The automotive world lost a true giant this week. Ed “Isky” Iskenderian, whose name became synonymous with speed and innovation, passed away on February 4, 2026, in Los Angeles. He was 104 years old.
To call Isky a legend almost feels insufficient. He was a foundational pillar, a man whose vision and grinding determination helped shape American performance culture as we know it.
His story is a classic hot-rodding tale. Born in 1921 to Armenian immigrants in California’s Central Valley, Iskenderian’s need for speed emerged early. As a student at L.A. Poly High, he was already building and racing a customized Model T Ford, chasing speed on the vast, dry lakebeds of the Mojave with other post-war pioneers.
World War II saw him serve with the Army Air Forces in the Pacific, an experience that honed his technical skills. But it was upon returning home that he truly changed the game. Frustrated that he couldn’t buy a camshaft radical enough for his own car, he did what all great innovators do: he built his own.
With a single converted cam-grinding machine, Isky Racing Cams was born. What started in a garage soon revolutionized an industry. Iskenderian didn’t just sell cams; he engineered velocity. His pioneering high-lift profiles and early adoption of computer-aided design unlocked horsepower that others hadn’t dreamed of. He was the first to offer complete, matched valvetrain component sets, a concept that became standard.
The nickname “Camfather” was earned by powering every tier of motorsports. From Don Garlits’ earth-shaking Top Fuel dragsters to Richard Petty’s dominant NASCAR stock cars and the sleek machines of the Indianapolis 500, Isky’s components were the beating heart of champions.
His influence extended beyond the machine shop. In 1963, recognizing the need for a unified industry, he became the first president of what is now the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), helping transform a niche hobby into a professional, global aftermarket powerhouse.
The accolades followed—induction into the SEMA and Motorsports Halls of Fame, recognition as a Chevrolet “Legend of Performance”—but his legacy lives most vividly in the rumble of a built V8 and the community he helped create.
Predeceased by his wife of many years, Alice, Isky is survived by his three children, eight grandchildren, his brother Ben, and an extended family that stretches across the entire automotive world: racers, builders, and enthusiasts who all owe a debt to his genius.
Ed Iskenderian’s life was a full-throttle, 104-year run. He took a passion for mechanical things and speed, and in doing so, he helped define an American art form. The camshafts will keep turning, the valves will keep singing his profiles, and the “Camfather” will forever be remembered as the man who helped teach America how to breathe.
Rest in peace, Isky. And thank you for the horsepower.
