January, 03 2017 Our industry has lost another true Goodguy. Nick Arias Jr – a hot rodder, performance parts pioneer and manufacturer – and a darn nice man p***ed away Monday, January 2nd. Arias was one of Southern California’s original post-war hot rod rat packers. The first car he bought was a deuce three-window. He hung out with and became close friends with Joe Pisano, Ed Iskenderian, Frank Venolia, Juan Fangio, Harry Warner, Lou Senter, Lou Baney, and a host of other hot rod luminaries. He raced the dry lakes, drag strips, and was a founding member of the Photons as well as the Screwdrivers car clubs. Fellow members included Craig Breedlove, Don Rackeman, Lou Baney, Joe Pisano and others. After serving a tour of duty in Korea and making it out alive, he came home and like so many other So-Cal speed demons, Arias went to work in the performance industry, then forged his own path by obtaining a share in Venolia Pistons before striking out on his own. Known as “Mr Chevrolet,” Arias developed the first state-of-the-art Hemi-head conversion for Big-Block Chevys in 1972. A m***ive 10-liter block with Arias heads and pistons soon followed and was adapted for drag strip applications. But where it really took hold was in the international realm of tractor pulling and in the drag boats streaking by at Long Beach Marine Stadium. Nick Arias Jr and Ed Iskenderian In subsequent years, Arias continued to develop new hi-performance cylinder heads, pistons and other components from his shop in Gardena, California. While his products were used in many hi-performance lines and mediums, Arias’ true love was land speed racing and drag racing. He and his son Nick III raced in the early days of Goodguys Vintage Drag Racing running a (what else?) Arias powered dragster in N/E I compe***ion as a teammate of Brendan Murry. Both Nick Jr and Nick III were regulars in the grandstands at famous California tracks like Pomona, Sears Point, and Famoso Dragstrip in Bakersfield. Nick Jr used to love to sit about three-quarters down the track to hear the engines at full song. He befriended several friends and I when we were all in our twenties, making us feel welcome into the performance world. He was so nice! A real gentleman. We would sit together and talk racing – he didn’t care how old we were – he could see we were p***ionate about the sport of drag racing. Nick Jr and Lou Senter Over the years, Arias developed a mul***ude of successful track and street engines including the Arias 4-Cylinder which led USAC Midget circuits, the Arias V6 Hemi, A/R Boss 429, Howard 12-Port GMC head, the New Century aluminum block and most recently LS and SB Ford Hemi heads. In fact, Dan Wathor’s ’37 Ford, a car which was crowned Goodguys 2016 America’s Most Beautiful Street Rod was the first street car to run the new SB Ford Hemi setup. Nick Arias Jr’s career in hot rodding along with his humility and kindness landed him in the SEMA Hall of Fame, International Drag Racing Hall of Fame, and others. He was an honoree at the NHRA California Hot Rod Reunion in 2000. Do yourself a favor and watch this video of Nick Jr. It will give you a sense of how influential he was and it can be a simple way to pay respect to a true go-fast gentleman. We will miss his gentle smile. Thankfully, the Arias Performance legacy lives on. Their engines and products speak for themselves. If your hot rod or race car needs a winning edge, check out the Arias line of go-fast goodies here http://nickariasjr.com/.
It is always sad to hear of another of Hot Rodding's great pioneers' p***ing. from what I have heard he had a full creative and productive life. RIP sir.
The Jalopy Journal
