SEMA SHOW TIMELINE

1963: Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) is founded.
1965: Noel Carpenter, an L.A.-area promoter and automotive magazine publisher, organizes “Speed & Custom Equipment” (SCEN), the first-ever speed and performance trade show. It was NOT sponsored by SEMA.
1966: Noel Carpenter produces the second “Speed & Custom Equipment” trade show, with SEMA sponsoring the event and receiving a share of the profits for the use of the association’s name. While SEMA received a check for $535, the event is NOT recognized as the first “SEMA Show.”
1967: Noel Carpenter moves the “Speed & Custom Equipment” show to Las Vegas; Meanwhile, the first official SEMA Show takes place in January 1967, under the grandstands of Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. The event, featuring 98 booths and approximately 3,000 attendees, was organized by Robert Petersen.
1974: The SEMA Show moves to the Anaheim Convention Center.
1977: The SEMA Show moves to the Las Vegas Convention Center. Las Vegas was chosen because it provided room for growth, has dependable weather, big-name entertainment and a world-famous location.
1979: Nile Cornelison creates Innovations Day, a seminar program taking place the day before the official SEMA Show opening. The program was a huge success and continues to take place today, under the name of SEMA Show Luncheon and Keynote Address.
1982: SEMA assumes full control of the SEMA Show from Robert Petersen.
1988: The idea of sectionalization is born, as exhibitors within the street-rod market are grouped in the “Street Rod Equipment” area. Beginning in 2003, the entire Show floor was sectionalized into what are now 12 areas.
1992: SEMA joins with other aftermarket organizations to consolidate fragmented trade show activities into one comprehensive week, aka Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week (AAIW). Set each year for the first week of November in Las Vegas, AAIW is now a key event in the automotive industry throughout the world.
1997: The National Tire Dealers & Retreaders (NTDRA) trade show was combined with the SEMA Show and later became known as the International Tire Expo (ITE). In 2004, ITE was combined with what is now the Tires, Wheels & Equipment section.
2002: The Las Vegas Convention Center completes construction on its expansion, opening up an additional 1 million sq. ft. of space in the two-story South Hall.
2003: A vehicle Proving Ground is added to the SEMA Show, where attendees can experience exhibitors’ products in action. The track includes slaloms and areas for acceleration and braking. Also, Mopar Alley is added to make navigating the Show floor easier and more convenient.
2004: An Off-Road Proving Ground gave extreme off-roaders an opportunity to showcase the latest four-wheel drive products and technology.
2006: Emerging product categories, such as diesel performance, continue to grow at the Show.
2007: The “West Coast Customs Experience” is introduced. The feature has Hollywood celebrities giving hands-on tool and equipment technology demonstrations.
2008: The “Making Green Cool Zone” debuts, demonstrating that you don’t have to sacrifice performance and coolness to incorporate environmentally conscious performance upgrades. Also new is a "Dealer Day" program to help dealers integrate a successful accessory program into their dealerships.
2009: The New Products Showcase expands and moves to the upper level of South Hall. The showcase includes 2,000 entries and allows visitors to use scanning devices that give them printouts and e-mails of selected products. A new online match-making program is introduced to connect buyers and exhibitors like never before.

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MEDIA CONTACT: Della Domingo, 909/396-0289, ext. 130, dellad@sema.org
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