Overview

Delve into the life of Ed Iskenderian, a gifted machinist with a natural knack for promotion, who started a cam business from the ground up and became a leading cam authority and hot rodding icon. Isky: Ed Iskenderian and the History of Hot Rodding, tells the whole story, including his pre-war Lake Muroc and car club activities, his military service, how he started a small business fabricating parts and making cams in the back of a rented shop, and how he then sold those cams to other rodders. It covers how he grew a business from a single cam grinder and became an authority in the field in barely 10 years. To tell the life story of Ed ""Isky"" Iskenderian is to tell the history of hot rodding in America. Ed was there from the very beginning. Born in 1921 to first-generation Armenian immigrants, Ed's first hobby was ham radio, but like many young men in the years before World War II, his interest turned to automobiles, especially hot rods. Ed had natural skills in metal working and machining that were developed in high school. He wanted to further develop those skills, so he joined the Air Corps to continue his education and flew with Air Transport Command. By the time Ed was out of the service, the California hot rod scene was in full bloom with tens of thousands of vets who had the desire to make cars go fast. Ed was an early pioneer in the industry for print adverting and catalogs. He purchased an ad in the second issue of Hot Rod magazine. Sensing something big, his instincts, as always, were right. He was also the first to use T-shirts and uniforms as promotion. Ed was also among the first to understand the value of having successful race cars using his cams in their engines and wearing his decals on their fenders. The biggest names in the racing industry were running Isky cams, and Ed made sure the world knew it. Ed's company name went on to become one of the household names in the performance community. His continued success is an entertaining tale of mingling with industry icons, insight into the business of hot rodding, great stories of yesterday and today, and a life very well lived. You will enjoy the stories recorded here as much as Ed ""Isky"" Iskenderian seems to enjoy telling them.

Full Product Details

9781613252901

Table of Contents

Reviews

One of the best books about the sport and hobby of racing and performance cars and the people of the scene. --Dan Davis Victory Lane (04/07/2017) Isky is a fun read about a guy who knew exactly what he wanted to accomplish and how to go about doing it. --Mark Wigginton American Car Collector (04/28/2017) It's an interesting read for any performance enthusiast. --Terry McGean Hemmings Motor News (04/28/2017) A great book to have in your collection. --John Worden Eastern Hot Rodder (05/12/2017)

One of the best books about the sport and hobby of racing and performance cars and the people of the scene. --Dan Davis Victory Lane (04/07/2017) Isky is a fun read about a guy who knew exactly what he wanted to accomplish and how to go about doing it. --Mark Wigginton American Car Collector (04/28/2017) It's an interesting read for any performance enthusiast. --Terry McGean Hemmings Motor News (04/28/2017) A great book to have in your collection. --John Worden Eastern Hot Rodder (05/12/2017) It's about time someone chronicled Isky's life, and Matt Stone does a superb job. --Mark Vaughn Auto Week (11/26/2017) Winner of the prestigious Dean Batchelor Award for Excellence in Automotive Journalism and Best Book of the Year.--Motor Press Guild (02/13/2018) ... an all-star effort. -- (12/11/2017) You will enjoy the stories recorded here as much as Ed 'Isky' Iskenderian seems to enjoy telling them. --Gasser magazine (07/12/2017)

"""... an all-star effort.""-- ""Old Cars Weekly"" (12/11/2017 12:00:00 AM) ""A great book to have in your collection.""--John Worden ""Eastern Hot Rodder"" (5/12/2017 12:00:00 AM) ""Isky is a fun read about a guy who knew exactly what he wanted to accomplish and how to go about doing it.""--Mark Wigginton ""American Car Collector"" (4/28/2017 12:00:00 AM) ""It's about time someone chronicled Isky's life, and Matt Stone does a superb job.""--Mark Vaughn ""Auto Week"" (11/26/2017 12:00:00 AM) ""It's an interesting read for any performance enthusiast.""--Terry McGean ""Hemmings Motor News"" (4/28/2017 12:00:00 AM) ""One of the best books about the sport and hobby of racing and performance cars and the people of the scene.""--Dan Davis ""Victory Lane"" (4/7/2017 12:00:00 AM) Winner of the prestigious Dean Batchelor Award for Excellence in Automotive Journalism and Best Book of the Year.-- ""Motor Press Guild"" (2/13/2018 12:00:00 AM) ""It's a good read made better because Ed Iskenderian and his history is filled with such joi de vivre.""--Helen Hutchings ""speedreaders.info"" (3/15/2019 12:00:00 AM) ""You will enjoy the stories recorded here as much as Ed 'Isky' Iskenderian seems to enjoy telling them.""-- ""Gasser magazine"" (7/12/2017 12:00:00 AM)"

It's an interesting read for any performance enthusiast. --Terry McGean Hemmings Motor News (04/28/2017)

One of the best books about the sport and hobby of racing and performance cars and the people of the scene. --Dan Davis Victory Lane (04/07/2017)

Author Information

Matt Stone is a freelance journalist, author, broadcaster, and former editor of Motor Trend Classic magazine. He has been a professional automotive journalist/photographer since 1990. Stone has a bachelor's degree from Cal Poly Pomona, with a major in business, and minors in journalism and marketing. He has authored and photographed 10 automotive books and is a former member of SPEED/FOX SPORTS television networks Barrett-Jackson auction broadcast team. Matt is also a judge at various Concours d'Elegance, and a member of the Le May Americas Car Museum Steering Committee. He serves his profession as a past Officer and Board of Director member, Keynote Address Committee Chairman, and past-President of the Motor Press Guild (MPG) trade association.

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