Steve was founder and owner of Competition Specialties in Auburn, Washington, and was an active force in the industry. As Chairman of the Board of Directors of SEMA, he "took charge" and, working closely with then-President Charles R. Blum, encouraged unprecedented growth of the SEMA Show and the Association itself. Steve was an innovator, an enthusiastic supporter of racing and one of the performance industry's most dedicated entrepreneurs. Additionally, he was a SEMA Memorial Scholarship subfund sponsor, and in 1997 received the PWA Pioneer Award for his outstanding contributions to the development of the Warehouse Distributor in the specialty equipment industry.

A respected expert in the automotive aftermarket, a dedicated supporter of specialty aftermarket industry causes, and a frequent contributor to SEMA projects and programs, Bob is also a former member of the SEMA Board of Directors. Patteri Sales, under his direction, is known for introducing specialty and performance lines into traditional automotive parts outlets, expanding the scope of the specialty industry throughout the aftermarket. Bob also founded the SEMA MRC Council.

As founder and president of Moroso Performance Products, Dick was an avid enthusiast, whose commitment to industry causes was matched by his support of racing and hot rodding programs and events. Dick saw much success as a Modified Production drag racer before making the switch to manufacturing speed parts, and worked hard to build awareness for the warehouse distribution network. Moroso racing products changed the industry, from revolutionary electric water pumps to racing vacuum pumps. The company also owns the Moroso Motorsports Park in Florida.

Roberts is the founder and president of McLeod Industries, and he has to his credit many innovations in the field of clutch and flywheel technology for the full spectrum of performance and racing applications. He developed the slider clutch in the 1960s, among other ideas and features to help competitors who have relied on McLeod products since the company was founded in 1971. But more important to Roberts and his customers are the many clutch and flywheel safety features for which his inventive mind is responsible.

Coleman is the president of Competition Cams, a world leader in valvetrain technology, and under his management the company has acquired several other businesses to make it the successful operation that it is today. He also founded the National Muscle Car Association, which is recognized as the largest national sanctioning group dedicated to street-legal vehicles.

Additionally, Coleman served on the SEMA Board of Directors for two terms and dedicated his professional time to a four-year stint as SEMA Chairman of the Board. He also served on the Joint Operating Committee for Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week (AAIW) and, at the governmental level, was elected to the White House Conference on Small Business twice. He was active in issues involving government regulations and taxation of business, and testified before the Senate Small Business Committee to encourage the reduction of regulations that impact small business.

With SEMA, Coleman was active in the U.S.-Japan Auto Parts Trade Agreement, which for the first time gave U.S. companies a fair chance to compete with product sales in Japan.

Although best known for his 36-year career as a journalist for Hot Rod magazine, honoree Jim McFarland has also made many significant contributions to the industry with his product designs.

During a 19-year tenure at Edelbrock Corp., McFarland designed induction and exhaust systems, camshaft and valve train components among many other products. Today he operates his own consultancy, AutoCom, using his skills as a journalist and engineer to assist OEMs and aftermarket companies.

Jim has been acknowledged for his accomplishments numerous times, including "Hi-Riser" by Car Craft magazine and as Person of the Year by SEMA in 1985.

Hot rod pioneer Andy Granatelli was a pivotal force in the earliest days of the industry, building a business out of selling speed equipment to new automotive enthusiasts who wanted to modify their cars. Grancor (short for Granatelli Corp.) was a warehouse distributor serving the Midwest by importing products from California manufacturers such as Edelbrock, Winfield and Belond. Over the years, Granatelli fielded numerous racing efforts at the Indianapolis 500, including the memorable turbine-powered STP car driven by Parnelli Jones in 1967.

After 20 years of involvement with SEMA and the specialty and performance sector, Granatelli is a member of the Bonneville and El Mirage 200 MPH Clubs as well as the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and received the "Racing Pioneer" title from the American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association (AARWBA).

Granatelli passed away at the age of 90.

Arnold “Arnie” Kuhns has made numerous contributions to the motorsports industry. In 1984, he became the president of SFI, a non-profit foundation established to issue and administer safety standards for specialty/performance automotive and racing products.
At the time SFI had only two employees and four product standards for one race-sanctioning body. Since then, he has helped SFI grow to nine employees responsible for 80 specifications, and the organization is affiliated with nearly 40 sanctioning bodies.
Kuhns has been awarded the USAC Jack O’Neal Award for Motorsports Safety and the SCCA George Snively Award for Outstanding Contributions in Motorsports Safety.

Harry Hibler made his professional mark in the publishing industry, serving at Petersen Publishing for nearly 30 years. He was responsible for considerable growth in the company’s automotive enthusiast magazines, including Hot Rod, Car Craft and Circle Track.

In 1991, Hibler was the only non-GM person called upon to be involved in the design of the “new generation” Camaro and Firebird. He also has consulted at Mitsubishi, Kawasaki and Honda. Hibler served three terms on the SEMA Board of Directors. He is on the selection board of the Drag Racing Hall of Fame, and is a member of the Industrial Advisory Board of Northwestern College in Ohio, where he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1994.

Robert Vandergriff has been associated with Petersen Publishing, NHRA and McMullen Advertising. At those organizations, he helped increase magazine circulations, contributed to company growth and received countless advertising awards.

It is, however, his role as a businessman and entrepreneur that he is best known. In 1978, Vandergriff purchased his steppingstone to the future: Hedman Manufacturing.

“He put up everything he had so that he could purchase the company,” recalls Dick Van Cleve, who has known Vandergriff for more than 30 years.

Vandergriff put up his mortgage and sold his cars and his stocks. With the money he raised—along with the help of McMullen and several friends—Vandergriff purchased the then-troubled company.

“If he had not made it, he’d be flat broke today,” said Van Cleve. Vandergriff, however, was committed to turning the company around. “He told McMullen that he would personally go in and make sure that the company was well run.”

With what Vandergriff describes as “a lot of hard work and dedication from a lot of people,” he did just that. Vandergriff built Hedman Hedders to become one of today’s most successful companies in the industry.

He went on to purchase Beeline Engineering (JR Headers) in 1982 and Trans-Dapt, an accessory company, in 1991. He officially left McMullen Advertising in 1992 and now concentrates his efforts on Hedman Hedders, JR Headers and Trans-Dapt.

As the owner of these companies, he has also been one of SEMA’s most active members. Vandergriff was a SEMA Board of Directors member for six years, and served on many SEMA committees.

“Bob became an active member of SEMA and was a prominent leader and supporter of projects that helped to build the SEMA Show’s success,” said NHRA’s Wally Parks.

“I think what uniquely qualifies Bob to membership in the SEMA Hall of Fame is his ability to work behind the scenes, accomplishing objectives that help the growth and solidification of the industry and SEMA,” said Jim McFarland.

Vandergriff invested several years and time as chairman of SEMA’s annual golf tournament. The event helped raise thousands of dollars for the SEMA Scholarship Fund.

In addition to his own personal involvement with the association, Vandergriff has allowed and supported his employees’ participation in SEMA. Two of Hedman’s top executives, Charlie Van Cleve and Ron Funfar, spent several years on SEMA’s Board of Directors.

“Never have Ron or I ever heard any grumblings for spending time on SEMA business,” said Charlie Van Cleve. “And if anyone in the company showed any interest at all in participating in SEMA activities, Bob would allow it in a heart beat. Along with [B&M’s] Bob Spar, I cannot think of two other company owners who have been so generous with their company’s time to SEMA.”

“His personal dedication to the performance industries and his countless contributions to SEMA’s interests have made Bob Vandergriff Sr. a highly qualified recipient for induction into this year’s SEMA Hall of Fame,” said Parks.

Hedman Hedders has been recognized with the PWA Manufacturer of the Year awards in 1982 and 1988, and Vandergriff was recognized as the 1989 SEMA Person of the Year.

Yet, despite Vandergriff’s many accomplishments and great success, his induction into the SEMA Hall of Fame still came as a shock to him.

“I thought it was a mistake,” Vandergriff said when he first heard the news. “I’m proud to be included in the group. These are people I used to read about a lot.”