Gran Turismo Awards 2011: 1971 Chevy Camaro Declared "Best in Show"

Event coverage by Neema Amini

Every year, during the first week of November, the Speciality Equipment Market Association (or SEMA) hosts a massive automobile products trade event within the Las Vegas Convention Center. Throngs of automobile enthusiasts -- numbering up to nearly one hundred thousand -- push their way through the halls of the convention center to drool over souped up sports cars, tricked out trucks, speciality rides of all sorts and pretty much any part you've ever imagined a vehicle could have… and then a thousand more.

For someone who had hitherto considered himself a hobbyist, if not an enthusiast, the experience is humbling. The world of automobiles is far, far larger and more complex than I had previously imagined.

Despite the vehicular stimuli overload, ranging from hot rods fashioned from vintage Studebakers to tri-wheeled offroad scooters, I am primarily here to see five vehicles: the finalists for the Gran Turismo Awards. Since 2003, Sony has hosted the GT Awards at the SEMA show, selecting one car as "Best of Show", and including it as a playable car in the next Gran Turismo. This year, from a crowded field of many contestants, five remain.

The first car I'm introduced to, Mark Arcenal's Porsche 964, has been declared "Best European Import." It's tuned by Rauh-Welt, a famous Porsche tuner from Japan, and like all cars built by Rauh-Welt, it's been given a unique name: Pandora One.

Matte green, low-profiled with black rims and sporting a turbocharged 400hp engine, it is immediately eye-popping. Something tells me I might not be able to afford this car, though it may soon be a car I can drive virtually.

Mike Mixon is clearly excited about the car he's built, a thoroughly upgraded 2009 Nisan 370Z that's been chosen as "Best Asian Import." Mike is an easy-going guy from Georgia and despite the gulf of knowledge and expertise between us, his passion is infectious and accessible.

The immaculate white car is punctuated by carbon fiber and if it turns the heads of passerbys while sitting there, it nearly snaps their necks when he turns it on. The engine is loud, to give you a wild understatement. Mike says he and his team "basically put together a 990hp car, though we're looking to get more out of it", which explains the car alarms it sets off when he revs the engine.

For Mike, getting this far is affirmation of all his hard work. "I basically entered the car into the contest on a whim. Being a finalist makes me feel like I'm on the right path."

Unlike the modern day Porsche and Nissan we check out before it, Mary Pozzi's bright orange 1971 Chevy Camaro is a blast from the past. But, in its pristine condition, it doesn't look it and with a 620hp engine, it certainly isn't slowing down at the ripe age of 39.

Mary, who by the way is just really fun to talk with, has altered the Camaro body from its original sheet metal to carbon fiber panels. And she is enthusiastic about her baby: "This is, honest to God, the best car in the entire world. It's a great car to drive, it's a great dance partner."

Mary and her husband emphasized accessibility in parts and build process, aiming to create essentially an open source car that anyone can duplicate and build for themselves. And while it may be powerful, ease and predicability in the drive is of primary importance too, "The rear end comes around on Tuesday and tells you about it on Sunday."

Casey Scranton's Ford F150 is obviously way different than the stock version of America's most popular truck you see on every street. For one, Casey's modifications and attention to detail are striking. All black exterior with a chrome grill, suicide doors, custom aluminum hood, all-red custom leather interior… the list just goes on and on.

And, oh yeah, a supercharged 5.0L 670hp engine. The thing is a beast. Casey started with a brand new 2011 F150, and the truck only has 80 miles on it even now, but after a hectic three months Casey has essentially altered nearly every part of the truck. It absolutely shows.

I'm a fan of Mustangs, so I'm immediately drawn to Filip Trojanek's '66 Mustang. Filip's grandfather purchased the car in 1968 and drove it, and it passed along to Filip once he was old enough to get his driver's license. His childhood ride has come a long way now, as the exterior has been altered and Filip has dropped in a GM LS7 7.0L engine to ensure a powerful car, while keeping the hood line clean.

As a Gran Turismo gamer, it's a trip for Filip to consider the possibility that his high school wheels may soon be in the next iteration of GT. As a racer, Filip approaches Gran Turismo from a unique angle, "It helps you, if you've never been to a track, it helps get you get the muscle memory of the track down."

The panelists and Kazunori Yamauchi don't bestow "Best in Show" at the SEMA show just yet. The award is to be given later that night at Marquee, a club within the Cosmopolitan and, at 60,000-square-feet, the largest club in America.

While club goers down cocktails and play GT on driving simulator kits scattered throughout the venue, Kazunori takes the stage with the finalists.

Each finalist is introduced and awarded a custom Playstation 3. Everyone around me, imbued with Las Vegas spirits, are betting on who the winner might be. "Best in Show" is finally revealed to be Mary Pozzi's Camaro. This marks the second year in a row that an old school Camaro has won the GT Awards. What really seems to have resonated with Kazunori about the car is Mary's emphasis on accessibility and the ability for everyone to duplicate the car.

Following the award ceremonies, everyone is treated to a special performance by the Stone Temple Pilots. Drinks flow, congratulations are extended, and all in all the night is pretty enjoyable. Congratulations to all the finalists, and especially Mary Pozzi, and thanks again to Sony for hosting a fantastic event.