Legendary Camshaft Innovator Ed 'Isky' Iskenderian Honored at Memorial in Los Angeles

Drag racing icons Garlits and Prudhomme among 500 who gathered to celebrate the life of the 104-year-old hot rod pioneer.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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The life and legacy of legendary camshaft innovator Ed 'Isky' Iskenderian were celebrated at a memorial event in Los Angeles, where over 500 family, friends, and fans gathered to honor the hot rod pioneer who passed away last month at the age of 104. Iskenderian's innovations, including the 5-Cycle cam that allowed racers to run high-nitro fuels, were credited by drag racing icons like Don Garlits and Don Prudhomme as key to their success on the track.

Why it matters

Iskenderian was a pioneering figure in the hot rod and motorsports industries, helping to shape the performance parts landscape through his innovative camshaft designs and marketing tactics like the free t-shirt giveaway. His life and work left an indelible mark on the sport of drag racing and the broader automotive aftermarket, which has grown into a $53 billion industry.

The details

Iskenderian got his start in the cam-grinding business after ordering a Winfield cam and facing a long wait, so he bought a used cam-grinding machine and began producing his own. His cams soon became the hot setup for drag racers, sprint cars, IndyCars, and other high-performance applications. Innovations like his 5-Cycle cam, which added a fifth cycle to the normal four-stroke engine, allowed racers to run high-nitro fuels without overheating and blowing up their engines.

  • Iskenderian passed away last month at the age of 104.
  • The memorial event was held last Sunday at the Lions Automobilia Foundation in Southern California.

The players

Ed 'Isky' Iskenderian

A legendary camshaft innovator and pioneer in the hot rod and motorsports industries, who passed away last month at the age of 104.

Don Garlits

A drag racing icon known as 'Big Daddy', who was an early user of Iskenderian's innovative camshafts and became one of the first sponsored drivers, a practice Iskenderian helped pioneer.

Don 'The Snake' Prudhomme

A legendary drag racer who also received sponsorship from Iskenderian Cams and wore their t-shirts in the 1950s.

Al Teague

A land speed racer who set a record of over 400 mph at Bonneville, and recalled Iskenderian's resourcefulness and frugality, like using a long strip of duct tape he had painstakingly unraveled.

Mike Spagnola

The current president of SEMA, which Iskenderian helped found and grow into a $53 billion industry.

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What they’re saying

“I bluffed my way into the cam-grinding business. I amazed myself that it all happened, and I got to be a part of it.”

— Ed 'Isky' Iskenderian (Documentary)

“I used 'em when I was just a hot rodder on the street. I used a 1007 B, a Chrysler cross-flow cam and the 5-cycle cam.”

— Don Garlits, Drag Racing Icon

“Now you know why this guy is so (darned) hard to beat; he's brilliant.”

— Don 'The Snake' Prudhomme, Legendary Drag Racer

“Ed was a gearhead. But his ads were something else.”

— Al Teague, Land Speed Racer

“I thought I'd met Elvis.”

— Mike Spagnola, SEMA President

What’s next

The memorial event celebrated Iskenderian's life and legacy, bringing together the many racers, innovators, and industry leaders he impacted over his remarkable 104-year life.

The takeaway

Iskenderian's innovations and entrepreneurial spirit left an indelible mark on the hot rod and motorsports industries, helping to shape the performance parts landscape and the broader $53 billion automotive aftermarket that exists today. His life and work serve as an inspiration for future generations of gearheads and innovators.