Given the explosion of sophisticated automatic transmissions in everything from Ferraris and Porsches to the new ZL1 Camaro, Roger Huntington, writing in the April 1967 issue of Car Craft magazine, could have been talking about today’s performance-car market:

“Automatics are here to stay in high-performance American cars. And, in fact, the age-old manual four-speed might just be falling back a hair. A lot of hot dogs like the convenience of two-pedal driving, and it is pretty well established that an automatic is quicker away from the stoplight—other factors equal. This is becoming a very strong sales factor in today’s supercar market. More and more guys are going automatic on their hot street machines.”

Results of the 2012 SEMA Board of Directors election are in, with two new members joining the group and three members re-elected. The newest members of the group are Russell Stephens, representing the manufacturer category, and Nick Gramelspacher, representing the distributor/retailer category.

SEMA Honors Nick Arias Jr., Bill France Sr., Mark Heffington and Bob Larivee Sr. With Hall of Fame Induction

For a chosen few, an obsession develops. Regardless of personal or professional success, this select group never stops raising the bar. Even when they take the checkered flag at the track or produce an event that attracts thousands of rabid fans or they literally break the mold when it comes to reinventing performance parts, it’s still not enough. There’s always room for improvement, and every person inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame spends a lifetime trying to find it.

The SEMA Mustang Build Powered by Women is a unique project that has captured the media’s attention. Hundreds of outlets reported on the announcement that SEMA and Ford have partnered to have a new Mustang customized by a group of female volunteers. The completed vehicle will debut at the 2012 SEMA Show and will then be auctioned on eBay to benefit the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Carroll Shelby, who passed away in May at the age of 89, was a true icon in the automotive world—someone whose name was literally synonymous with performance. Ask anyone to list their 10 favorite cars of all time, and chances are good that at least one will carry Shelby’s name or have been influenced by the flight instructor turned chicken farmer turned sports car racer turned car builder turned entrepreneur turned philanthropist.

SEMA led a fact-finding and buying mission to the Middle East, where Abu Dhabi was the venue for a one-on-one matchmaking event held April 17–20. Through a series of private meetings and networking events, participating U.S. manufacturers gathered with pre-vetted local importers and retailers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and from throughout the region for the SEMA Middle East Market Development Conference. An intimate, hotel-based, one-on-one setting allowed manufacturers and buyers the opportunity to get to know one another over several full days and included receptions and events at the Yas Marina Circuit, which is the venue for the Abu Dhabi
Grand Prix.