It has been almost 18 hours of driving and we have finally arrived in Las Vegas, Nevada for the 2017 SEMA Show.
Anyone that attends SEMA knows how much work each company and individual puts into the products and vehicles they are showcasing. They work all year long, to come up with new and innovative products and put them on display in front of the world at the Las Vegas Convention Center for the largest automotive trade show. It is quite the experience to see everyone’s hard work come to life. We will be providing coverage every day this week as we walk through the packed convention center.
On top of our normal SEMA Coverage, one of the individuals we will be following is Kong Chang, as he prepares his LS1 Powered 1993 Mazda RX-7 to be on display at SEMA and to compete in the 10th anniversary of the Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational immediately following the show. Chang is a very experienced racer with multiple platforms on the road course, drag strip and the street. You name it, and he has probably done it. His appreciation for a well-built streetcar goes beyond the normal car enthusiast.
The trip began from our hometown, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. As SEMA came closer, Chang spent countless hours getting the RX-7 for his biggest event of the year. “Since Optima is a multi-discipline event, you have to make sure every aspect of your car is on point.” Says Chang. “You can’t leave anything undone, and to be able to compete at this level you really have to step your game up. The coolest thing about the Optima Ultimate Street Car Challenge is that every car has to be a full-blown street car. It not only has to perform well on the road and track, it has to look as good as it performs, inside and out. You really have to pay attention to every little detail of the car to get the best results. As we rolled into the lot to unload, you can tell everyone has brought their A-game this year.”
It is time to get unloaded and ready for the week, stay tuned to our Facebook, Instagram, and StreetRaceMag.com for daily updates and continuing coverage.
“The best street-legal cars and trucks compete each year for top honors in the OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational. A year’s worth of qualifying events around the country culminates into a grand finale as more than 50 of the world’s most incredible vehicles battle for the title of the Ultimate Street Car. Some cars come from the world of open road racing, while others are plucked right off the SEMA Show floor. They all look incredible, but by the end of the day, everyone will know which one can back up their looks with performance on the track.” –Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational.
Photo Gallery
