Battle of the Builders: Billetworkz at SEMA 2023
SEMA 2023 was a wild ride — filled with late nights, unforgettable memories, and the honor of participating in Battle of the Builders with our freshly completed 911 build.
The Road to Vegas
After pulling several late nights, we barely finished the car in time to get it on the trailer. We were up at 2 AM on Sunday to catch our flight to Las Vegas and meet the transporter on-site. That same day, we were in the hotel parking lot finishing final touches — including installing custom tail lights from Germany that had just arrived overnight.
Roll-In, Judging & Surprises
Monday was roll-in day, and we made the decision to drive the car from the hotel to the Las Vegas Convention Center — a big moment considering we hadn't even test-driven it yet. (Let’s be real: not many SEMA builds actually run.)
We rolled into the Toyo Tires Treadpass booth, got set up, and waited for the Battle of the Builders judges to make their rounds. We didn’t know when they’d show up — and after waiting all day, they finally arrived between 7–8 PM. (Shoutout to UberEats Chick-fil-A for keeping us going.)
The judges had just a few minutes with each build, so I did my best to walk them through the entire project. Once they moved on, we called it a night — exhausted, jet-lagged, and hopeful.
The Top 10 & the Build Sheet Scramble
Tuesday marked the official opening of SEMA, and the response to the car was incredible. From industry pros to casual fans, we got nonstop compliments. Around midday, we learned we made the Top 10 in the Sport Compact & Import Performance class — a huge honor!
That’s when things got a little hectic. The judges requested build sheets to help finalize their Top 3, but like many builders pressed for time, we hadn’t made one. With no clear guidance on next steps, we scrambled to email a quick breakdown of the modifications — unsure if it would even be considered.
It was disappointing to find out the judges didn’t revisit the Top 40 builds for a closer evaluation, relying instead on the short time spent on Monday and the rushed build sheets. With the level of craftsmanship on display, more in-depth judging would’ve made a difference.
Final Results & Real Talk
Wednesday, the Top 3 in our class were announced:
- A 1977 Ford Pinto
- A time attack R32 GT-R
- A Baja-style Porsche 911
We didn’t make the cut. And yeah — we were disappointed. Not for ourselves, but for our team, our partners, and everyone who poured time and energy into this build.
That said, we still had the rest of the week to enjoy the show, connect with people, and take in the amazing feedback. We even won over some Porsche purists (which says a lot). One of the most repeated — and meaningful — compliments we heard:
"This is my favorite build of SEMA."
Multiple people asked to buy the car, and more than a few told us we should put our version of the 911 into production.
SEMA Ignited & One Emotional Ride
Friday night, we closed out the week by driving the car through SEMA Ignited, where thousands of fans lined the streets to watch the builds roll out. With the Vegas sunset glowing, it was one of those full-circle moments.
Then came a personal highlight. A new friend, Al Norris, invited us to do a photoshoot out at Red Rock Canyon. I instantly said yes — not just for the location, but because of its emotional meaning.
The last time I attended SEMA with my WRX back in 2018, my late father came with me and spent one of the days exploring Red Rock. I didn’t get to go with him — I was tied up with the show. So this time, I drove our 911 out there alone. It was peaceful. It was powerful. It felt like he was riding shotgun.
Thank You, Team
This build started as a bare shell on a rotisserie and came together in just five months. That wouldn’t have been possible without the insane effort, skill, and dedication of everyone involved. I can’t thank you enough.
Now we’re looking ahead. Hopefully winter passes quickly, because we can’t wait to show — and drive — this car in 2023.
Want to See the Full Build?
Check out the Billetworkz Builds - 1976 Porsche 911 page to see everything that went into this one-of-a-kind project.
