SEMA 2012 – TurboDirect Absolute Success! 4 close friends – the

SEMA 2012 – TurboDirect Absolute Success!
4 close friends – the largest automotive aftermarket show on earth, insurmountable obstacles, a
prestigious prize, a first in South African history – Absolute Success !!
This success story started with a dream, and a visionary by the name of Chris Kambouris – the leader in
his field, his ability to see the opportunity and the guts to go for it, and make it happen at any cost. The
design came from inside his head, an improvement of all similar product in existence on the market
today – transferred to paper, and drawn in CAD. Moulds machined from Billet materials, and investment
cast to reveal the world most advanced stainless steel turbine housing on the planet! Improved Boost
response, less back pressure, and the highest flow rating of any other housing. Created with flanged
options, and V-band connectors – one flange fits multiple family turbochargers in one package – never
seen before!
The trip left for Las Vegas Nevada 27 October 2012 – three bottles of Moet champagne on the plane to
Heathrow, and then transport to Gatwick, where these 4 ventured on to the desert, and a place called
‘the strip’ – this is where the hotel lay where they were to lay their heads down for only 3 of the 7 nights
prepaid. Arrival into Las Vegas saw 4 very tired companions, hit the sack after being awake for almost
36hours. Monday morning we arrive at Denny’s for breakfast – its almost haloween, and the people are
dressed to kill … literally!
The four of us are named PCF – Chris Kambouris(don’t ask what this stands for, parental guidance will be
required!) , Goose – Bruce Chiang, Fatboy – Aidan Siebert, Dutchman – Armand Fourie. You’ll get used
to the names don’t worry!
A huge breakfast and stock of muscle milk saw us on our merry way, which was a 1 mile walk to the
convention centre on Paradise road. We had pre-registered, and had our passes, so we walked straight
in and to our stand – which was empty! EMPTY???? The display was supposed to be here – delivered
directly to the convention centre!!!!???
After frustrating calls to South Africa(Thanks for the help ‘tannie’ Marie!!) and DHL (worst service
EVER!!!) we found out that the shipment was delayed and at customs --- IN LAS ANGELES!!!! Quick
thinking by Dutchman made Fat boy and Chris (PCF) –rush to the airport in the hired car – a Ford
Mustang convertible!
We caught a R20K flight to Palm Springs, and onto LA – where we hired a taxi to take us to the nearest
U-haul outlet (U-haul is a truck rental company) where we hired a truck to go to DHL and we collected
the shipment which consisted of a 780kg display stand! Keep in mind, we collected the display stand on
Monday evening around 6PM. The show starts the next morning at 9AM. We still had a 6 ½ hour drive
back through the desert to Las Vegas in a truck with a speed limiter of 75miles an hour – fatboy had to
calm PCF down with OREO fatties and a 1litre coffee with half-n-half in (half cream and half milk – the
BOMB!) not to mention the energy drinks and Gatorade! Needless to say, PCF lived up to his name!!
Eventually through the desert, and passed boulder city, and other interesting cities, and stops saw us
arrive back to the convention centre at 1H30AM – we had made it! That’s what we thought until we
unpacked the display stand which had no assembly instructions, or tools! Well us South Africans lived up
to our reputation and made a plan! The 4 of us teamed up with the lack of sleep and made it all happen
– 6 hours later the stand was up – and all of us rushed back to the hotel for a shower, change and back
to the convention centre where we arrived just as the gates were opening and the first wave of people
hit us! Well absolute success in the making for 4 solid days, and over 1000+ housings ordered – with
renewed business agreements with existing suppliers aswell as a few new ones, will allow you to benefit
from even better pricing and a larger range of performance products!
Lets talk a little about the suppliers and cars seen at SEMA 2012 – the level of not only competition, but
insanely built cars and to the absolute mind blowing end of ideas and products – will have your jaw
hanging permanently no matter which hall or corridor you find yourself wandering around. Im not one
to be impressed easily, and when I am, it should certainly be something seriously impressive – as was a
number of products and cars built including Chip Foose’s range of which there were about 3 cars which I
had the privilege of seeing, and photographing. Chip himself was also there, autographing books, and
papers - the queue was almost 500people long at any point in time – naturally I gave it a miss 
The 2000HP and 4000Ft/lbs Duramax Diesel engine and drivetrain (look out for this pup, possibly coming
to SA soon!) on display pictured below – drives a 4 ton Dodge 3500 bakkie across the line at just under 9
seconds! After-all their aint much stopping 5423NM of torque in a 4 ton projectile, not even a school
building! Well this is the world’s most powerful street applied Diesel application – obviously running
Twin Garrett turbocharger – GT40R – feeding a GTX5533R
In the USA the masses are starting to move toward the Scion FRS – or otherwise known as the Toyota
FT86 – who knows why, but the modded examples in the pics below are impressive – to give you an
idea, the orange and black two tone has 26inch rear rims on it – the rear discs are 300mm – no roof or
rear glass – removed door handles – this was my personal favorite at the show!
Rhys Millen won the Pikes Peak hillclimb in a ….. wait for it --- my personal favourite car manufacturer
HYUNDAI! Yup Hyundai Genesis (when Hyundai get their finger out their @SS and bring it here, ill be
first on the list!) well here it is – we weren’t allowed to see the engine for some reason, maybe CIA
secret, self destructing documents hidden under there – morons! But none the less, awesome car!
Here we saw an elderly guy with an absolute passion for cars, much the same as we all share, and his
passion urged him to restore and build his bakkie to another level all together! This was done in his
personal capacity, and in his garage at home – I was blown away, this vehicle is built to a level only the
Foose guys can compete against! I believe its almost Riddler level (for those who don’t know what the
Riddler is, it’s the highest level of car build competition in the world, with the strictest judging EVER –
even Foose battles to win this one!)
chad
A quick story about the 4 of us. The second night saw us leave the stand after no sleep since Sunday
night – and it was Tuesday night, after driving 6 ½ hours, assembling a display stand, carrying product to
and from the show, and a lot of stress. We headed for a meal, and the funniest thing happened,
Dutchman and fatboy fell asleep at the bar waiting for their food, with their heads in their hands! All the
people in the bar were laughing at these two punks!
Alas – they chowed their grub and headed home – now just to let you know, the robots in Vegas take
extremely long to change and you will wait at least 5 min MINIMUM for this to happen. Well fatboy
passed out and SO DID DUTCHMAN – at a robot with his foot on the brake – after 10 cars passed hooting
and screaming at the fool behind the wheel – he awoke, and raced off down the road back to the hotel!!
All that sacrifice for ABSOLUTE SUCCESS!!! Thanks guys, we would never have made it without all of your
help! To all those who believed in us, YEE HAAW! – to those who didn’t – HOW YA LIKE ME NOW!!!??
Here is a pic of our half stocked stand with three of the 4 guys on it – SHOT BOYS, WE WIN AGAIN!!
(from left to right-- Fatboy, Goose, Dutchman) You enjoy horsepower, WE OWN IT!!!