2003 International Auto Salon LA Convention Center - Event

We usually look to the International Auto Salon, hosted by SEMA and open the public, to present repeats of items from the SEMA show with some smaller companies' offerings thrown in. What we got this April at the L.A. Convention Center, however, was a reminder that the aftermarket parts industry is moving fast enough to develop a profusion of new parts in the space of months. We also saw cars and products that were better developed than the usual thrown-together-for-SEMA quality.

By now, serious participation by the OEMs is expected, and Ford, GM, Nissan/Nismo, Chrysler/Mopar, Mazdaspeed, Toyota and Honda were all on hand and sporting the usual mix of new cars, fantasy machines, and cars equipped with factory-produced or authorized custom parts.

It was nice to see the compact demographic maturing with the industry, with less items walking out of booths, less ear-splitting boom-boom contests and a greater interest in hardcore performance parts. SEMA did a great job of incorporating what the public doesn't get to see in Vegas-import personalities and models, racecars and a car show. We're still waiting, however, for indoor karting and cheeseburgers that don't cost $12.

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