My Top Ten List from SEMA 2005
 

Wow, what can I say....I believe my trip has finally began to sink in. So now I feel the need to reflect back on everything I experienced, which feels like a lifetime condensed into 4 days, and without further adieu, I give you my personal top 10 highlights....

1. Finally placing faces with the names, meeting some of the best (and the best) friend(s) I have had over the last 4 years, but whom I have never met in person, until now. The internet is truly wonderous in that regard, if you can get past the overwhelming availability and ease of access to porn, it has been a tool of connecting so many of us, initially through our cars, and far beyond that, our interests, things that humor and upset us, things we like and dislike and so much more. Scott, Brent, Jody, Stuart, Jim, Steve, Charley, Bill, Johnny, Pascuel, Dennis etc etc...I will never look at this board or the posts within it same way again....ever.


2. The generosity of the Sandlin family, for going above and beyond what ANY of us would have ever expected. Steve, for bearing the financial burden of the event, and even coming up with items for raffle, and ensuring that everyone who came left with at least a T-shirt. Also, for taking the time to bring in "ringers", as if the amazing cars in Steve's collection weren't enough, Cheezoom, Whatthehay, The 55 Nomad Corvette, The Blown Willys, and for letting us all revel in the sound of a Sonny Leonard 704 inch motor...wow. I also want to acknowledge Jason Sandlin, Steve's son, who spent 2 very longs days turning a warehouse into a "Rod Shop" that made every one of us proud. I would guess that the looks of amazement and the perma-grins on the faces of the guests pretty much let Steve and his family know how much everyone appreciated the effort. Thanks, and Steve, that offer stands whenever you can make it.

3. Finally getting to meet Charley Lillard in person....the only words that come to mind are "F%^& Him"... :D :unibrow:

4. Face planting in the chair...we all know the story.... :_paranoid

5. Stuart Adams, who's name in Japanese apparently translates to "Fook Yoo", Oh wait, that was the elevator ladies name, yours was "Fook Mi" My God, if there were ever 2 people with the same twisted sense of humor....it's us. I also want to thank Stuart for graciously shuttling us around multiple times, playing taxi driver, except in this case, the taxi had 479hp and wore an AMG badge. "E55, when you absolutely, positively have to get to the Spearmint Rhino in a hurry"...Lots of nice "eyes" indeed, Pullstarter says: "I give you $2 dollar to loooook at da......." :yes:

6. My top five SEMA cars of choice: The Alan Johnson 'Cuda, The Ring Bros Mustang, The Motion Camaro, The Black and Orange M6, and the Strope Charger....

7. The guys at Marquez Design. Thanks for the hospitality at your booth, it was appreciated The bitchin' new interior and billet components...Clean, functional, high quality, fantastic design, and affordable. Better start thinking about buying a bigger building fellas.....

8. Standing next to James Hetfield, shaking hands with "Goldberg", seeing Joel Rosen in person, and hooking up with Jessica Simpson at the Hard Rock... well three of the four are true, you guess which ones.....

9. Getting an impromptu picture taken wearing a 2005 San Antonio Spurs NBA Championship ring, Thanks Larry, you are a class act all the way, and good luck this season.

10. Coming in the door after being gone for four days and having my kids scream "Daddy!" and run up and hug me....priceless.


Thank for letting me part of this tremendous group, ....You guys are the best. :hail:

In the immortal words of Forrest Gump:

"...thats all I got to say 'bout that".

Great list, Jeff. I agree 100%. Putting faces with names was great and I'm looking forward to next time.

The faceplant story is only good when told in person because it needs visual aids to get the full effect. :D

Damn Jeff, great post! :hail:


Jody

Jeff, you are truely insane man, but in a good way. Our top ten lists are simular. The best part was my families return reception for me also. My 19 year old son made me sit down and tell him about every car picture on the boards, talking to Hetfield, Jeff Beck (anybody see him besides me?) The dudes from Marquez-you guys are awesome, and more than anything meeting all you dudes in person.

I cannot recommend going next year any stronger than I am right now. It is Car Guy Mecca.

The incredible whirlwind of activity...
 

My SEMA trip turned out to be SO incredibly successful from a business standpoint, more on that later, as I have to still get it all straight in my head (!). Is this all just a dream? How many of our systems did you guys manage to spot?

I had misty eyes drooling all over CHEZOOM at Sandlin's - for some reason that car just grabbed me back in the day, and I just could keep my hands off of her (sorry about all the finger prints and drool I couldn't restrain!)

After all is said and done though, meeting YOU guys and tossing back some cold ones was THE absolute highlight of my trip! My sides are still hurtin from having Jim Hall make me laugh so damn hard :D

Stiffler! (did I say that!?) (my bad!)

I could spend just about all day writing the longest post in history regarding this experience, though I still need about 48-72 hours to even TRY to get it all straight in my head - for those that haven't attended yet, YES! it really is THAT incredibly overwhelming = most definitely the automotive BIG O :yes:

Those Freagin BlackJack tables are evil - damn things anyway... :mad:

My absolute largest disappointment? This was a business trip that denied me the chance to catch up with the Lateral-G gang again before it was all over :willy:

It's going to take weeks to get all the posts and pics in place - for sure!

:thumbsup:

Dude, I gotta go next year! :thumbsup:

What a great top 10 list Jeff. My list would have many of the same points; but it is #10 that ment so much for me too. With that cab line on Friday morning I thought I was going to miss my flight home.
W.

Sema
 

Wow Jeff, nice top ten. Letterman would be jelous. I had such a blast hanging and meeting you and all the gang. Jeff, me and you think alike - that's real scary. Pulling taxi duty was no problem, I enjoyed the rides!!

Scott, Jody and Steve Sandlin make a great team, awesome party - my pleasure helping out. Look forward more than ever to next year.

Jim Hall is one funny dude. We stood over there by CHEZOOM and drooled for quite a while, and he had me rolling.

Thanks guys, this trip was beyond fun for me, thanks for including me in the joy.

06 SEMA - yeah. Brent you have a PM - maybe he is still hung over, LOL.

I concer with what everyone else has said. I do have one other thing I must add to the great week I had. Saturday, I had the goat shot by Johnny, Steve and had help from Keith,Katz, Brian, and Kris. Damn, what a day and what an adventure. I got to drive the goat several miles, 1/4 mile at the time. Drove it so much in fact, I ran out of gas and we had to push it into the station. Thank goodness it ran out there and not three miles earlier. Look for a killer story in our favorite magazine shortly.
Thanks everyone that helped out! :thumbsup: