We’re finally home from SEMA, one of the largest automotive trade shows in the world. SEMA, which stands for Specialty Equipment Market Association, holds the annual SEMA Show once a year, allowing buyers, sellers, and exhibitors to congregate across 2 million square feet of exorbitantly extravagant booths and cars.  It is the industry’s ultimate networking tool, allowing companies to meet one-on-one to further their businesses. Relationships are formed every second at SEMA, laying the groundwork for the entire industry for the year to come. And if you didn’t know, it takes place in Las Vegas, Nevada, meaning that the show is bound to be anything but ordinary.

Our week at the SEMA Show, our first time attending as StanceWorks, was a successful one. It was a week that we hope sets the playing field for 2012, and it began with quite the bang. Our first meeting of the show was with the president of BBS.

We had a long discussion in an effort to answer everything we could possibly come up with. We got the truth on everything from the relationship between BBS NA and BBS Germany, to the notorious bankruptcy, and even what the future holds for BBS. We asked about the role of vintage BBS motorsport wheels in today’s market and what the chances of a comeback happening are. To say that BBS is well aware of today’s trends is an understatement. They attend countless events in direct relation to our community. To simplify it all, we’re looking forward telling the story of what is inarguably one of the most powerful names in the history of the wheel, as well as laying to rest the constant rumors we hear each and every day.

The pace of the week to come was only realized when shortly after, we were off to a private party hosted by HRE.

HRE’s affair was hosted in one of the top-floor suites of the Aria Hotel. The term “extravagant” doesn’t quite do justice to the outstanding room, and the wheels that were converted to tables were just as impressive. It’s quality you obviously won’t find at the closest IKEA. The future of StanceWorks and HRE was discussed over drinks as we all celebrated the success of the new HRE 454. Unveiled here at SEMA, the 454 is HRE’s latest offering in a line of recreations of their classic wheels from the 1990s. The line came about as a collaboration between HRE and StanceWorks as an homage to designs of the automotive era we at StanceWorks still live in. It’s only the start of a long lasting relationship with much more to come. To those who are familiar with the classic HRE family of wheels, you won’t be disappointed.

But the evening didn’t stop there. It was only our first night out and we were already off to yet another party. Our friends at Fifteen52 scored us invites to the Hoonigan launch party, hosted by Ken Block and the Hoonigan family. After being checked off the guest list, we approached the door to hear quite the commotion and what sounded like the wood-on-more-wood collisions of a bowling alley. But it couldn’t be, could it?

Oh, but we should have known that such an party could only take place in a penthouse suite with a bowling alley. And a pool table. And wall made of TVs. And, well you catch our drift. Drinks were had, bowling balls were thrown, and Linhbergh even showed us his Hooniwang®. “Celebrities” in all directions, even some that hit close to home. We had quite the discussion with Jamie, the creator of VW Vortex. I suppose it goes to show that a party is no excuse to stop working.

Evening number one ended when day two should have started. After making the rounds at the show once again, we were back in HRE’s suite, only to be followed by dinner with Cory from Kahn Media and Mike Garrett from SpeedHunters.

In typical fast-paced SEMA/Vegas fashion, we made our way to the next thing on the list. After-dinner drinks were shared with the boys from our home turf. Rotiform, AirLift, and VIP Modular brought us all together for a solid evening that reminds us that friendship can transcend business, and why we love to do what we do every day. As we’ve always said, we’re here to form relationships with everyone we work with. It’s guys and companies like these that keep us in check and remind us why aiming to fill our pockets with money from every sponsor that approaches us is simply not the way we work.

Thursday was one of the highlights of the trip. An early morning introduction to the president and international marketing manager of Work Wheels lead to what may the birth of a fantastic relationship. We were thrilled to hear that the big guys at Work, and the rest of the Japanese, are well aware of what we’re up to here at SW. Work invited us to a private tour of their facility in Japan, the first time such an offer has been made in 3 years. To say we’re honored is putting it rather subtly. You know that screaming jumping dance high school girls do when they find out their crush likes them? Well, I’m not quite saying that happened, but…

If all things go according to plan, StanceWorks will be in Japan in January for a tour of the Work facility as well as the Tokyo Auto Salon. Here’s a call to all of our Japanese readers- get ready.

The mad-dash continued for the rest of the day, with constant shuttling back and forth between one hotel and another underneath the Vegas lights. The final day of the show was highlighted by an outstanding meeting with the owners of Piloti shoes. Knowing that such an outstanding company is a home-grown and family run operation, we quickly decided that a full-on article must be done. We’re planning on heading to their offices up North in the coming weeks, and who knows what may come of the newly found relationship. The day was capped by the highly anticipated “rollout”. At 4:00, SEMA comes to an end, and at 4:01, hundreds of engines fire up inside of the Las Vegas Convention Center as everyone with a car in the show wants to get out before the aisles become impassable.

All of the cars we admired inside were heading out single file, as thousands cheered each one on. Everything from monster-trucks to JJ’s familiar avant came down the aisle, all as the rain that we had dodged for the whole week approached in a rather gloomy fashion.

So to say our week at SEMA was a successful one is putting it lightly. We’re thrilled with every connection we made and every hand we shook, and we’ll be back next year, no question. Keep an eye out for us.

Much like a heart attack, drift attack grips the being of Victorian Drifters and squeezes until all circulation is cut off. Round 2 of Vic Drifts Drift Attack was held at Calder Park, a course that has been off limits for years due to politics with the owners of the track. Drifting used to be a monthly occurrence here, but was closed down due to a decision by management.

People travel from across the country to battle it out for a chance to win cash money, a prize that is well sought after these days. In saying that, many competitors still only enter to get track time and have a blast.

The weather was typical of Melbourne; Wake up, walk outside, raining cats and dogs. We got to the track, wet as can be, but with no rain, just clouds. It only took a few hours and we were frying, both tires and skin. The heavens opened up and it was like God was burning our sins away. Wait, fire means hell….

The battles continued through the day, with some contests being too close to call resulting in re-runs. With minimal carnage, and several beaching’s in the sand traps, the day was done. Congratulations to all the competitors who qualified and thanks to Vic Drift for putting on the event. We look forward to many more to come.

As we said before Rotiform is taking SEMA by storm this year. Sitting in the front row of the wheel industry means your product is in hot demand, and with everyone wanting the latest and greatest from Rotiform, it only makes sense that they give their hand at trying something new.

One way to do that is to take an S5 and head the exact opposite direction as everyone else.  We are well aware that matte finishes on cars are nothing new, but the matte white vinyl from  Meguiar’sWraptivo does a great job of showcasing something that is. Rotiform has earned themselves quite the name in regard to their finishes, ranging from polished and chrome, to candy chromes and now flat metallic candy red.

The candy red works well on the super-concave NUEs, and it just the first step in many things Rotiform is attempting to do towards bringing innovation to the industry and the community. As we mentioned previously, Rotiform isn’t afraid to try something new and “out there”. They’ve really grabbed ahold of the 3-piece market, as well as having implemented wheels with a concave & lip design.

The Rotiform S5 is currently in the Falken Tire Booth, elevated about 6 ft above spectators on a gnarly 35 degree inclined ramp.  The project had the special opportunity of unveiling Falken’s brand new Azenis PT722 A/S.  It’s Falken’s first ultra high performance, all-season tire with a deep tread depth for stability in wet-road conditions.   Who doesn’t want more security when driving low profiles in all conditions?

Of course no Rotiform project is complete without getting it as low as possible.  Airlift Universal’s were utilized to get the 20 inch NUE’s tucking up in the fender wells.  The combination of wheel concavity in relation to the tuck really gives off a “concept-car” appearance; perfect for SEMA Show’s expectations.

To round the project off, Stasis Engineering provided their Alcon Big brake kit with Adam’s Rotors making a custom set of matched rear rotors to tie the braking together.   Acoustic music is provided by Stasis’ cat-back exhaust which renders the OEM sound system all but worthless.  An extended red-leather interior ties the wheels in with the overall theme, giving the S5 great continuity.

And that wraps up our SEMA feature week. It’s been a crazy week for Stance|Works, with some incredible opportunities in the pipeline for 2012. We want to thank all you who support us in what we do and continue to represent our community. Stance|Works is as much yours as it is ours, and we will continually operate in that mindset.