Folks Of Interest Happy 101st Birthday Ed Iskenderian (Belated)

I don't know how we missed it, but I just seen it was Ed Iskenderian's 101st birthday. (yesterday)

 

At CHHR a few years ago

 

Well now, shame on me for not paying attention to that. Mr. Iskenderian, is, among other things, a part of the history of hot rodding. So happy 101st to a certified legend.

 

Wow, we are all slippn' our gears a bit by missing this - pic from earlier this year at the Grand National Roadster Show - another belated Happy Birthday

 

Wow! 101! I bought my first camshaft from him in 1965. John at S&S speed shop in Richmond Hill N.Y. put me on the phone with him. I still run one of his cams.

 

BTT

 

Everyone knows the valve covers but the rest of his hot rod is pretty impressive too!
Happy belated birthday Mr. Iskenderian!

 

hoping he comes to Glory Days at Byron Dragway this year as in years past.

 

Not to hijack a thread but Gene Winfield's 95th birthday was June 16. Two amazing individuals.

 

Had the pleasure of a lunch time greet at Fabulous Burger late June and Ed was his finest humble legend as ever, wowing us with stories of the past. They were lively times, and he's been part of em.
Happy 101 from the Aussies mate.

 

Hello,

Wow, we can all appreciate how long and how much “Isky” has been involved in hot rods and drag racing. 101 is a long time, as we knew 95 to be a long time for our oldest family members. It is an amazing thing and wonderment.

It is wonderful to see the early photos of his involvement in hot rods and drag racing. As we were able to get more involved, we knew the power of his products. The term “Isky Cam” had a lot of awe and great admiration for the name. When my brother got his first car, an Isky Cam was the first addition that was considered, as several of his friends already had a cam by Isky.

But, it was not until several years later in 1959 that we actually bought a long block 283 SBC motor with an Isky Cam for power. At the time, we had a choice of Howard or Isky. We talked to plenty of speed shop owners and racers. Each had their own ideas and it was confusing.

Luckily, the small backyard speed shop we visited in our own neighborhood had a long block SBC motor sitting on display, with the speed parts behind the glass enclosed cabinet. Isky was a name most knew at the time. The owner knew what we wanted and gave us a choice, Howard or Isky Cam and Kit for the 283 SBC motor. He never pushed either one. We made the choice and it turned out well.

We ended up with the Isky Cam and Kit for our first SBC motor partial build and we took it home happily. We added our own choices for the rest of the long block and ended up with a streetable, 283 SBC motor with 6 Strombergs, ported and polished heads, aluminum pistons and the Isky Cam/Kit. Now, it was ready to be placed in our 1940 Willys Coupe for a cool street legal hot rod and at the drags in the Gas Coupe/Sedan Classes.

Jnaki

As time moved on for the next several months of weekly racing, the 283 SBC motor was doing as well as a dual purpose hot rod, could do with what we had. The times were good for the 283 SBC motor and Willys Coupe build. We were impressed with the Isky cam and parts we used for our first full motor build.

Jump up 57 years and at the grand opening of the original Lion’s Dragstrip museum festivities, I was invited to show my films from early Lion's racing action. As it was being played on the big screen monitor, the idea of the gathering was to have old racers/families attend and have a wonderful gathering. The displays of race cars included some of the most well known racers on the Westcoast.

It was like old home week. Racers were gathered around dining tables, deep in conversations as if everyone was just back from the Lion’s Dragstrip, attending a trophy presentation. Racers and race cars from almost every year and era were on display. From 50s modified roadsters to the early 70s fuel cars.

2017 Lion’s Dragstrip Museum opening dinner and conversations… a surprise at the end…

NOTE:
When it was time, Isky developed a blower belt pulley manifold set up for SBC motors. with the help of the Gilmer Corporation.
“ a non-slipping mechanical drive belt… They are made as flexible belts with teeth moulded onto their inner surface. The belts run over matching toothed pulleys or sprockets…”
similar looks of an SBC 671 Isky Gilmer Belt drive motor
With our contact to Isky and Edlebrock from Los Angeles, we were able to get one of the first kits for the public. That started my brother and me on our 671 supercharged 292 SBC motor journey starting around April, 1960. Thanks for the power...!