SPEEDZZTER ON THE SEMA SHOW AT CAR CRAFT.COM (And some impressions on being a SIM "Guest Editor for a Day")

[Get the latest "Truth With Speedzzter" here]

Patrick Cannon, Midwest Advertising Manager for Source Interlink Media's Consumer Automotive Group was given the unenviable task of SIM's liaison to the 25 "Guest Editors for a Day" invited to the 2009 SEMA Show.

Mr. Cannon received minimal support from the various SIM editors at SEMA, despite the fact that "Guest Editors" were supposed to be able to "discuss with Source Interlink Editors and get suggestions of some areas of interest" before attending the show.

One notable exception to the SIM editors lack of support for the "Guest Editors for a Day" program was Automobile Magazine's Jean Jennings. On Tuesday afternoon (November 3, 2009) she graced the Bloggers' lounge behind the Ford Display in the Central Hall with her wit and wisdom. She was still pumped about the Automobile Magazine's "6 versus 8" hill climb video that recently aired on Speed Channel, featuring an EcoBoost Lincoln against a slate of V8-powered European luxury cars. See the story and videos here and Ms. Jennings' blog about it here.

Notwithstanding the overwhelming lack of support from the vast majority of SIM editors, Mr. Cannon was a kind, gracious and patient host. He was even gracious when I turned in hundreds of unpublishable, out-of-focus photograph (camera & camera operator malfunctions). He is a consumate professional.

Mr. Cannon asked us to blog about "The Coolest Things at SEMA" on one of SIM's internet platforms. Unfortunately, most of the SIM websites did not seem to be configured to accept any guest blogs.

Attempting to comply with the daunting task of providing SIM and Ford a thimble of "coolness" out of the raging tempest that is the SEMA Show, "Truth With Speedzzter" posted some reflections on Car Craft's forum. It wasn't exactly what I expected, but it was still kind of fun . . . .

All in all, in the parlance of Nevada's oldest profession, the "Guest Editors for a Day" probably looked like a bunch of streetwalkers or "lot lizards" wandering around to the SIM and Ford P.R. professionals. I suspect they all had a hearty laugh at us.

Still, even with all of the confusion and stress, it was fun to "play journalist" for a day.

I met and interviewed a lot of wonderful people including Azentek's Bob Fehan (www.azentek.com), SMS Supercars' Molly Saleen (www.smsuspercars.com), Ford & Mustang performance superstar tuner Paul Svinicki (www.paulshp.com),Evade Camaro creator Tom Argue and car owner Bill Panouses (www.evadecamaro.com), the guys from Detroit Street Rods (www.DetroitStreetRods.com) and many more.

Look for more vignettes from SEMA 2009 in the coming days.