A hot rod is an older car, typically the Ford models created before World War II, that was modified so that its speed, acceleration or style is changed. Ed Iskenderian, known as Isky and "the Camfather," became well known in the car community as "an affable, cigar-chomping hot-rod pioneer, innovative machinist and clever promoter," according to the New York Times.
Iskenderian built his first hot rod when he was a teenager, using an old Ford Model T, and raced with friends in the Mojave Desert, hitting speeds up to 120 miles per hour. In 1946, he eventually established Isky Camshafts in Culver City, where he specialized in "fast action" cams for Ford Flathead V8 engines. His business quickly grew, and his influence can be felt in the motorsport industry to this day.
It was announced by Car and Driver on Feb. 4 that Iskenerian passed away in hospice care at 104 years old. He is survived by his children: Richard, Timothy and Amy, as well as eight grandchildren and his brother Ben.
Born on July 10, 1921, in Tulare County, California, Iskenerian was the son of Armenian immigrants and always had a love for cars, especially because California was known for car and hot rodding culture. His family eventually moved to Los Angeles, where his father opened a shoe repair shop. By elementary school, he began working with tools and by junior high, was starting to repair radios and taking auto shop classes in high school.
Years later, he served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II. When he returned to his home state after the war, Iskenerian started building cars and reprofiling camshafts so that they were more powerful, had higher revs and better fuel management. Camshafts are a car engine's heartbeat, and consist of a rod and shaped lobes that synchronize the opening and closing of an engine's air intake and valves.
His cams started attracting attention from racers and he was able to get marketing possibilities and sponsorships from iconic racers of that day, such as Richard Petty, Don Garlits and Jim Clark.
Thanks to Iskenderian, he revolutionized the camshaft business and helped turn the automobile industry into a hobby. His impact is still seen in many of the country's biggest races, such as the Indianapolis 500 and Daytona 500.
"His influence can be felt in every form of motorsport today," Car and Driver wrote in their tribute. "Isky lived long enough to enjoy the changing landscape of the industry he helped pioneer."
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