Show goers getting virtually real.

One of the big things in 2016 is the advent of virtual reality making its way into the SEMA show. There were multiple booths that gave show goers the opportunity to experience this new world. One of those booths was the Optima booth, and their choice of realities is what got our attention. According to Erin Guth, “This interactive experience gives enthusiasts the ability to ride along in one or more great performing cars.”

For some reason, the folks at Optima wouldn’t let us actually drive Mark Steilow’s Camaro.

This “Power of Legends” virtual reality experience gave attendees the chance to enjoy the in-vehicle action while riding alongside different expert drivers in the worlds of professional road racing, off-road racing, and even bass fishing. If you were one of the first 1,000 participants, you even got a pair of Powis Virtual Reality googles and a set of Optima earbuds to keep.

We didn’t get there in time to get the goggles to take home, but we decided to give virtual reality a try, and our experience involved riding in Mark Steilow’s ’69 Camaro. When you put the goggles on, all you have to do is look left, right, or even behind you to choose the experience that you wish to partake. Since we chose to ride along in Steilow’s Camaro, we virtually strapped ourselves in and hung on.

The experience was new for us, as we’ve never tried to visit any place in a virtual world. We have to admit, this first experience was cool.

To learn more about the virtual experience with Optima or to find out more about their products, check out www.optima.com