After the arrival of the long anticipated Rodder's Journal #87 and Hop Up #19 I think Hop Up may have the edge over the Rodder's Journal this time? I'll have to peruse both some more but for a guy that got his first R&C little pages in 1957 and still have it, I've been a book guy for a long time. We'll see.
I still have my very first Hot Rod Magazine and my HAMB friend Dean Lowe was featured on the cover with his Hot Rod pickup graciously signed my copy a few years ago. HRP
My Collection of all the hot rods from 48 till 71 ish are in Storage, @ one time in 70's I thought H-R-M Offered "lifetime" subscription ?? if so does anybody still receive
Ed wanted me to induct him into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in March of 2025. Below is what I told ***embled go fast royalty about the man -- with his complete blessing! However, I had a condition..., if I was gonna to the inducting, he had to teach me how to grind a cam. The deal was struck and this photo sealed the deal. For my first months at Petersen Publishing in 1980 when I took over the HOT ROD Performance & Custom Directory from Alex Xydias, Ed was a friend, a mentor, a protector and confidant. In all those 46 years we never had a cross word, but spoke regularly about some cool, or nutzo thing or person in the industry, or on a track somewhere around the world. For his 104th birthday, I wrote him the story he had been bugging me about for months: A proper retrospect of Elwin "Al" Teague, whom ISKY repeatedly told me was is all time hero who NEVER got the recognition for all his astounding achievements. After lunch, when he began his walk toward 105 years, I sat and read him the entire article -- an impossible task without Jane and Al Teague helping reading, checking, and then approving every blessed word. Ed smiled throughout and occasionally said, "Oh, I never knew that!", or "WOW, I forgot he did that too!" and so on. Look for that to be shared in the future through the Iskenderian Racing Cams website -- with photos! And, off with your helmets and hats, its time for remembering the mighty man.... 2025 MSHOFA Ed Iskenderian Induction speech Copyright 2025“LandSpeed” Louise Ann Noeth Many thousands of engines have been made faster and more reliable - simply by using one of Ed Iskenderian’s racing camshafts. Ed is a charmingly casual, unfussy fellow who conquers his compe***ion one lobe at a time This 103 year-old man -- a lynchpin in Los Angeles when hot rodding gave birth to the speed equipment industry -- still goes to work daily and contributes to his company and motorsports with enviable gusto. His self-taught mechanical engineering adventure began in the 1940s. He started with a two-inch camshaft ad in the August 1948 issue of Speed Age magazine. This inspired a couple of road racing brothers to buy one. The boys not only ran the fastest lap in front 100,000 spectators, but also won the inaugural Sports Car Grand Prix at Watkins Glen. Giddy with delight, Sam and Miles Collier - yes, those Colliers -- sent Isky a 2-page letter of their marvelous milestone. Oh, and if you see the Swamp Rat wandering around here tonight, ask Garlits who is responsible for rocketing him into worldwide renown. Though commonplace in motorsports worldwide today, ISKY “The Camfather” was theFirst President of SEMA because he had already done ALL this: - paid contingency money to racers using his products - used decals to expand his racing market acceptance - provided racers free tee-shirts as wearable advertising. Being fast and first is critical but what about Isky’s decades of discreet philanthropy helping thousands? This story is as powerful as it is endearing. During the 1960s ISKY adopted a des***ute village in Baja, Mexico repeatedly donating clothing, bedding, food, and toys. Selling burritos on the side of the road to the Baja off road racers was 9 year old Javier Vasquez who had no toys of his own. When Ed noticed the little boy staring at the model cars lying atop his dashboard, he picked up a Red ’37 Chevy Coupe and gave it to Javier. From that moment Javier BELIEVED that he WAS a REAL hot rodder because he now owned one. He told his siblings and others, “You can look at it but not touch it.” Javier STILL cherishes the little red car to this day confessing that this toy has been his touchstone of acceptance, focus and success for more than 50 years. Here’s why… When his family emigrated to the US, Javier perfected his English, concentrated on his lessons and in high school learned how to make castings. This led to a job in a foundry that supported his family and paid for college courses. He steadily mastered the craft focusing on racing blocks. By 1989, Vasquez opened Foundry Works that today in Bell Gardens California ONLY makes high performance aluminum castings and the wheels the Martian Rover. Now that’s paying it forwards folks May this story inspire you to do the same…..to light a flame in the lives of others In conclusion, because this is a Technology induction, when Ed asked me to speak to you tonight, I was uncomfortable because I did not know how to camshafts were ground. Ed personally fixed that. I stand before you an experienced camshaft grinder taught by the best and here is the lobe to prove it! I am, so thoroughly honored to welcome this Centenarian of Speed, the oldest inductee ever elected into the MSHOFA: Ed Iskenderian
Sorry guys, you have misinterpreted my thread, I was comparing the 2 new books on content not what was the oldest magazine I owned.
I received my copy of Hop Up today, Good thing it’s an annual subscription It will prolly take a year to read through it. I will comment later after I have read through it a bit more haven’t received my copy of Rodders Journal yet, looking forward to that one as well.
"conquers his compe***ion one lobe at a time.".............What a great line @LSL ........and so absolutely appropriate. Beautiful speech.............Don.
Louise, Thank You for adding your Tribute to this Man. His Life should be a model for everyone's life, not much more needs to be said. Farewell, Mr. ISKY!
I think we should all be thankful that we have both Rodders Journal and Hop Up still being printed for us to enjoy even if it is on a very limited basis.
Honestly I think the issue started when magazines going away in paper form . TRJ in catch 22 now with so many LIFE SUBSCRIPTIONS vs magazine sales on racks ,sales vs profit ? Small interest In old H-Rs .
Don't misunderstand me, I likem both, got every issue of Rodder's Journal. Plus a lot of Hop UP'd IMy comment was meant to point out that Hop Up had so many feature cars. Not demeaning either.
I still hate it. It’s actually been in timeout in the trailer since the photo shoot. The mice have probably already ate it by now.
The poster in Hop Up is frame worthy, although that will have to wait for now it makes a great book marker. Can’t wait till my new eye gl***es come in next week, will make it easier to read.
Paul Grace had an interesting editorial in his HOT ROD NEW ZEALAND magazine telling that their experience with new stand and store display sales. He said the average stand saw only about a 50% purchase rate, meaning that half of the magazines sent to the rack didnt sell. He said the racks that sold out varied month to month so they adjusted the quan***y of magazines sent to a rack by looking at the previous month's sales. For the higher dollar publications, rack sales probably dont make sense any longer.
The Jalopy Journal
