What Does the SEMA Garage Have Behind Its Doors?

• July 20, 2014
• Story By
  Justin Pagtalunan

A couple months ago we got to take a tour of the early stages of the newly renovated SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, CA. With the finishing touches all set, we're back for the SEMA Garage Open House - with close to 1,000 people registered to attend, wow is it packed! After checking in (and snapping a few selfies... I'll explain later), the photographer in me wanted to see how the finished photo studio turned out... To my surprise, a 1955 Lincoln Futura concept was on display, more commonly known as the Batmobile - used when the Batman TV series originally aired in the 1960's! The above shot is probably near the top of my list of all-time favorite pics I've taken because of just how clean it looks! That's the power of their enormous photo studio, which is just one of the features SEMA now has available to rent out to their members. Another cool device they have on site is this Faro Arm Laser Scanner, used to create a digital scan of just about anything. Manufacturers use this tool to get precise measurements on which to develop new products off of. Once the digital scans load into a computer they can be used in R&D for aftermarket parts. Eventually R&D will lead to this little machine, a Fortus 250mc 3D printer! The scanning process can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours, while the printing could take an entire day or more depending on how large and detailed the project is. In addition to the Photo Studio and the 3D Scanner and Printers, they also have a fully functional Emissions Testing Lab, even more important for those of us in California. This is how it is at SEMA HQ, they want to help and provide as much as they can so that manufacturers can quickly and easily develop aftermarket products that feed our hunger to modify. Speaking of modification, there were a number of vehicles around showing a wide variety of modifications...So Cal Speed Shop Hot Rod, ...Lotus 7, ... and a Shelby autographed by the late Carroll Shelby himself. I bet you can't guess what this is? Not your usual "chopper," this is a Honda Ruckus! What's an open house without some food? There was a variety of food stations to go to and finger foods going around. This Mac & Cheese was as delicious as it looked elegant, perfect for the kid at heart (which is what many enthusiasts might consider themselves to be!) Last but not least, the final treat of the night was a printing station located upstairs in the training room, where you could print any Instagram post with the "#semagarage" hashtag on it. I thought it was really cool seeing one of the photos I took at the preview event being used as part of their signage display. The SEMA Garage is now officially open for business! To learn more about what they have to offer as well as what other responsibilies SEMA holds in our automotive industry, head on over to SEMA.org. But before you do, here's a video and gallery to show you a little more!