In some sort of way the airport in Las Vegas is a sick and desperate place. The moment you exit the plane, welcoming embraces come in the form of one-armed bandits. The long trek towards baggage claim means dodging your way through several carefully laid out slot machine armies. The temptation is presented immediately. Anywhere else in Vegas and the millions of slots are anything but annoying. There's just something about those that sit right at the boarding gates that seem weird. Oh well, I don't fall for that shit anyways.
It's SEMA week again. Our industry event of the year, where over the span of a week, almost 20 miles of aisles are jam-packed with everything and anything automotive. A week when I inevitably walk my bollocks off, drink more than a thirsty five-humped camel and always seem to clean out my entire savings account. But it's SEMA, it's Vegas and it's only once a year. What are you going to do?
On the business end of things the show is always the centerpiece of the year for all involved. Manufacturer's R&D departments buckle down all year on a mission to come up with revolutionary new products to be unveiled in Las Vegas. Booths make a statement and get bigger and bigger by the year as companies try out do one another. The very latest in wild rides and modified new platforms are debuted often for the first time in public. And of course, no event no matter what magnitude would be complete without a fine assortment of lovely ladies. And trust me, SEMA uncovers enough of them to keep all of us there every day of the week. On the flipside, our annual trip to Sin City gets us all into top gear and the battery of ground-breaking introductions means we're on the prowl, trying to lock down various editorial coups for upcoming issues. The last few days here didn't disappoint. The industry is still on the up and growing as fast as ever. And, after all the talking, the walking time to make your way through the slots and towards that boarding gate, there they are again. Did I fall for them? Hells nah! Four aces and I'm going home with another 40 bucks in my pocket. At least now I can afford to get my car out of long term parking. If it wasn't for that fat zero on my bank statement, I'd say I got 'em!