One of the true originators of the hot rod scene celebrated a huge birthday today. Ed Iskenderian, better known simply as Isky, was born 102 years ago in Napa, California. After his family moved to Los Angeles, he attended the Polytechnic High School and fell in love with the budding hot rod scene, setting his career on an illustrious path.
In 1947, after returning from service in the US Army Air Force in World War II, he established ISky Camshafts to supply the burgeoning demand for aftermarket performance parts. His later contributions would include a full line of camshafts, roller rockers, hydraulic lifters, and valve springs and offered the first complete high-performance valvetrain kits for hot rodders and sanctioned racers alike.
Iskenderian would go on to serve as the first president of the Specialty Equipment Marketers Association, better known as SEMA, from 1963-64. That landed him in the SEMA Hall of Fame, but he’s also been included in the Motorsports Hall of Fame and has been named one of Chevrolet’s “Legends of Performance.”
Retired now in California’s Central Valley, he continues to serve as an ambassador to the company he founded and as an enduring inspiration to hot rod enthusiasts of all ages. His legacy as a pioneer and innovator in the field of automotive performance will undoubtedly endure for generations to come. Happy birthday, Ed!
I think everyone put an Isky cam in their street rod back when. In fact, I don’t remember considering any other cams.