Locked & Loaded Magazine SEMA 2022 Issue

People are tired of magazines that have ads, sales pitches, and bogus “fillers” to eat up space. They want a magazine that is free, easy to access, and totally focused on badass pictures and content. They want a magazine produced and written by the people and for the people. They want the chance to share their passion and to be heard. It is our absolute pleasure to meet these standards and to give you Locked & Loaded Magazine. We hope that you enjoy our content and if you don’t… tough shit. This magazine is not for the faint of heart!

- Daniel & Kaitlyn Ramey, Editors-In-Chief

SEMA - ROUND 2

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

© 2023 LOCKED & LOADED

SEMAROUND 2

ROBERT MOORMAN

Months before I was ready to jump on that tin can that would fly me from Philadelphia to Vegas we were hearing about the manufacturers deciding that they wouldn’t be there for whatever reason they decided. Thinking back on the manufacturers’ booths from last year and flipping through the hundreds of pictures I took I knew that for me personally it wouldn’t be a big deal not having them. What would I actually be missing, a few big name celebrities, a model that they had released earlier in the year that I have seen every nook and cranny of on the internet, or an overwhelming design of their newer model that they paid someone else to modify (insert shoulder shrug here)? My first year I was excited to see everything but this year would be different. This year I knew where I was going and what I wanted to see!

As I pulled into the offload area, BTW instead of staying on the strip a group of us rented a beautiful house in the valley so we could see the “normal” Vegas, by the OPTIMA area which had vehicles competing lined up, you could smell the fuel coming through the exhaust pipes as they were warming the cars up for the next round of competition. Now we all know Vegas in November is supposed to be in the 70s during the day, however, they had a cold front coming through so

MY FIRST YEAR I WAS EXCITED TO SEE EVERYTHING BUT THIS YEAR WOULD BE DIFFERENT.

SEMAROUND 2

ROBERT MOORMAN

the high was mid 40s which SUCKED. As much as I wanted to watch the cars run their timed event, I rushed inside to grab my credentials which seemed to be the same idea everyone else had. Of course the media room was great as usual, the workers greeted everyone with a smile and there were refreshments as well as plenty of charging ports for your cell phone, lap top, or any other electronic device you had that needed charged. But again, I had no time for this as I had to see the builds and new things coming out this year.

Now that I’ve got my credentials I was off to see what designs the builders dreamt up and were able to bring to life. I will reiterate again that SEMA isn’t a normal car show, this is the largest event in North America where you can see everyone from Foose, Kindig, the late and great Ken Block, or any one of the hosts of shows on Discovery or Motor Trend, so needless to say I was excited.

As I moved through the huge buildings, I must admit that it was great to see one off cars like the LS swapped Tesla, the fully electric 1st Gen Mustang, Eleanor, the all carbon fiber Dodge Charger (hats off to Dodge for going all out this year), and even the bubble gum pink Ferrari. The builds this year seemed to be a step above last year and SEMA definitely

SEMAROUND 2

ROBERT MOORMAN

made sure that they screened their builders to ensure this. But I have to be honest, the trucks this year took the cake!

Even though you had to be outside in the cold, it was worth it to see the builds out there. When I tell you the trucks were insane, I mean they went all out on these trucks. Now while I’m sure some of them were “Trailer Queens and Parking Lot Prowlers”, it didn’t matter they were absolutely beautiful! Every make and model F Series body style ever produced along with every body style that Chevy/GMC C-3500 HDs, Dodge/RAM, Toyota, and Nissan ever released was there. I mean they were sitting on huge mud tires with 18 inch lifts or slammed on the ground with air bags. There were no corners cut on these trucks and I’m sure they’d invested just as much into these if not more than the owners of the Lamborghini, Ferrari, or Porsches who were able to stay in the climate controlled buildings. Every piece of these trucks had either been powder coated or chromed including the smallest nuts and bolts and I’m positive they spent days getting these trucks cleaned for the show.

As I continued to look at the amazing builds, it didn’t bother me that some of the manufacturers had decided to pull out, I thought it was great that we were able to see some of the builders who weren’t known well enough to be shunned in order to make room for the “big guys”. I continue to hear rumors about what 2023 will bring which excites me, how-

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ever I hope that we continue to see the unnamed builders have a larger role at SEMA. As I stated last year, if you’re lucky enough to get a ticket or invite to the MECCA of auto industry, don’t pass it up as I promise you won’t regret it!

ROBERT MOORMAN

PHOTO CRED: ROBERT MOORMAN

wHAT A SHOW

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

© 2023 LOCKED & LOADED

WHAT A SHOW

DOUG SMITH

ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10, I WOULD HAVE TO GIVE SEMA 2022 AN 11.

What a show! As my second time attending SEMA, I had a much better feel as to how it all worked, what the layout of the Las Vegas Convention Center was, what to see, where to be, and when to be there. Sadly, as has been stated many times, Ford did not attend SEMA this year, so they did not have any kind of footprint like they did in previous years. Obviously, kind of a bummer going to SEMA to report for STANG Magazine, and not having Ford in the building. However, it was not disappointing in the least!

First let me say that the show itself was much larger than it was last year. Of course, in 2021, there were still all of the COVID restrictions, rules, distancing and everything else that went along with it. So SEMA in 2021, while impressive,

was scaled back from previous years. This year – not the case. No restrictions, and it was absolutely huge! It was easy to spend hours in just one of the Convention Center halls, walking up and down the aisles, looking at the countless displays that were on hand. That’s one of the many things I love about SEMA. It’s not a car show. It’s an everything automotive show. From air fresheners to paint booths, headlight replacements to tack welding, or headliners to cylinder heads, anything to do with anything that has an engine and moves, it’s going to be at SEMA. It’s quite the spectacle!

While there is a lot to see, I of course focus on the vehicles that are there. There were a lot, and they were amazing.

WHAT A SHOW

DOUG SMITH

One of my personal favorites was the Project Freedom Mustang from Cassar Performance. I got to spend some time with Kevin Cassar, founder and CEO of Cassar Performance, and go over the Project Freedom Mustang from top to bottom. It is a really impressive piece of machinery to say the least. A 2021 California Special beefed up as a tribute to the 1968 California Special. Pushing over 500HP on a naturally aspirated Coyote, full suspension upgrade, monster brakes, and anything else they could squeeze into this thing, they squeezed in. And I don’t mean to brag or anything, but I was the first person outside of the Cassar Performance Team to actually sit in the car, so you know, there’s that!

Another very cool car that we had the opportunity to see in detail is now kind of bittersweet. Dan Block’s 1400HP Hoonicorn V2 Mustang. Like many of you, I’d seen it in videos, promotions, and things like that, but this was my first hands on experience with it. The thing is an absolute mon -

ster. Twin turbos pushing a Roush/Yates 410 cubic inch motor, and throwing down over 1,200 foot pounds of torque, it’ll get up and go. With the front splitter, wide body panels and low stance, the profile and shapes on this Mustang are staggering. As we all know, sadly, Ken Block passed away in a snowmobiling accident in January of this year. A true loss for the sport of professional rally driving and Mustang enthusiasts alike.

On a scale of 1 to 10, I would have to give SEMA 2022 an 11. It was yet another great event that I am fortunate enough to have been able to attend. And honestly, I didn’t have the time to see it all! There is something there for anyone and everyone. We’re looking forward to attending again this year in 2023 and am anxious to see if they can outdo themselves yet again!

PHOTO CRED: DOUG SMITH

MY SEMA EXPERIENCE

VEGAS, NEVADA

© 2023 LOCKED & LOADED

MY SEMA EXPERIENCE

MIKE EVERETT

SEMA WAS EVERYTHING THAT I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE!

When I was invited by Locked & Loaded Magazine to attend the 2022 SEMA show in Las Vegas I really didn’t know what to expect. I always read and heard great things about SEMA but being there in person was amazing. I arrived my first day and headed to the Media Center to get my credentials and that took some time because of stopping and looking at all the cars along the way. After checking in I headed downstairs into the incredible display of vehicles, interactive thrills, and thousands of new products to discover. Besides trying to figure out which vehicle to look at next, there was the massive displays of aftermarket possibilities, parts and live demonstrations of products and procedures. The vehicles included Classic muscle, import performance, off-road and overland adventure, or even electric propulsion and so many more.

One of the vehicles that caught my eye was a 1966 Ford Mustang built by The Custom Shop in Flanagan Illinois. The car owner’s wife wanted a convertible, he wanted a fastback. John Wargo, the owner of The Custom Shop accommodated both by adding a motorized removable fastback hard top and made it motorized. Double Down fits the meaning behind the name as it has two roofs. It took 11 months from start to finish to complete the build.

I am already looking forward to accompanying Locked & Loaded Magazine this year to experience the latest products and custom vehicle trends again. SEMA was everything that I thought it would be!

PHOTO CRED: DANIEL RAMEY

ADRENALINE RUSH

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

© 2023 LOCKED & LOADED

ADRENALINE RUSH

ANITA EVERETT

THE ADRENALIN ALREADY STARTED TO SURGE THROUGH AS SOON AS WE DEBARKED THE PLANE...

Heard about it, read about it, planned for it for months. Anticipation grew for our first experience of SEMA. What to see first on our minds with nearly 3,000 exhibitors and approximately 130,000 attendees expected to flood the show halls. How will we be able to take in all the energy that was to hit Las Vegas and run through our veins? We were revved up to celebrate with our STANG Magazine family in an over 1-million sq. ft. event. We were not only looking forward to exploring the event with our dear family of Mustang lovers, STANG Magazine, but we were going to live with them for a memorable week.

The adrenalin already started to surge through us as soon as we debarked the plane and met up with TJ and Tim at the airport, picked up our car and headed to the Las Vegas

strip and then our temporary abode for a few nights before the rest of our STANG family arrived where we would share a sprawling multi-bedroom showcase home.

The first bonus, spending Halloween on Fremont Street. It became a world where it was hard to tell costume from real, dancing from stumbling, pure enthusiasm from high, inebriated or a language I never heard, to celebrating with a crowd only there to have the time of their life as if there was no tomorrow with the next blink of the eye.

The second bonus was waking up to the rumbling of the air and ground beneath and above us. EARTQUAKE? Hell NO! It was fighter jets doing combat training at Nellis Air Force Base in our back yard. The fly byes were jaw dropping.

ADRENALINE RUSH

ANITA EVERETT

All this and we haven’t even been to SEMA yet. With a good taste of Vegas under our belt, we set off to the main event, SEMA, with our STANG family.

Being a Mustang owner, we were disappointed at first when we learned that Ford decided not to be a host at SEMA. As the time got closer, we no longer allowed that to squash our excitement as we were still in store for the world’s number-one automotive trade event. There would be enough vehicles and builds to be admired including Mustangs. One of these builds was a 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT built by Tucci Hot Rods. The base vehicle was a 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT, AWD, 91kWH extended range battery, and single speed transmission. The KPMF wrap in Matte Java Brown was stunning along with the Dom Tucci Design 3D printed fender flares, vacuum formed transparent wheel covers, transparent front lip extensions, and rear spoiler extension.

The exhausting exercise on the legs was worth every bit of the event we were able to take in during the day and followed by much laughter and friendship into the night. Our motto always rings true, “Enjoy the Ride and Who You Ride With”.

PHOTO CRED: ANITA EVERETT

DANIEL RAMEY

SEMA 2022

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

© 2023 LOCKED & LOADED

SEMA 2022

JOYCE GALANTI

I CONTINUE TO ENJOY SEMA AND THE LOCKED & LOADED MAGAZINE FAMILY. ENJOY THE RIDE AND WHO YOU RIDE WITH!

SEMA 2022! WOW!

I still consider myself to be a “newbie” to the SEMA Show since this is only my second visit with the awesome Locked & Loaded Magazine Crew! I feel very blessed to be a part of this magazine and the family that are associated with it. Never in my life, before three years ago, would I have considered myself to be a “car” person. All of that has changed, IN A BIG WAY! I never appreciated the fine lines, curves, colors, and equipment associated with the MUSTANG before I met Daniel Ramey, CEO of Locked & Loaded Magazine. I thought, yeah those are nice looking cars but never thought of owning or driving or writing about them. Fast forward to current life!

WOW… that describes the mind blowing last three years with Locked & Loaded Magazine. New adventures, new eye opening experiences, and new perspective.

Last year when I went to SEMA 2021, it was so overwhelming! I did not know where to look first. Of course, Ford had a display that was amazing and I got to talk to several interesting people. This year, SEMA 2022, I was given the opportunity to talk with more people and could identify the different cars that I found interesting and why I found them interesting. I was disappointed that Ford pulled out of the SEMA 2022

SEMA 2022

JOYCE GALANTI

show but there were still a few Ford Mustangs that could KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF! We were even able to sit in a build that had never been sat in before except for the crew that built it! For me, SEMA is not just about the cars but about the family I am with and the people that I get to meet and hear their stories. The passion that runs through the show is evident and consuming! I could not help but become excited while seeing the builds and listening to the stories associated with the process. My “day job” is being a counselor so I believe that this is why my focus is on the individuals behind the vehicles and not totally the vehicle. Don’t get me wrong, they are BEAUTIFUL cars! I continue to enjoy SEMA and the Locked & Loaded Magazine family. ENJOY THE RIDE AND WHO YOU RIDE WITH!

PHOTO CRED:

JOYCE GALANTI

DANIEL RAMEY

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA TOP

NOTCH

© 2023 LOCKED & LOADED

TOP NOTCH

KAITLYN RAMEY

ALTHOUGH MUSTANGS WERE SCARCE THIS TIME AROUND, THERE WAS STILL SO MUCH TO LOOK AT.

SEMA this year was quite different than previous years. A lot of top notch companies pulled out, but the buildings were still completely packed. There were two different areas with racing out front with all kinds of cars, including Teslas. Teslas may not make much noise, but they are QUICK and were stomping the dog dirt out of all the other cars racing. It was extremely cold this year for whatever reason. There wasn’t as much rubber burning this year, but all the car enthusiasts made up for it. Meeting people with the same interest is always a plus. A few particular Mustangs caught my eye, two being presented by Type S. Both were RTR Mustangs; one was lime green faded into a highlighter yellow faded into an

orange faded into a deep red and the other was just a darkish gray color – both were absolutely beautiful and breathtaking. There was a black and gold HOONIGAN car that was completely slammed with a front bumper lip that you could only fit a book underneath, white rims, and dual superchargers and exhaust coming from the hood.

Moving on to trucks, HOONIGAN had an old truck build, SMOKYF1 from Cali, with smooth finishing paint of blue, red and brownish-green, with a rustic look. The bed of the truck was exposed with the motor. “Lil Mak” sat outside - Superduty Ford F-350 was an eye catcher, colored in a light baby purple with pick accents. This truck was built to make heads turn. It was on suspension with lifting and lowering qualities.

Although Mustangs were scarce this time around, there was still so much to look at. People came in by the floods and yet again you did not need a pass to see what was outside, so it was open to the public.

TOP NOTCH

KAITLYN RAMEY

Aside from SEMA – there is so much to do in Vegas. Valley of Fire was incredible. The views were astounding. Renting Slingshots and going along the trails were one of the best things we could have experienced this time around. Another adventure we took was flying in a helicopter to tour the Grand Canyon. The pilot let us off on one of the deepest parts of the canyon and let us roam for a half hour. The sun was beaming and it was just another thing you have to experience! The rock formations were gorgeous and it appeared that everything was standing still in the moment. Not to mention, riding in a helicopter with a headset was pretty badass as well. Fun fact – flying from Vegas to the Grand Canyon is about 45 minutes. If you took the driving route, you better pack A LOT of gas (as there is not many stops along the way, in a desert) and it’s about 4 hours one way! And an interesting piece of information our pilot told us was that there is still wild life that LIVES in the desert, yes, LIVES and surviving! That’s just mind blowing!

PHOTO CRED: KAITLYN RAMEY

ENJOY THE MOMENT

CAR NAME

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

© 2023 LOCKED & LOADED

ENJOY THE MOMENT TIM PERRY

CAR OWNER CAR NAME–YEAR & MODEL INFO

MEMBERS OF THE STANG MAG FAMILY ARE MORE PASSIONATE ABOUT FUN AND INCLUSION THAN THEY ARE THEIR CARS AND THAT SAYS A LOT!

SEMA 2022 – I have been with Locked & Loaded Magazine for four years now and we have lived by the philosophy of “enjoy the ride and who you ride with”, which has always been my outlook in life. I just sum it up a little different as “Just enjoy life”.

If you asked me if I thought I’d be writing an article for STANG Magazine for my car this time last year I would’ve said no. If you asked me if I would be writing it about a different car than the 2005 Roush Mustang I had I would’ve said hell no. I loved that car but acquiring this one reinvigorated my passion for car shows and events!

My name is Tim Perry aka the “Rocket Scientist”. Now, let’s get strapped in and in T minus 10…9… 8…7…6…5…4…3…2…1…

Booster Ignition and Lift Off! Las Vegas was no different than any other trip with Locked & Loaded Magazine. SEMA was the highlight of the trip but not the only place I visited in Vegas. The week was an experience starting with the Airbnb that we stayed in. The backyard faced the runway at Nellis Air Force base. So, every morning we woke to the sound of fighter jets taxiing to the runway and taking off for the daily sorties. Nellis AFB is also the home of the Thunderbirds, and they were in town and prepping for an upcoming show. It was awesome!

Prior to the beginning of SEMA, we had a few days to explore Las Vegas. Fremont street was incredible. If you have never

I met Daniel Ramey at a Beltway Mustang show and won my spot with STANG Magazine in their Carlisle Ford Nationals display. Needless to say I wasn’t sure what to expect being that I didn’t know the people attending and was going by myself.

The STANG Mag family welcomed me in from the very start and made me feel like one of their own!

Members of the STANG Mag family are more passionate about fun and inclusion than they are their cars and that says a lot! I can’t wait to see what’s to come in 2022!

been there, it’s a must see when in Vegas. Walking around there with the Viva Vision light show in coordination with music was an incredible sight to see. The street was full of people in costumes, different acts, three bands spaced out around the block and the religious people running around trying to save our souls from the depravity. It was a great experience. We saw a couple of museums along the way. The Mob Museum went through the sorted history of Las Vegas and its connection to organized crime. The National Atomic Testing Museum was interesting in that it had on display mockups for the first two atomic bombs and its history. It goes through the progression of both above ground and below ground detonation. Both are a must see when in Vegas.

For car enthusiasts, there are the Counts Customs and Shelby Enterprises. Both places had some beautiful cars. The first thing you notice when you go to see Shelby are the covered car trailers bringing cars to the shop for customization and the cars being shipped back to some lucky owner. Carroll Shelby knew how to market, when you enter the building all you see is merchandise of all types. Looking across the room

PHOTO CRED: ROB WALKO CHUCK DEKETT

I HAVE A LOT OF GOOD MEMORIES AND I PLAN ON RETURNING NEXT YEAR FOR NEW ADVENTURES AND WHO KNOWS WHAT…

CAR OWNER

ENJOY THE MOMENT TIM PERRY

CAR NAME–YEAR & MODEL INFO

there are large windows showing off the garage and all the cars that are being modified. Then there are the cars on display with everything from A/C Cobras (my favorite) to the modern GT 500s.

MEMBERS OF THE STANG MAG FAMILY ARE MORE PASSIONATE ABOUT FUN AND INCLUSION THAN THEY ARE THEIR CARS AND THAT SAYS A LOT!

The day I finally made it to SEMA was just overwhelming. Where to start? The convention center with five large halls was a sight to see. Then to top it off there were also cars being displayed outside of the convention center. This show is great, in that if you are looking to do any type of mod to your car, they have someone there that you want to see for wheels, motors, restorations, kit cars, you name it. The center has tunnels that connect all halls. To access the tunnels there were Teslas that were taxiing people around from building to building. I was able to see two of the five halls in one day.

The center hall was the one I was most interested in seeing. This had all the hot rods. Cars like a 1931 Chevy Independence built by Pro Comp Custom. A beautiful chopped two door with a deep red paint job and a twin turbo 509 engine.

If you asked me if I thought I’d be writing an article for STANG Magazine for my car this time last year I would’ve said no. If you asked me if I would be writing it about a different car than the 2005 Roush Mustang I had I would’ve said hell no. I loved that car but acquiring this one reinvigorated my passion for car shows and events!

The car was a top award winner at the show.

Another highlight was seeing the 1967 Ford Eleanor Shelby GT500. This was only 1 of 3 cars to survive the making of Gone in 60 Seconds. The car is owned by the Ring Brothers, who were debuting another Mustang, the 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 UNKL. These are just a couple of the builders that attended the show. There were a lot of beautiful custom cars to see.

I met Daniel Ramey at a Beltway Mustang show and won my spot with STANG Magazine in their Carlisle Ford Nationals display. Needless to say I wasn’t sure what to expect being that I didn’t know the people attending and was going by myself.

But the highlight of the show for me were the GT40 replicas built by Superformance. A little history about the original GT40s was that there were four models that were based on the body style of the Lola MK6. The MK1 was powered by a 255 and a 289 engine. The MK2 and MK4 were powered by a 427 and the MK3 was powered by a detuned 289, with features like an ashtray and a luggage rack on the rear. This was the only one that was developed as a road car. Needless to say, it wasn’t accepted by the motoring public too well.

The STANG Mag family welcomed me in from the very start and made me feel like one of their own!

Members of the STANG Mag family are more passionate about fun and inclusion than they are their cars and that says a lot! I can’t wait to see what’s to come in 2022!

What Superformance has done is created five models to choose from. The chassis is an exact replica of the original monococque unibody structure down to the press steel roof spider. The only departure is the use of electro-galvanized sheet steel in the construction. The chassis, at over 12,000 pounds per degree is stiffer than any other chassis on the market and is made up of over 244 laser cut and bent or pressed parts. The recommended power source is a specially prepared Roush engine with the new RBT/ZF style 5-speed transaxle, but owners also have the option to fit a Ford-based 289, 302, 351W, 427FE big block. The suspension features the original race car lay out. So original are the GT40 continuation models that two thirds of the parts are interchangeable with an original. Bilstein shocks with H&R springs.

PHOTO CRED: ROB WALKO CHUCK DEKETT

CAR OWNER

ENJOY THE MOMENT TIM PERRY

CAR NAME–YEAR & MODEL INFO

The cars are built so close to the original specs that they are allowed to use the GT40 emblem and can be listed in the GT40 registry.

MEMBERS OF THE STANG MAG FAMILY ARE MORE PASSIONATE ABOUT FUN AND INCLUSION THAN THEY ARE THEIR CARS AND THAT SAYS A LOT!

So, that was my trip to Las Vegas. BTW this was my first time back in decades. The last time I visited Las Vegas, I was 16. So, it’s been a while. This time it was great hanging out with friends and I made a couple new friends along the way. I have a lot of good memories and I plan on returning next year for new adventures and who knows what… one small step for me, one giant leap for Locked & Loaded Mag!

PHOTO CRED:

TIM PERRY

DOUG SMITH

If you asked me if I thought I’d be writing an article for STANG Magazine for my car this time last year I would’ve said no. If you asked me if I would be writing it about a different car than the 2005 Roush Mustang I

I met Daniel Ramey at a Beltway Mustang show and won my spot with STANG Magazine in their Carlisle Ford Nationals display. Needless to say I wasn’t sure what to expect being that I didn’t know the people attending and was going by myself.

The STANG Mag family welcomed me in from the very start and made me feel like one of their own!

Members of the STANG Mag family are more passionate about fun and inclusion than they are their cars and that says a lot! I can’t wait to see what’s to come in 2022!

vIVA LAS VEGAS

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

© 2023 LOCKED & LOADED

VIVA LAS VEGAS

CHUCK DEKETT

I HOPE TO MAKE IT BACK THERE AGAIN SOON.

First off, I want to thank Daniel Ramey and Locked & Loaded Magazine for inviting me to attend SEMA for the first time as well as giving me my first opportunity to see Vegas. It was an amazing (and expensive) trip; I hope to make it back there again soon. Being that this was my first time, I was under the impression this was going to be a big show like the large scale shows I’ve attended in the past. Shows like Carlisle Ford Nationals, yearly International Auto Shows, and World of Wheels; back in the 80s and 90s for those of you who can remember. Man was I wrong!

My first day in Vegas started off with a Tram ride to the Las Vegas Convention Center where SEMA is held. As we ap -

proached the terminal, I got my first glimpse of the show and shortly after I would start to realize this is no ordinary large-scale show. Coming down from the Tram station I started thinking I’m in for a lot of walking and a lot of fun. There were custom cars, trucks, ATVs, motorcycles, and even pedal bikes there for every type of automobile enthusiast. Basically, anything that had wheels was customized to the hilt. I mean, there were pedal bikes so well done they could win a trophy at a local car show. It was insane and this was just on the outside of the convention center.

This year’s show took up four two-story convention halls plus an outdoor track. Also, they had just opened an underground tunnel system where you could catch a ride in a Tesla to go to and from each convention hall. After getting my badge I proceeded to meet up with my buddy, Rob Walko, and attempt to cover as much ground as I could. I was thinking I could probably get through two convention buildings before the end of the day. We met up in front of the closest convention hall between the two of us. After walking through a sea of aftermarket performance part vendors, monster trucks, low riders, and custom bikes, I met up with Rob and we proceeded into the first hall.

This hall consisted of more aftermarket automobile specialty vendors specialized in car audio, vehicle wraps, suspensions, tires, interiors, vehicle accessories, and custom builds. The hall was also host to SEMA ELECTRIFIED, SEMA ARTWALK, and SEMA BATTLE OF THE BUILDERS events. It was filled with opportunities to talk with some of the top people in the

VIVA LAS VEGAS

CHUCK DEKETT

industry and make connections. We tackled each row taking photos and learning about various products. It took us until 1:00 pm to get through half of the hall. We took a break for lunch and started to tackle the second half. We spent a ton of time at the three SEMA specialty events. SEMA ELECTRIFIED consisted of customized electronic vehicles of all kinds.

SEMA ARTWALK was you would think, a slew of artists showing off their spin on vehicle drawings, paintings, etc... SEMA BATTLE OF THE BUILDERS was a competition where the top custom automobile builders showcased the most recent and/ or successful builds for judging. Some truly amazing and jaw dropping stuff!

As the day came close to the end, we realized we weren’t going to have time to step foot in another building. I saw firsthand why this is a multi-day event and figured I’d have a chance to see more in the coming days. We finished our day off by heading to the Strip, grabbing some dinner along with

a few beverages, and take in some sight seeing. After that we went back to the hotel and prepared to get ready for more fun the next day. That’s when most of the STANG Magazine crew was to arrive in Vegas. I met up with some of them who were already there, and we burned some time until everyone else arrived. Once we were all together, we went to dinner near their mansion style Airbnb and went to dinner. The next morning, I woke up to do some more coverage of the event but was extremely ill (non-alcohol related) and was forced to miss the day. This was EXTREMELY disappointing to me and was horrible. I couldn’t get warm no matter what I did and had zero energy. I had my buddy Rob pick up a Covid test. Luckily, I tested negative twice. I would later find out when I got home from the trip that I had the flu.

The following day I was feeling better but not 100%. I forced myself to participate in our group excursion which consisted of us renting Slingshots and taking them into the desert for the day. Especially being that I prepaid the rental fee before arriving to Vegas. Regardless of how I felt that morning I’m glad I did. While it was chilly, it was a lot of fun and we saw some amazing sights. By the time we got back I was feeling about 85% and was able to finish off the day with more STANG Mag shenanigans. Unfortunately, I was only able to experience one day at SEMA and if I get to do it again, I would plan it out better.

PHOTO CRED: CHUCK DEKETT

sEMA FEST

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

© 2023 LOCKED & LOADED

SEMA FEST

DANIEL RAMEY

SEMA IS MORE THAN THE SHOW, IT IS THE ENTIRE VEGAS EXPERIENCE.

For the past decade, I have attended SEMA and have seen it grow and change. Every year, SEMA holds a special place in my heart because I still get excited to attend, just like it was my very first time all over again. SEMA is more than the show, it is the entire Vegas experience. It is something that nothing else will ever compare and that is why it is so highly coveted.

Over the years, I have learned to attend the SEMA Show during the day and hit Vegas at night to really experience everything, and definitely not as a tourist. In my experience, I have learned to stay away from all the tourist hot spots after year one. Once you see it and do it, it is time to move on.

Las Vegas has something for everyone and you just have to know where to look and who to talk to. It has now become my tradition to mingle with strangers during the flight, stop for brunch and drinks upon arriving in the city, rent a mansion Airbnb versus staying in the Casinos, schedule an outside the city excursion via helicopter, Slingshot, or rental car, go to Fremont Street at least two nights during the week, find the greatest foodie hot spots and hidden bars, and of course, emerse myself in the SEMA Show from the butt crack of dawn until my feet are killing me by early afternoon. Then it is wise for me to leave, freshen up, grab some lunch, and get ready to party. Otherwise, just like the rookies, I will be burned out by day three. If you are a SEMA Veteran like me, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

This year’s SEMA Show was, by far, one of the best ones yet! With Ford opting out of SEMA this year, I attended with an open mind and was excited to see something different. Just like I predicted, SEMA was packed with even more custom builds, vendors, and products. Every square inch of the property was occupied by something magnificent, reminding me of the first year I ever attended where I was blown away by the size and caliber of this event. The crowds were abundant, photographers were everywhere, and events were happening left and right.

The SEMA Show this year continued to hype everyone up by eluding to making a big announcement sometime during the week and I was dying to find out what it was. I was hoping that it wasn’t something that would be a big disappointment, like

SEMA FEST

DANIEL RAMEY

changing venue location or deciding to switch up the schedule, events, or layout of the property. I mean after a decade of finally getting my bearings straight, I didn’t want to have to learn a new system to attend and have fun versus remain lost and overwhelmed like every newbie that attends.

As I adventured throughout the week, I really started to feel annoyed by my friends and staff that were hyperfocused on just attending the SEMA Show. Just like I made the same mistake during my first visit, I was all about the SHOW and didn’t get to experience the city. Every rookie makes the mistake to become overwhelmed with the show itself and never venture away from it. It really is a black hole of awesomeness that sucks you in. Like I said earlier however, SEMA has to be about the entire Vegas experience, not just what you see and do at the Convention Center. So I continued to encourage my fellow misfits to get their work done, skip out early, and join me as I adventured off to the Valley of Fire by renting Sling-

shots, taking a tour of the Grand Canyon by helicopter, and running amuck on Fremont street finding hidden bars and the best foods that Vegas has to offer! It took some time, but the crew started to follow my lead and heed my warnings. I was hoping that SEMA would follow suit and somehow get the other show goers more involved with Vegas and everything around them.

Well, the day came and the SEMA Show made the big announcement. Starting in 2023, the SEMA Show will now be expanding to include not only the SEMA Show displays and events at the Convention Center, but they are adding scheduled events, displays, concerts, adventures, and get togethers throughout the ENTIRE city of Las Vegas for both SEMA Show goers and open to the public. The expansion will now be called SEMA FEST, a week long event that blends both auto enthusiasts and adventurers alike!

Let’s just say, hot damn! It is about time that SEMA made it official to include the entire city of Las Vegas and that they want to encourage a greater audience to become more involved with the auto world through other means.

One way or another, the 2023 SEMA Show to now include the launching of SEMA FEST will be off the hook! Las Vegas, you better get ready for STANG Magazine’s return because we are bringing the herd and we are running amuck!

PHOTO CRED: DANIEL RAMEY

“JUST THE TIP

WAIT, YOU’RE PUTTING THAT IN THERE?

We’ve seen multiple tropes/memes/videos about people falling for the “Better get the winter air in your tires! It’s January! LOL!”. True that it’s funny, but did you know that there kind of is such a thing? Winter air? We could call it Summer air as well.

You put air in your tires, and typically, it is just that. Air. What we breathe every day. But ‘Air’ is a mixture of different gases. Roughly – 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and small amounts of other gases such as neon, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, etc. Here’s the ‘science-y’ part. Winter air, or Summer air, is not the air that we breathe. It’s the nitrogen only.

What’s the difference you may ask. Oxygen is prone to expansion under heat, or contraction in the cold. Take a hot air balloon for example. They blow in ‘Air’, apply heat through a burner which causes the molecules to expand, then they let a little bit of that expanded air out of the top of the balloon, causing less air pressure inside the balloon than there is on the outside, so the balloon goes up. What is expanding in the balloon are the oxygen molecules.

Nitrogen molecules have a larger structure and are far more stable in heat/cold. They do not expand as much. Filling your tires with nitrogen will give you a far more stable air pressure profile, regardless of if it being the middle of Summer in Arizona, the middle of Winter in Minnesota, racing on the street or racing on the track. Your tire pressure will stay the same which we know greatly decreases tire wear and improves performance.

The downside of course is that it’s going to cost more to get air in your tires and it’s not widely available. But for performance/racing applications, it may be something to look into! And stop picking on people who get Winter air. They’re not out of their minds.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Editor-In-Chief: Daniel Ramey

Editor-In-Chief: Kaitlyn Ramey

Creative Director: Chuck DeKett

HR Director: Anita Everett

SR Director: TJ Perry

Analytics Director: Tim Perry

HISTORY AND RESEARCH DIRECTOR:

Scott Bieber

SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTORS:

Nicklas Bieber

Lisa Cook

Mike Everett

MARKETING DIRECTORS:

Joyce Galanti

Doug Smith

SEMA

RELATIONS DIRECTOR

Mark Dennis

SOCIAL EVENTS DIRECTORS:

Laura Mattern

Dan Medina

Dave Moyer

Tija Moyer

Brad Peterson

Michelle Van Sickler

CRUISE EVENTS DIRECTORS:

Mark Ide

Laura Ide

Joerg Werner

CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS DIRECTOR:

Rayn Hoch

OPERATIONS DIRECTORS:

Robert Moorman (Northeast Region)

Jeff Dixon (Southeast Region)

Janie Cantu (Midwest Region)

Don Houston (Midwest Region)

Roberto Marty (Midwest Region)

Ingo Rutenberg (Canadian Region)

Dawn Rutenberg (Canadian Region)

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