Perhaps the most anticipated event of the night at SEMA Ignited was the final unveil of the customized car built during the SEMA show for the season finale of the TV show “OverHaulin”
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On the roster was a dyno exhibition, pitting drivers and their cars against fellow competitors as well as a row of Old Skool Gassers taking turns firing up in classic CackleFest fashion
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Over the course of four days each November, automotive industry insiders gather at the Las Vegas Convention Center for what has become a celebration of everything automotive related. The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show brings the hottest new cars, custom vehicles, innovative products, and automotive celebrities from around the world under one roof. As a trade-only event, the SEMA show is closed off to the public. However, for 2014, SEMA decided to give the public a treat and introduced the SEMA Ignited after party. The inaugural SEMA Ignited was free of charge, and open to the public not far from the convention center at the LINQ Las Vegas High Roller Event lot.
K&N air filters was invited to attend SEMA Ignited, and came in style with our semi-truck and trailer most often used for attending NASCAR, NHRA, and Supercross events across the nation
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Alongside the K&N truck and trailer, K&N had product displays for public viewing but the public barely took notice as the NRE 2000 horsepower 1968 Dodge Challenger stole the show
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SEMA Ignited featured a full night of entertainment, including several acres of wild custom cars and trucks. Also on the roster was a dyno exhibition, pitting drivers and their cars against fellow competitors. A burnout showdown gave the crowds all the tire smoke, noise, and gross demonstrations of power they could ask for. SEMA Ignited was also host to the SEMA Battle of the Builders, where top editors served as celebrity judges to decide which vehicle deserved to be called the best of the best. Perhaps the most anticipated event of the night was the final unveil of the customized car built during the SEMA show for the season finale of the TV show “OverHaulin”.
K&N air filters was invited to attend the event, and showed up in style with our semi-truck and trailer most often used for attending NASCAR, NHRA, and Supercross events across the nation. Alongside the K&N truck and trailer, K&N had product displays for public viewing but the public barely took notice. The Nelson Supercars built and Nelson Racing Engines powered 2000 horsepower 1968 Dodge Charger was the star of the night as SEMA Ignited attendees flocked to glimpse the car’s bare metal finish and exquisite attention to detail. Tom Nelson, who built the 1968 Dodge Charger named Maximus, drove the car from the K&N 2014 SEMA Show booth inside the convention center through the jam packed streets leading to the LINQ Las Vegas. The grueling two-hour traffic jam saw its fair share of casualties, from running out of gas, to overheating, and even a fender bender involving a Ferrari 458 Italia and a lifted Jeep Wrangler JK.
Tom Nelson built the 1968 Dodge Charger named Maximus, and drove it from the K&N 2014 SEMA Show booth through the jam packed streets leading to the LINQ Las Vegas High Roller Lot
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K&N air filters was well represented at the inaugural 2014 SEMA Ignited after party with K&N air intakes found on everything from sports cars, to lowered trucks, and lifted Jeeps
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Walking around the LINQ Las Vegas High Roller Event lot was quite an experience for public and industry attendees alike. Normally the high-caliber vehicles of the SEMA show are spread across the 3.2 million square foot convention center and every parking lot within a ¼ mile radius. SEMA Ignited brought many of the SEMA Show cars into a highly concentrated mecca for auto enthusiasts. Beautiful examples of SEMA vehicles from nearly every custom vehicle niche imaginable could be found in one place, just inches away from the next gorgeous car or truck.
While the four day long SEMA show in Las Vegas, Nevada can take its toll on even the most seasoned industry professional, the inaugural SEMA Ignited after party was an excellent way to celebrate the end of what could be considered the best SEMA show in years. K&N looks forward to exciting new things coming in 2015, including the 2015 SEMA show, and hopefully the second annual SEMA Ignited after party.
This over-the-top 1955 Chevy Sedan 150 Gasser came from the Las Vegas locals of WelderUP who also entered their turbo 5.9 Cummins diesel powered rat rod in the Burnout Showdown |
Jared, who hails from Las Vegas, Nevada, is part of the Sin City Mopars car club and proudly had his K&N short ram intake equipped Dodge Ram on display complete with neon lights |
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