Posts Tagged ‘ Industry Icons ’

Goodguys to Honor Ed Pink & Ed Iskenderian at 2012 Del Mar Nationals

By Ashley Smissen , January 24, 2012 in News & Events

Ed Iskenderian (left) and Ed Pink will be honored at Goodguys' Del Mar Nationals in March.

Goodguys has announced that it will honor hot rod industry legends Ed Iskenderian and Ed Pink at its 12^th Del Mar Nationals. The event takes place March 30-April at the Del Mar Fairground in Del Mar, California.

Iskenderian’s career in the hot rod industry spans over seven decades. He is known as the “Camfather” of the industry and will also be honored with the Robert E. Petersen Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2012 HRR Trade Show earlier that month.

Pink is one of the industry’s most well-known and legendary engine builders. His Southern California-based shop, Ed Pink Racing Engines, is known for churning out one-of-a-kind, state-of-the-art engines.

According to Goodguys, Pink will be bringing his red 1929 Ford hi-boy roadster, in addition to his top fuel dragster called “Old Master” and other hot rods that are powered by Ed Pink engines. Iskenderian will be bringing his 1927 Ford hot rod roadster to the event to be displayed. Pink and Iskenderian will be on-hand to sign autographs for fans. A special “Meet & Greet” with fans will take place on Saturday, March 31.

Petersen Automotive Museum Founding Benefactor Margie Petersen Passes Away

By Ashley Smissen , November 30, 2011 in News & Events

Margie Petersen attended several of the first HRR Trade Shows.

Margie Petersen, wife of the late Robert E. Petersen and co-founding benefactor of the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, died Friday at her home in Beverly Hills, California, after a 20-year battle with breast cancer. She was 76.

Margie and Robert Petersen married in January 1963 and were rarely seen apart. In addition to Robert’s publishing company, which created legendary industry magazines such as Hot Rod, Motor Trend and Rod & Custom, the Petersens also owned Scandia Restaurant on the Sunset Strip and Petersen Galleries in Beverly Hills. They were major donors to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, The Music Center and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

In June 1994, Margie and Robert donated $5 million to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County to start the Petersen Automotive Museum. The couple contributed another $24.8 million in 2000 to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County to retire the bond debt and establish the Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation as an independent nonprofit organization, according to the Petersen Museum’s website.

Margie continued to serve on the museum’s board of directors after Robert’s death from complications of neuroendocrine cancer in March 2007.

In April 2011, Margie and the Margie & Robert E. Petersen Foundation donated the 300,000-square-foot building that the museum is housed in, as well as a collection of cars owned by the Petersens and a monetary gift to the Museum Foundation. Overall, the donation totaled approximately $100 million.

Margie was affiliated with numerous charities throughout her life, including Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, The Amazing Blue Ribbon of the Music Center, The Diadames, The Los Angeles Orphanage Guild, The League for Children and Childhelp U.S.A., according to a press release from the Petersen Museum. She was also a former St. Jude Research Hospital Woman of the Year.

Editor’s Corner: Jesse James Talks Shop & New DVD Series for Builders

By Ashley Smissen , November 2, 2011 in E-News, Editor's Corner, News & Events

Famed custom car builder Jesse James of Austin Speed Shop took to the 2011 SEMA Show to announce the release of the “Jesse James Presents” series of how-to DVDs. The DVDs were created to take the viewer through the complete process of a specific part of a build, including how to create retro-style bomber seats, how to fabricate motorcycle fenders and how to build custom headers for a 1932 Ford roadster.

The series will also feature DVDs covering James’ love of off-road racing. In total, 40 DVDs will be created for the “Jesse James Presents” how-to series.

To check out a preview of the first DVD, “Jesse James Presents: Austin Speed Shop,” click here.

James was kind enough to sit down with me before the official press conference to discuss his new DVD series, as well as what’s going on with his shop and in the industry in general. After we spoke, he went over to the El Jefe Entertainment booth to sign autographs and meet fans.

HRR: Why did you decide to release these DVDs and who are you hoping they will most benefit?
Jesse James: For the last 10 years or so, people have been contacting me through phone calls, e-mails, letters, etc., asking me to let them apprentice for me or for me to teach them. With this series, I want to reach the guys with real shops and also the guys working on a project in their garage. I want to teach the basic skills so that they can do these things but also 100 other different things from those skills.

Ed Iskenderian Named 2012 Petersen Lifetime Achievement Award Honoree

By Ashley Smissen , October 26, 2011 in Hotrod & Restoration Trade Show, News & Events

Ed Iskenderian

Ed Iskenderian, founder of Isky Racing Cams, will be honored with the Robert E. Petersen Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grand Opening Breakfast for the 2012 Hotrod & Restoration Trade Show, to be held March 23, 2012 at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

“Since reading my first Hot Rodmagazine in the ’50s I remember Isky Cams being synonymous with high performance and quality,” said Buddy Pepp, executive director of the Petersen Automotive Museum and co-presenter of the award. ”Ed Iskenderian is the true ‘Camfather.’ I am very pleased that Ed will be honored in Indianapolis in March and I’m certain Bob Petersen would be thrilled knowing that Ed was selected as the 2012 Robert E. Petersen Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.”

Iskenderian began working on cars in high school, with his pet project being a Model T Ford roadster. After graduating, he worked as an apprentice tool and die maker, then enlisted in the Army Air Corps, serving with the Air Transport Command flying supplier to the islands of the Pacific during World War II.

After the end of the war, Iskenderian returned to working on his hot rod. The hot rod hobby was gaining traction so it was harder to get parts from the few camshaft manufacturers on the West Coast. While waiting for delivery of a special-order camshaft, Iskenderian bought a used conventional cylindrical grinder that he converted to a universal cam grinding machine and entered the cam grinding business.

Throughout his career, Iskenderian used the latest technology to develop his camshafts. Isky Racing Cams lists him as the first person in the industry to employ computers in camshaft design. This helped him to develop performance and economy camshafts and components for racers and stock/street enthusiasts.

“Isky played one of the most critical roles in the very creation of hot rodding,” said Barry Meguiar, president and CEO of Meguiar’s Inc., who will once again serve as master of ceremonies for the Grand Opening Breakfast. ”To hear him relive his firsthand experiences will be a moment in time for all of us.”

Steve Gibbs to Serve as Grand Marshal of 20th NHRA California Hot Rod Reunion

By Ashley Smissen , September 20, 2011 in News & Events

NHRA has announced that longtime NHRA official Steve Gibbs will serve as the grand marshall of the 20^th Annual NHRA California Hot Rod Reunion, which takes place Oct. 21-23 at the Auto Club Famoso Raceway in McFarland, California. Gibbs played a major role in the creation of the first California Hot Rod Reunion in 1992.

Gibbs started his career in the drag racing industry back in the 1950s numbering cars and reporting for Drag News at the old San Gabriel and Fontana Drag Strips, according to NHRA. In the 1960s Gibbs became a manager of Irwindale Raceway and by 1969 had joined NHRA as an advertising director of National Dragster. He was later the NHRA vice president of competition and helped to direct more than 400 national events.

Gibbs formed the NHRA Historical Society in the early 1990s and later became the first executive director of the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum.

He received the Car Craft Ollie Award in 1991 and was inducted into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame in 2006.

Several other people who have contributed to drag racing’s history will also be honored at this year’s California Hot Rod Reunion, including Harry Hibler, Wayne King, John Peters, Dwight Salisbury, and George Santos.

Featured Vehicle: Resurrecting Gene Winfield’s ‘Bronze Coated Beauty’

By Ashley Smissen , August 10, 2011 in E-News, Rod Shops

For years, it was nothing more than a beat-up old 1935 Ford pickup collecting dust in an Oregon barn. From the looks of it, no one would have guessed that the old pickup that wound up in a field in Mist, Oregon, was once the original work truck of a hot rodding legend. Nor would anyone have guessed at that time that the truck would one day be restored to its original glory. Enter the team at Hatfield Restorations.

The story of the truck begins in the late 1950s when legendary rod builder Gene Winfield and his friend Rick Lefelt built the truck and painted it its signature bronze color to be shown at a San Mateo, California, car show in January 1960 to help advertise Winfield’s custom shop. The truck was a hit, even landing an appearance in the October 1961 issue of Custom Rodder where it was called “The Bronze Coated Beauty.”

The truck was modified throughout the early 1960s by Winfield and was painted blue. In 1963, Winfield put the truck up for sale in the classified section of Hot Rod magazine, eventually working out a trade and selling it to an Oregon man who would go on to crash the vehicle and later sell it to Don Epling in 1965. After that, the truck essentially “disappeared” for the next 43 years, sitting in Epling’s barn. Winfield had no idea what had happened to his old shop truck.

Inaugural Barry Lobeck Memorial Award to Be Presented at Goodguys PPG Nationals

By Ashley Smissen , May 10, 2011 in News & Events, Rod Shops

Barry and Ginny Lobeck are shown with the 1940 Ford that kick-started Barry's career. (Photo: Goodguys)

Goodguys has announced that a new award will be given away at the 14^th PPG Nationals this year to honor the memory of Midwest hot rodding icon Barry Lobeck. Barry’s wife Ginny, as well as the staff of Lobeck’s V8 Hot Rod Parts, will select the winner of the award at the event, which takes place July 8–10 in Columbus, Ohio.

A native of Springfield, Lobeck had a reputation for building low-slung, traditionally styled hot rods. He became a staple of the Midwest hot rod scene after his flamed 1940 Ford coupe landed on the cover of Hot Rod magazine, according to Goodguys. He and his wife ran Lobeck’s V8 Shop & Hot Rod Parts, as well as Just a Hobby chassis shop, both of which are located in Cleveland, Ohio, until Barry’s death in January 2011.

Starting this year, the award will be selected annually at the Goodguys PPG Nationals marking a new tradition in his native Ohio.

Engine Builder & Drag Racer Joe Mondello Passes Away at Age 74

By Ashley Smissen , April 9, 2011 in Engine & Drivetrain

(Image HotRod.com)

Joe Mondello, best known for his work building and designing engines, in addition to an accomplished professional drag racing and business career, passed away Wednesday at the age of 74.

Mondello had worked on high-performance cars and engines since the 1950s. According to a blog posted on Hot Rod magazine’s website, Mondello’s passion for all things mechanical, and particularly improving cylinder head airflow, led him to a 54 year career as an engine builder, head porter and later, a teacher.

During his long career, Mondello worked with some of the most notable race teams and fellow engine builders during the 1960s-2000s. Mondello was known as “Dr. Oldsmobile” for his highly successful developmental work on the Olds V-8 engines, said the article.

Mondello was responsible for developing the Posi-Flow Combustion Chamber design, as well as many GM heads designs, which were used by some of the industry’s most-legendary drag racers, including Dean Moon, “Big Daddy” Don Garlits and Mickey Thompson.

Modello’s long list of accomplishments also included the establishment of the Mondello Technical School in 1996, where he taught professional performance engine building and head porting design first in Paso Robles, Calfornia before moving the school to Crossville, Tennessee.

Chip Foose, Roy Brizio & Many More to Speak at NHRA Museum Workshop

By Ashley Smissen , January 13, 2011 in News & Events

Chip Foose, Roy Brizio and musician David Steele are just a few of the guest speakers set to appear at the first Axes & Axles educational workshop on Jan. 28 in Pomona, California. The workshop, which is presented by The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum and WyoTech, will focus on building cars and guitars. It’s being held in conjunction with the Museum’s newest exhibit, “Axes & Axles: The Art of Building Cars and Guitars, Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the Fender Telecaster.”

George Barris to Be Top Judge on New Speed Channel Car Build Show

By Ashley Smissen , January 3, 2011 in News & Events

(Photo: Business Wire)

“King of the Kustomizers” George Barris will join fellow automotive industry icons Jimmy Shine and “Mad Mike” Martin as a judge on the SPEED channel’s new all-star build show, “Car Warriors,” set to premiere Feb. 23 at 9 p.m.

The one-hour weekly series will be shot on a purpose-built set developed on the grounds of Ted Moser’s famed Picture Car Warehouse in Northridge, California, according to a SPEED press release. It will feature a hand-picked, eight-person all-star automotive team taking on shops from around the country in a 72-hour restoration project, matching wits, skills and stamina on a wide variety of vehicles. Barris, Shine and Martin will then review the results and determine the winning team.