It takes endurance, an iron stomach and a will to survive if you plan on making it through any convention; just ask any of the vendors who travel in from around the country and participate in SEMA's annual Auto Salon, or the IAS, as we like to call it (yes, we know that doesn't look right).
For anyone else who visits-meaning you-it's a combined total of 16 hours that you get to spend on a show floor,scoping out anything from hot parts to hot chicks. And if you're the owner of a fine show car, it's time to break out from hibernation. IAS, much like its older sibling SEMA show in Vegas, has become atradition, though many have questioned whether a convention dedicated to the sport compact market is actually worth having. The first two in Los Angeles were successful, while last year's show in Atlantic City wasn't something we'd write home about. And when we learned that this year's festivities would be held in a small city 40 minutes outside of Philadelphia, our expectations were lowered. But it's a good thing we chose to ignore our doubts, because the '06 IAS was pretty much as good as it gets.
There Are No Stupid Questions, Only Stupid Answers
There are five specific questions people toss around at IAS, no matter who you are or who you work for-it's a subconscious, embedded function that always seems to find its way into the cerebrum once you find employment in this industry and are sent around for work at trade shows:1) When did you get in?2) Which hotel are you at?3)How long are you here for?4)What parts did you see that you like?5 How did the show treat you this year?You may have heard more and you may have heard variations, but without fail someone asks them all. It's almost a replacement for "Hi, how are you doing?" but not, and you just instinctively reply: "The same old, same old" (as if we'd never done this sort of thing before). It's comedy, really, but it does take the edge off and there are 16 hours of show time. Out of the five examples, only one concerns you: the parts. And while it seems obvious that parts should be debuted here, the bulk of the good stuff is saved for the big show instead.
GReddy, for example, focused on parts that were first shown at the Tokyo Auto Salon in January, presenting the Type-S coilover dampers with 32-way adjustability and intelligent informeter, a sort of iPod-slash-cellphone-of-the-future-looking engine monitor that not only records, saves and plays engine feedback, but can be custom designed with interchangeable panels. They also have a new turbo kit for the Scion tC as well as a new line of synthetic engine oils perfect for turbocharged applications.