Liz Dobson: Everybody's equal in car-show world

Mazda unveiled the new 2016 CX-3 at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Photo / AP

We bonded over strong coffee and they even ordered me another coffee when we met again at another company's espresso machine.

It's amazing who you meet in queues at motor shows where media, exhibitors and heads of car companies are all mixed up in the melee of opening day.

At the Los Angeles Motor Show this week, I was queuing to get my accreditation approved by two very bossy event centre security staff when Mazda's president, Masamichi Kogai, tried to get past.

• Read more Manufacturers show off in LA

One of his three assistants asked to get an access wristband, and was told by Bossy Security One to get to the back of the line.

We are all equals when it comes to security.

As a guest of Mazda NZ, I was about to give my spot to the president, but my wrist was being grabbed by Bossy Security Two as she applied my band.

But Kogai-san was very polite and just stepped behind me.

Heading to a barista at a stand before the first press conference at 9am, I was queuing for my "long black triple shot" (LA translation: Americano) when I began talking to two Englishmen about my coffee order (which they copied), who turned out to be the bosses of Land Rover Jaguar.

We bonded over strong coffee and they even ordered me another coffee when we met again at another company's espresso machine.

But we're not at the show for caffeine hits - although they help. It's the start of the North American auto show session, with California one of the strongest states for new car sales.

Check out my report on the show in Wednesday's Driven.