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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Most racers know Marvin Rifchin as the “M” in M&H Tire Co. He and his dad, Henry, owned and operated M&H out of the cellar of a little gas station at 910 Main Street in Watertown, Massachusetts. The two started in the tire business in the 1930s by producing retreads for midget racing—one of Marvin’s passions at the time. Midget racing eventually waned in popularity in the area, so M&H began to retread tires for stock cars.

Bob has been instrumental in preaching the ‘gospel’ of how to run and manage a performance business through his prolific writings published not only by various Canadian automotive consumer magazines, but many SEMA publications as well,” said Bob Keller of Turbonetics. “He always professed the best interest of the industry as a whole—not just his niche.”

The “Bob” that Keller was referring to is Bob McJannett of Performance Improvements.

Ray Lipper, the founder of Center Line Tool Corp., has built a name for himself and his company based on his background as a designer and engineer. He recognized the need for a stronger wheel in racing, then went to work creating numerous wheels for the industry.

Lipper has produced some of the lightest and strongest one-piece wheels in the industry, from his first attempt, known as the Auto Drag, to his development of the technique for using a single blank that can be split and spun into a one-piece wheel.

To label Jim Wirth a car fanatic would not do justice to his passion for the automobile. A quick cruise through his past reveals a history that’s immersed in all things automotive. Born into a family of car enthusiasts, he spent his early years riding around in rumble seats and touring cars. When he was just three years old, his father built him a gas-powered car using parts from old lawn mowers. Wirth drove the car in a St. Patrick’s Day antique car parade, towing a toy rocket ship.

Charlie Van Cleve’s reaction to being inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame was typical of her humor: “The first thing I was going to do was to call SEMA and say that there’d been some sort of mistake,” she said. “I’m sure I’m not old enough to qualify.” In the case of Van Cleve, her accomplishments would certainly warrant the Hall of Fame committee waving the 40-year minimum age requirement.