By The Super Street Staff

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