Kevin Oeste and Mike “Q-Ball” Clarke chat about their recent trip to Las Vegas for the 2023 SEMA Show, the week-long center of the automotive aftermarket universe. The SEMA Show is loaded with cars, new parts, and events, but Kevin feels this year was more about the personal connections than anything else. Of course, there’s automotive trivia and some other nonsense along the way, making it another fun episode of the V8 Radio Podcast!
Are you familiar with the Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation? They are always there for those in the Auto Aftermarket if something bad happens. I had a quick conversation with my good friend Joel Ayres about the foundation and how they are there when you need them. It’s a great operation and worth supporting.
The TMI TRIM Awards at The SEMA Show 2022 set the industry on fire. With the lack of awards from a few companies that are normally at the show, TMI Products stepped up to give the recognition that these builders deserved. Builders from all over the world entered for the coveted title of Best of Show – but only one amazing ride was able to take home that trophy.
Seven other winners were awarded in their respective classes and the TMI TRIM Awards were firmly cemented into the SEMA Show history books. After the week, coverage spread like wildfire of the TRIM Awards and they were seen by over 57 million enthusiasts.
The TMI TRIM Awards pay homage to the craftsmen who hand cut, stitched, and designed all the amazing interiors at SEMA. Too often though, the paint, wheels, or engine received most all of the recognition – no longer is that the case where TMI is now honoring fellow tradesmen who have perfected their craft.
TMI Products has been hand crafting some of the finest automotive upholstery for over 40 years now. With 40 years in the rear-view mirror, it was time to give back to the community and recognize those special builders. TMI is continuing this new tradition with the TRIM Awards for the 2023 SEMA Show.
Last years Best of Show winner wasn’t even a TMI Products interior, showing how serious TMI is about recognizing the best of the best. In fact, TMI doesn’t even choose the winners; for that, a completely independent panel of six industry veterans go over every inch of the car and then determine the winners.
The expert panel of judges include:
Kevin Oeste- The Voice of the SEMA Show and TRIM Awards Host, V8 Speed & Resto Shop Owner
Sean Holman- Owner of Use For Adventure and Co-Host of The Truck Show Podcast
Sara Morosan- Owner of LGE-CTS Motorsports, 2021 SEMA Person of the Year, Multi-time Ford Design award winner
Theresa Contreras- owner of Baja Forged, Multi-time Ford Design award winner, PPG Brand Ambassador
Marcel Venable- co-owner of AutoRevolution on Amazon Prime, OBS-Clash, Car Guy Confessions Podcast
Jason Mulligan- co-owner of AutoRevolution on Amazon Prime, OBS-Clash, Car Guy Confessions Podcast
The TMI TRIM Awards are designed to not only honor the builds and the craftsmen behind it, but to celebrate them in a public fashion. Wednesday November 1st at Noon all the judges and builders will convene at the stage in the TMI Products booth. Here, the judges will go over some of the highlights and announce winners in front of the entire Central Hall at The SEMA Show 2023.
The trophies are just as unique and custom as the interiors and can easily be hoisted in the air in a show of appreciation and accomplishment during the awards ceremony. While there are a few winners, only one ride will be crowned as the Best of Show!
To be eligible for the TRIM Awards, you need to have a vehicle that’s registered and on display at the SEMA Show 2023. There are categories for TMI-equipped vehicles, and categories for non-TMI-equipped vehicles. Having a TMI-equipped vehicle though does not offer a better chance of winning, as proven by last year’s Best of Show winner, that was not TMI-equipped.
TRIM Awards Categories include:
Best Car –Open to any car that features TMI seats
Best Truck –Open to any truck that features TMI seats
Best Custom SUV or Wagon –Open to any SUV or wagon, either two-door or four-door
Best Full Interior –Open to any vehicle of any type that is running a full TMI interior. A full TMI interior includes all the available components from that model line
Most Creative –Best usage of patterns, colors, and overall execution
Best Color-Matching –Best usage of patterns, colors, and stitching that matches vehicle exterior
Best Custom Car Interior (open to all Cars at the show) –Can be any vehicle with any type of custom interior
Best Custom Truck Interior (open to all Trucks at the show) –Can be any vehicle with any type of custom interior
Fan Favorite (Chosen Online) –Finalists that the TRIM Award Judges have chosen will be voted online by fans worldwide.
Best of Show Champion –Judges will vote on their favorite interior of SEMA 2023 and crown it with the TRIM Award’s highest honor
SEE WEBSITE FOR COMPLETE RULES AND INFO AND ENTRY FORM
Judging for the 2023 SEMA Show TRIM Awards will begin Tuesday afternoon October 31st with the announcement from TMI’s SEMA booth of the top 20 vehicles. Competitors are encouraged to register online to let judges know where to find their vehicles.
The crowning of the inaugural TRIM Champion will take place on November 1st at TMI Products SEMA booth #24477, 12:00 noon PST.
Our hosts Kevin Oeste and Mike “Q-Ball” Clarke are joined by Ross Berlanga of TMI Products on this special episode of the V8 Radio Podcast! They cover the long friendship of Ross and Kevin and lots of hot rod stories along the way, all the way up to the upcoming 2023 TMI TRIM Award to be held at the 2023 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The TMI TRIM Award celebrates outstanding interiors of show cars and trucks, and provides great content and even market research for new TMI interior product ideas. Kevin acts as a judge and Emcee of the TRIM Award, and you’ll learn all about it here. And don’t worry, there is plenty of silliness and Automotive Trivia as well, on this unrivaled episode of the V8 Radio Podcast!
Kevin Oeste and Mike “Q-Ball” Clarke chat about Q’s first 3 months as a V8 Speed and Resto Shop official staffer, Kevin and Kelle’s recent SoCal trip to the SEMA Leaders and Legends Gala, Ed Iskenderian, Gene Winfield, ocean fishing, Donut Derelicts, and much more! Of course, there are some ‘nother level automotive trivia questions and much more on the V8 Radio Podcast!
SEMA Fest will be open to everyone and bring the full spectrum of automotive passions together in an accessible, awesome celebration of car culture.
The SEMA Show will remain a trade-only event Tuesday through Friday, with limited access to enthusiasts through the Friday Experience program. SEMA will take over the Las Vegas Festival Grounds on Friday evening of SEMA Week through Saturday night with an all-new SEMAFEST, featuring top music, entertainment, car show and cruise, VIP experiences, craft food, automotive celebrities, and motorsports.
CAR SHOW • MUSIC FESTIVAL • LAS VEGAS SEMA is proud to present this historic festival event open for all to attend at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds Friday, November 3 & Saturday, November 4.
Today we’re setting the wayback machine to November, 2014, where we find the “Mr. Chevy” 1955 Chevy gasser riding on the back of “Carried Away”, it’s personal matching ’55 hauler as they exit the 2014 SEMA Show lighting up the SEMA Cruise on their way out the door. In this shot, SEMA Cruise Emcee Joe Sebergandio fires up the crowd – who was already fired up – as the golden gasser makes a grand exit. “Carried Away” was restored by the V8 Speed and Resto Shop, while “Mr. Chevy” remains as it was when completed back in the late 1960s. You can see the restoration photos and videos of Mr. Chevy at this link. Today, Joe Sebergandio and V8 Speed and Resto Shop’s own Kevin Oeste still have fun hosting the SEMA Cruise… a rolling car show where you truly have no idea what could be rolling by next!
SEMA CEO Mike Spagnola joins Mike “Q-Ball” Clarke and Kevin Oeste on this episode of the V8 Radio Podcast, recorded in the ARP display at the 2022 Performance Racing Industry Show in Indianapolis! Topics include the SEMA Show news, the SEMA Garage, and cool projects of his own like his new Nissan Z. Spagnola breaks down the SEMA Individual Membership and how joining helps protect the interests of all automotive enthusiasts and professionals. And he did pretty well on the Automotive Trivia contest! Click to listen and be sure to subscribe!
We were super-stoked to see the 1932 Ford Roadster owned and loved by Hot Rod Magazine’s Gray Baskerville. It’s not only a righteous ride, but has crossed over 230,000 miles in the name of having a good time telling car stories to the masses. It was great to see it in the Hot Rod Magazine / MotorTrend booth at the 2022 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, NV. It’s also on the cover of the 75th Anniversary issue of Hot Rod – check it out! @hotrodmagazine @semashow #32ford #hotrod #sema #baskerville #toocool #adeeos #legend #icon
Kevin Oeste and Mike “Q-Ball” Clarke chat discuss vanity license plates and other updates on Kevin’s Dodge Maxivan. Later, it’s a 2022 SEMA show preview, which leads to a discussion about automotive events from a car builder standpoint. Sprinkle in some great automotive trivia and few laughs, and you’ve got another action-packed episode of your favorite automotive podcast, V8 Radio!
V8 Radio Podcast
2022 SEMA Preview, Van Update, Car Shows, Automotive Trivia, and More on the V8 Radio Podcast!
