Aftermarket Pioneer Passes Away at 84

The automotive aftermarket honors the legacy of an entrepreneur who turned around Hedman Headers and helped shape the modern structure of SEMA.

Bob Vandergriff Sr., 2003 SEMA Hall of Fame inductee, 1989 SEMA Person of the Year, and former owner of Hedman Headers, has passed away at the age of 84.

Following early career milestones with Petersen Publishing and the NHRA, Vandergriff made his major entrepreneurial move in 1978 by acquiring Hedman Manufacturing. By leveraging his personal assets and restructuring operations, he transformed the troubled business into Hedman Hedders, a leading manufacturer in the performance exhaust sector.

He expanded his aftermarket footprint by acquiring Beeline Engineering (JR Headers) in 1982 and performance accessory manufacturer Trans-Dapt in 1991.

A Legacy of Industry Leadership

Vandergriff’s impact extended deep into the broader aftermarket trade infrastructure through extensive work with SEMA:

• Board & Governance: Served six years on the SEMA Board of Directors and participated across numerous trade committees.

• Workforce Development: Chaired the annual SEMA golf tournament, raising significant capital for the SEMA Scholarship Fund to support future industry talent.

• Industry Honors: Received PWA Manufacturer of the Year awards in 1982 and 1988 with Hedman, was named SEMA Person of the Year in 1989, and was inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame in 2003.

His business turnarounds and dedication to trade association leadership helped build foundational standards across the specialty equipment sector.