This week’s video from C. Van Tune gives us a short history of SEMA, the speed equipment trade show that has grown to become the most influential automotive tuning show on the planet.

Our second installment of our weekly review of C. Van Tune’s video archives. This week, Van tells a bit of Ford GT40 history and then puts a tungsten Ford GT through it’s paces.

After the break of course
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When we started planning The Garage a few years back, I envisioned a sort of virtual garage where all manner of car enthusiasts would feel comfortable dropping by and sharing a story or two. As The Garage has grown, we’ve been lucky enough to be joined by young enthusiasts and old racers. Time worn journos and new guys trying to make a name for themselves have dropped by with a few tales. Each one has helped shape The Garage and added a bit more flavour. Today, we have yet another talent coming dropping in for a visit. Thanks to Gary Faules, I am more than honoured to welcome C. Van Tune to The Garage.

Who is C. Van Tune? I’ll let Van make the introduction himself:
If you’ve been a car enthusiast for any of the past 28 years, you probably know the name C. Van Tune. Maybe you’ve read some of the two thousand articles he’s written. Or seen any of his hundreds of TV news appearances. Or, maybe he’s best known as the Editor-in-Chief of Motor Trend Magazine from 1994-2001. He surprised everyone when he stepped down from MT’s helm, but very soon after he accepted the job as host of ESPN’s first automotive TV series “Drive”, and quickly set about doing his trademark sideways-driving, smoking-tire road tests for the sports world—a winning formula that continues today. A self-described victim of “Mad Car Disease” Van owns more than 15 cars, most of which are 1950s and ‘60s American classics. His love of motor-sports has put him behind the wheel in professional road racing, drag racing, hill climbs, autocrosses, off road racing, vintage racing and celebrity racing. Always a down-to-earth person who enjoys talking cars with anyone, Van can be counted on to leave the scene amid a giant cloud of tire smoke…and to hell with the hydrocarbons!

Van has hung up the keyboard for now, but has graciously allowed us to post some his Drive segments. While the products in these vids may be a few years old, those of us who live outside the reach of ESPN will have an opportunity to see some classic footage.

Over the coming weeks, we’re going to share as many of these Drive episodes as we can. After the break, watch as Van gets some seat time in a Porsche Carrera GT.
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