A pair of tribute drag cars at SEMA

There were a pair of stunning tribute drag cars at the 2018 SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) show in Las  Vegas.

After World War II, Bob Hedman began working at Porter Muffler Shop in Hollywood, then in 1947 left to work for Sandy Belond’s Equaflow Exhaust Company. In 1954 Bob Hedman bought out Belond and changed the company name name to Hedman Muffler and Manufacturing. 

The original version of the “Hedman Husler” Maverick was built in 1970 by the legendary “Dyno Don” Nicholson and campaigned in NHRA National Hot Rod Association Pro Stock as a test bed for Hedman products. The car was driven by Kenny Hedman, son of the company founder.


The original car powered by a Ford 427 SOHC “Cammer” engine fed by dual Holley 4500 carburetors was successful and won several Division 7 NHRA events and was featured in the February 1972 issue of Hot Rod magazine. That car was stolen and replaced by a second version which was raced until 1974.

The car displayed in the Hedman Hedders booth at SEMA 2018 is known as the “Hedman Husler version 3.0” built by Mackey’s Hot Rod Shop is powered by a 409-cubic-inch Ford engine with AFR cylinder heads linked to a Ford C4 transmission that feeds power to the Ford 9-inch rear end. The car had a successful debut at the 2018 NHRA Hot Rod reunion and won a "Wally."

The Derale Performance booth featured a 1964 Ford Falcon NHRA A/FX tribute built by Mike Thomas, with bodywork by Dale Snoke. The car is powered by a Ford 427-cubic inch high-riser FE engine hooked to a Ford C4 transmission and 9-inch rear axle. The automatic transmission is controlled by a nineteen seventies Hurst shifter. 

The 60’s style interior also features a roll cage because this car will be raced after it is off the show circuit. The car graphics are hand-lettered with gold leaf graphics and chrome reverse steel wheels.

Derale is a division of CP Auto Products, Inc. in business in Southern California since 1946 and a charter member of SEMA.

All photos by the author