Racing icon Andy Granatelli passed away Sunday, December 29, at the age of 90. He was a pivotal force in the earliest days of the specialty-equipment industry, building a business out of selling speed equipment to new automotive enthusiasts who wanted to modify their cars.

Eric Grant, SEMA's first executive director and member of the SEMA Hall of Fame, passed away on December 23. Grant's contributions to and impact on the specialty-equipment industry are not based on producing performance parts or increasing vehicle speed, but his importance to the growth of the automotive aftermarket and SEMA's early years cannot be disputed.

The 2013 SEMA Show is history and has left no doubt that the automotive specialty-equipment industry is stronger than ever. While final attendance figures are being audited, organizers report that more than 126,000 credentials were issued prior to the event, with thousands more processed onsite. The numbers represented a 7% increase over the previous year, and the highest in SEMA Show history.

George Barris, Eric Grant, Wade Kawasaki and Joe Schubeck will be inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame—an honor that recognizes an elite group of individuals for raising the stature or growth of the automotive specialty-equipment industry.



SEMA will host its annual Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser, Friday, July 26, at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Conference Center in Pomona, California. The annual event is well attended by automotive professionals and serves as a swearing-in ceremony for the incoming Board of Directors, while honoring the newest SEMA Hall of Fame inductees.

The SEMA Hall of Fame website (www.semahof.com) has undergone a makeover over the past several months and is now live and ready for visitors.

The deadline for members to submit their SEMA Hall of Fame nominations is Friday, March 22, 2013.

The deadline for members to submit their SEMA Hall of Fame nominations is Friday, March 22, 2013.