The energy is high rolling through Day 1 at this year’s SEMA show. The 2013 SEMA is literally “standing room” only as we’re walking up and down the isles with barely enough room to squeeze into our “booths of interest” to bring you the very best LIVE coverage right from the show.

We ran into our friends from the National Street Rod Association (NSRA), and of course they had one of the finest cars ever built, on display in their booth to draw in the attention of onlookers and the 100s of thousands in attendance at this year’s SEMA show. Talking with Jim Rowlett, Marketing Director of NSRA, it’s easy to see that the motto “Fun With Cars” is really something that resonates throughout the entire company, events, and membership of over 50,000 and counting.

After spending just a few short minutes with the crew from NSRA it’s easy to see why they’re able to pull off hosting such a heavy-weight booth vehicle such as the Mumford Track T. While many builds start out with a body and continue on with an engine, Mumford’s Track T took the opposite approach. After acquiring an extremely rare V8-60 Ardun conversion, Mumford looked to find the perfect car to put his prized engine into.

After all, this Howard Allen-built masterpiece wears one of the most coveted pieces of automotive jewelry to date – one of just a handful of Arden cylinder heads ever produced. Mumford, the avid automotive collector that he is, supplied the heads from his own acquisitions, owning two of the only eight sets believed to exist in the world. 

With the help of Roy Brizio, a track-nose T project was eventually found for the build, having been treated to gorgeous tin work by the legendary Steve Davis. Originally started for NHRA Top Fuel Champion Kelly Brown, the Track T had been fitted with a Donovan 4-cylinder engine. Eventually reworking much of the car, Mumford and Brizio went on to win the coveted America’s Most Beautiful Roadster (AMBR) at the Grand National Roadster Show.

Not stopping at the AMBR for impressive hardware / award collecting, the Track T received a special Ford “Best In Show” award displayed proudly in the NHRA booth square in the middle of Hot Rod Alley. Stay tuned for more from both NHRA and we’re sure their good friends Brizio and Mumford will be at it again soon with yet another one-of-a-kind creation.