SEMA Back from the Brink

**Groundspeed killing it at SEMA with this model and car combo**

I had been wondering what SEMA was going to be like post covid. It feels like it’s all I’ve been able to talk about the last few years. Frankly I got tired of it a few days into the whole conundrum. But, considering it was an event that we had never seen like in my lifetime and the world over it was massive. The shutdown has had and is still having repercussions that are reverberating to this very day. One of those impacts are what they had to the car scene and also to industry the world over. Global shipping and trade was put to a halt and businesses did not function like they once had. The joy of life was sucked out of the air and you could see it in the events that used to happen. Lots of car shows that used to take place were put on an indefinite hold and we didn’t know where the world would soon go. Would the world be a lot more scared to move forward or would things go back to the way they were? It’s something that had been bothering me for some time and SEMA to me was the gauge of this very question.

Prior to the 2022 show I was already ready to move on. Covid had permeated every aspect of life and I was tired of all of the craziness that had come with it. SEMA always represented a beacon of light for the car industry. It was here where everybody around the world could come and share not only their passion for cars but for the very parts that make them up. It was a place mainly for business of course, but for a media guy like me it was a place where countless stories are being told.

Around every corner of the show you could get stories from engineers on how they designed their latest products. Stories from builders about how much work went into getting their car to the show. Stories from celebrities coming out to the show to celebrate their love and passion for cars. And pretty much everything in between was there. For three solid days you could put your cares aside and just revel in the love for automobiles. As I pondered what SEMA 2022 would be I began to get more and more excited for the show.

When the day finally came I couldn’t have been more excited. Yeah, sure outside those conventional center halls people would still be going crazy for the daily grind and stresses of life. But inside those walls, and in the parking lots of SEMA there was nothing but joy to be had. Man, oh man, covid may have not been over but that spark of human resilience was on full display. People really wanted to go to the show and we got everyone from everywhere make their way there. SEMA was back baby and it couldn’t have been any better. Check out some of what we saw there and the great shots by Jason Salvador attached to this article.

**Groundspeed had this stunning model at their booth**

**I don’t know if there is a more sinister and sweet looking car around**

**This sweet car and gorgeous model really stole the limelight at the Ceramic Pro booth**

**This hyped and very pink Ferrari F40 definitely stood out at the show**

**It is always a pleasure to see Christy Rios at SEMA. Here she poses with one heck of an R-34**

**This car was being drawn onto during the show. I just love the look of this**

**Never thought I would see a McLaren with Taco Bell livery. But here we are. Just awesome**

**Alexia Cortez being amazing is something we all expect nowadays**

**This car and model combo is second to none**

**She’s wonderful and so gracious when photographing. Alexia Cortez steals the limelight yet again**

**This Lambo looks great from every angle**

**This car has gone all out on the body modifications no doubt. Love it**

**This Merc is one hell of a car. The craftsmanship is just incredible**

Words and photos by Daniel Navarrete

Photos by Jason Salvador

This article was prepared or accomplished by Daniel Navarrete in his personal capacity. The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Spektrum Magazine, or its affiliates.