Ed “ISKY” Iskenderian’s 104th Birthday Bash
– FRIENDS & FANS CAME TO WISH THE CAM FATHER HIS 104TH!
– CELEBRATION TOOK PLACE AT THE LIONS AUTOMOBILIA MUSEUM
– DON GARLITS’ SWAMP RAT III FIRED UP ON NITRO TO START THE PARTY
It was a historical moment to be there with Mr. Ed Iskenderian on his 104th birthday party celebration! The Lions Automobilia Museum went all-out in providing a good time for all, and the place was packed throughout the day! With “Isky” being surrounded by all the people who attended, plus the general friendly atmosphere, it was like a huge family gathering and everyone was grateful to absorb it all. History in the making for certain.
A true folk hero in the automotive aftermarket! To anyone who’s had the opportunity to talk with Ed Iskenderian, it is like an education “from the horse’s mouth” on the origins of American hot rodding. He’s one of the founding fathers of the American drag racing and dry lake movements, SEMA’s first president. His impact on motorsports as a parts manufacturer is unparalleled, and he became a household name with high-performance car lovers as his camshafts and related equipment became an industry standard. The man is naturally inquisitive, street smart and a great businessman. He has tremendous interest and enthusiasm for all things mechanical.
With a long line of enthusiastic well-wisher visitors, Isky was presented gift after gift after gift and along with that lots of photos. It truly was a festive time for all, Ed clearly enjoyed all the attention!
THE MAN OF THE HOUR
The crowd was there to capture the moment and greet Isky, to have a chance to talk and visit, and to hear the stories! When Ed came into the room with his daughter-in-law Norma and son Richard, he enjoyed all the nice things that were said about him, and the group knew it was something very special to be there. Everybody wishes for his continued good health and sharp mind.
FRAMED ART PRESENTED
When the pencil art piece was presented to Ed by talented artist Cindy Gibbs, he looked at it and immediately said: “Yes! That looks like me!” That had to be some serious music to Cindy’s ears right there, a job well done! And during this happy moment event, MC Jack Beckman enjoyed the occasion to the fullest!
Isky the industry rock star! This was a special historical opportunity for all who attended, and being a part of it was something not forgotten anytime soon.
CUSTOM 104 CAKE
The creatively decorated birthday cake featured the artwork from the special occasion T-shirts; and soon after this picture was taken, it was cut into pieces and enjoyed by all that got in line for a tasty treat!
DAVE MAREK ART
Automotive artist Dave Marek did this colorful rendition of the cars of Butch Leal, Big John, Greer-Black-Prudhomme for this poster art. Fantastic detail! They sell them in the gift shop.
MOPAR® RACER DRAG-ON LADY APPEARANCE
Shirley Shahan, back in the day known as “The Drag-On Lady”, was on hand signing her book and chatting about the glory days of drag racing. Her informative book (written by Pat Foster) is filled with historical photos and her story of the challenges of being a pioneer female in the then male-dominated sport.
Inside the museum, there’s acknowledgment of her impact on drag racing, with both Mopar and AMC cars and very popular! Her win at the 1966 NHRA Winternationals in Super Stock a highlight.
With the Chrysler Corporation factory involvement she had, Shirley was also involved with special events such as the Mobil Economy Runs, as seen here with the new for 1968 Dodge Coronet.
LIONS RECREATION STARTING LINE
It was museum creator Rick Lorenzen’s way of celebrating the Lions Drag Strip that he so much enjoyed as a young man, and the detail work is simply outrageous! Many that experienced the actual track could not believe the presentation when the museum first opened in 2019.
“Honda of Wilmington” was the Top Fuel car that Hawaiian Danny Ongias drove in 1966-67, a popular car that now looks like it did back in the day, complete with supercharged Gen I HEMI® engine! Thanks to a lot of talented people that made sure all the correct parts and pieces are on it, it is truly a total time warp dragster. Honda motorcycles were the rage and what a better way of getting some promotion on the drag strip.
HIGHLY DETAILED ARTWORK
The artwork, the murals, the facades, in all areas of the museum, they are super-detailed re-enactments of what this place is all about! It’s a revival of the golden age of Southern California car racing, car culture and the lifestyle. Artists Kenny Youngblood, Yvonne Mecialis, Chris Ramsey and Keith Moreland all contributed their vast talents to the 20-foot walls and ceilings, and the area is still a work in progress, more to come!
ULTRA-REALISTIC FLASHBACK OF THE ICONIC LIONS DRAG STRIP
When this museum first opened, some of the people who had entered the building for the first time were folks from Long Beach and other areas who were at the actual track back in the day. And for many, this was an extremely emotional experience. When standing inside the segment of the building that has this Lions layout, the starting line diorama, and walk-around, seeing the Christmas Tree hanging and the era-correct drag cars staged up as to run down the track, it’s something that has to be seen in person. An incredible indoor reproduction, it truly is a shrine.
ISKY-EQUIPPED BIG JOHN AA/GS
“Big John” Mazmanian was a serious race contender in the AA/GS class as well, with Bob “Bones” Balogh at the controls, Isky camshaft and gorgeous Candy Apple Red paint! This is the tribute car that Joe “Rocky” Pirrone created and it’s powered by a 438-cid Chrysler HEMI engine.
BIG VARIETY ON DISPLAY
Front and center is one of the most famous of them all, a Stone, Woods & Cook Willys car on display! S-W-C ran an Engle cam, and this car was part of the “cam wars” advertising rivalry with the Big John Mazmanian car. Fred Stone, Leonard Woods Jr. and Doug “Cookie” Cook were top runners in the AA/Gas Supercharged class, and were at the top of their class at the time museum founder Rick Lorenzen had first starting to hang out at Lions Drag Strip. So it’s very appropriate to have showcased them inside the museum.
All through the drag race exhibits there are unique cars of all sorts, some well-known and some that were not, and a true learning experience for visitors. This is the Salinas, California-based “Spaghetti Bender” AA/Gas dragster that was campaigned by Steve San Paolo back in the 1962-64 time frame. (It’s a name used casually back in the early days of American immigration for Italians). When it ran 194 mph, that was a big deal considering there was no nitromethane fuel involved!
PURE HELL
“Pure Hell” AA/FA, one of the more famous drag cars of the Lions era, restored in all its glory!
This 1972 Dodge Demon “Pure Hell” nitro Funny Car was campaigned by Rich Guasco, and it won the Funny Car class at the 1973 NHRA Springnationals, now fully restored and displayed inside the museum.
“Beaver Hunter I” AA/Fuel Altered, circa 1966-67. It’s got a ’23 T body and big 392 HEMI engine power! This car survived all the years, John Force drove the Beaver Hunter II, which helped launch his career. Yes, with a HEMI engine!
The Jones-Malliard sidewinder, an experimental and advanced-design 1959 dragster, Jack Chrisman driver. It was a “5-cycle Cam” promotional car and Ed “Big Daddy” Roth was involved in the overall layout and design. Wild then, wild now!
Fiat® Topolino Coupe, supercharged early HEMI engine power and nostalgia all the way!
MISS HURST GOLDEN SHIFTER
With a huge museum all filled with drag racing and hot rod-related content, there’s got to be a reference to “Miss Hurst Golden Shifter” Linda Vaughn! Linda, in fact, was a 2023 inductee into the Lions Hall of Fame and attends various gatherings at the museum.
DISPLAY CASES
Numerous glass display cases are located in and along the various exhibits, featuring jackets, speed shop displays, model cars, photographs, historic artifacts and more. These collections feature some of Southern California’s cam grinders, Clay Smith, Engle, Isky, and with that printed information of their individual histories. The B&W of a group shows Ed Iskenderian himself (lower center, third from right) being part of the 1968 Car Craft Magazine All Stars.
LIONS MEMORABILIA
No shortage of authentic Lions Drag Strip-related collectibles!
SWAMP RAT III DON GARLITS DRAGSTER
As part of the nitro fire-up that took place in the parking lot, Sonny Messner brought along his Don Garlits Swamp Rat III HEMI dragster and the crowd loved hearing it fire up with a big load of nitromethane! Part of the fun was when he had taken off his supercharger and sent it to the Isky shop a few weeks before the 104 birthday, with Ed signing the RH side! “It’s 104, am I still here, Isky” and what a humor Ed has! The other side of the supercharger also has Ed’s signings from his 101 and 102 birthdays.
Sonny gave the crowd a good dose of nitromethane and afterwards the crowd congratulated him on the nitro fire-up! These early Chrysler HEMI engines with a heavy load of nitromethane have a very loud, unique “cackle” that brings back a lot of memories for the folks that saw them running back in the day.
OUTER LIMITS GEN II HEMI
With the mighty GEN II HEMI engine topped with tall injectors and a well-detailed engine bay, a 1964 altered wheelbase “Outer Limits” Plymouth Belvedere greeted the visitors at the entrance area of the museum! A classic drag car that has sponsorship from one of the nation’s oldest speed shops, Pasadena’s Blair’s Speed Shop. It was all about nostalgia with old-school horsepower at the Isky birthday party. Dig the fenderwell headers and red-tinted side glass!
Author: James Maxwell
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