Light Truck and SUV Blogs

Where has the time gone? It seems like just a few months ago that I was at my first SEMA, walking around with numb, blistered feet. For a first timer, it can be an overwhelming experience. Heck, it can be overwhelming for a veteran as well. I came back from my first SEMA with a lot of news and product information and a digital camera loaded with pics of products and some awesome project vehicles.

Here are a few tips I learned from my first SEMA show:

• Wear comfortable shoes.
• It is impossible to walk the whole show floor — have a game plan and stick to it.
• Get plenty of rest.
• In the absence rest, at least make sure you have comfortable shoes.
• Drink plenty of fluids (and no, adult beverages do not count).
• Did I mention to wear comfortable shoes? 

So, with less than two weeks left to go until this year’s SEMA show, we are very busy here at the magazine. In addition to the usual activity centered around planning for SEMA, we have additional projects to keep us busy, namely completing our vehicle customization – Project Tundra. We picked up the truck from The Art of Design this morning, and it is in Chicago at FlexFuel U.S. for an E-85 conversion. From there, it goes to Maxxsonics for completion of the sound system. We get it back to the office on Thursday for completion of the installs. It’s crunch time.

If you are going to be at SEMA, be sure to stop by our booth (31921) and see the completed project. You can also read more about Project Tundra in upcoming issues of Light Truck and SUV and on www.LightTruckAndSUV.com.

Thanks for reading,

Joe Escobar

Project Tundra is coming along nicely. With just under a month to go before the SEMA show, everything seems to be falling into place.

I delivered the truck two weeks ago to Elkhart, Indiana-based The Art Of Design (TAOD). Dean Loucks is the owner of the company (or artist in residence as he likes to say). He has designed the paint scheme for Project Tundra that is based on multi-layered paint applications and true flame techniques. The truck will sport a custom-designed paint job using Akzo Nobel paints. Of course, the Light Truck and SUV logo will be incorporated and prominently displayed on the truck.

You can see some of TAOD’s work at www.taod.org

I pick up the truck from TAOD later this week to continue the installs for the truck. If you will be at SEMA later this month, be sure to stop by booth 31921 to see the finished vehicle!

Thanks for reading,

Joe Escobar