The Specialty Equiment Manufacturers Association (SEMA) 2004 got underway today, attendees arriving at the Las Vegas Convention Center up to an hour before the 9 a.m. show opening to view some of the tricked-out, souped-up vehicles on display.

Those gathered in the south hall were treated to some pre-show music by a local high school marching band, which performed a range of music from Casey and the Sunshine Band's "Play that Funky Music" to Cheryl Crow's "Soak up the Sun."

The show, which takes up the entire convention center and covers more than 1 million square-feet of space, is expected to draw more than 100,000 visitors and has more than 1,900 exhibitors. Also drawing attention is the Car Crazy television show, airing on the Speed network, which is filming a segment at SEMA.

NACE begins tomorrow, November 3, 2004, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center and the two shows will run concurrently through Friday, November 5th. NACE wraps up on Saturday, November 6th.

For more information about SEMA and NACE as it happens, keep reading the GlassBYTES newsletter; look for a recap of both shows in the next issue of AGRR magazine.