What SEMA 2013 was to me

[sk7500]

Work only allowed me to spend one day at SEMA this year so I tried to get in as much as I could. Traffic and lack of parking stole the first hour of my day. We finally resorted to parking in one of the downtown casinos and taking the monorail. Which was kind of cool because the unloading platform was very high and you could see all the outside displays which allowed me to see the Toyo booth and Gary's new car being displayed on a trailer at a 45 degree angle. Very cool but it would have looked cooler had it been with the rest of FFR team. After seeing Gary's new car my first priority was to find the FFR booth. Just had to work my way through about a million people to get there. Once there, I was hoping to see my 4th real life GTM. Not to be this year. Just a GTM frame on display. That's OK because I was really there for another reason. I wanted to give Dave something from all us GTM guys as a token of our appreciation. I hope everyone agrees with me when I say that the GTM project has taught me a lot about who I am. Taught me some great skills. And most of all, introduced me to a great community of like minded people. So I gave Dave one of my models painted like the gen 1 poster. On the bottom of the model was a sticker with a place for all the 2013 SEMA GTM owners to sign their name and give Dave a fun reminder of SEMA 2013. He very graciously accepted and we took this picture.

Then we walked the rest of the show until 5:00 when it was time to head back to the mono rail. Wish I could see it all but such is not the case. Maybe next year.
Then at 7:30 we met with the other GTM owners and one future builder from Canada. Food was excellent and dinner conversation was lively. Everything from build histories to what booth had the hottest body in it was discussed. It was great to finally get to meet the people I have been talking to on the forums for the last 4 years. Just about the time I start to think that the GTM has given all it has to give, something like this comes along and proves me wrong. Thanks to everyone who was able to make it to dinner and share.
Steve

[SoulsofBlack]

That is cool.

[JL1958]

Very neat!

[WIS89]

Steve-

Sounds like a great day to me! I am sure Dave appreciated the cool model, and good for you for coming up with a great way to commemorate the show and your build!

Thanks for the great story!

Regards,

Steve

[Fraser D]

That is seriously cool Steve!

[Kalstar]

It was great meeting you as well. Next year again??

[The Stig]

Ok... I'm envious... There, I said it...

I can absolutely appreciate how you must feel about going to this particular event and being able to meet some of the people that you "talk" to through the forum. That has been a goal of mine for quite some time, but I've either not been able to take the time off from work, or I didn't have access to tickets to go.

I have been fortunate enough to be able to meet some of my forum friends through the way.

I'm glad you were able to get there and try to soak in as much as you could in such a short time. Glad to hear that you had a great time, (except for parking)...

But you left the most obvious question hanging right out there in front of us...

Which booth had the hottest body?

Take care my Friend! Looking forward to meeting up with you in the near future.

Mike

[Garry Bopp]

Steve,

Very cool! Sorry I didn't get to meet you. I spent a good bit of time at the FFR booth and it was always jam packed with people.

Stig,

The "hottest bodies" were in the tire/wheel displays. Lots of neat wheels & headlights ...

Garry

[crash]

Very cool Steve. I'm sure Dave while cherish that.

The "hottest bodies" were in the tire/wheel displays. Lots of neat wheels & headlights ...

Yep. That's always the case as there are only so many ways to show off a round black chunk of rubber. The tires are usually boring as heck, but the things manufacturers do to "stand out" are very entertaining. Last year one tire manufacturer had some chick in a "Victoria's Secret" type getup with huge wings(and other things) and not much else. They also had a Grand Am Ferrari there in the booth. While everyone was ogling the "meat" a few of us GTM guys were ogling the Ferrari. Low and behold we look up and one of the guys we race with was on the other side of the car checking it out through the other window! I guess you just can't change what people are really drawn to, and that booth certainly had the bases covered.

[dhanisch]

I'm sorry I didn't get to meet with you guys that night due to the GTM overheating. I did, however, get to see that model at the FF booth, which was displayed on top of the GTM frame when I got there. Pretty cool.

[sk7500]

I'm sorry I didn't get to meet with you guys that night due to the GTM overheating. I did, however, get to see that model at the FF booth, which was displayed on top of the GTM frame when I got there. Pretty cool.

Dan,
Total bummer about your car. I hope it's something simple to fix. We missed you at dinner on Tuesday night. As a genuine GTM owner, make sure you sign Dave's GTM model. Ck your PM inbox. I sent you a calendar picture request.

[JAE]

Hi Steve

It was nice to meet you and the rest of the GTM gang on Tues. - the GTM model was killer!

Thanks John

[jleonard711]

I'm sorry I didn't get to meet with you guys that night due to the GTM overheating. I did, however, get to see that model at the FF booth, which was displayed on top of the GTM frame when I got there. Pretty cool.

Hey, a GTM owner in Phoenix! I'm just starting the process of gathering all the parts for my build and hope to order my kit withing the next few months. Do you know how any other GTM owners there are here in Phoenix? You should bring yours out to Cars & Coffee in Scottsdale which is every Saturday morning at the Shops at Gainey Ranch. I would love to check it out, I have yet to see one in person!

Sorry for the threadjack.

[Kempo]

Steve,
It was a real pleasure finally meeting you and the others in person as well as seeing again the others I had met before. I'm glad you had a great time at the show. The model car for Dave IMO was a very nice gesture. As soon as I get back home I will try to take some new pictures of my car and send them your way.

[claybags]

Steve,
Good to meet the "man behind the model". Also good to see and talk with friends Jim, Hugo, Gary, John K, and meet the new guys.
I can't believe how many people were at the show this year! Every Lambo and C7 in the country must have been on display. Got to sign the "model" for Dave...great job Steve.
On to next year....
Cheers, Jeff

[flotowngtm]

Ok thats great that everyone got to meet each other................. Now where the heck are the pics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[The Stig]

Ok thats great that everyone got to meet each other................. Now where the heck are the pics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showt...os-and-Updates

In the General Discussion section of the forum.

[fastthings]

That's pretty cool to get a model in SEMA, congrats.

Damn, I was in Vegas for a meeting that week. I can't believe I was litraly 2 blocks from you guys. I sure wish I would have put it together in my head. I heard a couple people talking about SEMA, and I new I blew it.
It would have been cool to meet up with you all for dinner.

[sk7500]

Ok thats great that everyone got to meet each other................. Now where the heck are the pics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Total brain fade. We should have taken a group photo of all the GTM brothers. :-(
Talk about a missed oportunity.

[JAE]

Your not the only one with brain fade, I came directly from the show and had the camera right in my bag next to me on the floor - DOOH!

John