250 Custom Car Builders to Compete in 2016 SEMA Las Vegas ‘Battle of the Builders’

For an avid car fan, specifically those of you that enjoy personalizing their ride through aftermarket performance parts and accessories, SEMA Las Vegas is the Mecca, ground zero, of the rolling customized personal statement. Torque News was there in 2015 for the reveal of the 2016 Honda Ridgeline Desert Race Truck -- by SEMA standards, a ‘puff’ piece.

This show is way over the top -- a million square feet of custom car and truck entries brought in from every corner of the world -- and every conceivable restoration and modification part or accessory imaginable. In the first week of November, 250 custom car builders will compete in SEMA’s “Battle of the Builders.”Last year I drove a 4 day 2400 mile round robin to SEMA in this vehicle.

According to our friends at SEMA

Vehicle Builders Submit 250 Entries Into SEMA Builder Competition
-- SEMA introduces Young Guns recognition for up-and-coming builders competing side-by-side with industry icons and legends --

DIAMOND BAR, CA (October 10, 2016) – Featuring top vehicle builders who have proven their talents and craftsmanship by having a car or truck displayed at the 2016 SEMA Show, the third annual SEMA Battle of the Builders® competition includes 250 applications, including builds from 98 up-and-coming “Young Guns.” As the basis for a nationwide television special, the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition honors SEMA Show vehicle builders, their vehicles and the products on those vehicles.

Industry experts will select the top 10 finalists during the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, NV. The finalists will then take over and evaluate one another’s vehicle, before the ultimate winner is announced Friday, Nov. 4, at SEMA Ignited, the official SEMA Show after party that is open to the general public.

Hosted by Chris Jacobs and Adrienne “AJ” Janic from “Overhaulin’”, the competition includes special recognition for builders under the age of 35 who are entered in SEMA Battle of the Builders.

To learn more about the competition or about SEMA Ignited, visitwww.semaignited.com.

About SEMA Battle of the Builders:

SEMA Battle of the Builders is a competition that honors and recognizes top vehicle builders who have proven their skills by showcasing a car or truck at the world’s premier automotive trade show – the SEMA Show. Builders from all market segments compete for the title of the Ultimate Vehicle Builder, as their talents and craftsmanship are highlighted at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas as well as documented through media coverage throughout the world. The winner is announced at the official SEMA Show after party, SEMA Ignited, which is open to consumers at the end of the four-day trade show. Additional details are available atwww.semaignited.com.Side Bar:

The complete list of competitors for the 2016 SEMA Battle of the Builders competition is:

Greg Adams
Jesus Aguiñiga
Noah Alexander
Bobby Alloway
Terry Altman
Brian Alvarado
Chad Anderson
Tony Arme
Justin Arnold
Aaron Atnip
William Bailey
Paul Baker
Alan Banuelos
Adam Baumel
David Bernheimer
Stephanie Blanco
Phil Blottie
Ryan Bollens
Kelston Boodoo
Tyson Boothe
Randy Borcherding
Jonathan Brown
Damian Buckley
Miranda Built
Junior Burns
Shaun Callaway
Jamie Campbell
Chad Cantcolor
Orlando Carattini
Justin Carrillo
Mark Catania
Michael Caudill
Steve Chapman
Jeff Cleer
John Cole
Dylan Coleman
Archie Concon
Trevor Cook
Jared Cotter
Goolsby Customs
John D'Agostino
Robert Dahm
Frank Daniels
Sal Danley
Brandon Davis
Kaylie Davis
Anthony De Guzman
Brad DeBerti
Brandon DeFazio
Manny Diaz
Austin Dicus
JJ Dubec
Jason Duhon
Aaron Elenbaum
Jonny Espe
Jerry Fan
Andrew Faris
Jeromie Fehrenbach
Shawn Fischer
EJ and Amy Fitzgerald
Jason Flis
Dar Fortney
Ira Fouquette
Bryan Fuller
Jeffery Garland
Jeremy and Phil Gerber
Mark Giambalvo
Doug Gonzales
Jesse Gonzalez
Johny Gonzalez
Johnathan Goodwin
Lukasz Granicy
Jagraj Grewal
Jacob Griffin
Jared Grossman
Troy Gudgel
Truck Guru
David Gutierrez
Travis Haecker
Gary Hagar
Greg Harper
Kyle Harper
Bruce Harvey
Matthew Haugen
Kenny Hauk
Mike Heim
Greg Henderson
Howard Hernandez
Greg Higgs
Justin Hildebrand
Steve Hill
David Hines
Edward Ho
Joe Horisk
Kirk Howland
Shawn Hudspeth
Matthew Ibrahim
Zach Ingram
Manny Iwabuchi
John Jackson
Chris Jaggers
Jeremy Johnson
Jimmy Johnson
Richard Jones
Rajdeep Kalkat
Kevin Keep
Charvonia Keith
Jesse Kerr
Brandon Knowles
Troy Ladd
Scott Laitinen
Luke Langren
Dominic Le
Andy Leach
Rodger Lee
Steve Legens
Rick Leos
David Lightner
Bryan Lin
Dean Livermore
Roger Lo
Carl Lofthouse
Ross Logsdon
Tom Longo
Jeremy Lookofsky
Nick Lopez
Andrew Lowe
Art Lucas
Michael Ma
Ernie Manansala
Jon Marshall
Teddy Matavosian
Jesse Matlock
Lyon McClenahan
Lonnie McCurry
Wayne Mcdaniel
Nick McDonald
Jake McKiddie
Carlos Medrano
Joey Mendoza
Big Mike
Cam Miller
Kyle Mohan
Justin Moreno
Alban Morina
Nathan Mueller
John Muratori
Adriana Murillo
Rod Neilsen
Hung Ngo
Joel Nichols
Danielle Norton
Jon Nyberg
Steve Osorio
Jeff Page
Tim Palazzolo
Walter Palencia
Cris Payne
Jason Pecikonis
Charlie Pehrson
Kevin Peverill
Murray Pfaff
Steve Pham
Rob Phillips
Sam Piazza
Robert Pigue
Kamaka Pocock
Igor Polishchuk
Jason Reitz
Jeremy Rice
Tim Riley
Mike and Jim Ring
Al Robinson
Hank Robinson
Dave Salvaggio
Sam Sanchez
David Sawyer
Josh Schilling
Alexander Schuler
Jared Sensat
Dylan Sievers
Craig Simonian
Ruel Smith
Jeremy Smith
Chris Soehren
Troy Spackman
Charles Spencer
Chris Stafford
Justin Starkey
Mike Staveski
Jacob Stone
Blake Stoner
Heather Swindoll
Stephen Talbot
Ivan Tampi
Ike Taylor
Russ Taylor
Denny Terzich
Sean Tessman
Mike Tilley
Gordon Ting
Neil Tjin
Marco Trejo
Kyle Tucker
Cody Turner
Mark Turner
Aaron Vaccar
Vincent Vandyke
Matthew Vasquez
Jay Velez
Kevin Villazon
Forrest Wang
John Wargo
Gary Warner
Joe Weaver
Randy Weaver
Gary Wescott
Tim White
Craig Wick
Jenna Wilhite
Kyle Williams
Landon Willis
Danielle Wing
Alan Yee

For more information on the competition, visit www.semashow.com/botb.

On a personal note: I look forward to saying hi to old and new friends at SEMA Show Las Vegas 2016. Look for me at the Honda, Acura display. I’ll see you the first week in November.