More! More! More!
Photography by David S. Wallens
Come on, join us for a trip through the GRM photo archives. Today's stop, the 2001 SEMA Show–right about the time we had transitioned from film to digital.
More changes in our world: the sport compact scene was on full boil, The Fast & the Furious had just hit the screens, and everyone had a website to promote.
Here are some of the big things from that 2001 SEMA Show that we remember:
Mini Mania had imported its own then-new Mini. This was a big deal, and we tested that car right after the show.
BFGoodrich displayed a then-new EP3-chassis Civic Si. We'd wind up borrowing this very car: autocross prep first followed by NASA wheel-to-wheel racing. Small history lesson: BFG had just released its g-Force T/A KD tire–with KD short for King of the Dry–helping to usher in today's wave of extreme performance summer rubber.
Falken had just given us the Azenis RT215, a fast, sticky tire at a fair price. The SCCA had just launched its Street Touring autocross class–a single class at the time–only a few years earlier, with the rules requiring true street tires. Autocross was just starting to break away from the traditional R-comps. BFGoodrich and Falken were two of the first big players in that world.
The sport compact scene was maturing with manufacturers taking notice. Aero kit on an otherwise stock seventh-gen Honda Civic? Sure.
Import drag racing was also growing up: factory support and more tube-frame cars. Adam Saruwatari, owner of A&L Racing, was the sport’s rock star. If it wore purple and yellow, it was golden.
AEM had just gotten into the world of programmable ECUs with its Series 1 Programmable EMS. This was back when your laptop still needed a few floppies.
Thanks to companies like Konig and Rota, we were getting more lightweight wheels that didn't cost a fortune.
Mazda showed off a new Miata fitted with Flyin' Miata power.
Some more forbidden-fruit machinery from Japan.
SCCA was still very involved with ProRally.
You couldn’t (legally) import an R32 Skyline, but Nissan had one on display.
If you ever wondered how a Neon would look without a grille, now you know.
Ford Focus performance was kind of a thing with Jackson Racing adding the model to its lineup.
We were already seeing digital dash displays, like this one from SPA.
Dubs were new, too, with Yokohama showing off its 26-inch AVS S/T.
More! More! More!
In reply to Dusterbd13-michael (Forum Supporter) :
Sadly we don't have much more from 2001, but for you I will check. This was back when we had like a 256K CF card....
I might have some pics as well, I'll have to dig around. I've got some from 2002 though.
That yellow Miata was a steel widebody. I'm not sure what happened to it.
In reply to David S. Wallens :
Ill settle for 1999-2003....
Love that era of build (just after high school) but a lot of it is just lost history for whatever reason.
Much want for the CRX...
In reply to David S. Wallens :
Thanks for posting that !!! I think I was at that show.
Dusterbd13-michael (Forum Supporter) said:In reply to David S. Wallens :
Ill settle for 1999-2003....
Love that era of build (just after high school) but a lot of it is just lost history for whatever reason.
The whole project was a middle finger to Murphy's Law. -BrokenYugo. My real name us Michael Crawford
We have all of that on the server. How about we'll periodically roll them out. Plus we have PRI, too.
In reply to David S. Wallens :
Sounds like a fantastic way to have throwback thursdays for a while!
I think I was at that show as well. I've only been to 3 of them; early 80s, late 90s and 01 or 02.
It's insanely packed now.
Tom1200 said:I think I was at that show as well. I've only been to 3 of them; early 80s, late 90s and 01 or 02.
It's insanely packed now.
According to the press releases, 2021 will be addressing the crush with some new exhibit areas and some sort of transit system.
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