STANG Magazine Special Edition Issue: SEMA 2024 by STANG Magazine

Mustang enthusiasts have asked for a magazine that has no ads, no sales pitches, and no bogus “fillers” to eat up space. They have asked for a magazine that is free, easy to access, and nothing but focused on Mustang pictures and content. They have asked for a magazine produced and written by Mustang owners. They have asked for a magazine that highlights the daily drivers and the average Mustang that is driven and is not a trailer queen. They have asked for the chance to one day have their ride, their group, their club, or their cause to be recognized in print or online. It is our absolute pleasure to meet these standards and to give you STANG Magazine. We hope that both our message and our image will be seen in every Mustang community out there. Thank you Mustang fans and enjoy your ride! - Daniel Ramey, Editor-In-Chief

CAR OWNER

SEMA 2024

CAR NAME–YEAR & MODEL INFO

SEMA 2024 - LAS VEGAS

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

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!

ALL DIFFERENT MAKES AND MODELS OF CUSTOMIZED CARS.

SEMA, the largest aftermarket convention is always a treat to see. All the new products from around the world were there. We talked to people from China about replacement seats. There were Asian and European vendors selling different products. All different makes and models of customized cars. The show focused heavily on the import market. Some of the best-looking cars were from southern California. The paint and the metal etching were incredible. They put the east car shows to shame.

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!

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!

ute not to show up. They run around every five minutes and it’s just a short walk from the convention center to the station. Also, as an extra bonus if you ride it at night it takes you by the Las Vegas Sphere. A very nice up and close view of it.

PHOTO CRED: ROB WALKO CHUCK DEKETT

This year we decided to stay downtown at the Harrah’s resort. The place was nice, but they tend to charge you for everything to include a little refrigerator in the room. One of the stops for the Las Vegas Monorail was located at the resort. From our location we were just one stop away from the convention center. A five minute monorail ride and you are there. You can buy a one day ticket or up to seven days. No dealing with taxis or Ubers that decide at the last min-

This year we visited the central hall and the south hall both lower and upper decks. The central hall is always the first hall to visit. This has Hot Rod Alley, Racing and Performance and restoration. This is always interesting to see what they have come up with in relation to automotive trends. This year was kind of like last year for car mods. The big thing was electric cars. Some new models and a few conversions to battery for older classics. There were a few companies selling turbos and super chargers. Companies selling air suspension had a great showing this year. Not to mention the cars that were being displayed with the new suspensions were just awesome.

CAR OWNER

SEMA 2024

CAR NAME–YEAR & MODEL INFO

SEMA 2024 - LAS VEGAS

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

The south halls had the collision repair and refinished, tool and equipment and tires and wheels. One of the reasons for heading over to the south hall was to see if any of the vendors were pushing any new scratch repair products. We did have a little success with one of the vendors. They gave some advice on scratch removal. If you wanted to set up your garage with the latest lifts and/or tools. This was definitely the place to come to. A lot of paint equipment and booths could be found. We also talked to a couple of car seat manufacturers. They had a couple replacement car seats that had me thinking this would look good in my Mustang.

There were a few vendors that did metal etching. These were extreme works. Talking to the owners, some of the work could take up to six months to complete. We are talking engine bays, chrome grills, hoods, the air tanks for air suspension systems, if it was metal, it was etched. They were truly a work of art.

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!

Overall, the trip to Las Vegas and to see the SEMA 2024 show was a highlight of the year. And as an extra bonus I did pick up a new work backpack with the SEMA logo. Good Times!

PHOTO CRED: ROB WALKO

CHUCK DEKETT

PHOTO CRED: TIM PERRY

CAR OWNER

SEMA HISTORY

CAR NAME–YEAR & MODEL INFO

SEMA 2024 - LAS VEGAS

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

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

SEMA STARTED IN 1963 BY A GROUP OF AUTO PARTS MANUFACTURERS.

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 acquir ing this one reinvigorated my passion for car shows and events!

As you all known I have been doing SEMA for a few years now and it has been a blast each year. It is a time for the best in the automotive industry to come out to show what they are working on and have to offer the automotive in dustry. It is always exciting to see what is new and up in coming, especially in the muscle car world.

SEMA started in 1963 by a group of auto parts manufac turers. It consisted of some big names including Vic Edel brok, Roy Ritcher, founder of Bell Helmets and Cragar, Har ry Weber of Weber Speed Equipment, and Phil Weiand of Weiand Power and Racing. SEMA stands for Specialty Equipment Market Association. At the time there were multiple sectors within the automotive industry including original equipment manufacturers, specialty companies, install companies and dealers as well as automotive media companies. The idea was to bring together all these sec tors into a single organization.

The first SEMA show was in 1967, however inspiration for this came earlier. In 1965 SEMA sponsored the Speed and

Custom Equipment trade show which was specifically for

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

CAR OWNER

SEMA HISTORY

CAR NAME–YEAR & MODEL INFO

SEMA 2024 - LAS VEGAS

racing and only had 100 booths. Attendance was around 3,000 attendees which isn’t too bad for a first show. This planted the seed for SEMA today and has grown to one of the biggest trade shows in the world.

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

SEMA would go on to a new location in 1974 to Anaheim, California, close to Disneyland, which elevated the show into a more high-class show. This was a success but not for long as SEMA continued to grow, which unfortunately outgrew the location in California by 1976, resulting in many vendors being turned away. So, the search was on for a new bigger location which resulted in Las Vegas. In 1977, SEMA finally found its current home in Las Vegas. Being Las Vegas is known for big lavish events, it was the perfect area to host an ever-growing show and best of all, Las Vegas already had the infrastructure to support such a large event.

Today SEMA is huge, in 2024 alone there was 2,400 exhibitors, including 500 first time exhibitors. In 2024, there was over 160,000 attendees, 70,000 were buyers and decisions makers, and international attendees from over 140 countries. It is located in the Las Vegas Convention Center.

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

Some of the halls include Central Hall which has the latest technology including audio, gps, and cameras, racing and performance section restoration market place, and Hot Rod Alley. As you can see, SEMA has grown since its beginnings. It is always a blast to attend and such an honor to be here telling you guys about it. Until next time, stay safe, pedal to the metal, and live it up!

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!

PHOTO CRED:

TJ PERRY

JEFF DIXON

Interesting fact about the SEMA name is that it was not originally called the Specialty Equipment Market Association, but instead was Speed Equipment Manufacturers Association. This name change occurred in the 1970s due to the restrictions being imposed on vehicles like speed restrictions, which at the time a national speed limit was on the horizon as more politicians became interested in the automotive safety movement. SEMA wanted to remove speed from their name so that they would not be targets from the politicians and also to show that they were for all sectors of the automotive industry.

PHOTO CRED: ROB WALKO CHUCK DEKETT

CAR OWNER

WELCOME BACK

CAR NAME–YEAR & MODEL INFO

SEMA 2024 - LAS VEGAS

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

THIS

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

YEAR WAS A BLAST AND SEMA DID NOT DISAPPOINT.

Welcome back and we are back at SEMA for 2024! This year was a blast and SEMA did not disappoint. As you all know SEMA is one of my favorite times of the year. Not only do I love Mustangs but I am a fan of all builds. I wish I could bring you all along for the journey but until then let me show you the cool stuff. Now I won’t talk about the events because you can google that yourself. Instead, I want to show you what it is like to be on the front lines in the show itself!

2024 SEMA was packed. It is becoming how it was prior to COVID with people everywhere and the best of the best was placed out for all its glory. Placed right out front of the SEMA convention center was a hot Liberty Walk Lamborghini Aventador. This car was slick. It had the Liberty Walk Wide Body Kit on it and was wrapped in Matte Black, which was slick as hell. Like a sportified Batmobile. It sported beautiful Carbon Fiber Rohana Wheels with Red Disk brakes. What an icon to greet you as you walk into SEMA!

Once inside, the convention hall is mammoth. I mean mul-

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!

tiple huge halls each with their own purpose from Auto Repair, Muscle Car, Truck, to Auto Tools. Everything auto related is here. One of the most interesting builds is an old Chevrolet Impala built by Izawa Art Design for Rohan Body Work. This thing is a masterpiece to say the least. Literally every section of the outer car was engraved. It must have taken countless hours to engrave every single metal sec-

PHOTO CRED: ROB WALKO CHUCK DEKETT

WELCOME BACK

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

tion of the car. I was blown away by the detail. I even was able to speak to the guy who helped do the work. He said that it was hand engraved piece by piece. Talk about ded-

Next up was a Dodge Challenger Daytona Banshee concept car. This was a beautiful blue Challenger with two white stripes like the Viper but with a modern twist. It was powered by an electric motor. Not much was released about this car spec wise but it is rumored to be over 800 horsepower with a two speed transmission. On the quarter mile it is predicted to be a ten second car. I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for this beast.

Now for an interesting new build... a 1973 Ferrari Dino EV. This car had a slick light green color to it and was completely rebuilt modernizing it into the future. It had an electric motor providing near 200 miles of range on a single charge. In addition, it had a water cooling plate to optimize proper operating temperatures and for additional protection, the batteries are enclosed in a stainless steel impact absorbing enclosure, take that Elon Bust! What I enjoyed the most about this was the digital gauges which were really retro looking and the interior with Italian leather and green LED light accents. Man this thing looked hot I am telling you.

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

There are so many cars to look at in SEMA and this represents only a small portion about what is there to see. I wish I could show you everything. It is truly an experience to be able to be fortunate enough to attend such a cool event. SEMA is truly special in that it is one of the few times when builders from all over the world come to display their work and offers to the car community.

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!

PHOTO CRED: TJ

PERRY

PHOTO CRED: ROB WALKO CHUCK DEKETT

CAR OWNER

FORD TIME

CAR NAME–YEAR & MODEL INFO

SEMA 2024 - LAS VEGAS

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

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

IT IS AS CLOSE AS YOU CAN GET TO HEAVEN HONESTLY.

You all know what time it is? It’s time to Ford out! Ford time!

My favorite part of SEMA is of course the Ford part. You know I am a sucker for two cars. I love my Mustangs and and I love AC Cobras. This year there was some cool cars as well as some unique and historical models.

First up was a blue Shelby Daytona Coupe. The Shelby Daytona Coupe was the first American car to win the world manufactures’ championship. It had taken past innovations with modern innovations of the 60s to create a world class race car. The body comes in Fiberglass or aluminum with steel tube reinforcements. Talk about being a light car. They came with a 289 cubic inch engine but also were modified to house the 427 cubic inch engine. It is as simple as it can get. No fancy modern day electronics. Just you in a light body with a big ass motor and of course loud exhaust. It is as close as you can get to heaven honestly.

The AC Cobra, comes in many variations as it is a popular car for builders and has taken over the world in kit car making. Present at SEMA was a Superformance MKIII Roadster

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!

in white with two blue stripes going down the center. This is a unique variation on the AC Cobra built for those who like a high power to weight ratio but without the roll bar, hood scoop, and side pipes. Now I know what you are saying. No side pipes…WTF TJ!! I know…I know… you can’t fix ugly but you can sure as hell appreciate it. It certainly makes up for it in the motor department. Under the hood,

PHOTO CRED: ROB WALKO CHUCK DEKETT

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FORD TIME

CAR NAME–YEAR & MODEL INFO

SEMA 2024 - LAS VEGAS

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

it houses a 7.3 L Ford Godzilla motor, pushing 600 horsepower and 600 pounds of torque. Well damn with that kind of power, I will add the damn side pipes in later. This car is built for speed and I dig it!

Now of course my favorite and will always be my favorite is the dark blue AC Cobra with two white stripes going down the middle, sexy as hell. The one present at SEMA came with the Ford Megazilla motor. A 7.3 L mammoth of a motor.

The Megazilla puts out an incredible 612 horses, the torque is increased to 670 pounds of torque. That is nothing to laugh about. Small light body and big ass motor, someone is going to get whiplash! This is literally one of my dream cars and I am sure it provides one hell of a ride.

A cool modern Mustang that was present at SEMA was at the Winjet booth. It was a 2015-2017 gen Mustang wrapped in a sick purple metallic color with carbon fiber hood and front side skirts. The coolest thing about this car was the hood. There was a cutout in the cut where you can see the supercharger under the plexi glass. The Winjet lights were pretty sick looking too and gave it an aggressive look. Definitely not a car to fuck with on the streets. I couldn’t get much info on this car but shout out to its owner Carbon5oh_(instagram) for the badass ride!

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

The Ford scene here at SEMA 2024 did not let down. I loved seeing some of the amazing builds and definitely look forward to the future. Until next time Ford!

PHOTO CRED:

TJ PERRY

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!

PHOTO CRED: ROB WALKO CHUCK DEKETT

DREAMS

CAR OWNER

SEMA 2024 - LAS VEGAS

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!

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

IF YOU ARE GONNA DREAM, THEN DREAM BIG.

As we were walking around the SEMA floor, I came across this gem of a car. A 1970 Boss 429 Mustang. This Fastback was always a dream car for me. Granted I couldn’t afford the car back in the day. I would have been happy with the smaller 351 Fastback version. But, if you are gonna dream, then dream big. The color is Grabber Orange with a matte black hood scoop. This car was a beast in the day.

The Boss 429 (7.0) Mustang was only made for two years. A total of 859 in 1969 and 499 in 1970. Its origin was two fold, to allow Ford into NASCAR racing and provide a big block alternative to the Boss 302 (5.0 l). To use this engine in NASCAR, rules required that at least 500 cars had to be produced and sold to the general public. So, the Mustang was selected as the car to be used. The cars were known as “S” code cars which came with next to no emissions equipment. Which in the day was a very big selling point.

The Ford 385 engine family was named “Lima”. It was a big block semi-hemispherical overhead valve V8 engine. The 385 was derived from the 3.85 in stroke of the original 460

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!

cc V8 engine. These engines came in three different sizes 460 (7.5 l), 429 (7.0 l) and the 370 (6.1l). The 460 and 429 were created in 1968 and the 370 came later in 1977.

PHOTO CRED: ROB WALKO CHUCK DEKETT

This engine for the day was one badass engine. It came with a 4-bolt main, forged steel crank, forged steel connecting rods, semi hemispherical aluminum cylinder heads, magnesium valve covers, an aluminum intake manifold and dry deck cooling. The dry deck system is that the cooling circuit (both water and oil) for the block is separate from the cooling circuit for the head. This creates a stronger block and more efficient cooling for both the head and block.

The head gasket is only used to seal the cylinder. The 1970 model, the hydraulic lifters were replaced with solid lifters. This was done to minimize valve float at high RPM. The 429 came standard with a 735 CFM Holley 4-barrel carburetor. A dealer-installed option of a six-pack intake and three two-barrel carburetors was made available, though very few of these were sold. The engines were advertised at 375 bhp at 5200 rpm and 450 lb-ft of torque at 3400 rpm.

DREAMS

CAR OWNER

SEMA 2024 - LAS VEGAS

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!

Because of the size of the engine, the front end of the car was a bit heavy. The car was taken to Kar Kraft of Dearborne to modify the engine bay to accept the larger engine. To offset the weight, the battery was placed in the trunk. Also to help in stability a ¾ inch sway bar was installed in the rear. The car did not have an air conditioner installed since there was no room in the engine bay to fit it. An oil cooler was installed which allowed for higher endurance loads on the engine when at the track. The hood scoop was a manually operated scoop to insure a more thorough combustion. The rear end was a 3.91 traction lock limited slip differential.

The Boss 429 featured a toned-down exterior compared to other performance Mustangs of the era, in that the only external identification of the car were the Boss 429 decals on the front fenders and unique enlarged hood scoop. The rest of the car featured a very clean look which was different than most of the performance Mustangs that Ford had previously produced. Both the rear spoiler and window louvers commonly seen on 1969–1970 Mach 1s and Boss 302s were missing.

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!

As an extra bonus and something to look for if you are in the market for one of these cars is the “KK” tag. These cars were given a special NASCAR identification that was placed on the driver’s side door. Each car was given a “KK” number which stood for Kar Kraft. KK #1201 was the first Boss 429 and KK #2558 was the last Boss 429 made.

CRED: ROB WALKO CHUCK DEKETT

PHOTO CRED: TIM PERRY

PHOTO

NIGHT MARE

CAR OWNER

SEMA 2024 - LAS VEGAS

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!

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

IT WOULD DEFINITELY TURN A FEW HEADS AT ANY CAR SHOW.

I came across this Mustang build that was the creation of Painthouse Custom in Cypress, Texas. The car is a modified 1965 Mustang Fastback. These Mustangs had a nice set of engine options when they were first introduced. Looking at the grille it looks like it may have been a GT model. The GT Equipment Package and included a 289 (4.7l) V8 engine rated at 225 hp. It came with a grille-mounted set of fog lamps, rocker-panel stripes, and disc brakes. The interior had a different instrument panel that included a speedometer, fuel gauge, coolant temperature gauge, oil pressure gauge, and an amp meter in five round dials.

Now with the new mods it has black paint with a pearl grey stripe. A split front bumper and an OEM rear bumper. The hood has a Cobra hood scoop. The interior has vintage air conditioning and heat. The dash has been upgraded with Dakota Digital Gauges. It comes with custom leather seats and a roll bar.

For the power train it has a 2004 4.6 Terminator engine, ported super charger and a custom intake. The exhaust is a

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!

custom stainless-steel system by Painthouse. The transmission is a Tremec T-56 6 speed manual trans. The chassis has Martz chassis front coil-over shocks, a Martz chassis rear 4–Bar with ride tech coil-over shocks. The brakes have been upgraded to a custom dual master cylinder, stainless steel brake lines and 4-wheel disc brakes.

PHOTO CRED: ROB WALKO CHUCK DEKETT

The car would be a treat for anyone to drive. Between the sound from the custom exhaust and just the care that has been placed in this car. It would definitely turn a few heads at any car show.

PHOTO CRED: TIM PERRY

SUPERCARS

CAR OWNER

SEMA 2024 - LAS VEGAS

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!

A GREAT ALTERNATIVE FOR MAKING THAT DREAM COME TRUE.

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

One of the areas that I like to see at SEMA are the old Ford based supercars. Carroll Shelby while working with Ford developed the AC Cobras and Daytonas. This development was for competing against Ferrari at Le Mans and other assorted tracks around the workd. So, at SEMA this year there were two companies that specialized in building performance car replicas. These companies are Factory Five Racing and Superformance.

Factory Five racing builds both the AC Cobra and the Daytona. The original Daytona had a top speed of 187 mph. The goal of Factory Five was to achieve this same type of performance from one of their replica Daytonas. Starting with a 2017 generation 2 Ford coyote motor they built a 970 WHP motor. With this they were able to achieve a top speed of 188 MPH on a half mile track.

Factory Five provides both racing models and street models. Looking at the car design form the outside you see a car that is a great replica car. The one highlight is in the frame structure. The frame is a modern style racing frame. More suited for handling the winding curves of your favorite back road or on the track.

When you look at web site you have just an incredible set of options for your build. They have setups for several different motors. The braking system, the electronics, have options from original to modern day systems. It all depends on what you are looking for. There are very impressive and the price is reasonable.

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!

CRED: ROB WALKO CHUCK DEKETT

Superformance on the other hand is licensed by Shelby licensing Inc. Their cars hold more closely to the original design of the Cobras and Daytonas. Having said that for each of the models there are some options for body trim styling. You still have the option of different engines. These too are very impressive and have a reasonable price.

So, if you are in the market for a classic muscle car and can’t afford the price of an original, these two companies are a great alternative for making that dream come true.

PHOTO CRED: TIM PERRY

PHOTO

ATTRACTIONS

SEMA

CAR OWNER

2024 - LAS VEGAS

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!

WHAT IS COOL ABOUT SEMA IS IN THE EVENING...

Now going to SEMA has a lot of offer other than the car show. There are many sights and attractions to see. One of my favorite things to do is just explore Las Vegas and the area around SEMA, which is why the Las Vegas Tram is amazing. You can buy day tickets and be able to explore all the strip has to offer without having to drive or rely on taxi services. It is a pretty cheap way to go if you are on a budget.

One cool thing I saw this year was a flamingo! That’s right an actual flamingo, which I have never seen in my whole life. You can see them at the Flamingo Hotel. It was kind of crazy to see this thing just standing on one leg, although I did feel a little bad for them as it was cold out that day and they were in the elements. I was also shocked to see how thin their legs are. I always thought it would be thicker but it literally looks like a twig. Interesting fact is that flamingos stand on one leg to conserve heat by tucking their unfeathered ankle and toes close to their bodies, for stability and balance, and to reduce fatigue. They have joints that have

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

a locked resting position that secures them in place while standing. What an amazing bird!

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!

Another cool site is the High Roller Ferris Wheel. This thing is huge and offers a great opportunity in the evening and night to see the various cars of SEMA on the Strip. What is cool about SEMA is in the evening some of the cars that are

PHOTO CRED: ROB WALKO CHUCK DEKETT

ATTRACTIONS

CAR OWNER

SEMA 2024 - LAS VEGAS

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!

featured in SEMA, take to the Las Vegas roads at night. So, while on the Ferris Wheel, you have a chance to see a bird’s eye view of Las Vegas and who knows what you might see. The Ferris Wheel allows you to soar nearly 550 feet above the strip with its 28 cabins. It takes about 30 minutes to complete one revolution, so you know it delivers and offers plenty of times to scope out the scenery.

For over-the-top places, I like to wander into the fancy hotels. This year I found myself at the Wynn. The Wynn is very cool with its 1920s art deco design, I mean, walking through there you just feel like you are in New York where everything is over the top. I made it over to one of their inhouse bars and got myself a Sinatra Smash. The Sinatra Smash includes Jack Daniels Single Barrel Whiskey, cassis, muddled black berries, sweet and sour, and house made vanilla infusion. This drink was amazing and embodied the sophisticated tastes of the 1940s rat pack. It was smooth and sweet with just enough kick from the Jack Daniels to make a dangerous concoction. If I stayed, I probably would have been smashed from just the drinks alone, it as addicting.

As you can see, I definitely made the best of my journey. I personally love the tram and all the stops it has. Now some places will require walking a few blocks but I am not afraid to walk and wander, it is part of the journey. One word of advice from 5 o’clock and after I would prob avoid using

the tram as all of SEMA is unleashed into the tram. Now what does this mean, the Tram authorities will actually close down the tram at certain drop off locations to reduce traffic which is great unless you are at the location with the closed entrance. I had to wait nearly 40 minutes for them to open it up and then stand in a crowd while everyone crammed into any available tram. It was madness. It is what it is, but if you have any kind of injury or disability it may not be fun. I was pushed into the tram by the crowd, it was that packed. So just a warning and what to expect.

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!

PHOTO CRED: TJ PERRY

PHOTO CRED: ROB WALKO CHUCK DEKETT

CAR OWNER

EXTRATERRESTRIAL HIGHWAY

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SEMA

2024 - LAS VEGAS

AND THE REST IS HISTORY.

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

One of my highlights for the trip to Las Vegas was taking a day to travel out to the extraterrestrial highway. The highway is about two and a half hours from Las Vegas. It only took three trips to Vegas to get there. The drive is a pleasant drive through the desert. The Extraterrestrial Highway is a 98.44-mile stretch of Nevada State Route 375 that runs from Crystal Springs to Warm Springs. It is recommended that you travel it during the day since there are some wandering cattle that have a tendency to cross the road at times. They take their time crossing.

The extraterrestrial highway sign I was hoping on putting a sticker on it. Unfortunately, the sign was a bit higher that it looks in the pictures. So, I just took a picture in front of it. Also, there is no cell coverage out on the highway, so your navigation or internet won’t work. Any information that you want to take out there like maps, print them out before you leave.

The Alien Research center, this place is cool. As you drive by the building you see this giant alien statue standing in front or the building. The place is basically a gift center. But it is a very unique store. It has probably the best selection of alien gifts and information about the area. In the parking lot they have the same signs that you would see at area 51 gates. They are good for a photo op. Since the area is a

great area for stargazing, they organize stargazing events in the parking lot where they meet just before sundown to get situated and set up their telescopes.

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

Along the highway there are two separate dirt roads that will take you to the infamous Area 51 gates. They are not short roads and if you want to get to them it was recommended that you rent a jeep for the day. You can see people driving down the roads and just a cloud of dust behind them. From the looks of it, you need to drive a few miles to get there.

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!

PHOTO CRED: ROB WALKO CHUCK DEKETT

Down the highway is the town of Rachel. The town has probably four buildings. But it is the highlight of the trip.

CAR OWNER

EXTRATERRESTRIAL HIGHWAY

CAR NAME–YEAR & MODEL INFO

SEMA 2024 - LAS VEGAS

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

Located there is the Little A’Le’Inn. This is a combination of a bar, little restaurant, gift shop and hotel. For overnight stays you have the option of a camp ground that will accommodate RVs or if you have a tent there is an area for you. The Inn also has a few rooms which are reasonably priced.

People gather there to share stories about their encounters over the years. The place is very interesting. As you approach the inn there is a tow truck with an alien spaceship hanging off the back. Then in front of the restaurant is a couple of alien statues and another statue of a flying saucer. A time capsule was put in place during the dedication ceremony for the renaming of the highway to the Extraterrestrial Highway.

A little bit of the history of the highway. By the 1990s, stories of the top-secret U.S. government base at Area 51 had become mainstream, and many books and personal accounts had been published regarding extraterrestrial spacecraft and alien activity in the region surrounding Groom Lake. Rachel, being the closest settlement to the restricted facility, attracted people in search of UFOs and alien life. To capitalize on the purported paranormal activity along the route, the Nevada Commission on Tourism sought to rename the highway. State officials drew inspiration from the alien legends and dubbed SR 375 the Extraterrestrial Highway in February 1996. With the news of

the highway’s renaming reached Twentieth Century Fox. The studio used the opportunity to promote the release of the film Independence Day, whose plot involves an alien invasion of Earth and the secret facility at Area 51. A public dedication ceremony for the Extraterrestrial Highway was held in Rachel in April 1996. State dignitaries at the ceremony were joined by studio executives and Independence Day stars. And the rest is history.

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!

PHOTO CRED: TIM PERRY

PHOTO CRED: ROB WALKO CHUCK DEKETT

CAR OWNER

CULINARY JOURNEY

CAR NAME–YEAR & MODEL INFO

SEMA 2024 - LAS VEGAS

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

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

MY OTHER SIN OTHER THAN SEMA IS THE FOOD OF LAS VEGAS.

My other sin other than SEMA is the food of Las Vegas. Every time I go to Las Vegas, I always seek out new restaurants to eat and this year, I found some true gems. Now I know people are creatures of habit and most attendees probably just eat what is available at the SEMA convention hall or a spot that they traditionally go to every year, however if your not afraid to go off of the beaten path, you will be amazed at the culinary delights that Las Vegas has to offer.

A great place for breakfast food is a local spot called Omelet House. This place as you can guess specializes in omelets and let me tell you they do not disappoint. You can get every kind of omelet under the sun. I got the carnitas omelet. This beast comes with tender sirloin chunks of pork thrown into a beautiful bed of succulent red and green peppers, tomato, onions, jalapenos, and jack cheese. Take this cacophony of heaveness and wrap it around a soft warm egg wrap to make the omelet and add a dribble of rancheros sauce to top it off and bam! Sexy as hell. Laying right next to this delight is a pile of tater slices, fried golden

crispy with oregano drizzled on top of it.

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!

For Mexican food, Uno Mas Street Tacos and Spirits was special. Now this place is a commercialized place located in the Sahara Hotel, but with that being said, they kicked ass. Don’t expect super authentic Mexican food here but instead a more true and authentic Chipotle style bowls and

PHOTO CRED: ROB WALKO CHUCK DEKETT

CAR OWNER

CULINARY JOURNEY

CAR NAME–YEAR & MODEL INFO

SEMA 2024 - LAS VEGAS

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

tacos. I had ordered the Chicken Tinga Bowl. The chicken was cooked nice and crispy was very juicy inside. The bowl comes with cilantro rice (Holy Shit balls this was amazing), beans, pico de gallo, Monterey jack cheese and a spicy Tomatillo sauce. After a day of walking SEMA, this hit the spot. When you come here, please buy a frozen Margherita. Just Wow! It was smooth and just Wow!

For real Mexican, go to Dona Maria. This place was a true authentic Mexican restaurant. When you walk in you are greeted by old-school home-style décor. There are mural paintings on the walls of Mexico and mariachis. The servers here are very friendly and attentive. As soon as you sit down, they give you amazing fresh nacho chips and salsa. I ordered a chicken tamale and chicken taco. I am usually not a tamales eater, but hey while in Vegas I might as well change it up and damn was I glad I did. When the dish arrived, I was met by a thick taco with cheese and pico de gallo just falling out of it, the tamale wrapped in corn husk was huge. I have never seen a tamale that fat in the east coast. Right next to these sensual delights laid a bed of Mexican rice and refried beans covered in cheese, just smiling and saying hello, come join me, eat me!

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

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!

PHOTO CRED: ROB WALKO

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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